The Alters: Last Variable encourages you to create alternative versions of yourself, so that they can help you with the abundance of tasks on the planet to discover the truth behind the eternity of the Oasis. Creating new alters will require Rapidium; it will also occupy an alternate slot in the Quantum Computer until you can unlock new slots. So, it's important to know which alter you unlock first, as you begin with only two slots.

Best Starting Alter in Last Variable

Best Alter to Unlock First - The Alters Last Variable Image: GameRant via 11 Bit Studios
  • The best alter to unlock first is the Geologist.

His specialty in mining allows him to mine metals with 50% more efficiency. Also, whenever you add a Contemplation Room to your module, Geologist will be there to help other alters recover quickly.

The Contemplation Room is a late-game module, but the Geologist's efficiency at collecting metal is what matters most here. Earlier in the game, you are going to need metal more often to craft items and build new modules at your base.

The Geologist has a hidden capability of researching perks that are crucial earlier in the game. Every alter and the scientist himself can work on new research topics, but each alter can complete certain research nodes faster than others.

For the Geologist, some of the early research nodes that he can complete in a shorter timeframe include Phased Rapidium, Base Expansion 2, Metal Efficiency, Advanced Metal Outposts, Advanced Enriched Metal Outposts, and Cheaper Climbing.

Phased Rapidium is a main campaign objective. Without it, you wouldn't be able to research many of the nodes in each of the categories, which makes it vital research, and the Geologist can complete it significantly faster.

Moreover, the Cheaper Climbing perk is also quite useful, especially knowing that climbing onto the Oasis from the tall cliff consumes 6 energy bars. With this perk, you will only burn 3 energy for the same cliff. Although building a fast-travel pylon removes the need to climb the same cliff repeatedly, the map contains many climbable spots, and you don't want to lose big chunks of energy when climbing.

Quick Crafting perk - The Alters Last Variable Image: GameRant via 11 Bit Studios
  • After creating the Geologist, you should make the Biologist your second priority.

Biologist also contributes to a significant number of important perks, including Terraformer and Quick Crafting. The former is the next campaign objective after Phased Rapidium, and the latter gives you the ability to craft Suit Batteries, Drill Charges, and Shield Recharges on the go, with no need to go back to the Workshop module at the base. This perk will significantly increase your exploration speed!

The Biologist is also a massive contributor to the Greenhouse module. If you assign him to the Greenhouse, he will work twice as fast as any other alter. This will help you a lot with the food struggle at the base. If you keep the Greenhouse running at a high efficiency, you won't need to spend Organics on food, and that saves you a lot of Organics.

The Biologist is also able to heal alters 8 times faster when he is assigned to the Infirmary. This part will probably be more beneficial mid-game when you have enough resources to think about an Infirmary module, but still a worthy investment in the future.

The Alters Tag Page Cover Art
The Alters
10/10
Released
June 13, 2025

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL

Developer(s)
11 Bit Studios
PC Release Date
June 13, 2025
Xbox Series X|S Release Date
June 13, 2025
PS5 Release Date
June 13, 2025
Genre(s)
Survival, Strategy, Management
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty