Here’s a roundup of questions we often hear from people just getting started with 7 Days to Die. Use it as a reference whenever you’re stuck.
Game Basics
Q. What happens when I die?
A. You collapse on the spot and respawn at a nearby bedroll or on the map. Your belongings stay on your corpse, so you can go back and recover them. There’s a temporary experience penalty, but you don’t lose your gear.
Q. What should I do first?
A. In this order: craft stone tools (stone axe and spear) → gather iron to upgrade your tools → secure a defensible location. For details, check out the Early-Game Roadmap.
Q. What should I do at night?
A. Don’t force yourself to wander around outside. Visibility is poor and enemies get more active. On ordinary nights, work and organize at your base; on Blood Moon nights, hole up and deal with the horde.
Survival
Q. I get thirsty and hungry so fast — it’s brutal
A. This is the No. 1 cause of death early on. Don’t run too much, keep meat and canned food on hand, and build a farm from seeds you find to stabilize things. Boil dirty water before drinking it.
Q. The zombies are too strong and I can’t win
A. Don’t slug it out head-on — take them one at a time on ledges or in corridors. Use blunt weapons to stagger them and aim for headshots for efficiency. If it’s hopeless, run and lure them back to your base.
Progression & Gear
Q. Perks or magazines — which should I prioritize?
A. From the V2 series onward, collecting magazines is the main focus. Read the magazines for the weapons and tools you want to use first, and pick up perks starting with the ones that “always help,” like combat and harvesting, to avoid waste.
Q. What makes the trader useful?
A. Quests (clearing jobs) are the strongest way to earn. You get experience, gear, and money all at once. Knock them out in bulk during the daytime. Note that traders have business hours.
Multiplayer & Servers
Q. How do I join a server?
A. Our community’s official servers require no password — you can find them in the in-game server list and join. For details, see How to Play on the Official Servers.
Q. Is progression shared with other players?
A. The world on the server is shared, but character development (level and skills) is per-player. You can build bases and gather resources together.
Related: Early-Game Roadmap / Glossary / How to Play on the Official Servers
Related: List of Beginner Guide Articles