DayZ is one of the most underrated survival horror games out there. Since it’s already years old, it can be quite intimidating to dive into the large open world of DayZ to face off against humans and zombies alike. Despite its small following, the game continues to grow, sporting many players regularly.
The goal of the game is to survive as long as you can. That may sound simple enough, but everything is against you in this game. Let’s first talk about DayZ and how it works.
You have to worry about your health meter, your temperature meter, your hunger, and your thirst meter as well. On top of that, you have to fend against wildlife, zombies, the elements, and of course, other players.
The other players are your biggest threats in the game, considering that some of them will have better equipment than you. With that in mind, you should take these tips to help you survive a little longer in DayZ.
Build A Campfire
Believe it or not, one of the worst killers in DayZ isn’t other players or zombies – it’s hypothermia. Considering how rain can happen at any time and that you have limited-to-no clothing at the start of the game, it shouldn’t be surprising that hypothermia is fairly common.
You should focus on building a fireplace kit first. This will be your primary source of heat, but it can also be a means to cook food. You’ll need a stick, rags, bandages, or paper to build one. Combine the two items to create a fireplace kit.
What To Focus On First
Countless items are scattered worldwide, and finding which ones to get can be intimidating. Focus on getting food, water, and clothing first during your first few hours in the game. These are going to be your primary means of surviving the early game.
That being said, you should avoid engaging with enemies early on in the game. Don’t focus on facing off against hostile creatures; the first thing you should be worried about is your hunger, thirst, and temperature.
Find Temporary Shelter
The game takes place in the fictional Republic of Chernarus. The game map is pretty large, and various locales and structures are in it. At the beginning of the game, it would be wise to focus on finding a temporary shelter first. This can be a small run-down shack or an abandoned building – your only limit is your imagination and whatever the game spawns.
This is very important as you’ll need a place to run to and hide just in case you get into trouble or when the weather gets rough. Fortunately, shacks and small shelters are scattered throughout the countryside.
Grab A Knife
You’ll first be equipped with the basics, so what you can do in the game is fairly limited. If you want an easy means to protect yourself and to forage for food, you’ll need to grab a knife. There are plenty of knives around the world, but it’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to find one lying around.
The good news is that you can craft a knife for relatively few resources. While it can be used to defend yourself, it’s also good for hunting and scavenging for food. Simply find a stone, equip it, then craft it to become an improvised knife.
Stick Close To The Road
You should begin closing in on cities once you have enough food and water to last a few days. One effective way to find the suburbs or any rural locations in the game is to stick near the roads. If you stick close to it, you’ll eventually find some great areas to loot.
Slowly work toward abandoned towns; these will be your best source for gear and loot. Just keep in mind that there will also be many other players and zombies in these areas – so watch your back.
Listen In For Chickens
Chickens will be an excellent source of food early on in the game. Hunting for a chicken shouldn’t be too hard if you already have a makeshift knife. What’s hard is trying to locate one in a lonely world such as the one in DayZ.
Your best bet to find chickens fast is to head to a farmhouse; there are always chickens in these areas. Once there, all you need to do is listen in closely if some chickens are cuckooing. Like in real life, you’ll get sick in the game if you eat raw chicken, so craft a campfire and cook it up first.
Invest In A Good Headset
The audio is one of the main features in the game that you should utilize at all costs. Whether you’re talking with other players or are listening for zombie footsteps, you can use environmental sounds to make sure that nothing gets the upper hand on you in the world – trust me, when you hear bears coming for you, you’ll thank me for giving you time to run.
While turning your volume up is a good idea, investing in a decent headset is much better. The more crisp your sounds are, the better you locate other living (and non-loving) around you.
Be Friendly
Also, don’t forget to be friendly in the game. If you’re a newbie, you’ll come across a few players, and not all of them will take kindly of you. If you are nice enough to them, they’ll leave you be or even help you out by giving you some items.
It pays to have allies in DayZ. However, it’s often best to avoid other players altogether until you have decent equipment. That way, you can fend for yourself just in case they do something bad to you. Of course, you should also be kind to newcomers once you have good equipment already.
Along the way, you’ll also meet up with other players. If you’re both playing with a new character, teaming up with them first would be best. But, of course, always keep one eye open, as DayZ players are notorious for betraying others.
Always Play In Third Person
There are benefits to playing both in the first and third person. If you are a beginner, we suggest playing with the third-person perspective. This will give you a broader view of the map-making sure that you can spot items, zombies, and other players alike.
First-person is best if you finally have a firearm in the game. Being comfortable with both perspectives will benefit you, so practice playing in the first person once you get used to the third person.
DayZ can be cruel for beginners. Any newcomer to the game can get easily overwhelmed by its survival mechanics. With these tips, however, we hope it will be easier for you to stay longer in the game amidst all the challenges thrown your way. Happy hunting!
