Discover the Best Kyle Build Guide for The First Descendant and how to create a powerful character with Skills, modules, and weapons.
Creating an effective build in The First Descendant involves carefully selecting and optimizing various components of your character, including modules, reactor stats, weapons, weapon mods, and skills. For a Kyle build, we will focus on optimizing your skill power and survivability. Let us walk you through creating the best Kyle Build in the First Descendant with our guide below.
Best Kyle Build Guide for The First Descendant
Kyle is a durable character who excels in the tank role in The First Descendant, using his Magnetic abilities to create shields and knock back enemies. While his damage output is modest, Kyle’s primary focus isn’t high DPS. He is the strongest tank character in the game and is highly sought after in group play for his utility and protection.
Kyle’s abilities include a shoulder charge gap closer, a barrier, and a powerful shield that can explode for AOE damage. His magnetism spurt grants a gauge that, when full, detonates with massive area damage. Unlike Ajax and other characters, Kyle’s shield enhances survivability by restoring shields when broken. This allows you to absorb damage, trigger a detonation with Magnetism, and refill shields to repeat the process, providing a versatile and durable tank build.
Kyle is a character for later in the game, ideal for players who prioritize survivability. While you won’t be dashing around the map and obliterating enemies like Bunny, you’ll be tough to kill and a valuable asset to any group, thanks to your powerful abilities.
| Kyle Build Pro | Kyle Build Cons |
|---|---|
| Mobile Tank | Melee Focus |
| High Survivability | Weak Damage |
| Great Ultimate | Slow Start |
Features and Mechanics for Kyle Build in The First Descendant
The following list presents all the essential Kyle Build Features and Mechanics for the First Descendant:
- Best Modules: Self-Directed Eruption, Increased Shield, Skill Simplification
- Best Reactor Stats: Dimension and Tech
- Best Weapon: Thunder Cage Submachine Gun
- Best Weapon Mods: Fire Rate Up, Rifling Reinforcement, Weak Point Sight
- Best External Component: Max Shield
- Skills
- Repulsion Dash
- Magnetic Bulwark
- Magnetism Spurt
- Superconductivity Thrusters
- Experienced Technician (Passive)
- Playstyle: Tank character with high survivability
- How to Unlock: Can be purchased or crafted
- Story: a Construction Corps Captain and commander of various operations.
How to play Kyle in The First Descendant
When playing as Kyle in The First Descendant, you’ll be expected to take the frontline, using your skills to knock back enemies and shield your teammates from enemy fire. Unlike other Descedants, Kyle uses Magnetic Force as his resource, not MP. Moreover, the larger shields Kyle has, the more resources he can sustain and generate. Thus, you want to build Kyle for Max Shields to optimize resource sustain and generation.
You can generate Magnetic Force by soaking up damage and dealing damage to enemies. You can then use Magnetic Force to detonate area-based damage. Therefore, you want to understand the mechanics of generating magnetic force via skills like Repulsion Dash and Barrier, then use Magnetism Spurt or Superconductivity Thrusters to detonate the force.
Area Damage and Single-Target Damage: Soak up damage with your Magnetic Bulwark (barrier) and Repulison Dash, then use Magnetism Spurt to detonate the damage. The one-two combo is charged in with the Repulsion dash, soaks up damage, and then Magnetism Spurt for AOE.
Movement and Speed: As a heavily armored tank character, Kyle is one of the slower characters in The First Descendant. However, his ultimate ability, Superconductivity Thrusters, provides a boost in mobility by allowing him to fly for a limited time.
Bosses and Ultimates: Kyle lacks aggro abilities to pull or focus a boss on him. During single-target fights, your focus will remain on creating barriers, protecting teammates, and weaving in DPS abilities. The most important thing you can do is maintain a magnetic bulk barrier by using it to absorb magnetic force and then channel that force for damage.
Defenses and Survival Tips: Use Kyle’s Repulsion Dash as a gap closer or a temporary knockback when handling melee enemies. Magnetic Bulwark is your primary defensive ability, granting a shield. Your Experienced Technician passive will help if your shields are depleted, and Superconductivity Thrusters can charge in and stun or flee the area.
