DayZ is a classic when it comes to survival games. Here, not only bloodthirsty zombies await you, but also a harsh world and real players who can make life difficult for you. But these aspects are what make DayZ such an exciting experience, and every success brings new surprises. Today, we’ll take a closer look at your first steps in the game, whether you’re a complete newcomer or a returning player wanting to reacquaint yourself with the game’s mechanics.
1. Focus on Food and Water in DayZ
As in almost all survival games, food and water are the first things you need to think about. Depending on the server status, this can be easier or more difficult. If many places have already been looted, you will probably find less. Your first port of call is fresh fruit, which you can find in orchards. These not only satisfy hunger but also partially quench your thirst! Canned food is probably your second option for obtaining food. You can find these almost everywhere, especially in houses, but also as loot from zombies.
You will likely find water in lakes and rivers, but you shouldn’t drink it directly—unless you want to get sick. Collect chlorine tablets and combine them with full water containers to sterilize the water and drink it without problems. In some towns, there are also water wells that contain fresh drinking water.
2. Avoiding Dangers in DayZ: Players and Zombies
Especially as a newcomer, you should stay away from anything that could mean your death. This applies to both zombies and other players. Zombies are obvious threats. As long as you don’t have a weapon or can’t fight well, confronting an undead is an unnecessary risk. While they may have clothing, weapons, or essential food, a confrontation at the beginning is not advisable.
Real players are a whole different matter and one of the factors that make DayZ so unique. They can help you, but they can also kill you faster than you can react. For beginners, we recommend servers with few real players, or ones that are PvE only. In our last tip, we’ll discuss teams in more detail and how to best interact with other players.
3. Navigating DayZ: Using the Best Maps
DayZ uses a fictional map called Chernarus, which is much larger than you might think. As a result, you can quickly get lost or completely lose your bearings. Additionally, you probably won’t be able to read anything, as all symbols and signs are in Cyrillic. This makes orientation significantly more difficult!
The best map online is iZurvive, which shows you almost all loot possibilities across the entire map. Here, you can also familiarize yourself with the map’s size, distances, and unknown letters. As in other zombie games, there are various locations, from simple houses to supermarkets to police stations and military camps.
4. Efficient Armament in DayZ
Sooner or later, you will need to search for suitable weapons to defend yourself. Some tools can be used both for survival and as weapons. A knife, for example, is a basic item and should always be in your inventory.
You should first focus on melee weapons. These are more common and quieter to handle. You won’t immediately attract a crowd and can remain stealthy. Later, you can also use firearms if you have enough ammunition and are more experienced. Also, keep in mind that your weapons have a certain durability. You don’t want them to fall apart in your hands during a fight.
5. The Right Climate in DayZ
The weather in Chernarus is not exactly inviting. Especially nights can get quite cold, so you need to dress appropriately. Pay attention to proper layering and the condition of your clothes. This will help protect you from the cold, as well as injuries and bites from zombies. You certainly don’t want to die from a simple cold, do you?
6. Health and Safety in DayZ
Your (surely impending) deaths in DayZ don’t necessarily have to come from players or zombies. Sometimes, it’s your own fault, whether from consuming moldy food or getting injured during your adventures in Chernarus.
Therefore, you should prepare your inventory for these eventualities and stock up on medical resources. Morphine can be crucial in extreme situations to suppress pain. Various pills help combat symptoms. Bandages should be disinfected or treated with alcohol beforehand. At the same time, you should regularly wash your hands, containers, and clothing to avoid transmitting diseases. Ensure your clothes dry well, or the dreaded cold will await you again.
7. Secure Teamwork in DayZ
Playing DayZ solo can be extremely challenging, especially on a public server. While you will quickly learn the game’s mechanics, you will also get killed just as quickly. Therefore, it’s worthwhile to start by playing as a group. It’s best if one or more players already have experience with DayZ and can help newcomers. If you don’t have friends, there are many online resources for groups.
Teaming up with strangers always carries a risk in DayZ. You never know if or when someone might betray you. But this is precisely an aspect that makes the zombie game so exciting! You can definitely make your way solo, team up with your friends, or try to form unknown friendships.
Conclusion
What started in 2012 as a mod for Arma 2 has become one of the most popular survival games today! Even now, many new players are joining DayZ and want to take on the challenges in Chernarus. Hopefully, our guide has given you some initial tips to help you survive a little longer. Rent your own DayZ server with us to go on zombie hunts and survive with your friends.
