Genesis Part 1 does not play like a normal resource map. A lot of your progression runs through a token economy: you earn Hexagons, then spend them at a store rather than farming everything by hand. Understanding that loop early saves a lot of wasted time.
This guide covers the economy itself: what HLN-A is, how Hexagons are earned and spent, and how to pick loops that actually pay. For the mission-by-mission tactics, which mission types to run and how being geared or broke changes the plan, read the mission walkthrough alongside this.
Payout balance can be retuned in the ASA version, so treat the figures here as the ASE baseline and confirm current rates in game before you build a farm around them.
What is HLN-A and how do you move around the map?
HLN-A is the AI companion that runs the Genesis simulation and your interface to it. Because the map is five separate biomes rather than one connected world, you do not walk between them, you teleport using HLN-A's Biome Teleportation menu. HLN-A is also where you access the Hexagon Store and, once you have the completions, where you start the Master Controller through Arrival Protocol. If you are new to Genesis, the mental shift is that HLN-A is your hub for almost everything.
How do you earn Hexagons?
Hexagons come from two places: completing missions and fixing Glitches, which are corrupted data nodes scattered across the biomes. Missions pay the most, and the payout scales with difficulty, so Alpha runs pay more than Gamma. Mission type matters too. In ASE, Escort and Hunt-style missions were among the top payers, landing roughly 1,900 to 2,300 Hexagons per run at high difficulty, while easy Fishing missions paid closer to 100 to 200. That spread is why farming the right mission type matters more than just doing missions. The mission walkthrough breaks down which types are worth your time based on your gear.
- Missions: the main source, scaling with difficulty.
- Glitches: fix corrupted data nodes for extra Hexagons.
- Alpha difficulty pays more than Beta or Gamma.
- Escort and Hunt missions were the top payers in ASE, easy Fishing the lowest.
What can you buy with Hexagons?
Hexagons are spent at HLN-A's Hexagon Store. You can trade them for resources directly, which lets you convert mission time into materials instead of farming nodes, and you can buy Level 1, 2 and 3 loot crates that scale in value. That makes the store a real alternative to open-world gathering: if a mission loop pays well, buying resources or a crate can be more efficient than a risky farm, especially on a contested server.
Which loops actually pay off?
The same rule that applies to Element routes on other maps applies here: pick loops by dead-time and repeatability, not by the flashiest single reward. A mission that pays slightly less but resets cleanly and never fails beats a high-value run that forces travel, repairs or repeated attempts. Track how long a loop takes start to finish, how often it fails and what it costs you in kit, then farm the one with the best real return for your tribe size. For a broader comparison of farming value across maps, see the Element farming by map guide.
How does this help Small Tribes progression?
For Small Tribes, the Hexagon economy is a way to skip some of the raw grind. Loot crates and bought resources can jump-start a rebuild after a wipe, and mission completions double as progress toward the Master Controller unlock and character levels. If leveling into the map is the goal, Genesis Explorer Notes tie in directly, and the honest framing applies: the map is new, so ask in Discord what Genesis service coverage is live rather than assuming it.
Turn mission time into progress
For leveling into the map, compare Genesis Explorer Notes and character services. For the tames that carry the highest-paying Hunt and Escort missions, see dino lines and FFA tames, and ask in Discord what Genesis coverage is live as the map settles.