How to survive first seven days in 7 Days to Die – Complete survival guide

How to survive first seven days in 7 Days to Die – Complete survival guide

As a seasoned survivor of the zombie apocalypse in 7 Days to Die, I can tell you that crafting the right weapons is crucial for your survival during the early game. Having spent countless hours scavenging for resources and fending off hordes of undead, I’ve learned that one of the first options you can craft is Pointed Sticks, but they won’t last long against the increasing threat.


Surviving in 7 Days to Die will put your zombie-apocalypse skills to the test like never before, especially during the initial seven nights. Although its crafting system resembles Minecraft and its mechanics bear some resemblance to Fallout, dealing with the horde of undead calls for distinct approaches.

For newcomers to 7 Days to Die looking to survive for a week, here’s a simplified guide.

How to survive the first night in 7 Days to Die

Surviving your initial night in 7 Days to Die can be quite a challenge due to the abundance of zombies. With limited time to experiment and evaluate effective strategies, you must make the most of your available resources.

On my initial night in this game, I’ll need to manage and keep an eye on four essential stats: Health, Stamina, Water, and Food. To do this effectively, here’s a simple plan I’ll follow:

  • Complete the Tutorial Challenges as fast as you can.
  • Get Food and Water.
  • Collect Rocks, Wood, and Fiber to craft your first Weapons and Armor.
  • Find a Shelter before 4 PM.

It’s essential to procure food and water supplies for your survival after securing a shelter. Failure to do so may hinder your mobility and agility over time, potentially leading to fatal consequences if dehydration or hunger sets in completely.

Best locations for a Starter Base in 7 Days to Die

In 7 Days to Die, it’s often best to establish your Beginner Base at sites known as Points of Interest (POIs). These spots are advantageous because they’re proximity to resources and existing structures. If you prefer, you can construct your own base in the advanced stages of gameplay. However, while focusing on resource collection, utilizing preexisting locations is a more practical choice.

Here’s the list of the best locations for your Starter Base:

  • Grain Silos
  • Farm
  • Bart’s Salvage
  • Trailer Park

Having survived many harrowing nights in this post-apocalyptic world, I can’t stress enough how crucial it is to always be prepared for the relentless horde of zombies that will stop at nothing to reach you, even if you’re holed up inside a sturdy building or fortified shelter. The importance of collecting resources cannot be overstated – they serve as the lifeblood that allows us to repair our damaged bases and strengthen our defenses against the onslaught of the undead during those particularly grueling Blood Moons. My experiences have taught me that a well-fortified base not only ensures my survival but also gives me a fighting chance against the unyielding tide of zombies, providing a measure of peace amidst the chaos and uncertainty of this new reality.

When selecting a point of interest (POI) for your base, consider finding one that’s close to essential resources for your initial survival. Remember, collecting necessary items is crucial before the onset of nightfall as zombies become increasingly active during this time.

How to survive first seven days in 7 Days to Die – Complete survival guideThe Fun PimpsThe Farm is among the best Starter Bases available in 7 Days to Die.

Best Crafting Recipes for beginners

In your Inventory, you can create items using various workstations like a campfire, forge, workbench, cement mixer, and chemistry station. Crafting is a fundamental aspect of 7 Days to Die, determining your ability to endure.

Each utility comes with distinct recipes, which can be obtained through looting, farming, or mining. In the initial stages of the game, it’s crucial to acquire a `Campfire` and a `Cooking Pot` for some fundamental recipes. Here are some essential Crafting Recipes you shouldn’t miss:

  • Food: Baked Potato, Corn Bread, Grilled Corn, Grilled Meat, Boiled Egg, Boiled Meat, Bacon and Eggs, Honey.
  • Drinks: Water, Goldenrod Tea, Coffee, Red Tea, Murky Water, Yucca Juice.
  • Medicine: Aloe Cream, Antibiotics, Bandage, First Aid Bandage, Fort Bites, Herbal Antibiotics, Plaster Cast, Splint.
  • Furniture: Bicycle, Candle, Flashlight.
  • Building materials: Building Block, Cobblestone Block, Concrete Block, Bedroll, Dew Collector, Torch.

Discover new Crafting Recipes by obtaining magazines and recipe books as rewards from exploring bookcases and other hideaways.