How to unlock Kyle in The First Descendant
To unlock the Kyle character in the First Descendant, you should speak with the Magister Anais in the Albion Mountains to conduct research with materials for a credit fee. Below are the required research/crafting materials for Kyle:
- Kyle Enhanced Cells
- Carbon Crystal x554
- Hellion x303
- Inorganic Biogel x53
- Kyle Enhanced Cell Blueprint
- 200,000 Gold
- Kyle Stabilizer
- Metal Accelerant x519
- Monomolecular Extractor x499
- Deformed Biometal x69
- Kyle Stabilizer Blueprint x1
- 200,000 Gold
- Kyle Spiral Catalyst
- Ceramic Composite x408
- Reverse Charging Coil x455
- Compound Carbon Activator x29
- Kyle Spiral Catalyst Blueprint x1
- Kyle Code
Skills
Kyle’s kit and build premise revolve around Magnetic Force, his unique resource, instead of MP. You can generate Magnetic Force by soaking up damage and dealing damage to enemies. You can then use Magnetic Force to detonate area-based damage. Therefore, you want to understand the mechanics of generating magnetic force via skills like Repulsion Dash and Barrier, then use Magnetism Spurt or Superconductivity Thrusters to detonate the force. While Kyle will lack damage, he should be upfront, getting enemies’ attention to feed his resource sustain and damage loop with Magnetic Force.
Below are the skills for best Kyle build in the First Descendant guide:
- Repulsion Dash: Charges towards the enemy, dealing damage.
- Magnetic Bulwark: Creates a frontal Barrier to protect against enemy attacks.
- Magnetism Spurt: When damaged, Magnetic Force is reduced instead of HP or Shields. After a certain period of time, Magnetic Force detonates to deal damage around him.
- Superconductivity Thrusters: Allows Kyle to fly. When landing, deals damage in an area around his landing zone.
- Experienced Technician (passive): Obtains Magnetic Force with his Skills. When his Shield is broken, he recovers Shield and Magnetic Force.
Repulsion Dash
Repulsion Dash Features in The First Descendant:
- Description: Charges forward to inflict damage and Knockback on the colliding enemy. Recovers Magnetic Force proportional to Max Energy Shield upon dealing damage to an enemy. When the skill ends, grants self DEF+ for a certain period of time.
- Descendant Attribute: Non-Attribute – Tech
- Max Stacks: 3
- Stack Cooldown: 12 seconds
- Max Move Distance: 10 meter
- Damage: Skill Power x 360.2%
- Damage Range: 1.5m x 1.5m
- Magnetic Force Recovery: Max Shield x 30%
- DEF Increase Amount: 150%
- Duration: 5 seconds
How to Use Repulsion Dash: this ability acts as a gap closer and knockback, rewarding you for hitting enemies with the scale based on your max shield. Therefore, the more enemies you hit, the more shields you have, and the more force you gain. You can use this skill offensively to charge in or defensively to get away.
The cooldown is 12 seconds and stacks up to three times with a max force recovery of 30%. The duration of your defensive buff is 5 seconds, so with mods, you can almost spam this ability to maintain a high defensive buff. Lastly, you move 10 meters in any direction, and this skill will not auto-lock onto enemies. Therefore, you need to aim in the direction you intend to go, both offensively and defensively, to hide behind cover.
Magnetic Bulwark
Magnetic Bulwark Features in The First Descendant:
- Description: Creates a Barrier in front that blocks enemy projectiles. When the Barrier is hit, it recovers Magnetic Force proportional to the enemy’s DMG Received.
- Descendant Attribute: Non-Attribute – Dimension
- Cooldown: 2 seconds
- Shield Cost: 5% of Max Shield
- Shield Cost Interval: 1 second
- Barrier Range: 2m x 3m
- Barrier HP: 50% of Kyle’s Max Shield
- Barrier DEF: 100% of Kyle’s DEF
- Barrier Duration: 8 seconds
- Magnetic Force Recovery: 100% of Energy Damage
How to Use Magnetic Bulwark: the best way to use the shield is to charge in with your first ability, get the enemy’s attention, and then lay a Magnetic Bulwark in front. You want to use this skill not only to prevent damage but to absorb energy for your primary resource sustain.
The Barrier duration will be 8 seconds giving you plenty of time to absorb damage. However, it is not mobile and should be used in natural choke points or when enemies are fighting you after charging in.
Magnetism Spurt
Magnetism Spurt Features in The First Descendant:
- Description: After using Magnetism Spurt, Magnetic Force is consumed first before Energy Shield or HP when hit by an enemy. When Magnetic Force is completely depleted, deals damage to enemies within range. This damage increases with the total amount of magnetic force consumed while the magnetism spurt is active.
