Deltarune: Chapter 1 is the first chapter of Toby Fox’s DELTARUNE, a chapter-based RPG about party battles, ACT choices, sparing enemies, bullet-dodging enemy turns, puzzle rooms, and manual saves. Steam lists DELTARUNE as developed and published by tobyfox; console storefront credits can differ.
The full DELTARUNE release includes Chapters 1-5, with more planned as free updates. The free demo remains Chapters 1 and 2. This guide covers Chapter 1 only and avoids later-chapter routes, recruits, puzzle answers, and hidden-boss spoilers.
Content warning: Official DELTARUNE pages list Teen descriptors for Language, Suggestive Themes, Mild Blood, and Fantasy Violence. This guide stays non-graphic and focuses on play.
Spoiler note: This is a spoiler-light first-run guide. It names broad systems and one optional boss category, but it does not give exact puzzle solutions, hidden key steps, late story beats, or later chapter route details.
Essential Tips
1. Treat Chapter 1 as Its Own Ruleset
Later DELTARUNE systems can mislead your first run.
Chapter 1 does not use the full recruit and storage systems that later chapters introduce. If a guide or video talks about recruiting enemies, Lost enemies, or later route mechanics, do not assume that advice applies to your first Chapter 1 file.
2. Use ACT Before SPARE
Nonviolent battles usually start with Kris.
Kris’s ACT command is the main way to make enemies spareable. Watch for enemy names turning yellow with a star marker, then use SPARE. Chapter 1 does not show the later visible Mercy bar, so learn to read names, battle text, and enemy reactions.
3. Keep TP Available for PACIFY
A peaceful option can fail if you spent the meter too early.
Ralsei can PACIFY Tired enemies, but PACIFY needs TP. If you are trying to end fights without violence, avoid spending every bit of TP on damage or special actions before checking whether an enemy is Tired.
4. DEFEND Is a Real Resource Tool
Defending buys safety and meter at the same time.
DEFEND reduces incoming damage and builds TP. Use it when a character has no useful action, when you are preparing for PACIFY, or when you need to survive a pattern instead of forcing damage.
5. Graze Carefully, Not Recklessly
Close dodges can build TP, but getting hit is still worse.
Enemy turns put your SOUL into a bullet-dodging box. Moving close to bullets can build TP, and slowing your movement can help with precise dodging. Use grazing as a controlled habit, not as a challenge-run dare.
6. Warn Enemies When Susie Is a Problem
Chapter 1 has moments where peaceful play needs prevention.
When Susie is present but not fully cooperative, pay attention to ACT options that stop accidental violence. If you are trying to keep battles peaceful, do not just pick your own ACT and ignore what the rest of the party may do.
7. Keep Ralsei Standing
Healing and PACIFY both depend on him.
Ralsei is your safety net for healing and Tired enemy resolution. If a fight is getting messy, use items, DEFEND, and equipment choices to keep him available rather than treating him as expendable.
8. Check Shops Before Major Pushes
A little defense can matter more than a flashy attack.
Chapter 1 has useful weapons, armor, and healing items before the hardest optional and late-chapter fights. If a route has been easy so far, still check your inventory and equipment before entering an obvious castle, boss, or point-of-no-return sequence.
9. Save Before Suspicious Doors and Boss Rooms
Manual saves are your best spoiler-light safety tool.
When the game gives you a save point near a major room, use it. A good save lets you experiment with ACTs, recover from item waste, and come back to optional content without replaying a long stretch.
10. Leave the Hidden Boss Until You Are Ready
Optional does not mean easy.
Chapter 1 has a difficult optional boss tied to hidden exploration. Save first, bring healing, check equipment, and be ready for a longer fight than the normal story battles. If you only want a clean first clear, it is fine to return to optional content later.
11. Do Not Chase Later Chapters From Inside Chapter 1
The current full game is larger, but this chapter is still the foundation.
The full release now goes beyond Chapter 1, and the demo includes Chapter 2 as well. For a first run, finish Chapter 1 on its own terms before reading later-chapter route or boss details.
Combat Habits
| Habit | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Check ACT options first | Most peaceful solutions start from Kris’s ACT menu |
| Watch enemy name colors | Chapter 1 lacks the later visible Mercy bar |
| Keep some TP banked | PACIFY and certain actions need meter |
| DEFEND with idle characters | It reduces damage and builds TP |
| Keep Ralsei healthy | Healing and PACIFY depend on him being available |
| Use items before panic starts | Late healing is harder when multiple party members are down |
| Save before big rooms | You can retry without losing long exploration progress |
| Back off from optional content if needed | The hidden boss is not required for a first clear |
Chapter 1 Scope
| Topic | Chapter 1 Guidance |
|---|---|
| Free access | Chapter 1 is part of the free Chapter 1&2 demo |
| Full release | Current official pages say Chapters 1-5 are available in the paid full game |
| First-time order | Play Chapter 1 before later chapters |
| Recruits | Do not plan around Chapter 2+ recruit systems |
| Mercy display | Use yellow names/star markers, not a visible percentage bar |
| Routes | Treat Chapter 1 as spoiler-light and linear for this guide |
| Optional boss | Save, prepare, and skip it temporarily if needed |
| Platform details | Check store pages and controls for your platform |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
-
Do not mash FIGHT if you want a peaceful run - ACT, SPARE, and PACIFY are separate habits, and Chapter 1 expects you to learn them early.
-
Do not wait for a Chapter 2-style Mercy bar - In Chapter 1, spare readiness is shown through enemy name color and markers.
-
Do not spend all TP before checking for PACIFY - Ralsei needs TP to Pacify Tired enemies.
-
Do not ignore Susie’s actions - Some peaceful Chapter 1 moments require you to prevent unwanted attacks, not just choose Kris’s best ACT.
-
Do not let Ralsei fall for free - Losing your healer and Pacify caster can turn a manageable fight into an item drain.
-
Do not skip shops because normal enemies are easy - Optional and late fights ask more from your equipment and healing stock.
-
Do not use hidden-boss guides as first-run reading - They often reveal puzzle routes, rewards, and late mechanics you may want to discover naturally.
-
Do not assume the paid full game and the free demo are the same product - The demo covers Chapters 1 and 2, while the current full game includes later chapters.
-
Do not apply later route advice to Chapter 1 - Recruits, Lost enemies, and later chapter route systems are outside this guide’s scope.
Summary
| Category | Top Tip |
|---|---|
| First Run | Play Chapter 1 in order and avoid later-chapter route spoilers |
| Nonviolent Battles | ACT until enemies can be SPARED |
| TP | DEFEND and careful grazing keep PACIFY available |
| Party Safety | Protect Ralsei because healing and PACIFY run through him |
| Equipment | Check shops and armor before major fights |
| Saves | Save before suspicious doors, boss rooms, and optional content |
| Scope | Use this for Chapter 1 only, not Chapters 2-5 |
| Availability | Demo covers Chapters 1&2; full game currently includes Chapters 1-5 |
Did this answer your question?
Your feedback helps keep the useful answers visible.Sources
8 checked for this guideEvery factual claim in this guide was checked against at least two independent sources before publication. These are the references used for Deltarune: Chapter 1.
Next answers
Community notes0
No community notes yet.
Sign in to contribute