Brighter Shoresis a relaxing MMORPG filled with cozy square maps and professions that can take quite a bit of grinding. If you are new to MMOs, then you may be a bit confused or lost about what to do when first starting the game.

Fortunately, we are here to help! In this guide, we are going to take a look at some beginner tips to help you get started in Brighter Shores. These are geared towards those just starting out who may not have found their sense of direction just yet.

A player in Brighter Shores foraging for a Horn Shell.

Brighter Shores is currently in Early Access on Steam and as such, the content is subject to change. We will update these articles as required.

Grinding Is Part Of The Experience

Some MMOs through you right into a long questline that will take up all of your attention. Brighter Shores works a bit differently, asa big part of the game is grinding.This can be grinding enemies and defeating any foes that stand in your way, or simply fishing for an hour.

When you get a quest that requires you to be dozens of levels above your current one, this is normal. You’ll be able to gogrind, complete quests, and experience the world around you.Grinding your professions is pretty relaxing in Brighter Shoresso sit back and catch those flounder!

A player in Brighter Shores looking at the Obelisk tablets.

With a limited inventory, you canexpect to spend some time running to a merchant to sell items.For example, if you go on a fishing spree, you may find yourself running to the Fishmonger frequently in order toclear out your inventory.Thankfully, this is a great way tomake money at the same time.

Complete Quests

While grinding is important, you’ll still want tocomplete quests.These can give unique rewards as well as experience. For example, the quest called The Obelisk (required to tune gear) willreward you with a whopping 10,600 Guard experience.Here at TheGamer, this caused our Guard profession tolevel up several times.

Some quests require you to be a certain profession level; at this point, you canpeel off from your quest and get to grinding if necessary.Overall, just be sure tolook at your quest log to see if there is anything that can be completed.

A player talking to a Fishmonger in Brighter Shores.

Sell Your Loot For Silver

By training in any profession (besides Guard), you’llgain a bit of material(such as alchemy ingredients, fish, or cooking items). Some MMOs really encourage hoarding of goods, but in Brighter Shores,you’ll be able to gather resources and sell them.

This is afantastic way to make money,especially sinceyou probably don’t need 100 eels.If you do happen to need more of something, you may go gather it, which provides some of the relevant experience.

A map of Hopeport from Brighter Shores.

You canplace items in banks found in businesses related to professions.Use these if you want tostash away materials for later,but don’t be afraid to sell a handful of items if you are strapped for cash. Lower-level items areeasy to obtain again.

Explore Every Corner Of Town

This may go without saying, butdon’t be afraid to explore every nook and cranny in the game!There are a lot of side streets and interesting buildings in Hopeport alone that you can explore.

When you go to an area with something you’ve never seen before,you may see a “???” when hovering above it.By discovering the item in question,you’ll learn its name and level.

A player engaging in a passive activity in Brighter Shores.

You can alsouse your Sense spell to see if there are any hidden items or things that you missedwhile exploring the first time. The Sense spell can come in handyif you have trouble spotting things like fish in the water,as well as if you are looking for aspecific quest-related item.

Understand Passive Activities

When you level up a profession, you’llgain a bit of overall knowledge.This can be seen at the bottom of the professions window. Here, you can click"View Rewards" and see what more knowledge can get you.

You can convert the knowledge into experience or silver, but you’ll also be able toinvest it into a specific profession in order to get a passive.For example, the first Guard skill passive allows you topassively fight Louses.This passivepersists even after you log out of the game,which is quite helpful.

A player looking at the info panel for crows.

Look At Enemy Affinities

Combat may seem simple at first, but you’ll need topay attention to enemy affinities and match them up to a weapon.For example, the level 16 Beady-Eyed Deathcrow isimmune to Necromae damage, but vulnerable to Cryonae.

With this in mind, you should use a weapon with the Cryonae affinity. If you don’t have a weapon like this, don’t worry. You canuse anything as long as it’s not Necromae,as this will not harm the crow.

A player looking at their profession panel.

You can inspect an enemy with the Info tab before immediately diving into battle. If the foe looks challenging,we highly recommend looking at the Info panel first.

Don’t Forget To Level Up All Professions

Each profession can be leveled up individually and if you favor one,it’s easy to get carried away.For example, if you really love combat, then you may level up the Guard profession faster than everything else.

While this is fine, it’s important to level up your other professions.Many of them go hand in hand as well,such as fishing and cooking or foraging and potionmaking. To cook certain dishes, you’ll need specific fish, but in order to get the fish, you’ll need to level up your fishing skill.

A player leveling up their fishing skill in Brighter Shores.

Enemies/Items Upgrade As You Level

When you first start the game, fish, enemies, and foragables will be relatively low level. For example, just south of the Town Square,you’ll find Lesser Eels that are level two.These eels won’t stay this way forever though! Once you level up your fishing enough,these eels will become Grey Eels, which are Fishing level eight.

With this in mind, this means that you may return to areas and still have stuff to do. Additionally, if you are looking tocatch or fight the previous version, you can click on “Past Action”.This will pull up a panel showingall versions of the thing(like all eel options) and allow you tochoose a different one to engage with.

A player speaking to the Hairdresser in Brighter Shores.

You Can Change Your Appearance

At the start of the game, you’ll be able to make your character. While physical features are set in stone,you’ll be relieved to know that you can change your hairstyle.

Within Hopeport, you may find ahairdresseron Old Street West, which is directly to the right of the Town Square. Here, you canspend one silver to get a haircut.It’s worth noting thatyour helmet will need to be off firstbefore getting a haircut.