20 Tips Guaranteed to Make You a Better Climber

Cairn is a challenging game that doesn't hold your hand. To reach the top of Mount Kami, you need preparation, strategy, and resilience. Here are the top 20 tips—ranging from basic survival to advanced mechanics—guaranteed to save you hours of frustration.

1. Explore the Gym Thoroughly

The tutorial isn't just about learning controls; it's a scavenger hunt for your survival.

• No Timer: There is no rush in the gym. Take your time.
• Vending Money: Find loose change to buy food and drink.
• Hidden Pitons: Search corners for extremely valuable Pitons.
• Lore Posters: Provide critical background story and tips.

2. Complete the Whole Tutorial

Don't be tempted to skip to the mountain. Cairn is a marathon, not a sprint.

• Terrain Knowledge: Understand the rock faces before they kill you.
• Safe Failure: Failing here costs nothing. Failing on the mountain costs hours.
• Bonus Chest: Complete all 8 routes to unlock a bonus chest containing supplies and a map for the first section.

3. Customize Limb Selection

The Auto Limb Selection is physics-based and works well, but it isn't for everyone. If you find it fighting you:

• Go to Settings.
• Turn off or adjust Auto Limb Selection.

4. Don't Climb Immediately

Approach every section methodically.

• Scout: Walk around the base of the cliff.
• Find Shortcuts: Look for stairs or hills that bypass hard climbing sections.
• Read Maps: Look for maps left by previous climbers marking difficulty.

5. Master Limb Placement

A bad placement can mean death.

• Cancel Last Limb: If the game puts your limb somewhere sketchy, cancel it immediately and retry.
• Precision: Placing a hand inside a crevice provides better grip than placing it on the outside.

6. Up Isn't Always Right

Sometimes the only way up... is sideways.

• If the path looks impossible, checking sideways or even down might reveal a travertine traverse or hidden route.

7. Forage Everything

Your backpack is small, but nature provides.

• Raspberries & Herbs: Eat or cook them.
• Fish: Catch them in streams.
• Forage at Summits: Every new section has resources. Find them.

8. Cook Your Food

Maximize your calories.

• Raw vs Cooked: Fish provides minor benefits raw, but massive benefits cooked.
• Remove Debuffs: Some items like Thistle have negative effects if eaten raw. Cooking neutralizes this.

9. Explore Caves

Dark holes often hide bright treasures.

• Smash Giant Vases: They often contain loot.
• Abandoned Packs: Look for gear left by fallen climbers.
• Mushrooms & Garlic: High-value cooking ingredients found in caves.

10. Refill Resources

Never leave a safe zone empty-handed.

• Water: Fill bottles at springs and waterfalls.
• Bear Boxes: Check for rations others left behind.

11. Save (Seriously, Save)

Save stations are rare "Story Save Points". Use them. Every. Single. Time.

12. Second Wind (Triangle)

When your stamina is critical (screen fading, Ava shaking):

• Press Triangle (or your binding) for a "Second Wind".
• It provides just enough stamina for one last desperate move.

13. Listen to Ava

She tells you how she feels.

• Heavy Breathing: Stamina is critical.
• Dialogue: "I have zero grip" means you need to move or chalk up immediately.

14. Sleep Anywhere

• Tents: Best recovery at save stations.
• Naps: You can nap on any solid flat ground to recover health. It's not perfect, but it beats bleeding out.

15. Shake Your Backpack

Inventory full? Physics is on your side.

• Press L1 to shake your bag. Items will settle, often creating space for just one more item.

16. Use Chalk Wisely

• The effect: Massive grip increase.
• The cost: Finite resource. Save it for the crux moves near the summit.
• Climbot: Recycle trash with Climbot to get free chalk!

17. Piton Strategy: The Checkpoint

You have ~6 Pitons. They act as portable checkpoints on long walls. Don't waste them early, but use them before you fall.

18. Conserve Pitons on Mini-Plateaus

If you find a tiny ledge you can stand on:

• Stand and Recover: Don't waste a Piton here.
• Save Pitons for vertical faces where standing is impossible.

19. Piton Timing

Driving a Piton is a minigame.

• Take your time: If you rush and miss the timing, the Piton goes in "crooked".
• Crooked Pitons: Break when you try to retrieve them.
• Cold Hands: Freezing makes the minigame harder. Place Pitons before you freeze.

20. Watch the Clock & Use the Camera

• Nightfall: Do not start a major climb after 4:00 PM. Night is a cold, dark death sentence.
• Camera Trick: Use the "View Path" mode to detach the camera. Fly it up to scout caves, resources, and routes before you commit your body to the rock.

---

Source: YouTube Channel VDGMS