If you’re a fan of looter shooters who prefers playing alone instead of coordinating with random teams, you’ve probably wondered: is the first descendant single player a viable way to enjoy the game? I’ve spent over 70 hours running missions both solo and with friends, so I’ve got a clear picture of what works, what doesn’t, and who will get the most out of playing The First Descendant alone. A lot of new players assume the game is only built for co-op, but that’s not entirely true — there’s a ton of content you can work through without ever joining a squad, as long as you know what to expect going in.
Is The First Descendant Single Player Mode Fully Supported By Developers?
Nexon initially marketed The First Descendant as a co-op focused looter shooter, but they added full single player support just a few months after launch, in direct response to thousands of player requests. For anyone asking if is the first descendant single player mode abandoned, the answer is a clear no — the last three major updates have all added new solo-exclusive side missions and quality of life improvements for lone players. All story missions, side quests, and most non-raid endgame content is accessible solo, no party required to queue.
I was surprised when I first booted up the game last year, because I expected to be forced to join a team just to get past the first three story chapters, but I was able to play through the entire main arc without sending a single squad invite. All core progression rewards are identical for solo and co-op players, so you don’t miss out on loot or XP by playing alone. You also get full access to the character customization and base building features, no co-op participation required to unlock those systems.
Key Pros of Playing The First Descendant Solo
One of the biggest questions new players have is if is the first descendant single player mode lets them earn the same rare cosmetic items as co-op players, and the answer is yes — all cosmetic drops are available no matter which mode you play in. The biggest perks of going solo extend far beyond loot, though, and fit a lot of casual players’ preferences perfectly.
- No pressure to meet squad performance expectations, perfect for short, low-stakes play sessions after work or school
- Full access to all story lore and cutscenes without other players skipping content to rush through missions faster
- 100% of mission loot goes directly to your inventory, no need to roll for rare drops against random teammates
You also get full control over your playstyle and pace. If you want to spend 20 minutes exploring a mission map to find hidden lore entries and secret chests, you can do that without anyone complaining. If you want to test out a silly, unoptimized weapon build just for fun, you don’t have to worry about letting a team down. Solo play is especially ideal for players who want to experience the game’s story without distractions, since the main narrative has some surprisingly deep worldbuilding that’s easy to miss when you’re focused on coordinating with a team.
Common Challenges You’ll Face In Single Player Mode
Solo play isn’t perfect for everyone, and there are some clear limitations you should know about before you commit to playing alone full time. A common misconception is that is the first descendant single player mode is an afterthought, but most of the difficulty balancing for core content is tested for both solo and co-op groups first. That said, higher level content is still tuned with teams in mind, so you’ll run into some roadblocks if you only play alone.
The biggest issue is endgame accessibility. Higher difficulty void missions, for example, are balanced for 3-4 players, so you’ll need a very optimized build to clear them alone. You don’t have anyone to revive you if you go down, so a single mistake can end a 20-minute mission right before you get the final reward. Progression can also feel slower at higher levels, since you don’t get the 15% XP boost that comes with playing in a full squad. I found that I had to run 2-3 extra side missions per level when I was playing solo compared to when I ran content with friends, which can feel tedious if you’re in a hurry to unlock new characters.
You will not be able to access the game’s 8-player raid content in single player mode, so if endgame raiding is your main priority, you’ll need to team up with other players eventually. Make sure to invest in defensive mods for your build if you plan to play mostly solo, since you won’t have a support player healing you through tough boss fights.
Practical Tips For a Smooth Single Player Run
If you’re still on the fence about whether is the first descendant single player mode is right for you, try playing through the first five story missions alone first before you join any squads. That will give you a good feel for the pace and difficulty of solo play, without you having to commit to anything long term. I’ve got a few simple tips that made my solo run way less frustrating, too.
First, pick a starter character that’s built for solo play. The default character, Viessa, is a great choice because she has high survivability and crowd control abilities that make taking on groups of enemies much easier. Avoid characters that are built for support or team buffs when you’re first starting out, since their strengths are wasted when you’re playing alone. Second, prioritize upgrading your weapons and mods evenly, instead of dumping all your resources into one rare gun. I made this mistake early on, and I struggled when I encountered enemies that were resistant to my main weapon’s damage type. Third, take advantage of the game’s solo-only difficulty adjustment setting, which scales enemy health and damage down slightly when you’re playing without a squad. A lot of new players don’t even know this setting exists, so make sure to toggle it on in the gameplay menu before you start your first mission.
Complete all side missions as you work through the story to unlock extra resources and upgrade materials, which will make the higher difficulty content much easier to clear later on. If you hit a wall with a specific mission, you can always temporarily join a squad to clear it, then go back to playing solo whenever you want — there’s no penalty for switching between modes as often as you like.
At the end of the day, is the first descendant single player a good fit for you? If you prefer casual, story-focused play or you just don’t enjoy coordinating with random teams, it’s absolutely worth trying. You’ll have access to almost all of the game’s core content, and the developers have continued to add new solo-friendly updates every few months based on player feedback. Even if you eventually want to try co-op content, playing solo first is a great way to learn the game’s mechanics and build up your collection of weapons and characters before you join a squad. You don’t have to force yourself to play with others if that’s not what you enjoy — the game works perfectly well for solo players, as long as you go in with clear expectations of what content is and isn’t accessible alone.