EMPULSE Advanced Traversal Guide: How to Chain Wall Running and Grapple Swings

If there’s one thing that separates average EMPULSE players from the pilots who completely dominate a lobby, it’s movement. Not aim. Not weapon choice. Not even mech control.

Movement.

After spending dozens of matches experimenting with traversal routes across Freehold, one thing became painfully obvious: players who understand momentum mechanics feel like they’re playing a different game entirely.

While newer players are sprinting through streets and taking predictable paths, experienced pilots are flying over rooftops, slingshotting around skyscrapers, chaining wall runs together, and appearing from angles that seem physically impossible.

EMPULSE isn’t built around traditional shooter movement. The entire combat system revolves around maintaining speed and converting every action into more speed. Once you understand that philosophy, everything starts to click.

Let’s break down the movement systems that can transform your gameplay.

Why Momentum Is Everything in EMPULSE

Many modern shooters treat movement as a simple tool for positioning. EMPULSE treats movement as a weapon.

The faster you move, the harder you become to track, predict, and eliminate.

Every mechanic in your toolkit feeds directly into momentum generation:

The biggest mistake I see new players making is treating these systems separately.

• They slide.
• Then stop.
• They grapple.
• Then land.
• They wall run.
• Then drop.

High-level players never let momentum die.

Every movement action naturally flows into the next.

The Foundation: Mastering Wall Running

Wall running is easily the most underrated mechanic in EMPULSE.

Most players understand the basics. Jump at a wall and ride it.

That’s not enough.

The real secret lies in understanding how wall-running affects your momentum vector.

When approaching a surface, never hit it head-on. Doing so bleeds speed instantly.

Instead:

• Approach diagonally.
• Keep your camera slightly away from the wall.
• Maintain forward movement input.
• Use the wall as a guide rather than a destination.

This small adjustment creates noticeably smoother transitions and preserves significantly more speed.

Once you get comfortable with this technique, you’ll start noticing routes across Freehold that simply don’t exist for players moving on foot.

The Wall Jump Timing That Changes Everything

A common misconception is that staying on a wall longer generates more value.

It doesn’t.

The best pilots actually leave the wall early.

After a few running steps, perform a controlled wall jump.

This creates a burst of directional acceleration while preserving the speed you’ve already built.

Think of the wall as a launch pad.

You’re not riding it.

You’re using it.

The jump becomes even more powerful when immediately combined with grapple mechanics.

This is where EMPULSE movement starts becoming addictive.

Grapple Hook Fundamentals

The grapple hook isn’t just a mobility gadget.

It’s arguably the strongest movement tool in the entire game.

Many players use it as a simple shortcut between locations.

That’s a waste of its potential.

The hook becomes truly powerful when used to manipulate momentum instead of replacing movement.

A few fundamentals worth remembering:

• Always look for elevated anchor points.
• Swinging upward generates better velocity.
• Manual detachment is essential.
• Long swings aren’t always faster.
• Angle matters more than distance.

One of my favorite tricks is using building corners as anchor points rather than obvious structures. The tighter angle often produces dramatically stronger launches.

How to Chain Wall Runs Into Grapple Swings

This movement sequence forms the backbone of advanced traversal.

Phase One: Build Initial Speed

Start with a diagonal wall run.

Avoid flat approaches and focus on preserving momentum.

Phase Two: Launch

Perform an early wall jump.

You want enough height to connect your grapple without sacrificing forward speed.

Phase Three: Find an Anchor

Look for:

• Rooftop edges
• Street infrastructure
• Building corners
• Elevated support structures

The ideal anchor sits slightly above your current position.

Phase Four: Extend the Arc

This is where many players lose speed.

Don’t let the grapple simply pull you forward.

Instead:

• Rotate your camera outward.
• Strafe into the swing.
• Create a wider arc.

A larger swing radius often generates significantly more velocity.

Phase Five: Release at Maximum Energy

Timing is critical.

Detach when your momentum is naturally pointing toward your next destination.

Too early and you’ll lose speed.

Too late and you’ll crash into geometry.

Perfect releases feel incredible.

The game practically launches you across entire sections of the map.

Phase Six: Reconnect

Hit your next wall and immediately transition into another run.

Once mastered, this loop feels almost endless.

P.A.I.N.T. Bomb Movement Tricks

I originally underestimated P.A.I.N.T. bombs.

Big mistake.

These tools aren’t just utility gadgets.

They’re movement enhancers disguised as explosives.

Orange Paint

Orange zones dramatically increase velocity.

Combining Speed Paint with a grapple swing creates some of the fastest movement currently possible.

Certain Freehold routes become absurdly efficient when orange paint is placed correctly.

Blue Paint

Blue surfaces offer incredible vertical mobility.

Instead of relying solely on grapple height, use blue-painted surfaces to launch into new traversal chains.

This opens routes that most players never even consider.

Combat While Moving

One of the most satisfying aspects of EMPULSE is fighting at full speed.

Many shooters punish aggressive movement during gunfights.

EMPULSE rewards it.

A few habits dramatically improved my performance:

Stay in hip-fire whenever possible.

The moment you ADS during a fast traversal sequence, your awareness shrinks.

You lose visual information.

You become easier to predict.

You also risk disrupting your movement rhythm.

Fast pilots survive because they’re difficult to track, not because they’re standing still and aiming carefully.

Using Backward Wall Running Against Aggressive Players

Backward wall running initially feels strange.

After enough practice, it becomes one of the strongest defensive tools in the game.

Imagine an enemy squad chasing you through a narrow corridor.

Instead of turning around and exposing yourself:

1. Hit the wall.
2. Initiate a backward run.
3. Maintain visual contact.
4. Continue firing while retreating.

This creates an incredibly awkward engagement angle for your opponents.

Most players simply aren’t prepared for targets moving at high speed while maintaining direct line of sight.

Outplaying Enemy Mechs

Mechs might look intimidating, but experienced pilots know they’re far from unstoppable.

In fact, predictable mech players often become easy targets.

The key is elevation.

Never fight a mech on its level.

Use walls, rooftops, grapple points, and vertical structures to stay above its firing lanes.

One successful strategy involves:

• Gaining height through wall-running.
• Swinging over the mech.
• Dropping behind defensive coverage.
• Repositioning before the mech can rotate.

Because EMPULSE rewards mobility so heavily, a skilled pilot can often control the pace of the encounter despite the mech’s firepower.

Common Mistakes That Kill Momentum

Even strong players occasionally sabotage themselves.

Watch out for these habits:

• Grappling directly toward anchors.
• Holding wall runs too long.
• Releasing swings too late.
• Ignoring paint-enhanced routes.
• Overusing ADS.
• Traveling through open streets.
• Letting momentum fully reset.

Every second spent stationary makes you easier to predict.

And predictable players don’t survive long in EMPULSE.

EMPULSE Release Date & Early Access Walkthrough: 1047 Games Movement Shooter Guide (2026)

Final Thoughts

EMPULSE has some of the most rewarding movement mechanics I’ve experienced in an arena shooter in years. The difference between basic traversal and advanced traversal feels massive.

The moment you begin chaining wall runs, grapple swings, momentum slides, and paint-enhanced routes together, the game transforms completely. Freehold stops feeling like a map and starts feeling like a giant playground designed for speed addicts.

The best advice I can give is simple: stop worrying about perfect aim for a while and focus entirely on movement. Learn the routes. Experiment with grapple angles. Practice release timing until it becomes muscle memory.

Once movement becomes second nature, you’ll discover something every top EMPULSE pilot already knows:

Speed isn’t just part of the game.

Speed is the game.

Empulse – Official Early Access Gameplay Trailer