Map modes and risk

Original editorial comparison; not a game screenshot.

Which mode changes the player threat?

The official site describes Stable Maps as PvE expeditions where equipment is protected, and Unstable Maps as PvPvE expeditions where other players may be encountered. It does not spell out every item or material’s handling. Official site

The Closed Alpha 5 scope names Stable and Unstable versions of Helheim and Midgard. This is a dated announcement, not confirmation those maps or rules are present in the reported build. CA5 scope, 2 April 2026 Reported install metadata

Player question	Stable Maps	Unstable Maps
Announced mode	PvE	PvPvE
Other players	Not part of the site’s short mode description	May be part of an expedition
Equipment	Site says equipment is protected	Site describes the higher-risk PvPvE mode; detailed loss rules are unspecified
Unequipped items, materials, cargo	Not itemized by the site	Not itemized by the site

Treat “equipment protected” as the site’s broad description, not a claim that every kind of carried cargo is protected. The later CA6 announcement separately describes a test of retaining equipped Soulbound gear on death; it does not establish all-item safety or the test’s outcome in the reported build. Official site CA6 announcement, 8 September 2026

If you are learning the announced map flow, choosing Stable PvE first is a reasonable editorial suggestion: CA5 described it as intended for newcomers. It is not a tested strategy for the reported installation. CA5 scope Reported install metadata

Related pages

• Access and build scope
• Extraction and death
• Before a playtest