Survive in Days Gone With Our Beginner Tips

Days Gone has several areas and dozens of side activities to do, and it all can be a bit overwhelming at first. Some of the best weapons you can obtain are not unlocked until later in the game, and traversing through the region can turn deadly in a second.

If you’ve been playing a lot of open world games over the past couple years, it’s you’ll likely recognize many of the elements found here in Days Gone. But many of the game’s own elements can be tough to deal with. After spending a significant amount of time with Days Gone, here are some survival tips to save you out there.

Melee is Your Best Friend

Ranged weapons can be lackluster during the first couple of hours, maybe even longer depending on how much time you invest into earning reputation around camps. They don’t deal a lot of damage, ammo is scarce, and the capacity for each clip is below what you would expect.

They can be great to take a few enemies easily if you can get the grips of the aiming to land headshots (which gets better with skills and better weapons later on), but the best thing to do it’s to rely on melee weapons.

Melee weapons can be found pretty much everywhere, a basic thing like a plank or an axe can be a very effective weapon. Spend some more time with Days Gone, and you’ll be able to upgrade them by using materials like nails and really dish out some damage.

Don’t forget that Deacon always carries a boot knife with him, even if it tends to break fast. The damage is low, but his attacks are more than fast enough. If you’re confronting multiple enemies at once and are out of options, use it.

Craft Bandages and Molotovs on the Go

This might sound obvious at first, but with so many things to keep an eye on, it can be easy to forget that you can craft items on the go. Whenever you’re escaping from a horde of freakers or about to engage in a tough fight, always make sure to open up your radial menu and craft bandages and molotovs.

You can easily craft bandages (up to 5 at first) and molotovs (up to 3 at first) on the go, which can give you a serious advantage. It might not be too honorable, but hey, you have to do what you can to survive.

Clear Infestations Early

Here’s the thing about infestations: It can be really hard to survive the ordeal since everywhere you go is crawling with enemies.

An infestation puts restrictions on your fast travel. If the road from point A to B has at least one infestation zone, you’re going to have to stop and deal with it.

If you manage to go and take as many nests as you can early on, or destroy them completely, you will have an easier time going back to camps to sell loot or look for new jobs.

Stop for Gas Whenever Possible

The fuel tank on your bike is limited, and you won’t be able to upgrade it until you have enough respect level with camps. Even so, it’s likely that you will be using the default equipment for the first couple of hours since the upgrade is an investment.

Don’t fret, though! You can find gas tanks in Nero Checkpoints, and there are gas stations that can still be used. The best thing you can do is to always fill up the tank when an opportunity arises. You never know when you’ll need that extra 10% you took for granted.

Stick to the Main Story

I know what you’re thinking, but trust me on this. It might be tempting to try to attack every single bandit settlement you find in your travels, or do several bounties at once. The thing is, you probably won’t be able to clear them all right away.

The main storyline will not only give you nice chunks of experience for each mission completed, but it will also open new paths in the map, along with camps that offer the best gear. And between us, the sooner you can upgrade that bike, the better.

These are only a handful of things to keep in mind. If you’re unsure about your general progression, make sure to check our other Days Gone guides, including my best skill guide to ensure you’re on the right track and thrive on your journey.