DayZ – Survival Guide

The standalone of DayZ has finally arrived, and fans are jumping into the zombie action. Based on a mod for the game ARMA 2, the new standalone game uses a new engine and adds new features to improve the gameplay. Now, there are even more ways to survive in the zombie infested wasteland. Learn how to get away from zombies, find supplies, and defeat enemies in our own DayZ survival guide. 

Getting Started

As you first get into the game, there are a few things you should know. First, zombies aren’t the only enemies you need to worry about. Other players might be after you too. When you first start out, you will be in an area where you are vulnerable to attack, especially by other players looking for your valuable goods. Try to move inland ASAP. 

Familiarize yourself with the controls. Tweak them to your liking if you need to. Make sure you know how to run or walk, crouch or go prone, jump, ready an item or weapon, use a weapon or item, attack, zoom, and open your inventory. These are the basic things you will need to do on a regular basis. 

The Map 

The map is one of your greatest assets. There are a few different maps for the various areas around the world. Use your map often to ensure you are going in the right direction. The map can also help you find new areas or potential towns and cities with supplies. If you are playing with a friend or group, the map will also show you where they are so you can find them easily.

Status Effects

As you start to play, you’ll notice some status effects may occur. The ones you will likely encounter first are thirst and hunger. These will affect every character, and they will occur more quickly if you are running everywhere instead of walking. Food and drink will recover your character. Don’t overeat though, as you can get too full and become sick as well!

Other status effects are related to your character’s health. If you are sick or infected, you will have a status effect. These can include things like broken bone, bleeding, or shock. You may need special medication, bandages, or rest in order to remove these negative status effects.

Avoiding Enemies

Enemies are rampant in the world of DayZ, including bandits and zombies. Many other survivors are bandits, looking to kill or steal. These survivors may be located in larger towns and cities, looking for supplies. Be wary of these areas and make sure you know who you are dealing with before you trust someone!

Zombies are also scattered around the world. You will find groups of them in areas that used to be populated, like towns and cities. They will be attracted to noise, so avoid running or using firearms if you don’t want to attract zombies. Be especially careful at night, when it is difficult to see the undead wandering around.

Finding Supplies

Supplies are the key to survival. You need to find weapons, food, and drinks in order to live in the zombie-infested world. You can find supplies at towns and cities. Even small towns should have some limited supplies. Bigger cities will have more supplies, but they also have more risk of hostile survivors and zombies. You will need to find a good balance of a good supply of resources and a low risk of being killed.

Fighting Enemies 

You will often encounter enemies you need to fight. This is especially true of zombies. You can fight with ranged weapons or melee weapons. Using a gun is easier – shoot an enemy in the head to really damage them. This will kill a zombie instantly. However, don’t forget that using a gun makes a lot of noise, and it might attract more enemies. Different firearms will make varying amounts of noise. Know what you are using before you shoot!

Melee weapons are easier to find then guns. However, they aren’t as effective against enemies. It can take a lot more time to defeat an enemy, zombie or human, with a melee item. However, melee weapons are quiet and won’t attract attention to you. You’ll need to decide what situations will require firearms, and which ones will be okay with melee weapons. Think about how many enemies are around before you make a decision. 

Vehicles

You can’t rely on having vehicles available in the DayZ world. Vehicles are rare, and if you find one, it usually needs extensive repairs before it can even be used. You’ll need to find the parts to repair it before you can use it, such as engine parts, tires, and more. It’s up to you whether this will be worth it or not. There are many different kinds of vehicles, from old beat-up pickup trucks to military helicopters.

Nighttime

Playing at night requires some special care. It’s dark, so you will have trouble seeing. You start off with a flashlight and you can also find flares and chemlights in towns and cities. These will enable you to get around. Don’t worry, your flashlight doesn’t need batteries either. In the dark, enemies will not be able to see you as well either. However, this means you can’t see them as well either – and you may stumble across a group of zombies unexpectedly. Move slowly at night and keep your eyes open.