Game Types
Nations at War
The original Napoleonic-era setting for Holdfast. Players fight as 18th–19th century armies and navies using muskets, bayonets, cannons, and sailing ships. Nations at War features classic line battles, sieges, naval engagements, and conquest modes.
Frontlines WW1
A World War I–themed experience within Holdfast. Players take on the role of early 20th-century soldiers with bolt-action rifles, pistols, machine guns, and artillery. The gameplay emphasizes trench warfare, attrition, and combined arms tactics.
Class System
Each team has access to a wide variety of classes with unique gear and abilities. Some classes provide direct combat power, while others serve essential support roles such as healing, boosting morale, or providing artillery fire.
Command
Army Infantry Officer
The Infantry Officer directs the battle on land, issuing orders, forming lines, and providing buffs to nearby soldiers.
Naval Captain
The Naval Captain commands a ship and its crew. They steer the vessel, set sail orders, and coordinate the crew in naval engagements.
Rank & File
Line Infantry
The backbone of the army. Armed with a musket and bayonet, they follow officer commands and form disciplined firing lines.
Guards
Elite infantry tasked with protecting officers and key positions. They excel in melee combat and survivability.
Grenadiers
Large, powerful infantry who specialize in melee combat and can absorb more damage than regular soldiers.
Skirmisher
Light Infantry
Fast-moving troops who can reach key positions quickly. Effective at harassing the enemy with mobility and firepower.
Rifleman
Sharpshooters with superior accuracy compared to musket-armed soldiers. Deadly at long range but fewer in number.
Customs
Naval light infantry who can swim, move quickly, and harass enemies from advantageous positions.
Support
Artillery
Specialists in cannons, mortars, and rockets. They deal devastating damage but require coordination and experience.
Cavalry
Horse-mounted soldiers skilled with swords and carbines. Cavalry charges can break lines and turn the tide of battle.
Crewman
Experienced sailors capable of swimming long distances and excelling in naval melee combat with cutlasses or pikes.
Aiming
Musket accuracy is limited. Use the bottom of the reticle to judge range:
- At short range: aim center mass with the reticle at knee height.
- At long range: gradually aim higher. At ~100 meters, place the reticle bottom at head height.
Lateral bullet spread cannot be compensated – firing in volleys improves effectiveness.
Melee
Attacking
- Press X to switch to melee mode.
- Left-click to attack.
- The mouse direction when attacking determines strike direction (e.g., moving the mouse up performs an overhead strike).
- Attacks can be canceled early by blocking, allowing faster follow-up swings. (You can cancel after hearing the “whoosh” sound mid-swing.)
Blocking
- Blocking is only possible in melee mode.
- Hold right mouse button to block.
- The mouse direction determines the block angle (e.g., move the mouse up to block an overhead strike).
Tips
- Hold Y to use voice chat (can be rebound in settings).
- Press P to open the voice chat mute menu. Find a player’s name and click the sound icon to mute them.
- Press K to mute in-game voice entirely.
- Press Tab while in text chat to cycle through chat channels (General, Recruitment, Team, etc.).