- Descendant Attribute: Non-Attribute – Dimension
- Cooldown: 15.0 seconds
- Magnetic Force Cost Interval: 1 second
- Magnetic Force Cost: 2% of Max Magnetic Force
- Duration: 15 seconds
- Damage: Skill Power x 660.6%
- Additional Damage: Consumed Magic Force x 286.1%
- Damage Range: 5-meter Radius
- Ally Shield Recovery Amount: 100% of Kyle’s Max Shield
- Damage Reduction: 25%
How to Use Magnetism Spurt: This skill allows you to use magnetic force resources to absorb incoming damage and then deal with damage in range once it is completely depleted. Therefore, this is your AOE damage tool and gameplay loop for damage. Absorb max Magnetic Force, use Spurt to soak up damage, and deal it outward. You can automatically trigger this early if you don’t want to wait until your magnetic force is completely depleted.
The Transcendent Mod Self-Directed Eruption changes this skill to suck enemies in front of you. This is a powerful upgrade module because you can guarantee many more mobs are hit vs just a 5-meter radius, which can be unreliable.
Superconductivity Thrusters
Superconductivity Thrusters Features in The First Descendant:
- Description: Superconductivity Thrusters enable you to fly in the air for a certain period of time. On collision with an enemy, damage is inflicted. When the skill ends, Magnetic Force is completely consumed, and the damage increases proportionally based on Magnetic Force stats.
- Descendant Attribute: Non-Attribute – Tech
- Cooldown: 60 seconds
- Minimum Use Condition: 30% of Max Magnetic Force
- Damage: Skill Power x 10,436.7%
- Additional Damage: Skill Power x 4,719.8%
- Damage Range: 5-meter Radius
- Duration: 6 seconds
How to Use Superconductivity Thrusters: this skill acts as your ultimate with a 60-second cooldown rewarding you for flying through enemies and hitting them. The duration of the flight is 6 seconds with an AOE radius of 5 meters. The goal is to save up as much Magnetic Force as possible and use it on a large boss fight or multiple enemies in close proximity. Moreover, you can use this to escape, but it is meant as an offensive damage tool that can be tricky to navigate.
There is a transcendent mod you can use at the end game that turns this skill into a bomb-dropping skill. This maybe easier to use if you struggle to fly through enemies and find the skill wonky.
Experienced Technician (Passive)
Experienced Technician Features in The First Descendant:
- Description: Increases max Magnetic Force proportional to Max Energy Shield. When Kyle’s Energy Shield is depleted, gains Magnetic Care. Magnetic Care recovers Energy Shield and Magnetic Force at fixed intervals. This effect gains cooldown. When out of combat, Magnetic Force is consumed at fixed intervals.
- Descendant Attribute: Non-Attribute
- Cooldown: 300 seconds
- Magnetic Force Max Amount: Max Shield x 200%
- Magnetic Force Cost Interval: 1 second
- Magnetic Force Cost Amount: Max Magnetic Force x 1%
- Magnetic Care Duration: 10 seconds
- Magnetic Care Recovery Interval: 1 second
- Magnetic Care Shield Recovery: Max Shield x 8%
- Magnetic Care Magnetic Force Recovery: Max Magnetic Force x 8%
How to Use Experienced Technician: Once every 5 minutes, you can gain Magnetic Force and Energy shield after your shield is depleted. The more max shields you have, the more of force and shield you gain, rewarding a max shield build. Moreover, this helps you survive when your shield is drained due to incoming damage.
The second important part of this passive is your max magnetic force (resource for abilities), which is tied directly to your max energy shields. Most of your skills scale in effectiveness on how much magnetic force you hold, therefore, the more shields the better you skills will function.
Descendant Modules for Kyle Build
Self-Directed Eruption, Increased Shield, and Skill Simplification are the best modules (mods) for a Kyle Build in the First Descendant. Self-Directed Eruption changes your Spurt skill to suck in enemies allowing you to hit more enemies for AOE damage. Increase Shields is a standard mod but important because your resource Magnetic Force is proportional to your max shields. Lastly, Skill simplification boost skill power at the cost of MP, but Kyle doesn’t use MP so this is a free mod to boost skill power.
In The First Descendant, modules are essential components that enhance and customize your character’s abilities, stats, and overall performance. Modules can be acquired through questing, missions, loot drops, and vendor items. Moreover, you have limited resources to slot mods; therefore, some slots may be empty depending on your chosen setup.
Kyle Best Modules for Leveling
Below is a list of the best leveling mods for Kyle Build in the First Descendant:
- Increased Shield – Significantly increases Max Shield.
- Technician – Significantly increases Skill Power.
- Increased HP – Significantly increases Max HP.
- DEF Accelerant – A small boost to Skill Duration and DEF
- Dual Claw – Changes Sub Attack to a dual claw attack. Also increases Max Module Capacity. Please note that you can change this to a different Sub Attack module if you like, the only important part is the increased Module Capacity – Prioritize upgrading this module to increase your Module Capacity further still.
