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
Leads infantry lines on land.
- Issues orders and formations
- Provides buffs to nearby soldiers
Naval Captain
Commands an entire ship.
- Steers the vessel and sets sail orders
- Coordinates crew actions in naval battles
Rank & File
Line Infantry
The backbone of the army.
- Armed with musket and bayonet
- Disciplined volley fire under officer orders
Guards
Elite frontline fighters.
- Protect officers and key positions
- Superior melee ability and durability
Grenadiers
Heavy melee specialists.
- Large, powerful soldiers
- Absorb more damage than regular infantry
Skirmisher
Light Infantry
Fast-moving harassers.
- Reach key terrain quickly
- Good mobility and firepower
Rifleman
Long-range sharpshooters.
- Higher accuracy than muskets
- Limited numbers, deadly at distance
Customs
Naval skirmishers.
- Strong swimmers and agile fighters
- Harass enemies from water or shore
Support
Artillery
Masters of cannons, mortars, and rockets.
- Devastating firepower
- Require coordination and skill
Cavalry
Shock troops on horseback.
- Armed with sabers and carbines
- Break lines with charges and flanking
Crewman
Experienced sailors.
- Strong swimmers
- Skilled in naval melee with cutlass or pike
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.).
