The Finals is a free-to-play team-based FPS built around a fully destructible environment powered by Embark Studios' proprietary tech. Three body types — Light, Medium, and Heavy — offer distinct playstyles with unique abilities and weapon pools. The core game mode, Cashout, tasks teams with stealing vaults and depositing them at cashout stations while defending against other squads. What sets The Finals apart is that every wall, floor, and ceiling can be destroyed, meaning no position is truly safe and creative destruction is the meta.
These tips go beyond the basics. They're the strategies experienced players use to play more efficiently, the hidden mechanics most people miss, and the optimizations that compound over a full playthrough.
Essential Tips
1. C4 on a ceiling below a cashout station is the single most effective play in the game — the enemy team falls through and loses the position
C4 on a ceiling below a cashout station is the single most effective play in the game — the enemy team falls through and loses the position.
2. Medium's Healing Beam heals 250 HP over 5 seconds
Medium's Healing Beam heals 250 HP over 5 seconds. Keep it on your Heavy during fights — a healed Heavy with 350 HP is nearly unkillable.
3. Light's Cloaking Device has a visible shimmer when moving
Light's Cloaking Device has a visible shimmer when moving. Stand still to become truly invisible, then strike when enemies walk past.
4. Goo Grenades create permanent platforms that block sightlines and doorways
Goo Grenades create permanent platforms that block sightlines and doorways. Use them to seal off flanking routes during cashout defense.
5. The Defibrillator revives teammates with 50% HP and has a 15-second cooldown
The Defibrillator revives teammates with 50% HP and has a 15-second cooldown. Position near downed allies but behind cover before reviving.
6. RPG shots destroy any wall or floor in one hit
RPG shots destroy any wall or floor in one hit. Use them to create instant rotation holes rather than wasting them on player damage.
7. Gas Grenades deal 15 DPS in the cloud, but shooting through gas with a fire weapon ignites the area for 50+ DPS
Gas Grenades deal 15 DPS in the cloud, but shooting through gas with a fire weapon ignites the area for 50+ DPS. Gas + fire combo is devastating.
8. Jump Pads affect ALL players — place them for your team but be aware enemies can use them too
Jump Pads affect ALL players — place them for your team but be aware enemies can use them too. Destroy your own pads when repositioning.
9. In Cashout mode, the vault carrier moves at 80% speed
In Cashout mode, the vault carrier moves at 80% speed. Drop the vault to fight, then pick it up after clearing — don't fight while carrying.
10. Dome Shield blocks all incoming damage for 15 seconds but enemies can walk through it
Dome Shield blocks all incoming damage for 15 seconds but enemies can walk through it. Pair with barricades to create a true fortress.
Advanced Strategies
Role Optimization
The difference between an average build and an optimized one is massive:
For Light Build (A-Tier):
- Glass cannon focused on flanking, stealing cashouts, and assassinating isolated targets. 150 HP means you die fast if caught, but Cloaking Device and Grappling Hook provide unmatched mobility. Best for skilled aimers who can win duels quickly.
- Core gear: XP-54, Cloaking Device, Grappling Hook, Breach Charge, Smoke Grenade
- Stat priority: Mobility, Stealth, Burst Damage
For Medium Build (S-Tier):
- The most versatile class with access to the Healing Beam, Recon Senses, and the best all-around weapons. Every team needs at least one Medium. The AKM and FCAR are top-tier weapons that outperform most options at mid-range.
- Core gear: AKM or FCAR, Healing Beam, Defibrillator, Jump Pad, Gas Grenade
- Stat priority: Healing Output, Mid-Range Accuracy, Utility
Mechanic Interactions
Understanding how The Finals's systems interact is where the real optimization lives:
destruction system + cashout objectives: Nearly every surface in The Finals can be destroyed using explosives, weapons fire, or abilities. Combined with cashout objectives, teams compete to grab vaults from the map, carry them to cashout stations, and defend them during a timed deposit.
class-based combat + gadget synergies: Light builds are fast with stealth and mobility abilities but have 150 HP. When paired with gadget synergies, each build carries specializations and gadgets that combo with teammates.
environmental manipulation scaling: Beyond destruction, you can use Goo Grenades to create temporary cover or block doors, Gas Mines to deny areas, and Jump Pads for vertical mobility. The environment is a weapon — redirecting fire through gas clouds ignites the area.