- Nimble Fingers – Reduces your Skill Cooldowns
- Increased DEF – Grants a large boost to DEF
- Regeneration Boost – Improves your HP Recovery
| Slot | Module | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Skill Module) | Empty | NA |
| 2 | Increased Shield | Standard |
| 3 | Technician | Standard |
| 4 | Increased HP | Standard |
| 5 | DEF Accelerant | Rare |
| 6 | Empty | NA |
| 7 (Sub Module) | Dual Claw | Standard |
| 8 | Nimble Fingers | Standard |
| 9 | Increased DEF | Standard |
| 10 | Empty | NA |
| 11 | Empty | NA |
| 12 | Regeneration Boost | Standard |
Kyle Best Modules
Below is a list of the best mods for Kyle Build in the First Descendant:
- Self-Directed Eruption – changes Magnetism Spurt to pull in enemies in front of kill, then do damage when the skill ends.
- Increased Shield – Significantly increases Max Shield.
- Technician – Significantly increases Skill Power.
- Increased HP – Significantly increases Max HP.
- DEF Accelerant – A small boost to Skill Duration and DEF.
- Skill Simplification – Boosts Skill Power at the cost of some Max MP.
- Dual Claw – Changes Sub Attack to a dual claw attack and increases Max Module Capacity.
- Nimble Fingers – Reduces your Skill Cooldowns.
- Increased DEF – Grants a large boost to DEF.
- HP Concentration – Increases Max HP and Skill Critical Rate.
- Willpower Efflux – Grants a large boost to DEF and a small boost to HP Heal.
| Slot | Module | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Skill Module) | Self-Directed Eruption | Transcendent |
| 2 | Increased Shield | Standard |
| 3 | Technician | Standard |
| 4 | Increased HP | Standard |
| 5 | DEF Accelerant | Rare |
| 6 | Skill Simplification | Rare |
| 7 (Sub Module) | Dual Claw | Standard |
| 8 | Nimble Fingers | Standard |
| 9 | Increased DEF | Standard |
| 10 | HP Concentration | Rare |
| 11 | Willpower Efflux | Rare |
| 12 | Empty | NA |
Best Reactor Stats for Kyle in The First Descendant
The best reactors for a Kyle build give you a boost in Dimension and Tech because most of Kyle’s skill uses these two descendant attributes. A secondary option is Sub Attack Power and Skill Power which is a simple way to boost your overall power non-specifically.
In The First Descendant, reactors are powerful enhancements significantly impacting a character’s abilities, stats, and overall performance. Each reactor comes with an “optimal condition,” which requires a specific weapon type to be equipped to activate. Therefore, this should be your primary weapon for the build. They function as core components that provide substantial boosts and unique effects, enabling players to tailor their characters to specific playstyles and strategies.
Weapons for Kyle Build
Thunder Cage, Secret Garden, and Afterglow Sword are the best weapons for Kyle’s build. Thunder Cage submachine gun does massive AOE damage and is perfect for a front-line tank like Kyle. The Secret Garden Tactical Rifle triggers the Pest Control debuff when using a tech skill, boosting weapon ATK when using Repulsion Dash. Lastly, the Afterglow Sword Sniper Rifle is a perfect option to range long-range target and players who are good at headshots.
The following list presents the best weapon choices for Kyle Build guide in the First Descendant:
- Thunder Cage – Submachine Gun
- Secret Garden – Tactical Rifle
- Afterglow Sword – Sniper Rifle
Thunder Cage
Thunder Cage features in the First Descendant:
- Firearm ATK: 18
- Fire Rate: 666
- Reload Speed: 1.4 seconds
- Effective Range: 23 meter
- Overcharge: defeating an enemy prompts that enemy to unleash electric shockwave, dealing firearm ATK to nearby enemies within 3 meters, with additional damage.
The Thunder Cage Submachine emits an electric shockwave and grants a bonus to damage after a kill. It’s the highest DPS weapon for a Kyle build due to its secondary Overcharge effect and rate of fire. Below are the best weapon mods for the Thunder Cage Submachine Gun:
- Hawkeye – Improves your Accuracy
- Reload Concentration – Reloading is quicker, and Firearm Critical Damage is improved
- Rifling Reinforcement – Significantly improves your Firearm Attack
- Concentrate Support Ammo – You get more rounds per magazine and slightly more Firearm Critical Hit Damage
- Electric Conductor – Improved Firearm Attack when attacking Electrocuted enemies
- Action and Reaction – Improves Firearm Attack and Recoil
- Marksman – Improves Firearm Critical Hit Rate and slightly improves Attack
- Weak Point Control – Improves Weak Point Damage and Recoil
- Weak Point Sight – Greatly improves Weak Point Damage
- Fire Rate Up – Significantly improves your Fire Rate
Secret Garden
Secret Garden features in the First Descendant:
- Firearm ATK: 62
- Fire Rate: 199
- Reload Speed: 2 seconds
- Effective Range: 35 meters
- Gardener: When using a Dimension skill, recovers Custom Resource with a set chance. When using a Tech skill, grants the unique ability Pest Control with a set chance.
