Tempest Rising GDF Mission 1 – 100% Walkthrough

The first mission of the GDF campaign in Tempest Rising serves as a good introduction to the mechanics, starting units, and tactics of the Global Defense Forces. Even though it’s essentially a tutorial, there are several secondary missions that reward you with precious Requisition Points.

Here is a complete walkthrough of the opening mission of the GDF faction in Tempest Rising, including strategies to complete the secondary objectives as well.

GDF Campaign Mission 1 Complete Main and Secondary Objectives

Main Objective – Reach the GDF MCV

The mission starts by giving you control of a few Field Scouts that serve as your default infantry units. They’re cheap to recruit and do decent damage. You’ll soon also have access to Drone Operators, who are very useful as they provide reconnaissance when you switch to the Drone, and also deal tremendous damage.

Use Drones or Field Scouts to shoot at explosive barrels. You want to learn this right now, as you’ll be doing this a lot. It’s an easy way to deal damage and blow up enemy structures.

However, this is where your first secondary objective comes into play.

Secondary Objective – Destroy the SAM Sites [1/4]

There are four SAM sites in mission one, each capable of taking out your drones like flies. The first one will appear a few minutes after you’ve acquired the Drone Operators and killed a few Dynasty units.

After this, you will be joined by one of the best GDF units, the Riot Medic. This unit can heal other units directly and also deploy a turret that heals everyone in its proximity, but disappears after a short time.

Additionally, two Sentinel vehicles will join your squad. Use these to scout ahead, and switch to their marking utility to score some intel.

Secondary Objective – Save the Grenadiers

Now that you have a few field scouts, drone operators, sentinels, and a Riot Medic on your squad, it’s time to march forward and rescue the Grenadiers. While they can easily stand their ground, you need to send the Riot Medic to heal them up. As soon as the Riot Medic enters their range, the objective will be completed.

Secondary Objective – Destroy the SAM Sites [2/4]

Continue your path toward the GDF MCV site, but make note of the second SAM site northwest of your path. Send your Grenadiers to wipe it out. Make sure your Drone Operators don’t become suicidal and throw themselves at the SAM site.

Secondary Objective – Destroy the SAM Sites [3/4]

Before taking the path to the northeast, you can spot the third SAM site from the elevated point. Trying to attack it from this range with the Grenadiers will force them to manually follow the descending path, but you can use the Sentinels to take out the SAM site from this elevated point. It will take a bit longer, but it’s easier, especially if you target the barrels next to it.

Continue your path down and take out the few Dynasty enemies—and destroy everything in your path, just for fun.

Eventually, you will reach the GDF MCV point, which completes the first main objective.

Main Objective – Deploy MCV

Once you reach the MCV point, deploy it and build a Refinery from the “Buildings” tab to complete the second main objective.

Now, deploy your current forces at the bridge and use the “G” command to force them to hold their ground. If you simply move them there, they’ll follow enemy targets and end up dying from something they aren’t meant to deal with. This is another important command to learn early on if you don’t want to lose your units unnecessarily.

I also recommend placing the Riot Medic a bit behind the bridge and using him to keep deploying the healing turret.

Secondary Objective – Build a Barracks

Barracks are the heart of your base and will spawn your main infantry units. After it’s built, select the Barracks, and then choose a spot on the map to send spawned units there with right-click, just like how you would attack something.

I recommend selecting a point close to the bridge.

Secondary Objective – Build a Satellite Uplink

After the Barracks, you want to build a Satellite Uplink to unlock more advanced units.

Secondary Objective – Destroy the SAM Sites [4/4]

Just across the bridge, you see the final SAM site that poses a constant threat to your drones. I recommend using the Sentinels to take it out when you have some breathing room. These are fast, so they can get away from danger without completely turning to dust.

Secondary Objective – Destroy the Gate

Naturally, you will be rewarded with a Tempest Airstrike, which you can use to target the gate. Don’t worry, the game will automatically lead you to this part of the map.

Main Objective – Destroy the Dynasty’s Construction Yard

After all the previous main and secondary objectives are done, it’s time to finish off the Dynasty’s Construction Yard. I recommend recruiting 10 grenadiers, 10 drone operators, and 5 field scouts. Move them all together to the Construction Yard by crossing the bridge, and you’re done with the mission.

That’s all there is to it! If you finish all the secondary objectives as well, you will receive a total of 1600 requisition points.