Weapons Efficiency
| Weapon | Best Use Case | Why |
|---|---|---|
| M60 (Heavy) | Heavy Build | High-capacity LMG with 70 rounds per magazine and consistent damage output. |
| AKM (Medium) | Medium Build | The best all-around assault rifle with high damage per shot and manageable recoil. |
| XP-54 (Light) | Light Build, Aggressive Light | Burst-fire SMG that shreds at close-to-mid range. |
| Lewis Gun (Heavy) | Heavy Build | Alternative to the M60 with higher damage per shot but slower fire rate. |
| FCAR (Medium) | Medium Build, Support Medium | Fast-firing assault rifle that outperforms the AKM at close range due to its higher rate of fire. |
Location Efficiency
Monaco (All Ranks): Tight streets and multi-story buildings make this a destruction-heavy map. Collapsing buildings onto cashout stations is a viable strategy. Rooftop fights are common and the narrow alleys funnel fights into predictable chokepoints.
Seoul (All Ranks): Modern cityscape with large open plazas connected by narrow alleyways. Long sightlines favor Medium and Heavy builds. The elevated train platforms provide strong cashout defense positions that require creative destruction to counter.
Las Vegas (All Ranks): Casino interiors with flashy lighting and multiple floors. Indoor cashout locations mean heavy destruction sends debris everywhere. The hotel tower offers the highest vertical gameplay in the rotation.
Skyway Stadium (All Ranks): Open arena environment with less destructible terrain than other maps. Favors gunplay skill over creative destruction. The central field offers minimal cover, making it a kill zone for Heavy builds with sightlines.
SYS$HORIZON (All Ranks): Futuristic floating platform map with unique gravity mechanics and destructible floor sections that drop players into the void. Falling off the map is a constant threat. Goo platforms and creative building become essential survival tools.
Mistakes Even Veterans Make
- Playing Light without understanding its 150 HP limitation — you cannot trade shots with Medium or Heavy and win consistently.
- Ignoring destruction potential and treating the game like a standard FPS — the floor is always your best weapon.
- Running triple Light or triple Heavy compositions — team variety with at least one Medium healer is almost always stronger.
- Defending cashout from inside a building without reinforcing the floor — enemies will C4 it from below every time.
- Using the Defibrillator in the open — you're stationary for 2 seconds during the revive animation, making you an easy kill.
Efficiency Quick Reference
| Aspect | Optimal Choice | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Light Build | A-tier, best overall |
| Starter | Medium Build | Most forgiving for learning |
| Weapons | M60 (Heavy) | Best resource-to-power ratio |
| First area | Monaco | High destruction value, vertical gameplay opportunities, rooftop flanking routes |
| Priority mechanic | destruction system | Everything else builds on this |
Pro Quick Tips
- C4 on a ceiling below a cashout station is the single most effective play in the game — the enemy team falls through and loses the position.
- Medium's Healing Beam heals 250 HP over 5 seconds. Keep it on your Heavy during fights — a healed Heavy with 350 HP is nearly unkillable.
- Light's Cloaking Device has a visible shimmer when moving. Stand still to become truly invisible, then strike when enemies walk past.
- Start with Medium Build, switch to Light Build when ready
- Invest in M60 (Heavy) above everything else
- Clear areas in order: Monaco → Seoul → Las Vegas → Skyway Stadium → SYS$HORIZON
- destruction system + cashout objectives together are stronger than either alone
For full build details, check builds. For progression path, see the walkthrough.
