Getting Started in Claws Of Power
The habits Garlic Sprouts wanted new commanders to learn before they spam cats into a losing wave.
Claws Of Power launched on Steam on August 21, 2026 as a hand-drawn, real-time card battler. You spend dried fish to summon cats onto a single lane. They walk forward. The first base to break loses. That loop looks casual; the developer’s own posts say the fun is timing, cost, and mixing units with items.
This page is the first hour. It does not invent a second island, a gem shop, or a ranked ladder. It sticks to what Garlic Sprouts wrote on TapTap and what Steam’s store page lists: collect cats, upgrade buildings, buy battle items, match equipment, then try Lord Challenge when you feel ready.
The two habits that save your first night
Garlic Sprouts wrote that new commanders often dump cats the moment the fish bar fills, then watch two enemy cats beat two of theirs and walk away alive. The first key idea is save your cost. Wait, build a wave, then send it.
The second idea is fight near your own base. If the frontline is too far forward, backup cats are still running while the first wave dies — the classic “one cat goes in, one cat dies” rescue chain. Keep the line close so reinforcements form a wall.
Those two rules beat any premature upgrade. The Dried Fish Factory still matters — the store page says upgrading it boosts production speed — but a factory upgrade will not save a player who spends every fish the instant it appears.
Chapter 1 starter trio
The December 2025 roster post names the first six Chapter 1 cats. Start with the trio on the left of that image:
- Bacon Jack (Bang Jack) — starter melee. Cheap and fast to summon. Stats are mid. He is the budget frontline, and later he is the fuel for the Jack Fusion Device.
- A Qiang — ranged carry who throws sidewalk pebbles from behind allies. Output is high; he is squishier than Jack. One tap can KO him. Pair him with a bodyguard.
- Blue Fatty — frontline tank. Thick health, solid attack, and a heavy frame that makes knockback nearly impossible. He is A Qiang’s shield.
The second picture in that post is the upgraded trio:
- Xiao Fu — steel-fork melee with a wider attack range and always-on knockback. The developer warns players not to sleep on him versus 4-cost Blue Fatty: he wins early 1v1s. Mid health means he is not a main carry, but he shreds formations.
- Wu Ji — slingshot crowd-control. Amped pebble damage plus a short stun. Squishy and slightly pricey early; he needs a tank in front.
- Big Ju — salted-fish war cat. Health and attack sit above Blue Fatty. He smacks foes with a fish, and when low he chomps the fish to heal.
You do not need all six on night one. You need Jack + A Qiang + Blue Fatty on the field, then swap in Xiao Fu or Big Ju when the enemy starts winning 1v1s.
What to upgrade, and what to ignore
The store page lists two buildings: base health and the Dried Fish Factory. The March 17 trial notes also added main-city talents: battles grant experience, the base auto-upgrades and gains a little health, and gold can activate talents. That is the real upgrade path. See Buildings and Talents.
Skip these on day one:
- Lord Challenge. The store page says try it “if you feel powerful enough.” It is not the tutorial.
- Hard Mode. Steam says the 44 Hard stages unlock after the main campaign.
- Spending real money on fish packs. The launch 20% discount ended September 4, 2026. The base price is $6.99 / ¥28. There is no gacha code layer on top of that purchase.
Equipment can wait until you have a stable pair of cats. Each cat has 1–2 slots (the November 2025 post). The August 23 patch added one extra slot for A-Dai, Fat Cat, Xiaofu, and Big Orange. Read Equipment System before you fill those slots with junk.
A simple first-session plan
- Play the opening stages with Jack, A Qiang, and Blue Fatty. Do not spend fish the instant you have enough for one cat.
- After two or three wins, upgrade the Dried Fish Factory once so three-cat waves become possible.
- When knockback enemies appear, bring Xiao Fu. When you need sustain, bring Big Ju.
- Buy a battle item only after you have died to a wave you understood. Start with the How to Use Items list — Garrison Whistle and Charge Horn are the ones the developer uses in his own builds.
- Stop for the night after you have a feel for holding the line near your base. Stage 8 is not a magic unlock in the official posts; the second-island story on older wiki pages was invented. The full map is six regions and 93 stages.
If a challenge stage keeps eating you, the March 17 notes added mercenaries: after several failures, gold-hired units appear to help you clear. That is a designed safety net, not a cheat.
Where to go next
- Deck rules and later cats: How to Build a Deck
- Full 93-stage route: Campaign Walkthrough
- Hidden companions Cook, Jimmy, Spring Roll: How to Unlock Hidden Stages
- Mid-game wall: How to Beat Level 30
The video on this page is a real PC and cloud playthrough of Claws Of Power, not a trailer from another cat game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fast answers to the questions players ask most.
Is Claws Of Power single-player?
Yes. Steam lists Single-player, Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, and Family Sharing. There is no ranked PvP in any official announcement.
Do I need the launch discount to start well?
No. The 20% launch sale ended September 4, 2026. The game is a $6.99 premium title. Early power comes from cost control, not extra packs.
Which cats should I use first?
Bacon Jack, A Qiang, and Blue Fatty — the Chapter 1 starter trio named in Garlic Sprouts’ roster post. Add Xiao Fu, Wu Ji, and Big Ju as soon as they unlock.
What if I keep failing a challenge stage?
The March 17 trial update added mercenaries after several failures. Spend gold to hire help, then read [How to Use Items](/guides/how-to-use-items/) before the next attempt.