DayZ is a true survival game, and that includes dressing appropriately for the apocalypse. External influences have a significant effect on your character and can lead you into quite a bit of trouble. From damage to wet clothes, there are many factors you need to consider in your gameplay. You shouldn’t always wear what looks good. Pay attention to your stats and be prepared at the right moment! Today, we take a closer look at the complexity of clothing and armour in DayZ, so you can protect yourself and look good at the same time.
Important Clothing Attributes
For those playing DayZ for the first time, the impact of the right clothing on your gameplay might come as a surprise. So caution is particularly advised! Always pay close attention to the following details and see how the clothing item you find fits your current situation. In addition, you should regularly reassess your long-term clothing choices.
How Your Armour Protects You
The armour value is one of the most important factors of your clothing in DayZ. It is divided into three categories: projectile damage, melee damage, and infection damage. And for all three, there is further differentiation between normal health, bleeding, and shock damage. This alone shows how complex clothing can be! All values are given in percentages; the higher the percentage, the more the corresponding damage is reduced.
Equally important is which body part is protected. You should focus particularly on your head and torso. These areas take significant damage when hit. While legs and arms are less critical, they should ideally still be protected.
How to Control Your Temperature
In DayZ, it can get quite cold, especially at night. And if you’re playing the “Frostline” expansion, body temperature becomes immensely important. Every piece of clothing has a value related to insulation. This is also given in percentages. The higher the value, the better the clothing retains warmth. Again, body parts are crucial, as each slot contributes a certain percentage to overall insulation. Unlike armour, limbs are most important here, as you lose the most warmth from them.
Protection from Wetness in DayZ
Temperature is also affected by water absorption. The wetter your clothes, the colder you become, and the more they weigh. Therefore, you should opt for clothing with a particularly low value. Nowadays, there are no clothes that are completely waterproof. The lowest values range from 5% to 25%. Still, you should try to keep your clothing dry at all times. If they get wet, you can wring them out.
Planning in DayZ – Weight and Inventory Size
Of course, you should always have enough inventory space to carry the appropriate clothing. Each piece of clothing takes up a different amount of space and has a specific weight. Additionally, clothes can expand your inventory with extra slots. This is obviously practical for carrying more items and allows you to organise your inventory better. Backpacks provide the most space, but regular clothing also offers a few slots.
DayZ Quickbar: Rapid Access
Setting items for quick access can really save your skin in emergencies! The bar is displayed at the bottom of the screen and can be used for weapons, tools, or medication. You can quickly access and use them with the number keys, without having to open your inventory. Clothing can provide additional slots for carrying even more items. Some give you just one, but others also provide two new slots!
Durability of Your Clothing
The durability of your clothing is indicated by a cross on a shield. When you take damage from external influences, this value steadily decreases. Most clothing items range between 25 and 250 points. The higher the value, the longer the clothing item lasts! Often, these are also the best items you can find in DayZ.
Durability not only determines the condition but also affects almost all other values. It is always calculated with other aspects. The worse the condition of your clothes, the less effective they are at insulating and absorbing damage. Therefore, it’s important to regularly repair important clothing items to ensure comprehensive protection.
Camouflage and Appearance in DayZ
Finally, the appearance of your clothing is also important, not just for your personal style but also for camouflage. Nearly all clothing items come in multiple colour variants that you can find in the world of DayZ. This gives you the opportunity to dress inconspicuously while still benefiting from good attributes. Avoid bright and flashy colours!
Clothing with Special Attributes
Most clothing items should be self-explanatory. With regular shirts, jackets, or trousers, you can’t go too wrong, and they function just as they do in real life. However, there are some special clothing items that provide additional bonuses or significantly simplify your gameplay.
- Bulletproof Vests: Excellent at reducing damage. However, they are also very heavy, which you should take into account. Additionally, there are some extra pouches and pockets for tactical vests.
- Helmets: Your head should always be protected, making helmets in DayZ almost mandatory!
- Masks: Masks don’t protect you from attacks but do protect against diseases. While some only work biologically, large gas masks also protect against chemical gases. You can learn more about this in our article on diseases in DayZ (DayZ: Ultimate Guide to Health and Healing) .
- Gloves: Gloves can also protect you from infections and minor injuries. They are thus essential, especially for skinning wild animals.
- Shoes: You should always wear shoes in DayZ, as they not only protect your feet from exhaustion but also determine the sound of your footsteps.
Conclusion: How to Find Your Perfect Clothing in DayZ
Your clothing in DayZ determines many aspects of your character. It protects you against weather conditions and damage. However, you should always pay attention to the right values and choose a good combination of different clothing items. Rent your own DayZ server from us and exchange found clothes with others so everyone has the best possible protection. In DayZ, there’s much more to consider than just appearance. Factors like temperature, moisture, or inventory slots are also important in determining your clothing.
