Guns and zombies go hand in hand together, sometimes some of those hands or other parts tend to fly off but that is to be expected in a game like DayZ. Most of the time you don’t even have guns, or anything at all! This kind of rough start may not be to everyone’s liking, especially to the newer players. If you do like starting with nothing but the clothes on your back then that’s good too, you’re nearly set! Today we’ll be telling you everything you need to know, what to avoid, craft and eat in the latest update! After you finish reading you’ll be able to wise up to your surroundings in no time.

Beginner Tips & Tricks for Update 1.20 – Food, Crafting, Infections & More | DayZ

If you’re new to the game then welcome to DayZ! There’s no hand holding or second guessing here. You either shoot or get shot, and most of the time it’s the latter. But who’s to say that you don’t deserve a second chance? Here are our tips and tricks to help you survive Chernarus longer.

1.   Movement

Let’s say you got to a point in the game where you managed to find your first zombie or worse, a person. See the image above? You never want to be the guy standing still facing the business end of any firearm, you can and will be an easy target and anyone who has ammunition to spare will be more than happy to teach you that lesson. So keep moving, and keep your head down!

2.     Stay off the beaten path!

Know the lay of the land, treat Chernarus or Livonia as if it were your backyard! This can be difficult at first as the map is huge but it would be in your best interest to just stay off the main roads or any open space that is frequented by other players. If you have to stick a path head further away from it and follow it from there!

If you want you can also use the interactive map for DayZ once you get your bearings. This can help you plan your route if you ever feel the need to risk it all and head out for whatever reason.

3.     Food & Water

Once you understand when and where to stop moving the next thing you will worry about is the fact that you’re slowly dying of hunger. A normal occurrence in the world of Dayz. You might as well start with water as you can easily stumble upon water pumps in towns, cities and villages.

Food is a little more difficult to come by as most of the places you would know have already been looted by another player who had the same idea as you. The only difference is they were faster. You will have to inspect every nook and cranny the world has if you want to live another day!

If you can’t find a grocery kiosk or didn’t have much luck with hunting or farming, you can also try foraging for mushrooms, apples, or plums in the wilderness. Remember to avoid sprinting, jumping, vaulting, or fighting if you’re first priority is to find food.

4.     Equipment

Under any circumstance, you do not want to end up like the guy in the red jacket. This happened because you didn’t find a weapon of some sort. That or you stayed too close to the road. Either way you need to avoid this, regardless if it can happen to you or not.

On your next trip remember to check tool sheds or warehouses for anything that you can swing around. It also helps that you know the loot zones and their respective tiers:

For tier 1 & 2 head on over to these zones if you’re looking for basic clothing, food, and weapons.

Head further inland if you’re hurting for military gear which falls under Tier 3. This is where you can find military outposts and the Airfield. You will mostly find ranged weapons here if you haven’t yet. Be careful as you’re not the only eyeing these locations!

If you want to go big and hopefully go home, tier 4 & 5 is where the military bases and helicopter crash sites are if you want to find weapons that can ruin somebody else’s day. Some areas here are near the contaminated zones though so make sure you have a respirator and a complete NBC suit before heading in!

You can also try the loot finder on wobo.tools/dayz if you’re looking for something specific.

5.     Crafting

Crafting is a vital part of the DayZ world, you can find stones near the tracks and turn them into a makeshift knife (with another stone), or mine boulders with a pickaxe to make the same thing. This can help with your chances of survival the sooner you learn it.

For example if you’re bleeding and you have no bandages, you can simply use your brand new stone knife to tear down some clothes you’re not using and procure a rag. It slower compared to bandages but at least you stopped the bleeding!

You can craft by having the items needed and dragging one item over the other. A menu will appear which shows the possible actions that your item can be used in and all of the available recipes will be listed as options upon doing so.

6.     Dealing with the Undead

They’re either your friend or your enemy if you know how to get around them. At first it would be wise to avoid them completely if you’re underequipped and just want to survive your first day. But later on you will have to make a decision whenever you encounter these flesh eaters on your next trip.

You can dispatch them quietly if you have a bladed weapon and if you happen to be behind them. Do this when it’s absolutely necessary as you don’t want to make any noise at all. If you see any zeds walking about with pieces of armor you will have to put in some extra effort in trying to take them down.

The last thing you have to worry about when dealing with zombies are the players! If you clear them out and make a considerable amount of noise then there’s a good chance someone out there will be well on their way to take your belongings away from you. So it’s highly advised to think if what you’re going to do will be worth the trouble!

7.     Basebuilding

At one point in the game you will want to build a place you would call home. That and constantly being on the move is no longer viable for you and having a car is definitely the last thing you want to end up dealing with.

You may want to gather the tools necessary for you to start a base like a shovel, garden hoe, or a pickaxe. Another set of tools you want to keep an eye out for should be a hammer, hatchet, and some pliers if you intend to make a gate.

Don’t forget the saw and axe while looking around! Chopping down trees will become a common routine when you’ve settled down as you’re going to need a lot of wood for your first base.

8.     Infections

Infections come in two stages, both can be treated differently if done right. Sometimes simply treating your wounds is not enough as the materials you have used may not have been disinfected.

However, if you find any alcoholic tincture or a bottle of disinfectant or even some iodine and apply them to the rags, bandages, or sewing kits you have before using them you’ll heal without the risk of getting infected.

You can tell that you’re on the first stage of infection when you notice your screen shaking and hear yourself grunting. This last for about fifteen minutes so instead of waiting to get to stage to, go and apply some tincture, iodine, or disinfectant straight to your wound.

If you let it get to the second stage you’re in for a world of hurt. You won’t be able to aim properly and your water levels drain faster. Disinfectants will no longer work in this stage so your next best friend would be tetracycline pills.

Your best bet when it comes to finding medical loot would be medical centers or hospitals. Residential areas are a good place to look as well.

That was a good read! With the information you got you’re more than ready to take on the world of DayZ! Maybe this time you’ll think twice before firing an unsuppressed weapon in the middle of a city. Good luck out there!

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