The Long Dark - Your First Few Days Survival Guide 

You know a survival games gonna be good when the guide for the first few days is an hour long.

"don't get mountaineering rope, you never need it" that changed with the latest update. There's some critical to reach areas that you can ONLY reach by hauling and installing mountaineering rope, and areas of maps that you can ONLY access by rope climb. I'd say don't carry it with you at all times, but move it to a central, easy to reach location and make note of where you've left it so you can easily go back and get it if you find you need it to access somewhere important.

I've had this game for years. Kudos to the developers for the work they keep putting into this game.

3 days in hit a bear in the face with a rock....... proudly ran for my life

Just a tip for new players looking for fun: Don't worry too much about being efficient or scrounging every little thing. There's plenty of stuff to survive a few weeks and in all likelihood you'll die from something like a wolf attack or falling through ice. 1. Clothing. Immediately equip it. Good clothing almost makes fire unnecessary (for warmth) 2. Shelter. Some places are meant to be looted, others are meant as base camps. The new map mechanic helps a lot with navigation, etc. 3. As he says, time management, esp when you start a fire. Boil water, cook things. Unless they've changed it, tea and coffee provide warmth and calorie bonuses. 4. Keep in mind you might be trapped in a shelter for an entire day if there's a blizzard. Don't be afraid to stay indoors (this is realism). 5. Don't lug around water. 1 L is all you need, there are dozens of sodas laying around. Think of the fire resources as also providing water, wherever you are. 6. Don't lug around scrap metal or lots of wood. Day 1: find clothes, scavenge a bunch, find shelter Day 2: scavenge area around base camp Day 3: explore! pick a direction and see what's there. Day 4-5: look for a second base camp, primarily to round out your items. Knife, hatchet, can opener, lantern, gun. By now you should have really excellent clothing. Repair those up to full condition. Around Day 7: done right you'll have excellent gear and two base camps. You can essentially hunker down, trying to hunt, fish, craft and settle in for the long haul. OR you can travel to a different map and repeat the process. IMO this is the most 'realistic' scenario. IRL you'd only need to survive 90 days or so until spring comes. It's been a while since I played but each map probably has 20-30 days of scavengable food, without any hunting. One of the most fun things is feeling like you've mastered the environment. Great clothes, knowing instantly where you are on the map, things like being able to deal with emergencies. Blizzard? No problem I'm going to head for XYZ shelter. Wolves? I'm going to wait until they kill a deer and then shoot one!

“Feels like a lot of gear” -disgruntled man. “That’s cause it’s a lot of gear, love. You’re also REALLY tired”. That was a pretty good line had me laughing

Quarantine + xbox game pass just putting this game up, and I thought miracles dont happen.

I noticed that you did not crouch often and that can be very usefull for finding small hidden items

As a Canadian who spends a lot of time in the woods and has a love for survival skills IRL this is great and hope you all are enjoying exploring our great land!

I played The Long Dark in January 2015, and there was only one or two maps to play, but it is such a in-depth survival game. Great game. You don't necessarily get "comfortable" in this game, at least when I played, you literally just get by and survive. As soon as you felt like you were getting comfortable, then came the wolves. I survived 10 days on my longest run. I am not sure how easy it is now, but I've always wanted to go back.

25:24 "cheddar logs" cracked me up

Good video and good tips! A couple extra tips from an "intermediate beginner" currently on my 3rd playthrough: - Use charcoal often when exploring, it works better in daylight and at higher elevations (and can't be used in storms or fog). But don't hoard more than 5 or so pieces of it, item weight stacks faster than you'd expect. Also, it makes a few in-game minutes elapse so don't do it if predators are nearby - You can sleep indoors safely if you have enough clothing and a bedroll, you don't have to have a fire, just check the "feels like " on your status screen - Benefits from sleep get a bonus from consecutive hours, so if you can sleep 3-4 or more hours at a time it heals you more than as many 1-hour naps - The hunting rifle (modeled on the legendary Lee-Enfield) is a good get, but it's heavy (4kg + ammo) and its damage, range, and accuracy have all been nerfed in this game compared to IRL, you have to get a headshot at what seems like short range to have a chance to 1-shot a deer - If you wound a deer it will bleed out as it runs away and you can follow its blood trail to its carcass for harvesting, but be as prepared as you can be with "essential" survival items (water, fire materials, cloth/bandages, etc) in case it takes you a long time to track it. Also don't get too single-minded in your pursuit and let it lead you right into the jaws of a bear, which happened to me on my 2nd playthrough (rip) - Accelerants are rare, save them for emergency firestarting. Failed fire-starting only uses up starter and tinder, doesn't cost you fuel unless it's successfully lit - Don't take as many chances with travel at night or while overloaded as norespawns did, you probably won't have his luck or skill when starting out :) Also, Hinterland devs, if you're reading, let players craft a sled or travois for hauling firewood or meat more efficiently over terrain plzkthx

