Quickstart

The Finals is the 3v3v3 team shooter with full environmental destruction from Embark Studios (ex- DICE developers). The game is F2P, cross-play, and has 10M+ players since launch. The core gimmick is that every surface can be destroyed — you can blow up floors, collapse buildings, and reshape the map mid-match. The combat is fast, the destruction is satisfying, and the team-based mode is genuinely unique.

This guide will get you from "just downloaded" to "first Cashout win" without dying 30 times.

Step 1: Understand the game mode

The Finals' main game mode is Cashout. 3 teams of 3 players fight to control a vault and extract cash from it. The team with the most cash at the end wins.

Match length — 8-12 minutes.
Teams — 3 teams, 3 players each (3v3v3).
Respawns — limited (3 per match, plus

revival from teammates).

Win condition — most cash extracted.

Other modes (Tournament, Bank It, Power Shift) rotate as limited-time events.

Step 2: Pick a class

The Finals has 3 classes, each with a distinct playstyle:

Light — fast, low HP, high damage. The

assassin class. Best for: flanking, picking off isolated enemies, contesting objectives.

Medium — balanced, decent HP, decent

damage. The all-rounder. Best for: holding objectives, supporting teammates, general play.

Heavy — slow, high HP, high damage. The

tank. Best for: pushing objectives, holding positions, demolishing buildings.

For your first 20 hours, pick Medium. It's the most forgiving class and teaches the core gameplay. Once you understand the map and the destruction mechanics, try Light or Heavy.

Step 3: Understand the destruction

The Finals' destruction is not cosmetic — it changes the map every match. Key things to know:

Every surface can be destroyed with enough

damage.

**Some surfaces (concrete, brick) take more

damage** to break than others (wood, glass).

Falling debris can damage or kill players

below.

You can create new sightlines by breaking

walls.

You can collapse floors to drop enemies.

The destruction rewards aggressive play. Sitting on a high floor and sniping doesn't work — the enemy team can break the floor and drop you.

Step 4: Pick a weapon for your class

Light weapons (best for beginners)

V9S — SMG, fast, close range. The starter

Light weapon.

XP-54 — light machine gun, longer range

than the V9S.

LH1 — revolver, high damage per shot, slow

rate of fire.

Dagger — melee, fastest TTK, hardest to

master.

Sword — melee, mid-range swings.

Medium weapons

AKM — assault rifle, balanced. The starter

Medium weapon.

FAMAS — assault rifle, faster fire rate,

higher recoil.

R .357 — revolver, high damage, slow rate

of fire.

Cerberus 12GA — shotgun, close range,

devastating.

CL-40 — grenade launcher, area damage.

Heavy weapons

Lewis Gun — light machine gun, high ammo,

high damage. The starter Heavy weapon.

SA1216 — automatic shotgun, close range.
M60 — light machine gun, high damage,

slow.

Spear — heavy melee, ranged thrust.

For your first 10 hours, use the starter weapon for your class. They're all viable.

Step 5: Understand the gadgets

Each class has 3 gadgets (special abilities). The default loadout is a good starting point:

Light: Grapple Hook, Stun Gun, Flashbang.
Medium: Defibrillator, Zipline, Gas

Grenade.

Heavy: Charge 'N Slam, Winch Claw, Mesh

Shield.

The Defibrillator (Medium) is the most important gadget for beginners. It revives teammates from a distance. Revives are critical in Cashout.

Step 6: Use cash to buy your loadout

The Finals' multi-round structure lets you spend cash on your loadout between rounds:

Light loadout — 1,500-2,500 cash.
Medium loadout — 2,500-3,500 cash.
Heavy loadout — 3,500-5,000 cash.

Don't spend all your cash in the first round — you'll need it for revives and respawns later.

Beginner tip: bring healing items (med kit, gas grenade for area denial) to your first few matches. You'll survive longer.

Step 7: Play the objective

The Finals is objective-focused. The K/D ratio doesn't matter — winning the Cashout does. Common beginner mistakes:

Spawn-camping — easy kills but doesn't

help your team win.

Ignoring the vault — running around

fighting instead of contesting the objective.

Not reviving teammates — a revived

teammate is more valuable than a kill.

Not depositing cash — the cash in your

inventory doesn't count until you deposit it.

Always be moving toward the objective. Even if you die, dying on the objective is better than dying in a random corner.

Step 8: Use the destruction aggressively

The destruction mechanic is the unique part of The Finals. Some advanced tactics:

Shoot the floor under enemies to drop them

to the next level.

Shoot walls near objective points to

create new sightlines.

Use explosive barrels and gas canisters as

area-denial tools.

Shoot the ceiling above enemies to drop

debris on them.

C4 the entire building to flatten a

contested position.

The most effective destruction is deliberate, not random. Every wall you break should be a wall that helps your team.

Step 9: Communicate with your team

The Finals is team-based. Communication is critical:

Use the ping system — mark enemies,

objectives, items.

Use voice chat — Discord, in-game voice

(limited), or platform party chat.

Call out enemy positions — especially

flanking Lights.

Coordinate your team-wipe pushes — the

best way to win a Cashout is to wipe the enemy team and deposit.

Most Cashout rounds are decided in 5-10 seconds of coordinated team play. Communication is the difference.

Step 10: Don't tilt

The Finals' 3v3v3 structure means you can lose without "losing". Even if your team doesn't win the match, you can still get a good K/D, good cash, and good XP. The matchmaking is solid — you'll be matched with similar-skill players.

Beginner tilt:

Don't rage-quit — you lose XP and your

team gets a leaver penalty.

Don't blame teammates — they may be

learning too.

Don't AFK — you get a 5-minute ban.
Don't spawn-camp — it doesn't help your

team win.

Take a break between matches if you're tilting. The game will be there when you come back.

What's next

After your first 20 hours in The Finals:

Try a different class — Light, Medium, or

Heavy.

Master 1-2 weapons per class.
Play ranked — see where you place.
Find a regular team — playing with

consistent teammates is more fun.

FAQ

Is The Finals pay-to-win?

No. The cash shop has cosmetic items and the "Battle Pass" (mostly cosmetic). All gameplay- affecting items are earned in-game.

Can I play The Finals solo?

Yes — you can solo-queue for Cashout. The matchmaking will pair you with other solo players. Most players solo-queue.

What's the best class for beginners?

Medium is the most forgiving. Once you understand the destruction mechanics, try Light or Heavy.

How long does it take to reach end-game?

The Finals doesn't have a traditional "end-game" — it's a continuous competitive shooter. The progression is cosmetic (skins, emotes, titles) and skill-based (ranked).

Is The Finals cross-play?

Yes — full cross-play and cross-progression between PC (Steam, Epic), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S.

Is The Finals still being updated?

Yes — Embark Studios releases new seasons every 3 months with new weapons, gadgets, maps, and game modes. The game is in active development.

What's the population like?

~50,000 concurrent players on Steam alone. The game is healthy and growing.

How does The Finals compare to other team

shooters?

The Finals is most similar to Apex Legends (3-player team shooter) but with full environmental destruction as a unique gimmick. The combat is faster than Overwatch 2 and more casual than Valorant.

Can I play on a low-end PC?

Yes — The Finals runs on integrated graphics at 30+ FPS. The destruction requires a decent CPU (Intel 8th gen or AMD Ryzen 3 3000+).

The Finals beginner guide — Cashout, destruction, and why the F2P shooter hit 10M players