The clean beginner route is: finish Leo’s tutorial, learn one reliable catch, use the Grove quests to build levels and Chimes, complete Halden’s five-statue route for the Ocarina, return when his training requirement is met, beat Shax’s first race for Songtreads, then use a full-speed running jump to enter Bluestone Caverns.
Do not rush past dialogue or sell everything after the tutorial. Most early stalls come from an unfinished NPC conversation, an unequipped reward, or a quest creature that was sold before turn-in.
1. Finish Leo’s tutorial
Speak with Leo at the opening camp and accept the starter lesson. Equip the Wooden Lute from the Equipment Bag when prompted. Approach the tutorial target until the instrument can engage, then follow the tuning interface and hold the marker inside the catch zone until the progress completes.
Finish Leo’s follow-up conversation. Check the four core menus: Equipment Bag for tools, Quest Log for objectives, Index for discovery progress, and Inventory for held catches. Knowing where these are saves more time than immediately exploring the far edge of the Grove.
2. Build a safe Grove routine
Catch nearby Common targets until the tuning steps feel predictable. Open the result and Index card after each new catch so you learn the difference between rarity and frequency. Frequency is the band your instrument must cover; it is not an encounter percentage.
Accept Grove quests as you pass their NPCs, but keep the active objective visible. If a quest names a Scroom, hold one copy in the inventory. Sell ordinary duplicates in batches for Chimes. This creates currency without risking a required turn-in.
Use the live Equipment Bag or shop card before buying. The starter Wooden Lute can teach the loop, while the inexpensive Tamer Guitar is a commonly reported early option. A purchase is useful when its current reach or handling solves a problem, not merely because its name appears later in a list.
3. Complete Halden’s Ocarina route
Find Halden at his Grove campfire and progress his opening tasks until The Next Step begins. Current walkthroughs send you to five weathered statues around Songkeeper’s Grove. Each statue plays one note; interact and remember or record the sequence rather than guessing at the final statue.
Current reports give the Homeward input as Left, Down, Up, Left, but use the notes you hear in your server if they differ. Enter the sequence at the large final statue, return to Halden, and complete his reward dialogue. The Ocarina is a utility instrument for statue songs and exploration rather than a normal catching replacement. The official Magic Melody badge confirms the unlock.
4. Meet the next training requirement
Continue catching and questing after the Ocarina. Current launch guides report level 25 for Halden’s later Tamer in Training step. The live Quest Log is authoritative if an update changes that number.
Reaching the condition is not enough on its own. Return to Halden and finish the conversation that points to Shax. If the next step does not appear, confirm The Next Step is completed and the Ocarina reward was fully claimed.
5. Beat Shax’s first race
Find Shax in a raised, shadowy section of the Grove and choose the race option. Current guides call the separate course Shax’s Retreat. Run one learning attempt if necessary: aim the camera toward each landing, avoid turning in midair, and restart quickly after a fall that costs too much time.
After you win, speak with Shax again. Complete the reward dialogue and equip Songtreads from the relevant bag tile. Look for the movement effect around your feet and the official Songwalker badge. The first reward improves movement speed; current later progression treats Echo Step as the separate double-jump upgrade.
6. Cross into Bluestone Caverns
Follow the Grove exit toward Bluestone Approach. At the wide gap, verify Songtreads are active, back up, run straight at full speed, and jump at the edge. An early jump shortens the crossing. The first landing should update the area and the reported Beyond the Grove objective.
Speak with Marina near the entrance and read the current task. Community routes report an early Fungstone catch before returning. Keep the requested catch in your inventory and select it if the turn-in interface needs an active item.
Spend your first Chimes deliberately
Prioritize an instrument that extends a frequency range you actually need or makes your current catches more consistent. Keep a reserve until you can compare the live cards. Public sources disagree on some launch prices and stats, so do not plan an exact shopping ladder around one old screenshot.
Avoid selling a unique or quest-named catch for a small immediate gain. Duplicate Commons are the safer foundation. Later, a wider inventory and stronger instruments make the same loop faster without relying on an unsupported secret money method.
Quick recovery checklist
If a quest marker disappears, reopen the Quest Log and select the active step. If an NPC will not advance, finish all dialogue and verify the required creature is still held. If an instrument cannot tune toward a displayed band, compare its Resonance with the target and switch tools. If a new reward has no effect, equip it again after a reset or teleport.
For a detailed interface walkthrough, use How to Catch Scrooms. For Halden and Shax specifics, use the Ocarina guide and Songtreads guide. The Songkeeper’s Grove guide organizes the opening landmarks.
What to verify after an update
Check Halden’s displayed level condition, shop prices, instrument cards, and any changed route markers. The fixed parts supported by official public information are the experience identity, sound-based catching instructions, and named badges for the Ocarina, Songtreads, Index milestones, Chimes, and instrument ownership.
This route was checked on October 24, 2026. It avoids claiming exact spawn rates or hidden stat formulas that the official experience does not publish.