Although DayZ has been on the market for many years, there are still many new players eager to dive into this survival title. However, apart from the regular gameplay, merely finding your way on the map can be challenging. This is not only due to the size of Chernarus but also the language barrier that the setting presents. So you can reunite with your friends, discover the best loot, or go hunting, today we will take a closer look at all the navigation options in DayZ. With these tips, you’ll become a pro and can apply these strategies to other maps in the game as well.
Understanding DayZ’s Location and Environment Better
DayZ is set in the fictional land of Chernarus by the Black or Caspian Sea. In the game, it’s known as the “Green Sea” and is surrounded by other fictional countries (and Russia). This is the first challenge many new players face. Everything you find in the game world will be written in Cyrillic. This makes it significantly harder to navigate the world of DayZ. The terrain was inspired by a small part of a northern region in the Czech Republic, near the Ústí nad Labem region. The river’s course west of the city perfectly aligns with Chernarus’s coastal region. Many locations were even directly adopted, not surprising since the developers are from the Czech Republic!
When you first spawn with a new character, you’ll find yourself on a beach. The main map is bordered by the sea to the south and west, giving you an initial orientation clue. Also, upon first spawn, you will always be facing north. We recommend familiarizing yourself with one of the larger coastal cities, then moving further inland.
Useful Techniques for Determining Directions in DayZ
First, you should know where exactly north, south, east, and west are. Even without a compass, which we will discuss later, you can determine this using various signs. As mentioned before, when you spawn, you face north, which you can use as your first navigation aid. Try to remember this point.
Just like in real life, the sun rises in the east in Chernarus. At noon, it’s seen in the south, and by evening, it sets in the west. The sun never shines in the north. This information can provide important clues about your current position on the map and offer a rough guideline for your next destination. The visibility and position of the sun are influenced by the season, weather, and clouds. Sunrises and sunsets are the best times to establish an exact direction. However, clouds are also a good indicator of direction, as in DayZ, they always move from east to west.
At night, the detailed starry sky can help you find the right direction. Many constellations are visible here, including the Big Dipper. If you follow its right edge upward about five times its length, you’ll find the bright North Star. It’s also the starting point of the “handle” of the Little Dipper.
Identifying Man-Made Features for Navigation
You don’t have to rely solely on natural features, as human-made signs are also helpful. Even if you can’t read Cyrillic, you should pay attention to place names and road signs. These will at least tell you the name of the town you’re in or heading to. You don’t even need to read them; you can just remember the symbols.
Railway tracks, power lines, and regular roads are also great for orientation. They all lead to a town or village if you follow them long enough. However, we advise against staying on open roads. This makes you an easy target for other players.
Forests are much better, and here too, you can find many real-life navigation aids. Picnic areas, for example, have large maps showing your current position. Hiking trails are another great way to explore the map. They’re marked by white and colored stripes on trees and posts. Green and yellow indicate easy paths, while blue and red mark challenging ones.
Effective Use of Tools for In-Game Navigation
Of course, beyond these hints, there are tools that directly assist you with navigation. You often don’t have to search long to find these. Depending on your playstyle and skill level, you should carry them all!
Compass: Easily shows you the directions if you can’t or don’t want to determine them yourself. Can be found at campsites or military locations.
Binoculars: Not directly essential for navigation, but they help you see further and perhaps spot familiar landmarks. Especially useful when looking down from high points in Chernarus.
GPS Device: GPS devices are extremely helpful, though rarely found in hunting lodges and stands. They require 9V batteries. The device provides your exact coordinates and should be used directly with the next item on the list.
Map: The tourist map is probably your best navigation tool and gives you the entire area map at once. You can also see your coordinates, direction, and altitude at a glance.
If that’s not enough, you can always use external maps. We recommend both iZurvive and the DayZ Interactive Map for precise spawn points, all town names, and better oversight. However, the game itself provides enough ways to find your way without these tools.
Successful Navigation for DayZ Beginners
As a newcomer, the map of Chernarus can be overwhelming, but with the right knowledge from the real world, navigating DayZ is a breeze. Many concepts, such as the sunrise or hiking trail markers, can be directly applied from real life. Rent your own DayZ server with us and never lose sight of each other again using our tips. Ideally, everyone should find a map, and perhaps even a GPS device for precise coordinates!
