Your first squad

When does Squad 1 unlock?

Community squad references list Squad 1 at Sanctuary level 4, with Explorer's Camp level 1 required to build it. This is your first march queue; its formation holds up to five heroes, with two positions in front and three behind.
One community building table instead lists level 5, so check the requirements shown on your own Squad 1 building. These references describe the march unlock; they do not establish a separate unlock level for all five hero slots.

Start with your stronger, higher-tier heroes, even if they belong to different factions and do not give you a faction bonus. Do not replace a strong hero with a much weaker one just to complete a same-faction lineup; compare levels, stars, skills and gear as well as rarity.
Build around a durable frontline, damage dealers and a supporting hero whose skills help the team. Check the formation screen for the positions each hero can use.
Arthur is an early tank option to consider if you have him. Focus your early investment on one strong first squad, then build your other squads later as your roster and resources grow.

Heroes belong to the Warrior, Ranger or Warlock faction. Matching factions gives a lineup bonus to HP, ATK and DEF: three heroes of one faction give +5%; three of one faction plus two of another give +10%; four of one faction give +15%; and all five from one faction give +20%. These are alternative tiers, not bonuses added together.
The faction counter is separate from the lineup bonus: Rangers take 20% less damage from Warriors, Warriors take 20% less from Warlocks, and Warlocks take 20% less from Rangers. Check your opponent's faction composition when comparing teams.
Early on, treat the faction bonus as a benefit when it fits your strongest team, not a reason to field weaker heroes. As you recruit and develop more heroes, work toward stronger faction-focused teams and build squads 2, 3 and 4 later.
Eventually you want a strong squad 1 made up of a single faction. Warriors are the easiest to grow, with UR warriors like Arthur and Marlena as your anchor pieces, plus SSR warriors like Lucius and Celia to fill out the line. Aim for a composition of 2 tanks, 2 carriers (damage dealers) and a support hero.

Keep most of your early hero resources on this squad. Avoid leveling every newly recruited hero immediately.
Improve your damage dealers while keeping your frontline strong enough to survive. If your frontline falls early, address that before adding more damage.
Before using universal shards, decide which hero you intend to keep. Read the next skill upgrade and compare it with the materials required.

Try the team in content you can repeat and compare battle reports. Look at who falls first and which heroes contribute the most.
Change one hero or one upgrade at a time so you can tell what helped.
Keep a note of your current five heroes, their roles and your next upgrade target. This becomes your main-squad plan.

Squad 1 is generally documented at Sanctuary level 4 with Explorer's Camp level 1; a separate building table lists Sanctuary 5. Check the requirements shown on your own Squad 1 building. The formation holds up to five heroes, with two front positions and three behind.
The lineup bonuses and counter cycle are explained above. If the game’s current faction hint differs, use that hint and battle reports to confirm which faction takes reduced damage; do not assume a lineup bonus and a faction counter are the same effect.