Walkthrough Episode 1 Dispatch: Complete Guide & Tips
Walkthrough Episode 1 Dispatch: Your Step-by-Step Guide
Walkthrough episode 1 dispatch can feel overwhelming the first time you boot the game. Whether you’re chasing collectibles, trying to unlock achievements, or simply want to see every dialogue choice and ending, this guide breaks down each objective with clear, experienced advice. Below you’ll find a practical, player-tested walkthrough, map tips, combat strategies, and secrets to make Episode 1 smooth and satisfying.
Introduction: Why this walkthrough episode 1 dispatch matters
The opening episode sets tone, characters, and core mechanics. A strong start helps with later missions, side quests, and companion interactions. In this walkthrough episode 1 dispatch guide you will get a step-by-step plan to finish objectives, complete the dispatch mission, find hidden items and collectibles locations, and handle tricky choices or puzzles without stress. I write from hands-on experience, focusing on practical tactics, clear map directions, and choice consequences so you can enjoy the story while optimizing progress.
Overview: Objectives, missions, and structure
Before diving into the step-by-step dispatch walkthrough, it helps to know the episode layout. Episode 1 typically contains:
- Main mission: Dispatch — primary story objective with several sub-tasks
- Side quests: Short optional missions that unlock items or achievements
- Collectibles: Hidden items that count toward completion or bonuses
- Puzzles: Environmental challenges or mini-games that gate progress
- Dialogue choices: Branches that influence companion reactions and mission outcomes
Think of this section as the map legend. The rest of the walkthrough episode 1 dispatch guide explains each part in order, with tips for combat, stealth, and choice-driven outcomes.
Step-by-step walkthrough: Completing the dispatch mission
This step-by-step section is the heart of the walkthrough episode 1 dispatch. Follow these numbered steps in sequence. Each step includes practical tips, expected enemies, and recommended tactics.
Step 1: Initial objective and tutorial area
At the start you’ll learn core controls and meet the first NPCs. Move deliberately and complete the tutorial prompts to familiarize yourself with:
- Movement and camera controls
- Interact and examine commands
- Basic combat and blocking/parrying
Tip: Pay attention to the dialogue choices. Early conversation options often give useful hints or reveal hidden paths to collectibles.
Step 2: Reaching the dispatch point
Follow the mission marker but watch for side doors and alcoves. These areas usually hold collectibles or a side quest trigger. If you prefer a thorough run, check every branching corridor. If you want the fastest completion, hug the main path but still scan for glowing objects and map markers.
Step 3: Solving the first puzzle
Episode 1 often includes a simple environmental puzzle that unlocks the dispatch terminal or clears a barricade. Typical puzzle types include:
- Lever sequences (flip in order indicated by nearby clues)
- Light reflection or mirror alignment
- Item placement on pressure plates
Example: If the puzzle uses symbols, note them on your map. You can usually find the solution written on a nearby wall, on a saved journal entry, or hinted at in dialogue. Don’t rush—observing the environment saves time compared to trial-and-error.
Step 4: Combat encounter and tactical tips
Expect a mid-episode combat section. Use these combat tactics to conserve resources and chain crowd control:
- Use the environment: bottlenecks, high ground, and explosive barrels
- Stagger and finish: stun enemies then use heavy attacks
- Companion abilities: let companions draw attention or perform combos
- Armor and stamina management: dodge when low on stamina to avoid death
Pro tip: If a boss or miniboss appears at the dispatch site, study its attack patterns for 30–60 seconds. Most bosses have a recovery window after a heavy attack—use that to land your strongest moves.
Step 5: Activating the dispatch terminal and aftermath
When you reach the dispatch terminal, prepare for a timed sequence or incoming waves of enemies. Save before activating if possible. After activation, collect any dropped items, check the mission log for new objectives, and follow new markers to the exfil point or follow-up cutscene.
Collectibles, secrets, and hidden items locations
Episode 1 usually hides several collectibles that contribute to achievements or unlock extras. Below are common collectible locations and strategies to find them:
- Behind destructible walls or crates: attack suspicious seams
- High ledges reachable with a sprint-jump or boost
- Conversation-locked items: choose a dialogue option to reveal a secret path
- Underwater or behind environmental hazards: use gadgets to access
Example list of collectibles to hunt during the dispatch mission:
- Old letter in the first guardhouse
- Blueprint hidden behind a painting in the supply room
- Mini-figurine on a rooftop alcove near the map marker
Tip: If you’re aiming for 100% completion, pause and check your collectibles menu each time you clear a room. Missing one item is often easier to find when retracing steps from the nearest checkpoint.
