DAYZ 1.29.163709 // OFFICIAL VANILLA
THE SURVIVOR'S
FIELD MANUAL
A short route from fresh spawn to a stable run. Use the section that matches your current problem.
OFFICIAL VANILLA ONLY. Community servers can change loot, persistence, building, and raid rules.
START
Do not chase weapons yet. Start with water, a cutting tool, food, warmth, and a direction.
FIRST 10 MINUTES
- Orient yourself. Find a sign, coastline, railway, or town name.
- Get a knife. Search trails and rail lines for stones, or loot houses.
- Stop bleeding. Make rags from empty clothing and treat wounds from cover.
- Drink safely. Pumps are safe; empty and purify or boil unknown water.
- Take only upgrades. Food, dry layers, a container, and a melee tool come first.
LEAVE TOWN WITH
- Knife or stone knife
- Clean rags or bandage
- Water container
- Food for the next town
- Warm, dry layers
- Light before dark
FOOD
Set up a repeatable food loop: fire or stove, cooked food, and fishing when towns run dry.
MAKE FIRE
Combine a short stick with bark, rag, or paper. Deploy it, add fuel, then light it with matches, a lighter, or a hand-drill kit.
Rain, wind, and low ceilings can stop ignition.
COOK SIMPLY
Use a sharpened stick for one item. Use a pot with water to boil, or a pot/pan with fat to bake. Remove food when cooked.
A frying pan cannot boil water.
FISH WHEN LOOT FAILS
Make a rod from a long stick and rope. Add a baited hook, fish from shore, fillet the catch, then cook it.
Each catch uses a worm and damages the hook.
| OPTION | USE IT FOR | NEED |
|---|---|---|
| Campfire | Heat and emergency food | Stick, tinder, fuel, ignition |
| Cooking pot | Water and batch meals | Compatible fire or stove |
| Gas stove | Quiet cooking while moving | Stove, canister, pot or pan |
TRAVEL
Search buildings that fit your need, then leave once you have what you came for.
LOOT BY BUILDING
- Town: food, clothes, knives
- Industrial: tools, nails, repair supplies
- Hunting: warm clothes and outdoor gear
- Medical, police, military: specialist gear and player risk
MOVE WITH INTENT
- Carry food and water for the next move.
- Keep a dressing and defensive tool on the hotbar.
- Use cover before opening inventory.
- Leave once you have the target item.
READ THE AREA. Gunfire, infected, open doors, and missing loot mean another survivor may be close.
BASE
Start with storage. Build one gate only if you can maintain it. Expand later.
CHECK FENCE DIRECTION. Keep the construction and dismantle side inside before you add logs or a lock.
Hidden storageWooden Crate
MATERIALS 8 planks, 16 nails
TOOLS No build tool. Use a shovel, hoe, or pickaxe to bury it.
50 slots. Above ground: 45 days. Buried: 12-14 days.
MECHANIC SOURCETemporary woodland cacheImprovised Stick Shelter
MATERIALS Shelter kit: 4 short sticks + rope; 4 long sticks; 50 short sticks
TOOLS No construction tool required
100 slots. Base lifetime: 7 days.
MECHANIC SOURCEOne wall or gateFull Wooden Fence
MATERIALS Fence kit: 2 short sticks + rope; 2 logs; 18 planks; 36 nails
TOOLS Shovel, hoe, pickaxe, hammer, or hatchet
For a gate add metal wire, pliers, and a combination lock. Keep the construction side inside.
MECHANIC SOURCEPersistence anchorFlagpole
MATERIALS Kit: 3 short sticks + rope; 10 logs; 32 stones; 60 nails; metal wire; flag
TOOLS Sledgehammer, shovel or pickaxe, hammer or hatchet
A raised flag refreshes eligible objects within 60 m; it does not prevent raids.
MECHANIC SOURCEENDGAME
Plan the exit before entering. The gear only matters if you make it out.
NBC CHECK
- Full NBC hood, jacket, gloves, pants, and boots
- Working mask and filter
- Bandages, food, water, entry route, exit route
- Leave immediately if protection fails
AFTER CONTACT
- Break line of sight or reach cover.
- Stop bleeding before reloading or looting.
- Relocate, then assess supplies.
- Assume another survivor heard the fight.
STATIC ZONES: Rify and Pavlovo in Chernarus; Radunin and Lukow Airfield in Livonia. Do not enter unprepared.
Mechanics are checked against official DayZ sources and current DayZ Wiki references.