Tip: You can only get the worms (intestinal parasites) from eating Wolves and bears in Stalker and Interloper difficulty. So if you're still playing just Voyageur, it's very much worth eating wolf meat. Unlike deer, they come to you, and if you fight them off well enough (to the risk of your gear, but you'll get used to repairing it), if they bleed, they will eventually die. You'll know you got them if they leave blood drops as they run away. If you follow the blood, and stay close enough, you'll eventually hear them yelp then fall dead. When they're about to die, they'll walk much slower (do not approach them, a dying animal has nothing to lose and they will attack you again. wait til they drop dead) You just need to find the body and it'll be just as good as if you shot them. Hunting wolves with just a knife before you get a bow or gun is a valid strategy.

This guide was really helpful. I do like how calm he is and that he explained that hypothermia is not as dangerous as I initially thought. I was panicking and starting fires left and right.

rabbit shots arent as hard as it seems... cross-heir is actually just above the thumb

I remember I was just made it from the the crumbling highway to costal made it to trappers cabin found a rifle was very exited to started shooting things then I slept then it said you have faded into the long dark 😭😭

@norespawns - update on the bait mechanic, since October that mechanic is no longer a reliable way of hunting or deterring wolves. Normal wolves will often just wander off when you drop the bait, or if you drop bait but are still smelly, will continue after you and ignore the bait. Timberwolves (newly added to survival mode since Errant Pilgrim) will always ignore bait, and once they spot you, you'll be in a "pack fight" where the whole pakc of 2-5 timberwolves will try to surround you, and wear you down by either making you run, or dowing swipe attacks where they don't go full wolf struggle but inflict (mostly) minor damage to soften you up first, then go for the full wolf struggle (though they can also go for that right away too). The timberwolf encounter won't end until you've broken the moral of the full pack, which you do by throwing stones at them, or shooting one of your weapons at them (and get your throw/shot close enough to scare them a bit), or if you hit one, it'll break their moral faster. You can also kill them, which seems to do the most to break pack moral, or you can snipe them from afar before they engage and can temprarily break pack moral very quickly. TLD is a very different game since you seem to have last played it.

Cool to see you playing this game. This is the most brutal survival game I've ever played, especially on interloper. Long Dark is the first, and only, game I've ever played that the elements are just as dangerous, if not more so, than the enemies. Extremely well done indie game that I highly recommend to anyone who likes survival games.

Extra tip about hunting bunnies (and hunting in general) if you can, crouch while approaching and aiming at your prey, you can get in much closer without them running off and that makes your shot/throw much easier. Otherwise good tip about bunnies being a good early source of food. (the only time I don't crouch when aiming is when I'm using the bow and haven't gotten my character good enough to aim while crouched. With stones, rifle, revolver and distress pistol, aiming while crouched is never a problem.

Just found this game today so this is a year late. Saw someone playing the 4th version of it. So glad I found your channel. I love your intelligent risk taking game style. It makes for very entertaining vids. I dislike players that are afraid of everything...night, wolves, sprains, cold. You are raring to go and I love it. "You'll be fine mate ..."

Got this game for free on Epic and i love it so much ! Thank you for your advices that are very useful for a beginner like me. I would love to see more videos of you playing this game, because you seem chill and your voice is easy to listen.

OMG, the POT!

I just bought this game on Steam. It's awesome. Only played about 2 hours so far. You really feel like you are freezing or getting warmer when you build a fire. I actually felt a little scared when the snow kicked up and I couldn't see around me.

This was great, looking forward to seeing more of this

I used to play this game. But it’s been a while ... this walk through helped so much jumping me back in. Loaded it up this morning.. Enjoyed your video a lot. Looking forward to another! Subbed up ✅

Loved this! Nice job man, some good tips in here. I have a quick tip too. Before I leave a room I often crouch down and move around the room in a circle just to see if I can see any more supplies. It often works and is always worth that extra minute! Plus, if you see an armchair you may want to look in the sides and corners - The Long Dark loves to hide things around chairs and in crates! Sorry if you said this and I just didn't catch it in the video but I found these tips helpful in all of my playthroughs :)

Have a Merry Christmas, Davey! Hope you have lots of colored lights, 'cause I know how much you like them! 🎄🎄🎄

20:53 dude you being happy made me happy that earned a like

The "warned you" was great haha. And it's pronounced "see-der" wood.

