How to Beat Squad Ability Combos
Recommended Preparation
Biome
Forest Canopy
Difficulty
Easy
How to Unlock
The foundation of all progression: combine the unique abilities of different Merlies to unlock new paths. The official launch announcement calls this the core of the game — as the flock grows, so does the map you can actually traverse.
Unlock
How to Get It: Rescue lost Merlies scattered by the storm during exploration and bring them home to the village. Every rescue adds a bird, and every bird adds reach — this is the intended loop, not an optional side activity.
How It Works
Abilities as Keys
The Merlies is a metroidvania-shaped game with the combat removed: passages are gated by what your squad can do, not what it can kill. The store description promises hidden passages that unlock "as your Merlies squad grows and learns new skills" — the classic ability-gate loop wearing a picture-book coat.
Fragility as Difficulty
The flock's counterweight is fragility. "Your Merlies remain fragile little fellows exposed to the dangers of Nature", the store text warns — no creature or fight will bar your way, but every thorn, rock and tree is an obstacle. Combos are planned around what the weakest bird can survive.
How to Use It
The Core Loop
- Explore at the flock's pace; note every passage you cannot yet use.
- Rescue every lost Merlie you can reach — squad size is progression.
- Return to the village, accommodate and train the newcomers.
- Revisit sealed passages after each growth spurt; the map re-opens in layers.
What to Expect at Launch
The exact per-bird ability list has not been published yet. This hub will carry the full ability-to-passage matrix once the release build is in hand on September 29 — the structure above is the officially confirmed loop, and the details will be filled in without changing it.
Last updated: September 27, 2026