Screw Drivers Prince of Gears Boss Guide
Your first real test — beat him with the parts you already have.
The Prince of Gears is the first Monarch you face in Screw Drivers career mode. He serves as an introduction to boss racing, and the game is generous here: you can beat him with a starter car, rubber wheels, and the basic Electrix-180 motor. No advanced parts required.
Recommended build
Keep your build simple. The default chassis works fine for this fight. Attach an Electrix-180 motor — the same one you used for early races. Connect it through two medium gears using axles. This gives you a reliable 1:1 ratio that balances acceleration and top speed.
Rubber wheels are the right choice here. The Prince’s track is mostly paved, and rubber tires grip well on asphalt. Four small rubber tires through basic suspension arms will keep you stable through corners without overcomplicating the build.
Weight matters even at this early stage. Do not pile on extra parts you do not need. A single motor, two gears, four wheels, and suspension arms — that is all you need. Every unnecessary gram slows your acceleration.
Driving strategy
The Prince of Gears drives a moderately fast vehicle but takes predictable lines. He does not make sudden moves or exploit shortcuts. Your job is to drive cleanly and efficiently.
Checkpoints are the only requirement to finish the race. You do not have to follow the road exactly. If a checkpoint is accessible by cutting across a field, take the shortcut. The Prince sticks to the paved route, so cross-country cuts give you a significant time advantage.
Cornering technique is critical even in this first fight. Lift your throttle before entering a corner instead of slamming the brakes. Braking hard in Screw Drivers unsettles the vehicle and costs more time than a smooth lift-off. Accelerate out of the corner once your wheels are straight.
Drifting is a skill worth practicing now. A controlled drift through a wide corner is faster than slowing to a crawl. The Prince does not drift, so any time you gain through corners compounds over the race.
Common mistakes
Overbuilding is the biggest trap. Players unlock a few new parts and immediately try to cram them into the build. Resist that urge. The Electrix-180 with medium gears and rubber wheels is genuinely the optimal setup for this fight. Save the fancy parts for later Monarchs.
Ignoring checkpoints is another mistake. Some players focus so hard on the road that they miss checkpoint markers. Checkpoints glow brightly — watch for them and adjust your line to hit each one cleanly.
Following the ghost racer from a previous attempt can mislead you. Ghost racers take the lines that were driven in that specific attempt, which may not be optimal. Use the ghost as a rough guide but trust your own judgment on corners and shortcuts.
After the Prince
Beating the Prince of Gears unlocks the next tier of parts and the Combustion King. You now have access to combustion engines and more powerful components. Start planning your next build upgrade before tackling the King — the jump in difficulty is noticeable.
Check the Beginner Builds page for progression advice and the Parts catalog for newly unlocked components.
Related resources
- Combustion King for the next boss fight
- Beginner Builds for build progression
- Controls for driving keybindings
- Getting Started for career mode overview
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Can I beat the Prince of Gears with the starter car?
Yes. The Electrix-180 motor, two medium gears, four rubber wheels, and basic suspension arms are all you need. No advanced parts required.
Should I follow the road or cut across terrain?
Checkpoints are the only requirement. Cutting across fields to hit checkpoints is often faster than staying on the paved road, since the Prince follows the road.
What do I unlock after beating the Prince?
You unlock the next Monarch (Combustion King), new parts in the tech tree, and an achievement. Combustion engines become available.