Tips for scavenging & finding loot early

In the game “7 Days to Die,” your primary focus will be gathering materials, resources, and supplies through scavenging and looting during the day. Once you’ve established a shelter for the night, it’s essential to begin amassing items to enhance your chances of surviving.

Survival duration determines the appearance of these items. The length of your survival is categorized into four tiers based on your endgame level and the number of days you’ve endured.

  • In Tier 0, you’ll get primitive items, Stone Tools, Scrap armor, and other basic Mod schematics.
  • In Tier 1, you’ll find more items made from iron, weapons, and normal schematics.
  • In Tier 2 is where you’ll get rare schematics, the best food recipes, and the best available melee weapons and armor.
  • In Tier 3, you’ll get to loot the best firearms available, tools, and even vehicles.

Here’s everything you can find in 7 Days to Die:

  • Ores
  • Clothing & Warm Clothing
  • Hazmat Gear
  • Sport Goods
  • Armor
  • Weapons & Ammo
  • Weapon Parts
  • Mods
  • Dyes
  • Perk Books
  • Tools, Mod, Armor, Weapon, Vehicle and Electrical Schematics
  • Food, Rare Food, Canned Food, Candy, Cool Foods
  • Drinks & Beverages
  • Seeds & Crops
  • Workbench, Forge, Cement Mixer, and Workstation Loot.
  • Tools
  • Electrical Devices
  • Automotive
  • Working Stiffs
  • Medicine
  • Lab Equipment
  • Vehicle Parts
  • Treasure Maps

As a passionate player, I’d recommend enhancing the caliber of your loot throughout your gaming journey by acquiring the following perks: Lucky Looter, Eye Kandy, and Lucky Goggles.

How to fight and kill zombies in 7DtD

As a zealous fan of the undead apocalypse genre, I’d assert that annihilating a zombie’s head is the most expeditious method to put one down permanently. You can accomplish this by taking aim for a precise headshot or unleashing relentless assaults with your preferred melee weapon.

Considering they usually travel in groups, keep in mind certain aspects before embarking on a zombie spree.

  • Check your surroundings. It’s always better to be in an open space where your vision isn’t blocked, and you can freely move around without accidentally encountering another zombie.
  • Try to “train” the Normal zombies you are killing. If you find them during the daytime, you can easily make them follow a straight line and hit them before taking a few steps back. Repeat the process until you kill all of them.
  • If you’re using Melee weapons, make sure to save your Stamina to deal as many Strong Attacks as you can instead of a few Weak Attacks.
  • Always carry a few Building Blocks. They can help you if you need to improvise a barricade, and if you stack a few of them, they’ll give you enough height to momentarily escape creatures like Zombie Dogs.
  • Try to dismember a zombie’s legs to slow them down.
  • You can cut off zombie’s arms to reduce the damage and stun chances.

Zombie behavior varies based on the hour of the day. By day, around 8 AM, these undead beings become less energetic and will not persistently chase you if you maintain a good distance. However, should they detect your presence, they’ll advance straight towards their target, leaving destruction in their wake. Conversely, after 8 PM, zombies come alive with renewed vigor. They roam the area more aggressively and relentlessly hunt for prey, tracking down and attacking those they find.

Based on my own experiences and the horror movies I’ve watched, I can tell you that zombies are not picky when it comes to detecting their prey. They have an uncanny ability to sense your presence, be it through proximity or sight. But here’s a chilling detail that often gets overlooked – they can also follow light and heat sources. So, if you think you can hide by huddling in the dark, think again. My friend once made the mistake of hiding in a dimly lit room during a zombie outbreak. He thought he was safe, but the faint glow from his flashlight gave him away. Needless to say, that was the last time we went camping together. So, remember, if you ever find yourself in a zombie apocalypse situation, avoid light sources and try to blend in with your surroundings as much as possible.

How to survive first seven days in 7 Days to Die – Complete survival guideThe Fun PimpsYou can meet the Normal and Radiated versions of the same zombie.

