Tears of Metal soldiers gain permanent skills between campaigns, so protecting experienced units is part of long-term progression. Recruit a balanced battalion, give new commanders time in manageable encounters, use troop commands deliberately, and avoid sacrificing veterans for optional rewards. Players reported visual promotion tiers at levels 6 and 11 in a Steam discussion dated July 27, 2026, but Paper Cult has not published those thresholds as an official rule.
How Tears of Metal soldiers progress
The official Steam store establishes the core loop: soldiers gain experience, retain permanent skills between campaigns, and can be recruited and upgraded. This means the army is not disposable scenery. A surviving battalion carries progression into future attempts and can make later objectives easier. Reviews describe a roster containing infantry, spearmen, archers, and a more powerful companion. Army commands consume a combat resource built while the hero fights, so a strong battalion still depends on active hero play. Use commands when they solve a specific problem—focus a dangerous target, control a crowd, or create room around an objective—rather than spending them immediately whenever available.
Recruiting and building a balanced battalion
Start with a mix that can handle different battlefield jobs. Infantry can occupy nearby enemies, spearmen add another attack pattern, and archers provide ranged pressure. A specialized composition may become useful after upgrades, but balance is easier while learning encounter threats. Use this progression routine: 1. Choose a reliable core. Keep a few experienced commanders in the lineup instead of replacing the whole army after each setback. 2. Introduce recruits gradually. Pair lower-level units with veterans and a hero build that can draw pressure away from them. 3. Match commands to danger. Save army actions for captains, crowded objectives, or moments when soldiers are surrounded. 4. Review permanent gains between runs. Upgrade the units and commands you actually use before expanding into another composition. 5. Retreat from bad value. An optional reward is rarely worth losing multiple developed commanders. Village investment supports this loop. Consult the village upgrade guide when army survival, rather than hero damage, is the main campaign bottleneck.
What promotion levels mean
A Steam Community discussion posted July 27, 2026 reports that commanders change visual and equipment tiers at level 6 and level 11 (maximum). Participants also reported gradual stat gains, increased troop capacity, and stronger command effects at higher tiers. Those details are player observations from the Steam Community discussion thread, not a developer-authored promotion table, which illustrates why the thread should be used as dated guidance rather than definitive documentation. Verify the commander card and current build before planning around an exact threshold. Official hotfix V0.10.57598 fixed commanders disappearing after reaching level 6 or maximum level when the game was closed before the next level. That fix confirms those milestones mattered to progression in that build, but it does not officially define every benefit reported in the discussion.
Control the hero before issuing commands
Your hero is the fastest tool for interrupting threats around the battalion. Clear captains and dangerous clusters before committing troops to an objective. A coherent Emblem and Charm build helps the hero remove threats quickly enough for soldiers to survive.
Avoid exposing recruits to the hardest region
SmashPad's Early Access review describes a sharp difficulty increase across the campaign and notes that army losses can leave the remainder of a run much harder. Develop recruits in encounters you can control. Do not use an untested battalion as the foundation for a push into the most punishing content you have reached.
Spend commands for protection, not only damage
A command that pulls pressure from vulnerable units can be more valuable than maximum immediate damage. Watch objective locations and enemy telegraphs, then direct the battalion where it is less likely to be surrounded. Patch V0.11.57863 improved level-one ally survivability and fixed allies taking extra damage during boss battles, showing that survival balance was still changing during Early Access; the EA-period observation cited below reflects the build current at the time of the Steam discussion.
Maintain more than one usable group
Permanent progression encourages attachment to veterans, but relying on a single lineup creates a recovery problem after losses. Once the first core is dependable, develop backups in safer battles. Rotate rather than replacing all veterans at once.
Companions and heroes are different roles
Companions are part of the army layer announced for Early Access, while playable heroes are the characters directly controlled by players. Paper Cult also confirmed plans for additional companions during Early Access, but names, release order, and exact mechanics for unannounced additions were not published by the research date. See the heroes and characters hub for the playable roster instead of treating companions as heroes.
Sources
Tears of Metal on Steam: permanent soldier skills, recruitment, upgrades, and campaign progression. Commander Promoting discussion: player-reported level 6 and 11 tiers, stat changes, troop capacity, and command effects; thread dated July 27, 2026. Hotfix - Version 0.10.57598: commander disappearance fix at level 6 or maximum. SmashPad Early Access review: army commands, battalion management, and escalating campaign difficulty. Steam Deck HQ Early Access review: unit composition, companions, army commands, and permanent progression. TheSixthAxis Early Access announcement: Paper Cult's confirmed plan for more companions.
FAQ
Do soldiers keep their upgrades between campaigns?
Yes. Steam explicitly says soldiers gain permanent skills between campaigns and can be recruited and upgraded.
At what levels do commanders promote?
Players reported appearance or equipment-tier changes at levels 6 and 11 in a July 27, 2026 Steam discussion. These are community-observed thresholds, not an official Paper Cult promotion chart.
Why did a commander disappear at level 6 or maximum level?
Hotfix V0.10.57598 fixed a bug that could make commanders disappear if the game was closed after level 6 or maximum level but before the next level. Install the current update before troubleshooting an older save.
What is the safest way to level new recruits?
Pair them with veteran units, use a comfortable hero build, and field them in manageable encounters. Save commands to relieve pressure rather than chasing damage alone.
Are more companions confirmed?
Yes, Paper Cult said more companions are planned during Early Access. Specific identities and dates were not announced as of 2026-08-03.