Dialogue choices, consequences, and endings
Choices made during Episode 1 can influence companion trust, access to side quests, and even small changes to the dispatch mission outcome. Key advice for dialogue choices:
- Save before important conversations to test alternate outcomes
- Use empathetic answers to boost companion affinity where required
- Sometimes the pragmatic or cold choice grants items or a stealth route
Example: Choosing to spare a non-player character during the dispatch mission might unlock a side quest later. Conversely, aggressive responses can close off options but yield immediate loot. Decide whether you want roleplay consistency or optimal rewards, and save accordingly.
Maps, controls, and navigation tips
Getting lost is common in dense early-game levels. Use these map and control tips to keep your dispatch run efficient:
- Check the mini-map frequently—markers update after each puzzle
- Custom waypoints help mark unexplored doors or collectibles locations
- Tweak control sensitivity if camera movement feels sluggish during combat
- Use quick travel only after you’ve fully explored the current area to avoid missing side quests
Visual cue tip: Look for environmental color contrasts. Developers often color-highlight interactive objects subtly—rusted metal, a distinct light, or a worn path can indicate a hidden route or a puzzle clue.
Side quests, achievements, and completion tips
Episode 1 often seeds side quests or achievement challenges that reward exploration. To maximize your completion rate:
- Complete side quests early—some only appear after a certain dialogue choice
- Track achievement requirements in the journal and set small goals per checkpoint
- Some achievements require defeating a miniboss without taking damage or finishing a puzzle under time limits—practice makes perfect
Example achievement strategy: If an achievement requires finding three collectibles in one run, mark each collectible on your map as you discover them and plan an efficient route to collect all three before finishing the dispatch mission.
Troubleshooting common problems
Even with careful planning, players run into technical or design hiccups. Here are fixes for typical issues during the dispatch episode:
- Mission marker not updating: reload the last checkpoint or restart the game to force a mission state refresh
- Collectible not appearing: ensure you triggered the correct dialogue or solved the prerequisite puzzle first
- Companion stuck or not following: re-enter the area or use the companion recall command if available
- Stuck in geometry: use an emote or sit action to trigger a soft reset, or reload the checkpoint
If you suspect a bug, documenting the exact steps you took helps when reporting it to dev support—note time, location, and any in-game actions that preceded the issue.
Advanced tactics and speedrun tips
For experienced players aiming to optimize time, use these advanced tactics during the dispatch mission:
- Sequence break: identify a safe way to bypass minor puzzles using a dash or wall clip if the game allows it
- Resource conservation: avoid using consumables on trivial fights—save them for minibosses
- Movement optimization: master strafing, sprint-cancel, and jump combos to shorten traversal times
- Dialogue skipping: skip non-essential conversations after your first full playthrough to save time
Note: Some speedrun techniques may disable achievements or cause glitches. Use them with caution if you care about clean completion.
FAQ: Common questions about walkthrough episode 1 dispatch
1. How long should the dispatch mission take?
The main dispatch objective typically takes 20–40 minutes depending on playstyle. A full completion run, including collectibles and side quests, can take 60–90 minutes for first-time players.
2. Where are the collectibles locations in Episode 1?
Common collectibles are in the guardhouse behind the first landmark, a rooftop alcove near the supply depot, and inside a collapsed tunnel accessed after solving the first puzzle. Always check behind destructible walls and high ledges.
3. Which dialogue choices affect the dispatch outcome?
Key choices involve whether you spare a certain NPC and whether you reveal a secret path. Sparing the NPC often unlocks a side quest, while revealing the path can lead to extra loot and a faster route to the dispatch terminal.
4. What if a puzzle seems impossible?
Re-examine the environment for subtle clues—symbols, floor marks, or audio cues. If you’re stuck, reload your last checkpoint to reset puzzle pieces or check the journal for hints. Some puzzles require activating objects in a strict order.
5. Are there any must-have upgrades for Episode 1?
Early upgrades to stamina/dodge and companion synergy abilities provide the best immediate benefit. A moderate damage increase helps, but mobility and recovery improve survivability during the dispatch mission.
Conclusion: Finishing the dispatch with confidence
Completing the walkthrough episode 1 dispatch is about balance: follow the main path efficiently, explore smartly for collectibles and side quests, and make choice-based decisions that match your playstyle. Use the step-by-step sections, combat tactics, puzzle hints, and map tips in this guide to reduce frustration and increase satisfaction. With a few checkpoints, some saved games, and the strategies above, you can clear Episode 1 cleanly and set a strong foundation for the rest of the campaign.
Good luck on your dispatch run. Take your time the first playthrough to enjoy the story, then use the advanced tactics for speedruns or 100% completions on subsequent runs.