One of my favorite ways to begin a game is to start in the Forlorn Muskeg. It's harsh, it really sucks if there's a blizzard and I'm not even wearing a jacket (or I fall through the ice because of said blizzard making me get lost), but if I can get to the forge, find a hammer, grab some clothes along the way (sometimes there's at least 2 pieces in the dresser in the house ruins to the north), it can be so worth it to spend the night making arrow heads, maybe an extra knife, get some dog food from the crate there, and still come away with some extra coal (or leave it for later). Then I move on to Mystery Lake where it seems the easiest to find the saplings to make the bow and arrows. This is especially a good idea if you're working on the achievement to not fire a gun/rifle for the first 50 days.

That rope attaches to a stone about 5m away, which is the fastest route to the other fire tower (if you’re unencumbered).

Just started watching this now and THANK YOU!!!!More please.... this is so helpful!! I’m doing the storyline and looking for a crowbar. Arggghhh.lol thank you so much for this. Everyone else I watch does the interloper and for newbies it’s too hard..helpful but....thanks again!!!

I've been a subscriber since your Fallout 4 build videos(I still think you're the best RU-vid builder). I really couldn't believe you started playing Long Dark, since I've been playing it for awhile now. Keep up the great work! I'm looking forward to more!

I love your videos. I started watching your settlement builds videos when FO4 came out. I also love your narration. ty for posting this one on the Long dark. It IS a very good game.

Bloody brilliant. I’m hoping to see more long dark from you mate. Big fan.

I think I'm having my best play through right now. I started at Mystery Lake and found a rifle in one of the train cars that derailed. I have 15 rounds of ammo, a hatchet and knife, a whetstone, and the best part of all I killed a deer and three wolves right outside my house with my rifle. That's a bunch of food and resources that I just have sitting right outside. I'm about to move up to the dam and do a full scavenge of that area but my plan is to keep my base of operations there until my food supply runs out. I don't need to think of food basically ever again but my plan is to keep my base of operations there until my food Supply runs out. I don't need to think of food basically ever again.

Wish they'd add a second player co-op mode.

Thank you so much for this tutorial/walkthrough. I just bought the game, and I didn't want to go in completely blind, so, once again, thank you.

The Mountaineering Rope is a tricky thing, it's very heavy and a pain to lug around, you only need them in a few regions and they are usually not located near where you need them, it's best to learn the maps, and when you do need them, and store it in a central location where you remember where it is. I have had some runs where I never needed a rope at all, but if you are in Timberwolf Mountain or 2 other key areas you will need one to get around. You can also steal and borrow ropes from other climbing areas to use elsewhere.

25:24 Cheddar wood LOL. Pronounced as "see-der" or "see-duh" if you're British.

the hardest thing in this game is to have balls to kill the rabbits

As much as I like survival and the style of this game, the sound design sketches me out with its creaks and snaps. I’m always thinking there’s a wolf about.

Nice walkthrough, good one Davey!

New to your channel. Even though I've player 100+ hours of The Long Dark I still have found new tips here. It is really relaxing to watch and listen to you play, you have a good voice for it. However, if you were to go into an area I've not been to yet, I will not watch. The Long Dark has too much spoilers for that kind of thing. But I sure will stick around

Ive been playing this for a while it's a really good game am glad youve done a video on it

So many good tips thanks Like the little bits of meat idea i have played for ages and never knew that

Managing the game as a somewhat experienced player these starter tutorials are relaxing to watch :D

I was waiting for corpses to unfreeze and start rotting in that hut ;) Technically it would be a meat for free if you were in extremely dire situation but I suppose no such thing in-game.

when you explained the Aurora and how it works, i went into my game and unpaused it, passed some time in the trailers at the logging camp, and then it seemed light out so i canceled it and noticed all the lights were on and went outside to see the Aurora. perfect timing lol also its beautiful to see

Feels like a lot of gear... "That's cause it's a lot of gear love." Haha! The narration is great.

Love this game not been on it for months but watching your video might jump back on it

Every time I played survival mode I always get killed by bears or wolves with few weeks worth of food, meds, fuel, crafting materials, and spare clothing stashed somewhere. I think at normal difficulty 99% of deaths are caused by animal attacks rather than starvation or illness.

So basically, in this game rabbit morsels are anti-wolf countermeasures, like releasing chaff when a missile is on your six.

Yeah, always keep an eye out for that cheddar wood. A nice Brie bush is also a good find.

3:17 "Westsiiiide" Represent!

Bought this game because of this video, hasn't disappointed!

would like to thank you for your input, you did leave a cooking pot on the mountain at the broken tower, just a thought

great video! i can't be the only person who promptly froze to death and got disheartened with this a few years ago, going to have another crack at it soon.

When you do drop a cut of meat, doesn't it make more sense to keep the wolf, the meat and you all in a straight line? The wolf AI seemed to be making decision on what target to choose because of norespawns unorthodox movement as he kept drifting to the right for some unknown reason. Does that seem true for the game mechanics?

