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DragonSword: Awakening First Hours After Launch

Last updated: July 2026

Retail Chapter 1 route, mercenary trio unlock order, Direwolf claim timing, and settings every new hero should enable.

Hour Zero: Install and Settings

After purchasing on Steam, install to SSD with 60 GB free space. Select subtitle language among eleven supported options — voice acting remains Korean with full localization for English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Thai, and Chinese (Simplified & Traditional). Enable lock-on and optional aim assist before the first combat tutorial.

Claim the Abyssal Direwolf

Open the in-game promotional menu or Steam DLC tab and add Abyssal Direwolf at 100% discount — free through August 31, 2026. This launch thank-you from Hound13 expires after the window and reverts to paid pricing. See Free Rewards for details.

Chapter 1 Progression Route

Lute arrives in Orbis and joins Johnny Mercenary alongside Castella. Complete the Basic Combat Text tutorial teaching Tag Combos — dodge into skills, watch for Tag prompts, swap with number keys for Switching Signals. Early errands include lunch delivery to the main gate, introducing exploration and cooking systems alongside combat.

Rush main story until Johnny, Castella, and Aria form your mercenary trio — this unlocks the canonical Break → Stun → Airborne loop showcased in official marketing. Side quests can wait until after the trio assembles; our Chapter 1 walkthrough lists objective order from demo parity content.

First Boss and Familiar Flight

Mid-chapter encounters teach Super Armor break on mini-boss structures. After clearing Chapter 1 narrative, activate an Eona's Legacy mill to unlock map fog and test Familiar aerial traversal. The embedded gameplay video shows open-world exploration with Korean voice acting and subtitle options.

Where to Go Next

Read Beginner Combat Tips, browse the Full Roster Tier List framework, and check Launch Reviews for press impressions scoring the action combat at 8.5/10 in Korean coverage.

Video Tutorial

DragonSword: Awakening — Open World Gameplay Demo Part 3

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does demo progress carry over?
No. The demo closed July 7, 2026. All retail players start fresh regardless of prior demo installation.
How long is Chapter 1?
Expect roughly one to two hours for main quests — similar to demo length — before broader Orbis exploration opens.