Here’s a list of every zombie you can encounter in 7 Days to Die:

  • Normal zombies
    • Departed women
    • Festering Corpse
    • Infected Mother
    • Infected Survivor
    • Plagued Nurse
    • Putrid Girl
    • Rotting Carcass
    • Reanimated Corpse
    • Skater Punk Zombie
    • Zombie Janitor
    • Party Girl
    • Lab Zombie
    • Utility Worker Zombie
  • Tough zombies
    • Bloated Walker
    • Fat Hawaiian
    • Fallen Soldier
    • Frozen Lumberjack
    • Hazmat Male zombie
    • Hungry female zombie
    • Zombie biker
  • Special Infected
    • Burn Victim
    • Crawler zombie
    • Demolisher
    • Feral Wight
    • Mutated zombie
    • Infected Police Officer
    • Screamer
    • Spider zombies
  • Animal zombies
    • Zombie Bears
    • Zombie Dogs
    • Zombie Vultures

Managing hunger and thirst in 7 Days to Die

As a gamer in 7 Days to Die, I can tell you that keeping track of my Food and Water stats is crucial for maintaining both my Health and Stamina. These two essential elements can provide beneficial bonuses when filled, but neglecting them comes with dire consequences. If I let my Food or Water levels drop too low, I’ll face debilitating debuffs, making survival much more challenging. Eventually, if I ignore these meters completely, the game could end in a fatal outcome for me.

As you progress in the game, these two figures will gradually lower: The water level will decrease by 40 points each hour, while the food supply will drop by 30 points hourly.

Here’s what happens as your Water and Food levels are depleted:

StatusWater Status EffectFood Status Effect
Above 75 pointsStamina recovers 15% faster
Below 50%ThirstyHungry
Below 25%Dehydrated – Reduces Max StaminaVery Hungry – Reduces Max Stamina
Below 2%Severely Dehydrated – Makes damage over time and reduces Stamina.Starving – Makes damage over time and reduces Stamina.
When recovering StaminaMore Food is consumed per hour.
When recovering HealthMore Water is consumed per hour.

Based on my personal experience as a seasoned adventurer, I can tell you that the effects of temperature on your Food and Water meters are a real game-changer out here in the wilderness. I’ve been caught in sub-zero temperatures more times than I care to remember, and each time it seemed like my Food meter was draining faster than a leaky bucket. And let me tell you, trying to find edible resources when your hands are numb and your body is shivering is no picnic!

You can refill these meters or get rid of debuffs by consuming a drink or eating food that you’ve obtained through farming, gathering, or scavenging.

Here’s every type of food and beverage that you can find or craft in 7 Days to Die:

  • Cooked Recipes
    • Charred Meat
    • Boiled Egg
    • Grilled Corn
    • Baked Potato
    • Corn Bread
    • Grilled Meat
    • Boiled Meat
    • Bacon and Eggs
    • Blueberry Pie
    • Pumpkin Bread
    • Pumpkin Pie
    • Pumpkin Cheesecake
    • Meat Stew
    • Vegetable Stew
    • Steak and Potato Meal
    • Hobo Stew
    • Fish Tacos
    • Chili Dog
    • Sham Chowder
    • Tuna Fish Gravy Toast
    • Shepard’s Pie
    • Spaghetti
    • Gumbo Stew
  • Raw Food
    • Blueberries
    • Corn Meal
    • Ear of Corn
    • Ear of Super Corn
    • Egg
    • Jar of Honey
    • Mushrooms
    • Old Sham Sandwich
    • Potato
    • Pumpkin
    • Raw Meat
    • Rotting Flesh
    • Yucca Fruit
  • Canned Food
    • Cat Food
    • Chili
    • Dog Food
    • Miso
    • Pasta
    • Pears
    • Peas
    • Salmon
    • Sham
    • Stock
    • Chicken Ration
    • Tuna
    • Soup
    • Lamb Rations
    • Large Beef Rations
  • Drinks
    • Murky Water
    • Water
    • Goldenrod Tea
    • Red Tea
    • Yucca Juice
    • Coffee
    • Beer
    • Yucca Juice Smoothie
    • Blackstrap Coffee
    • Pure Mineral Water

7 Days to Die best weapons to craft early

WeaponIngredientsDescription
Stone AxeSmall Stone x2, Plant Fibers x2, Wood x2.— Damage: 6
— Block Damage: 21.5
— Range: 2.4
— Stamina Usage: 8
— Attacks per Minute: 105
Wooden ClubWood x5— Damage: 12
— Block Damage: 11.6
— Range: 2.4
— Stamina Usage: 17.4
— Attacks per Minute: 55
Bone KnifeBone x5— Damage: 5.1
— Block Damage: 2.5
— Range: 2
— Stamina Usage: 7.3
— Attacks per Minute: 120
Steel ArrowSteel Arrowhead x2, Scrap Polymers x2— Damage: 42
— Block Damage: 5
— Velocity: 55
Stone ArrowSmall Stone x1, Wood x1, Feather x1— Damage: 35
— Block Damage: 1
— Velocity: 45
Primitive BowWood x8, Plant Fibers x3— Damage: Up to 175 depending on the arrow used.
— Block Damage:
— Range: 100

