First Night Survival Strategy
The first 60 minutes of 7 Days to Die determine whether you spend your first night safely on a roof or being eaten in the street. This guide walks you through a proven minute-by-minute survival strategy for your first day and night.
Your First 15 Minutes (22:00 Game Time)
You spawn at 06:00 game time with 16 hours until nightfall. Every second counts.
Immediate Priorities
- Open Your Inventory: Check your starting equipment—you begin with a can of food, a bottle of water, and basic clothes
- Complete Basic Tutorial: Follow the quest prompts to craft a Stone Axe, Bedroll, and Bow. This grants early XP and skill points.
- Punch Grass: Collect Plant Fibers for crafting. You need 10 for the first quest.
- Gather Small Stones: Pick up rocks from the ground (not boulders) until you have 10.
Crafting Your First Tools
| Item | Materials | Purpose |
|---|
| Stone Axe | 4 Small Stone, 4 Wood, 2 Plant Fiber | Harvesting wood, stone, and combat |
| Plant Fiber Bedroll | 10 Plant Fiber | Sets your spawn point (CRITICAL) |
| Wooden Bow | 5 Wood, 3 Plant Fiber | Ranged combat and hunting |
| Stone Arrows | 1 Wood, 1 Small Stone, 1 Feather | Ammunition |
Minutes 15-30: Resource Gathering
Finding Feathers
Feathers are essential for arrows. Get them from:
- Bird Nests: Small dark spots on the ground, often near trees and cliffs
- Pillows: Loot them from houses (3-5 feathers each)
- Zombie Corpses: Occasionally drop feathers
Wood & Stone Collection
- Use your Stone Axe on small trees for faster wood gathering
- Surface boulders give stone, iron, and occasionally lead
- Target: 100+ wood, 50+ stone by end of Day 1
Food Sources
Don't starve on your first day:
- Bird Nests: Contain eggs (cook before eating)
- Zombie Loot: Canned food is common
- Houses: Kitchen cabinets, refrigerators
- Vending Machines: Sometimes give food (hit with axe)
Minutes 30-60: Finding Shelter
DO NOT Build From Scratch
Building a base on Day 1 is a death sentence. You don't have enough materials or time. Instead, claim an existing structure.
Best Day 1 Shelter Options
- Small Two-Story House: Clear zombies, block the stairs, stay on the second floor
- Gas Station Roof: Destroy the ladder after climbing up
- Water Tower: High elevation, limited zombie access
- Church Bell Tower: Excellent visibility and defensible
Securing Your Shelter
- Place Your Bedroll: This sets your spawn point. If you die, you respawn here.
- Destroy Stairs/Ladders: Remove the bottom 2-3 blocks to prevent zombie climbing
- Block Windows: Use wood frames or existing furniture
- Create an Escape Route: Keep wood frames ready to build a quick ladder down
Nightfall Strategy (22:00 - 06:00)
At night, zombies sprint and hit harder. Your goal is simple: survive until dawn.
If You're Prepared
- Stay in your elevated shelter
- Craft during the night (arrows, tools, frames)
- Only fight if zombies breach your defenses
If You're Caught Outside
- Sprint Away: You can outrun most zombies (barely)
- Find Elevation: Climb anything—cars, rocks, buildings
- Water Escape: Zombies can't swim well; water slows them
- Crouch in Darkness: If no zombies have spotted you, sneaking reduces detection
Common Day 1 Mistakes
| Mistake | Why It Kills You | Solution |
|---|
| Not placing bedroll | Die once, respawn randomly far away | Place bedroll IMMEDIATELY in your shelter |
| Fighting every zombie | Wastes time and durability | Only kill what's in your way |
| Ignoring food/water | Debuffs reduce stamina and health regen | Eat canned food, boil water at campfire |
| Building ground-level base | Zombies destroy wood blocks in seconds | Use elevation, claim existing buildings |
| Exploring at dusk | Nightfall catches you in the open | Head to shelter by 20:00 game time |
Day 2 Priorities
Once you survive the first night, focus on:
- Campfire: Cook food, boil water, eliminate dysentery risk
- Trader Quest: Follow the quest marker to find a trader for supplies
- Better Weapons: Craft a Wooden Club or find a Pipe Pistol
- Permanent Base Location: Start scouting for your horde night base
Biome Spawn Difficulty
Your starting biome affects Day 1 difficulty:
| Biome | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|
| Forest | Easy | Abundant resources, weak zombies |
| Desert | Medium | Less wood, more vultures, good POIs |
| Snow | Hard | Cold damage without proper clothes, fewer resources |
| Wasteland | Deadly | Radiated zombies spawn here—run immediately |