DayZ is an unforgiving game. It is slow-paced, violent, and challenging for a newcomer to find their place in Chernarus, Livonia, Deer Aisle, or Namalske. With that in mind, here are a few new player tips for DayZ first-timers!
Survive longer with new player tips for DayZ!
Don’t Get Too Attached to Your Gear
As I said, DayZ is unforgiving, and not because of the zombies. It’s the people and the elements you need to worry about.
DayZ typically brings out the worst in people. You’ll find cannibals, bandits, the psuedo-Russian mob, bands of self-appointed lawmen, and survivors making a go at life in the apocalypse.
You’re like in the latter category, and that’s okay. Along your journey, you’ll stumble upon weapons, base building supplies, food, water, medical aid, and more. You will lose it all. Someone will shoot you from the trees, from the top of an apartment building, or you’ll glitch through a wall.
You will die.
Eat Well, Eat Often
Depending on the server you’re playing on, food is likely scarce. The more you move, the more calories you consume, so eat well and eat often.
It’s best to eat until you’re full. Watch the icon in the bottom right corner, the stomach icon, and eat canned beans and cooked meat.
But do so from cover. If you intend to eat, as you should, do not walk down the center of the road eating baked beans. You will die. Instead, tuck away inside a building somewhere or crouch in a bush.
Light a Fire
Learning how to light a fire is key to your survival. Without fire, especially on Namalske, you will freeze to death. Without a fire, you cannot cook raw meat from that fresh spawn…or chicken…that you killed.
How do I build a fire in DayZ? You’re asking yourself. The most foolproof method is to find a hand drill kit. For this method, you’ll require a knife to cut two pieces of bark from a tree. Once you have your bark, cut a small tree or bush for sticks, which you will combine with your bark to build a small campfire.
With a campfire at your feet, use the hand drill kit to start a fire. There is a chance the hand drill kit fails, though. If it does, the kit breaks.
With a fire, you’ll stay warm and cook fresh meat.
In a pinch, a road flare will help keep your warm.
Avoid Waterborne Illness
Alongside food, water is ever-important. Luckily, the map designers were kind and included a water pump in most major towns and cities. In a pinch, a can of soda or a bottle of beer will suffice, though.
With recent updates, the chance of coming down ill with a waterborne disease is exponential. Before consuming any water in the game, use chlorine tablets to treat your supply.
It’s important to remember that even a bottle of water or half-filled canteen is unsafe to consume. Treat all water beforehand!
Navigating the Map
No matter which map you play on (Chernarus, Livonia, Deer Aisle, or Namalske), the game world is massive. Unless you play on a modded server, there is no map on your HUD. No key to hit.
You’ll need to find an in-game map, use the stars, watch the sun rise and sun set, and track points of interest, like the castle.
If you don’t want to endure the hardcore survival experience, download iZurvive.