Warhammer 40K Rogue Trader Walkthrough: Prologue and Chapter 1, the Mutiny to Rykad Minoris

This is part 1 of our full Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader walkthrough. It covers the Prologue, By Right of Blood, on board the von Valancius flagship, and all of Chapter 1, Looking for Trouble, in the Rykad system. It ends with the big decision on Rykad Minoris and the jump to Footfall.

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The whole walkthrough

New to the game? Read our beginner's guide first. It explains Homeworld, Origin, archetypes, Momentum and Profit Factor, so this walkthrough can focus on where to go and what to do.

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Prologue: By Right of Blood

You play a distant relative of the von Valancius dynasty, called to the flagship of the Rogue Trader Theodora von Valancius. Her spymaster, Kunrad Voigtvir, guides you in. Things go wrong fast.

1. Finish the talk with Theodora. A mutiny breaks out on the bridge right after.
2. Fight your way through the ship with your first companions: Abelard Werserian (your seneschal), Argenta (a Battle Sister) and Idira Tlass (a psyker). Use this part to learn cover and Momentum.
3. Near the lift you are ambushed by heretics, cutthroats and a Combat Servitor. The Servitor is tough against normal weapons, so let Idira hit it with her psychic powers.
4. Reach Theodora's study. You find her dead at her desk. Search the room well: there is good gear here, including the Rogue Trader's Cloak in a safe.
5. Push on to the bridge for the boss fight below.

Boss: the Chaos Spawn

The first real boss is a Chaos Spawn on the voidship bridge, backed up by six Heretic Cutthroats.

• Kill the cutthroats first. The Spawn draws strength from the cultists around it, so clearing them makes the fight much shorter.
• Keep Abelard or Argenta in front to hold the Spawn. Keep Idira behind cover.
• Focus fire. Kills raise Momentum, and a Heroic Act is a great way to finish the Spawn.

After the fight, Theodora and her rival heir are both dead. By right of blood, the Warrant of Trade passes to you. A letter in your inventory points the ship to the Rykad system, where Theodora was meant to help an Inquisitor.

Before you leave, visit Janris Danrok on the bridge if you want to respec. Your first respecs are free.

Chapter 1: Looking for Trouble, the Rykad system

The Rykad system has three main stops: the Navis Nobilite station at Eurac V, the prison planetoid Rykadi Philia and the planet Rykad Minoris. You can visit them in almost any order. Rykad Majoris is optional and has little more than orbital dialogue. Our suggested order:

1. Eurac V (get Cassia early)
2. Rykadi Philia (optional, but it keeps someone alive)
3. Rykad Minoris (main story and chapter finale)

Order does change some outcomes, so save before each landing.

Eurac V: Secrets of the Navis Nobilite

You need a Navigator to travel the warp. This station is where you find one.

1. Land on the station. This starts Secrets of the Navis Nobilite.
2. Work through the station. You will meet two members of House Orsellio, Felek and Theobald, and you will have to side with one of them.
3. Search the lab for the Elevator's Master Rod. The station has a binary-style puzzle and a lab puzzle; take your time and read the terminals.
4. Rescue Cassia Orsellio. She joins as your Navigator and companion.

Cassia is a strong support companion. Getting her first makes the rest of the chapter easier.

Rykadi Philia: The Chosen Ones (side quest)

The prison planetoid sends a distress signal. This is the side quest The Chosen Ones. A prison riot is under way, and it ends with a boss fight against the rebelling prisoners in the barracks.

• Do this before the Mechanicus cathedral on Rykad Minoris. If you go there first, Evayne Winterscale is found dead and you lose her dialogue.
• The boss group is a step up from the prologue. Use cover, and spread your party so area attacks don't hit everyone.

Rykad Minoris: the Starport and the capital

This is the main quest of the chapter. The planet is in chaos, and you need to get a Tech-Priest to the capital.

1. Start with The Starport. Fight through the first section.
2. After that section, Pasqal Haneumann, a Tech-Priest, joins you. He stays for the whole main story.
3. You also meet Heinrix van Calox, an Interrogator who serves Lord Inquisitor Xavier Calcazar. He joins during this chapter.
4. Escort the party to the capital. Along the way there is a Warehouse section with a puzzle. Below it, an optional sewer fight against a Herald of Tzeentch waits for you.
5. Push on to the Mechanicus cathedral and the planet's reactor.

Boss: the Chaos Space Marine

Chapter 1 also puts you up against a Chaos Space Marine. For most players it is the hardest fight of the chapter.

• It hits very hard in melee. Put your toughest character in front and keep everyone else out of reach.
• Use Officer abilities to give your best damage dealer extra turns.
• Clear the weaker enemies early to build Momentum, then spend it on the Marine.
• Cassia, Idira and Heinrix can debuff and control. Use them before your big hits.

The Rykad Minoris choice (chapter ending)

The world is doomed, and you decide what to do about it. You can save the citizens, save the Miraculous Fusion Reactor, try for both, or destroy the reactor and the planet.

• Rescuing people or the reactor gives Iconoclast points. Destroying it all is the Dogmatic option.
• Heinrix warns you about staying too long, and he is right. Rescuing survivors leaves a permanent penalty on you.
• There is no "wrong" pick for finishing the game. Choose what fits your Rogue Trader.

Once Rykad is settled, the chapter ends and you head for Footfall.

Tips for this part

• Keep at least three manual saves. Chapter 1 has order-based outcomes that autosaves won't save you from.
• Talk to every companion on the ship between missions. Their quests start early and matter later.
• Spread skills: one character for Tech-Use, one for Lore, one for Persuasion. Many doors and rewards need them.
• Sell loot to factions for reputation, not "money". Profit Factor is never spent.
• If a fight feels unfair, lower the difficulty for that fight. Nobody will know.

My take

The prologue is slow if you don't like reading, but stick with it. Chapter 1 is where the game clicked for me, especially the choice on Rykad Minoris, which actually made me stop and think. I saved the people and took the penalty. What did you do with Rykad Minoris?

FAQ

How long are the Prologue and Chapter 1?

The prologue is short, a few hours at most. Chapter 1 is much longer: guides put it at around 15 hours with side content.

Which companions join in the Prologue and Chapter 1?

Abelard, Argenta and Idira join in the prologue. Cassia (Eurac V), Pasqal and Heinrix (Rykad Minoris) join in Chapter 1.

What order should I do Chapter 1 in?

Eurac V first for Cassia, then the prison planetoid, then Rykad Minoris. Doing the prison before the cathedral keeps Evayne Winterscale alive.

Can I change my archetype after the prologue?

Yes. Talk to Janris Danrok on the bridge. Early respecs are free, later ones cost Profit Factor.

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