I bought this game soon after watching your video looks like fun

Thanks for the courtesy definitely gonna buy to see these monster always loved survival games

I played the console free trial a while back and absolutely loved it.

No wolf grace periods in Stalker or Interloper modes, I have been killed by wolves and bears in my first 5 minutes of a run before, not to mention freezing to death looking for matches or shelters, The bunkers spawn only one per region randomly, Interloper has no bunker spawns at all except for the cache by Timberwolf Mountain entrance which is always there in all modes.

This was so helpful !

I found car keys which gave me access to the car's trunk underneath the drivers-seat sun-visor more than once...

Rifle is so funny and the business owners have been an amazing and awsum family member

Play more of this. This is great

At 18:32 was that a sleeping deer/caribou or carcass? after few seconds we see another deer hopping along but I would think the sleeping or dead deer would be useful for something. Unless he just didn't see it.

Question : I am a curious guy so when I go to the plane wreck on the map of the town of Milton I did not return the same way. I chose instead to go out the cave there by the wreck and slightly right and managed to make it down the mountain with only 3 serious sprains. I find myself in what looks like a unfinished map. I have explored it and know the different points to other places but there seems to be no way to get out of it!? You end up on a river that leads to the tunnel at Milton where that bus load of prisoners wrecked. Just the other side. A nice bridge with a semi hauling a couple trailers. Has anyone else been to this and if so could you find the way out? It is also lacking any animals, so am starting to lack food! Am hungry!

i remember starting at trappers homestead with a revolver and hunting rifle off the start

I died on stalker because I was standing on an electric wire then the Aurora started

Ill have a watch i lasted about 1 hr last night on first attempt with absolutely no knowledge of the game 👍 i kept hearing good things and enjoy survival genre etc so finally got it.

I would love to watch a let’s play with him and this game.

Wow awesome video!!!!

now that its fixed properly it is a good game. I played it in September and spent maybe 50 hours figuring it out. very inthralling!

Great game. All the maps are available from the start, you can choose which one you want to play. Also some maps are much harder than others in terms of available shelter and amount of resources, but even Mystery Lake, one of the easiest, is tough.

Jesus, I've been trying my hardest to gather supplies to make a bow and arrow. Since I can't find any weapons, but you find a bow and gun and bullets within the first few days....Wtf lol

Great video, will you do an updated one since chapter 4 is live now and there have been tons of changes?

17 minutes in when he tells the tree "up your" big mood I highly feel that

Just started playing this game cause it was “kinda free” with PS+, it’s amazing I can’t stop playing it.

I selected random start and started on top of Timberwolf mountain

You should have used a flare on that last wolf in stead of wasting a bullet and missing him completely.

One time I spent two days trying to get a sewing kit

You really should crouch more. The devs like hiding items in this game.

You don’t have to discover the areas to spawn into them, I spawned into the Coast on the first run *which lasted one day because I got stuck in a blizzard after leaving my shelter and froze to death rip*

You left the pot behind at the tower and the charcoal from the fire....If your clothes are wet, take them off before sleeping, especially if you don't have a fire!

I killed and skinned my first rabbit when I was six. If you think snapping it's neck is bad you're lucky you didn't skin it. It's like ripping off a wet and gooey sock. Survival fact though just eating rabbit for too long can make you sick.

Narrator: I know this way by heart, you can trust me to know where to go Me who is watching the video: Bro, you can't even see 5 meters in front of you

I just got the game. Location... I knew it was going to be a bad idea but now you have the full map and can click "random". So I did. I did alright, survived a wolf attack at a junk yard place with a load-in garage/ mechanic place. But night came. I couldn't see, and the wires started sparking. I needed to get to the bed but didn't want to start a fire just for that so I used the walkway with sparking wires... it was much worse than I thought it was going to be.

Can someone clarify something here for me please? It was mentioned repeatedly that it is recommended to use books as a starter, but not fuel. It was repeated several times, but I'm not sure if there was an explanation for the reason? I must've missed it.

u can use books for making a fire. the chance will go upp a lot if u use books

This game is so relaxing

Great vid just one question why whorls you not want respawns?!?! 😂😂

One thing you have to do is remember where everything is and where you drop things off. Also shouldn't waste resources.

As of 5/20/2020 It's on sale on Steam. I'm downloading it now.

Quote of the Day: "OOOOO! Birch."

I really wish they’d port this game to IpadOS. This would be a super fun game to play on the go tbh.

Awesome looking game. Thank you for all of the tips. I play some of my pc games with an xbox controller and this will be one of them. Once this game is on special I will defi ately be buying it. Merry Christmas 😁

This game is sooo good, I like it so much!

I wish I could play with 1 friend... make it a team effort to stay alive