- ## Before Your First Run
- Try the free demo first -- it's already available on Steam and offers a genuine slice of the starter roster and core combat loop, sitting at Very Positive reviews (94% of 69+) ahead of the full release.
- Pick a starter based on the deck archetype you want to play, not just visual appeal -- since each evolutionary line has a completely distinct card pool, your starter choice is closer to picking a character class than picking a mascot.
- ## Understanding the 3x3 Grid
- Positioning on the 3x3 combat grid matters as much as card choice -- don't treat it as flavor on top of a normal turn order. Think about where your Montabi are positioned relative to threats before committing to an action.
- ## Protecting Your Trainer
- Remember that losing your Trainer ends the run immediately, regardless of how healthy your Montabi team still is -- prioritize protecting yourself as much as managing your creatures' health bars.
- ## Building Toward Evolution
- Training and leveling your Montabi toward evolution unlocks meaningfully new card abilities, not just stat boosts -- factor evolution timing into your run planning rather than treating it as a background passive process.
- ## Common Mistakes
- * Ignoring equipment and charms in favor of just building a card-only strategy -- they're a real, additional layer of customization worth engaging with each run.
- * Jumping straight to higher Ascension difficulty tiers before learning the core 3x3 grid and deck fundamentals on a standard run.
Related guide: How the Grid Combat and Evolution System Actually Work in Montabi