During the early stages of the game, your weapon selection will be limited. It’s recommended to create an immediate weapon for use. Among the first craftable options is Pointed Sticks. However, the other six weapons we mentioned will prove more effective once you’ve made it through your initial night.

How to use skill points in 7DtD

In the survival game “7 Days to Die,” you earn Skill Points that can be used to gain Perks and increase the levels of your five primary attributes: Intellect, Perception, Strength, Fortitude, and Agility. The way you distribute these points depends on your gaming strategy. However, we advise concentrating on enhancing your Strength, Intellect, and Fortitude in the game’s initial stages.

With this combination, not only will you become more efficient in battles, but it will also enhance your physical robustness as you navigate the initial challenges of survival. Let me explain the role of these attributes:

  • Fortitude: Measures your physical resilience. Best Perks: Living Off the Land, Iron Gut, Rule 1: Cardio.
  • Agility: Boosts your athletic skills. Best Perks: From the Shadows, Flurry of Blows, Archery, Parkour, and Run and Gun.
  • Strength: Measures the effectiveness of your blows, and how much damage you can tolerate. Best Perks: Pummel Pete, Miner 69’er, Mother Lode.
  • Perception: Improves your sensory awareness. Best Perks: Animal Tracker, Lucky Looter.
  • Intellect: Boosts your crafting, and your charisma abilities. Best Perks: Better Barter, Grease Monkey, The Daring Adventurer, Physician.
How to survive first seven days in 7 Days to Die – Complete survival guideThe Fun PimpsYou can also level up each Perk to get an extra boost to your abilities.

Preparing for the Blood Moon horde in 7 Days to Die

In the game Seven Days to Die, a Blood Moon occurrence takes place every seven days, bringing hordes of relentless zombies close by, intent on pursuing you. Although you may evade them through hiding or fleeing, they will not cease their pursuit until daybreak arrives.

What time does the Blood Moon start?

Around 6 PM, the term for a Blood Moon night begins, signifying the impending arrival of a storm. The ominous rumble of thunder grows louder, and the sky is intermittently illuminated by lightning as twilight descends. At eight o’clock, the sky assumes a red hue, while at ten PM, one must brace for an onslaught of zombies until dawn breaks at 4 AM.

Every seven days, this occasion occurs naturally. You can tell that it’s approaching since the game indicates the date number in red.

How to survive first seven days in 7 Days to Die – Complete survival guideThe Fun PimpsBuilding a Blood Moon base is key to saving your crafting stations from getting destroyed.

Best tricks for bases during Blood Moon

After spending a week in the survival game 7 Days to Die and growing attached to your base, preparing for a Blood Moon event is a whole new challenge. It’s strongly suggested that you either construct a new shelter or locate an existing one to ensure your safety and protect your carefully crafted items from zombie destruction.

When looking for a new base for your first Blood Moon, try following these tips

  • Build or find a base specifically for the Blood Moon.
  • Find or build a layered base with plenty of room for you to move around. This will be particularly helpful when facing Radiated ferals and Demolishers.
  • Remember that Blood Moon hordes will focus on the weakest point of your base, so always remember to fortify your wall.
  • If you want to use vehicles to escape the horde, only do so when playing in groups. Zombies like Vultures can still catch you and can easily swarm you if you’re alone and don’t have a strategy.
  • Make use of a high ground. While zombies can climb, they aren’t able to attack you while doing so. You’ll get a great view if your base has more than two stories, and you get to eliminate any threats while they trying to get you.
  • Building a tall building will take more time and resources than finding a large one in the city. You can try building a tower on your own, but make sure that hordes can’t tear its base down causing it to collapse.

Making it through the initial stages of 7 Days to Die goes beyond just finishing quests; it’s a significant test if you only rely on that. To thrive during the early phase, employ all your zombie apocalypse expertise. However, be warned, things will become progressively more difficult following your first Blood Moon encounter.

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2024-07-24 17:37