Season 3 of The First Descendant delivers one of the biggest updates yet, bringing the new Axion Plains region, the powerful Trigger Module system, and the Wall Crasher event into the mix. With so much to do, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. If you plan your first 60 minutes carefully, you can set yourself up for a smooth climb into late-game power. This guide explains how to maximize your first hours in Season 3 without wasting time.
Special Boost Event for New and Returning Players
To make Season 3 more accessible, The First Descendant is running a Boost Event for new and returning players from August 7 to August 27, 2025 (PDT), with the Boost Path lasting until September 17, 2025. Activating Boost automatically clears all early Normal Difficulty quests, unlocking Hard Difficulty so you can jump straight into Season 2 Episode 2: Beyond the Void and the latest content.
Key Boost Event benefits:
- Skip to Hard Difficulty instantly if you want to access new zones like Axion Plains.
- Receive the Ultimate Bunny Descendant, Ultimate-tier equipment, and powerful modules.
- Progress through the Boost Path quests to earn more rewards, including Ultimate Weapons, without grinding older content.
- If you still want the early story experience, you can complete Normal Difficulty first, then activate Boost.
- The Boost Event is also available for existing players who want to speed up progression on an alt character.
In addition, the official site has guides for common early-game problems, from finding item locations to preparing for Colossus Intercept battles. The developers also encourage players to check the official channels (X, Discord, YouTube) for the latest updates and to explore the Season 3 event page for ongoing rewards and special activities.
You can read more regarding the Boost Event and other official guides through this link.
The First Descendant Season 3 Boost Up Event.
Step 1: Prepare Before Entering the Axion Plains
Before you can even set foot in the new zone, you must change your World Difficulty to Hard from the World Map menu. This is the only way to unlock Axion Plains. Forgetting to do these tasks is the most common reason players waste their first few minutes of the season.
Once you have set the difficulty to Hard,
- Collect any login rewards, event gifts, and daily bonuses. These may include paints, cosmetics, or materials that can be useful immediately.
- Check your inventory space. Trigger Modules are abundant in Season 3, and running into the 100-module storage cap too early can cause you to lose valuable drops.
- If you have leftover modules from previous seasons, dismantle the weaker ones now. This frees space and gives you upgrade materials for your first few hours on the Axion Plains, just enough to jumpstart your journey.
The new Descendant, Nell Hathaway.
Step 2: Configure Target Rewards for Maximum Efficiency
The Target Rewards system is one of the most efficient ways to guide your farming. In Season 3, you can now track the Spoils Boxes themselves instead of individual missions. This change allows you to complete objectives in any qualifying activity, giving you much more flexibility.
When setting up your Target Rewards:
- Vehicles: Add boxes that include the starter bike and brand-specific frames. Bikes improve travel speed and handling, saving you time on the field.
- Nell: If you plan to recruit Nell, add her Spoils Boxes right away so you can start collecting her components in the background.
- Trigger Modules: Choose boxes that align with your planned build. Look for those containing projectile, charge, or damage over time tags, depending on your Descendant.
Tracking multiple types of boxes ensures that every run, whether in Operational Areas or events, pushes you toward several goals at once.
The Target Reward List can make your farms slightly faster and more reliable.
Step 3: Unlock and Equip Your Starter Bike
The first few quests in Axion Plains will unlock your starter bike. This vehicle is not just a mobility upgrade, but it also speeds up farming routes, which is critical in the first hours of playing the new update in The First Descendant.
After you receive it:
- Go to Manage Vehicles to equip the bike immediately.
- Familiarize yourself with its handling. The starter bike is balanced, but specialized models (unlocked from brand-specific boxes) may offer speed boosts or better turning, which can be useful for farming and racing challenges.
- Keep in mind that upgrading your bike early improves your efficiency for the rest of the season.
The new Hover Bike can make traversal in Axion Plains easy.
Step 4: Run the Axion Plains Farming Loop
Your primary farming route in Axion Plains should focus on Operational Areas and Fanged Fields. These activities reward a mix of materials, Spoils Boxes, and Trigger Modules, and they are often close enough together to chain efficiently.