The Secret Garden tactical rifle is a good choice for a Kyle build because of the Pest Control debuff. When using a tech skill, Pest Control increases Firearm ATK and skill power and can stack up to three times. You can lower cooldowns and spam Repulish Dash to gain this buff.
Afterglow Sword
Afterglow Sword features in the First Descendant:
- Firearm ATK: 240
- Fire Rate: 66
- Reload Speed: 2.5 seconds
- Effective Range: 55 meters
- Nightmare Reaper: on hitting an enemy’s weak point, inflicts the unique ability death propagation. On hitting an enemy commander or collossi, increase firearm critical hit rate and apply the effect to the attack.
The Afterglow Sword is the best choice for ranged precision weak point damage. Once you trigger Death Propagation, you gain increased reload and damage on weak points. Use this weapon for ranged headshots if possible.
External Component
Focus on finding RNG-based external components that increase Max Shield for a Kyle Build. This is important to improve your Magnetic Force unique resource. Unlike other parts of our build, you cannot enhance External Components. These are random (RNG) based drops only when you are at max level. Therefore, they are the finishing touches on your build. Prioritize the following stats for External Components when using the best Kyle Build Guide for the First Descendant:
- Max Shields
- Max HP
- HP Recovery
- DEF
Kyle Story in the First Descendant
If one were to select the most representative pieces of work installed by the Construction Corps, they would be: The outposts installed throughout Ingris, and the Spectral Digger in Agna Desert. What the two have in common is that they both contributed greatly to Albion’s power. And it was Kyle, the Construction Corps Captain, who headed both operations.
As the use of Kuiper became more sophisticated, Albion was able to rapidly strengthen its power, leading to a greater demand for Kuiper. Exploration of these parts by the Magisters and the Excavation Team discovered that a large amount of Kuiper was buried in the Agna Desert, and HQ planned to install a Spectral Digger in the Agna Desert. Veteran workers, including Kyle, were selected as installation personnel. Having worked together for over a decade, Kyle’s teammates were all close, like family.
Kyle’s Story Continued
Although a large number of capable technicians were deployed, constructing a digger of such a gargantuan size in the harsh conditions of a desert was more difficult than expected. Even so, they were able to put up with it because they were a family; they had each other. On particularly exhausting days, everybody would declare loudly that they would drink most of the expensive liquor hidden in Kyle’s house once this horrible task was over. Kyle would laugh and dare them to try. These were the ways they would lean on each other, putting all their effort into constructing the Spectral Digger.
After a long period of time, the Spectral Digger finally sprung to life, and the entire Construction Corps shouted with joy. All that was left was for everyone to go home. However, the Legion of Darkness forces, which had been standing by on Karel’s orders, launched an ambush, and the joyful cries on the thought of returning home turned into screams. Kyle, who had been wrapping things up in the back, could only look on as his teammates fell helplessly from the enemy’s bullets.
Eventually, the bullets that pierced his teammates also began flying towards him. “I’m going to die soon,” Kyle thought, as he closed his eyes tightly. While closing his eyes, something seemed to block the bullets. They fell to the floor powerlessly. Kyle intuitively knew why when he saw the bullets rolling around at his feet. He also was in possession of Arche, something he had only heard about until now.
Kyle’s Story Conclusion
However, by the time he realized he had this power inside of him, it was too late to try and save his teammates. Shocked, Kyle felt completely useless. With that, he retired, simply stated, ‘I did all I can,’ to HQ. During the time when he was hiding his power, unwilling to meet anyone, and wishing for his end to come, he happened to learn that the Spectral Digger had fallen into the hands of the Vulgus.
This was unacceptable to Kyle. That digger cost the lives of his teammates. It was the digger that he constructed with his teammates, and whose bodies he was unable to recover due to the Vulgus ambush. Without hesitating, he went to HQ, telling them everything, making a pledge to walk the path of a Descendant. He would reclaim the Spectral Digger, recover the remains of his teammates, and bring them home. After which, he would pour out that expensive liquor they were so eager to drink, in honor of them.
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