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New player · First hour
The starter loadout
You spawn with a flashlight, a rag and a drink. Here is what to find next, in order, so you are still alive when the sun goes down.
What you spawn with
What you spawn with
A fresh character starts with random civilian clothes, a rag (bandage it first: tear it if bleeding), a chemlight or flashlight on some servers, and sometimes a drink or a piece of fruit. Your first job is to stop being a fresh spawn.
The first hour
The first hour, in order
- Something sharp. A kitchen knife, a stone knife (two small stones), a screwdriver or a hatchet. It opens cans, makes rags and skins animals.
- Water. Drink at every well and pump you pass, then find a canteen or plastic bottle.
- Food you can open. Cans need a knife, screwdriver or can opener. Fruit and apples from orchards are free.
- A bag. Any bag, or craft a burlap backpack (see how).
- A melee weapon. An axe, a shovel or a pipe wrench kills infected quietly. See melee.
- Matches or a lighter. Fire cooks, boils, warms and dries.
- Weather layers. A jacket with pockets, sturdy boots, a hat. Wet and cold kill more fresh spawns than players.
- A first gun. Whatever you find: a pistol, a shotgun or a Mosin. Ammo matters more than the gun.
The full kit
The full starter kit
| Slot | Good | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Beanie, cap or any helmet | Warmth; helmets stop infected hits |
| Top | Hunter jacket, field jacket, hoodie | Pockets and insulation |
| Legs | Cargo or hunter pants | Pockets |
| Feet | Boots | Bare feet cut and bleed |
| Back | Hiking, mountain or burlap backpack | Carry the rest |
| Melee | Hatchet, axe, shovel, crowbar | Silent infected killer; hatchet also chops wood |
| Medical | Rags or bandages, disinfectant, charcoal tablets, vitamins | Bleeding, infection, food poisoning |
| Water | Canteen or bottle, purification tablets | Drink anywhere safely |
| Fire | Matches or lighter | Cook, boil, warm, dry |
| Food | 2-3 cans, fruit, a can opener | Energy |
| Light | Flashlight or headtorch with a 9V battery | Night and buildings |
| Gun | Mosin, SK 59/66, BK-133, any pistol | Defence and hunting |
What to skip
What to leave behind
- Duplicates. One knife, one light, one gun with ammo.
- Heavy junk. Car parts, tents and tools you will not use today. Every kg above 6 kg cuts stamina.
- Ammo for guns you do not have.
- Raw meat and rotten fruit. Food poisoning and salmonella waste your medical supplies.
Map by map
Tweaks for each map
Chernarus and Livonia
The standard kit above. Livonia rains more: carry spare dry clothes.
Sakhal
Warm layers before guns. A full set of insulated clothing and a fire kit, always.
Nasdara
Water before everything, a face cover and goggles for sandstorms, light clothes by day. See the Nasdara guide.
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What should I loot first in DayZ?
Something sharp, water, food you can open and a bag, in that order. Then a melee weapon, matches and warm clothes, then a gun.
What do you spawn with in DayZ?
Random civilian clothes, a rag and, on most servers, a light source and sometimes a drink or fruit.
How do I stop bleeding in DayZ?
Bandage with rags or a bandage. Tear rags from clothing with a knife or in the context menu.
What is the best starter weapon in DayZ?
A hatchet or axe for infected, then the Mosin 91/30 or BK-133 shotgun, which spawn in villages and hunting areas.
Keep going
More guides and tools
Last checked 28 October 2026, against DayZ 1.30 (PC 1.30.164200, console 1.87).