13 NAMED UPGRADES
Burning
Build and exploit burnApplies Burning through attack and defense slots, then improves buildup, speed, debuff pressure, and Burning pickups.
TIER-TWO DIRECTIONS
TIER-THREE PAYOFFBurning Pickup
Emblem Build Atlas
Compare all eight Tears of Metal Emblem families by trigger slots, tier-two branches, tier-three payoffs, and cross-family synergies.
Pick one engine, then make your common actions feed it.
A coherent early build puts the same family on actions you use reliably, then chooses a tier-two branch that fixes the engine’s actual weakness. Add a second family when a named Synergy upgrade connects the two—not just because both options are individually rare.
FAMILY COMPARISON
Choose the behavior you want to build around
Every link opens the exact upgrade concept and its connected level rows.
See every Burning upgrade →
12 NAMED UPGRADES
Chain
Bounce damage through crowdsAdds Chain to core actions, then extends length, enables forks and critical chains, and makes chains break through more targets.
TIER-TWO DIRECTIONS
TIER-THREE PAYOFFChain Breakable
See every Chain upgrade →16 NAMED UPGRADES
Charger
Turn movement into impactBuilds around pushes and collision control, with upgrades for push damage, stuns, and Dash cooldown.
TIER-TWO DIRECTIONS
TIER-THREE PAYOFFFlocked Pickup
4 cross-family synergies
15 NAMED UPGRADES
Doomsayer
Convert fortune into pressureBuilds around Fortune effects, with damage, pierce, magnet control, and a Prophecy payoff.
TIER-TWO DIRECTIONS
TIER-THREE PAYOFFProphecy
3 cross-family synergies
17 NAMED UPGRADES
Gambler
Scale cards and flurriesImproves Flurry buildup, card volume, and morale before converting the engine into a Lucky area hit.
TIER-TWO DIRECTIONS
TIER-THREE PAYOFFLucky AoE
5 cross-family synergies
18 NAMED UPGRADES
Ravager
Cleave through packed hordesFocuses on repeated and enlarged cleaves, multi-hit bonuses, and a late Chain-cleave interaction.
TIER-TWO DIRECTIONS
TIER-THREE PAYOFFChain Cleave
6 cross-family synergies
11 NAMED UPGRADES
Satellite
Maintain orbiting offenseAdds Satellite effects to action slots, then improves their damage, pierce, and automatic defensive coverage.
TOP BRANCH IN CURRENT DATAAutoblock
See every Satellite upgrade →14 NAMED UPGRADES
Vortex
Pull enemies into a kill zoneCenters enemies for damage and vulnerability, then strengthens impact and keeps the Vortex looping.
TIER-TWO DIRECTIONS
TIER-THREE PAYOFFLooping Vortex
2 cross-family synergies
A four-check draft rule
- Trigger: Is this attached to an action you actually use—Light, Heavy, Dash, Block, or an Ally command?
- Family: Does it advance the engine already producing most of your value?
- Scaling: Do its linked level values improve the number you care about, and does the effect stack?
- Payoff: Does it open a tier-two branch, tier-three effect, or named cross-family Synergy?