Starting out in The Alters can feel overwhelming. With multiple clone types—each with specific traits and story arcs—it’s easy to make choices that slow down your progress. This guide is designed for first-time players who want to make smart decisions about which alters to unlock first, so they can build a strong foundation and avoid frustration later.
This walkthrough will help you pick the most essential alters early on, understand their benefits, and avoid common mistakes that can derail your experience. From technician to botanist, here’s how to get started right.
Why Your First Altar Choices Matter
Your very first playthrough of The Alters sets the stage for how smooth—or difficult—your entire run will be. Since certain alters unlock additional skill trees or story branches, picking the wrong one too early can lock you into tough scenarios or inefficient setups.
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You always begin with Jan the Technician, which is fixed and cannot be changed.
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After that, you can recruit up to five more alters, each offering a unique skill set.
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Some alters are better suited for early-game stability, while others are more advanced and best left for later.
This guide helps you prioritize those early game decisions with maximized efficiency in mind.
Start Strong: Unlock the Scientist Early
After you start with the Technician, your first pick should always be the Scientist. Here’s why:
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Story integration: You’ll need the Scientist for progression no matter what, so unlocking him sooner gives you more research time.
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Gameplay benefit: Earlier access to research systems lets you unlock useful tech upgrades that streamline the rest of your playthrough.
Don’t delay unlocking the Scientist. Even if you technically can grab him later, doing it right away opens up more efficient routes through the game’s mechanics.
Next Up: Choose the Botanist for Mood & Resources
Once the Scientist is on board, your next best option is the Botanist. She brings balance and emotional management to your team.
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Food advantages: The Botanist makes it easier to grow and prepare specialized meals that boost mood and productivity.
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Endgame relevance: Like the Scientist, the Botanist has a unique ending path, adding variety to your story options later on.
Bringing her in early means your other alters will be in a better mental state, reducing the chance of conflicts or slowdowns.
Avoid Branching Alters on Your First Run
In The Alters, some alters can evolve into more specialized versions—these are known as branching alters. For your first run, it’s better to hold off on unlocking these.
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Refiner → Worker: While the Worker can be incredibly helpful in terms of task automation, the extra management overhead makes it tricky for new players.
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Doctor → Shrink: This branch deals with health and psychological stability, but both require more micromanagement than most beginners will be comfortable with.
These advanced alters are more useful in a second playthrough, when you understand the game mechanics better and can allocate time and attention more efficiently.
Consider the Miner for Resource Gains
After Technician, Scientist, and Botanist, the Miner is a solid fourth choice—but with caution.
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Efficiency boost: The Miner increases your metal harvesting rates, which supports base building and upgrade crafting.
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Downsides: This alter brings personal issues that can create side problems if not handled carefully. It’s manageable, but be prepared for added complexity.
The Miner’s value is mostly mechanical. If you're comfortable managing an alter with a slightly rougher temperament, he can really speed things up.
Skip the Guard Unless You’re Curious About His Story
The Guard is another alter available relatively early, but for your first playthrough, he's optional at best.
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Minimal practical value: He doesn’t significantly impact your core resource or mood systems.
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Story flavor: His narrative arc is interesting and offers variety, but it’s not essential for new players trying to build a stable crew.
If you're more into storylines than efficiency, the Guard could be worth trying out. Otherwise, there are stronger picks for early game stability.
Free Choice: Filling Your Last Two Slots
Once you’ve unlocked Technician, Scientist, Botanist, and optionally the Miner, your final two alters can be based on preference or experimentation.
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Try Worker if you're ready: If you feel confident in your management skills, branching into the Worker can boost your task throughput.
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Explore unique paths: You might want to unlock alters with special endings or personalities to see different aspects of the game.
By this point, you should have a good grip on the mechanics. Use your remaining unlocks to either expand utility or enhance your story experience.
Conclusion: Keep It Simple and Steady
Your first playthrough of The Alters should focus on stability, utility, and low-maintenance alters. Sticking with Technician → Scientist → Botanist gives you a strong foundation, helping you manage the crew’s mood, advance research, and access key story elements early.
Avoid branching alters like the Worker and Shrink on your first go, as they bring more complexity than most beginners need. After you’ve mastered the basics, you can explore those on your second run.
Stick to this optimized unlock order, and you'll set yourself up for a much smoother experience, minimizing trial-and-error and letting you enjoy the journey.
FAQ: Altar Unlock Strategy for The Alters
Q: What is the best first alter to unlock in The Alters?
A: Always unlock the Scientist first. He’s required for story progress and improves your research capabilities early on.
Q: Should I unlock the Worker or Shrink in my first playthrough?
A: No. These are branching alters that add complexity. Save them for your second run.
Q: What does the Botanist do?
A: The Botanist makes food management easier and helps maintain the crew’s mood, which is key for early-game stability.
Q: Is the Guard worth unlocking early?
A: Only if you’re interested in his story. He doesn’t offer major gameplay advantages.
Q: How many alters can I unlock in total?
A: You start with Jan the Technician and can unlock up to five additional alters.
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