While completing the loop:
- Collect ore nodes and supply crates whenever you pass them. These resources are useful for crafting and upgrades.
- Do the Battlefield Missions to gain access to Nell’s Transcendent Modules and Loot Boxes that can give you Vehicle parts and Nell’s Materials.
- Watch for Field Colossi on your map, marked by a red outline. Defeating them can yield rare drops and is worth detouring for.
- Participate in the race terminals you come across. These races are short, quick to complete, and give extra rewards for minimal time investment.
This loop should take you naturally through various content types while keeping your Target Rewards progressing.
Axion Plains Map in The First Descendant’s Season 3.
Step 5: Learn How Trigger Modules Work
Trigger Modules are one of the biggest additions in Season 3, offering new ways to customize your Descendant’s abilities. Each module has tags that correspond to different skill types, such as projectile, charge, damage over time, and healing. Equipping modules that match your Descendant’s ability tags maximizes their effectiveness.
Trigger Modules drop from:
- Wall Crasher, the new Colossus
- Spoils Boxes
- Axion Plains Battlefield Missions
- Monster Drops
To manage them effectively:
- Regularly dismantle low-value modules to stay below the 100-module storage cap.
- Sort modules by tags to see which ones are worth keeping for your current and future builds.
- Lock your best rolls so they are not accidentally dismantled.
Understanding these modules early will give you an edge over the Vulgus, adding more flexibility and damage output for your Descendants.
The new Trigger Modules give players more power against new enemies.
Step 6: Complete the Wall Crasher Event
The Wall Crasher is a large-scale boss fight located in Axion Plains. Check the event timer on your map and make sure you are inside the large dome building before the event starts. Simply entering the building’s area automatically queues you for the event.
Key mechanics:
- Fixed laser beams: These remain in place for several seconds, so rotate around the arena to avoid damage.
- Frenzy phase: The boss will trigger a meteor storm and shockwaves. Continue your movement to evade damage, and be mindful that meteors can obstruct player projectiles.
- Slam attack: This heavy attack has a clear wind-up. Step out of range and reposition before resuming your assault.
Completing the Wall Crasher early rewards you with a large number of Trigger Modules, external component sets, and valuable currencies. It is worth prioritizing in your first hour.
Wall Crusher Colossi in The First Descendant.
Step 7: Spend and Implant for an Early Power Boost
Once you have collected a good selection of Trigger Modules, dismantle the weaker ones and lock the best pieces. Then head to Primal Hands to unlock the Trigger Module slot for your chosen Descendant.
Implanting a module that matches your core tags will give you an immediate increase in performance. Even a modest bonus at this stage can noticeably speed up farming, the overall gameplay experience, and event runs.
The First Descendant’s Axion Plains FAQs
How do you unlock Axion Plains in The First Descendant?
You must change your World Difficulty to Hard from the settings menu. Axion Plains will only appear once Hard Difficulty is active. If you are a new or returning player participating in the Boost Event, activating Boost will automatically unlock Hard Difficulty for you.
What is the Boost Event in The First Descendant Season 3?
The Boost Event runs from August 7 to August 27, 2025 (PDT) and lets you skip Normal Difficulty quests to access later content instantly. It also gives you the Ultimate Bunny Descendant, Ultimate-tier equipment, and powerful modules. You can then follow the Boost Path until September 17, 2025 for more rewards.
How do Trigger Modules work in The First Descendant?
Trigger Modules are new equipment pieces that boost abilities based on tags such as projectile, charge, damage over time, and healing. Matching your modules to your Descendant’s skill tags greatly increases their effectiveness. They drop from Axion Plains activities, Spoils Boxes, and the Wall Crasher event.
When does the Wall Crasher event start?
The Wall Crasher runs on a timer in Axion Plains. You can see the countdown on your map. To automatically queue for the event, enter the large dome building before the timer reaches zero.
What are the best ways to farm Trigger Modules early?
The fastest way is to combine Axion Plains activities with the Wall Crasher event. Clear Operational Areas, Fanged Fields, and Field Colossi while waiting for the event timer, then dismantle weaker modules to stay under the 100-item cap.
Season 3 Breakthrough also marks a new point in the game’s overall narrative.
