Beginner’s Guide#
Controls#
| Action | PS4 Button | PC Key |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Left stick | W/A/S/D |
| Camera | Right stick | Mouse |
| Sprint | Hold L3 | Left Shift |
| Roll | Circle | Space |
| Jump | Cross | Space (hold while jumping) |
| Stealth | Square | C |
| Melee attack | R2 | Left mouse button |
| Shoot | R2 (while aiming) | Left mouse button |
| Aim | L2 | Right mouse button |
| Focus | L2+R3 | Right mouse button + middle button |
| Weapon wheel | L1 | Q |
| Tool wheel | D-pad up | TAB |
| Switch weapon | D-pad left/right | 1/2/3/4 |
| Use potion | D-pad down | E |
| Scan | R3 | Alt |
| Interact | Triangle | F |
| Map | Touchpad | M |
| Menu | Options button | Esc |
Difficulty Modes#
| Difficulty | Notes | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|
| Story mode | Very easy, enemy damage reduced by 60% | Story-only players |
| Easy | Enemy damage reduced by 40% | New players |
| Normal | The default difficulty, balanced experience | Recommended for a first playthrough |
| Hard | Enemy damage up 25%, smarter AI | Experienced players |
| Very Hard | Enemy damage up 50%, fewer resources | Challenge seekers |
| Ultra Hard | Enemy damage up 100%, shop prices x5 | New Game+ only |
Hunting Basics#
| Tip | Details |
|---|---|
| Scan first | Use the Focus to scan machines and mark every weak point |
| Strip components | Use tearblast arrows to rip off armor and weapons |
| Hit the weak points | Aim at glowing parts like fuel sacs, coolant tanks and batteries |
| Elemental counters | Fire-based machines fall to freeze, freeze-based machines fall to fire |
| Use terrain | Tall grass on high ground gives you concealment |
| Set traps | Place tripwire traps along machine patrol routes |
| Loot what you tear off | Components shot off a machine can be picked up as resources |
Resource Gathering#
| Resource | How to get it | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Shards | Killing machines, selling items | Currency, crafting ammo |
| Wood | Harvesting trees | Crafting arrows |
| Wire | Machine drops | Tripwire traps, tearblast arrows |
| Blaze | Dropped by Grazers and Scrappers | Fire ammo |
| Chillwater | Dropped by Tramplers and Longlegs | Freeze ammo |
| Sparker | Dropped by Glinths and Shell-Walkers | Shock ammo |
| Metal Chunk | Dropped by large machines | Advanced ammo |
| Animal bones and hides | Hunting wildlife | Pouch upgrades |
Stealth Mechanics#
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Tall grass | Entering it puts you in stealth; enemies lose sight of you |
| Noise meter | Movement speed affects how likely you are to be spotted |
| Silent Strike | Approach human enemies from behind for a one-hit kill |
| Crouch state | Lowers your profile to reduce noise and visibility |
| Distraction | Throw rocks to draw enemy attention |
| Override | Sneak behind a machine to override it |
| Detection range | Larger at night than during the day |
Early-Game Priorities#
- Push the main story through “lessons” — unlocks the game’s core mechanics
- Upgrade the Hunter Bow — your most-used weapon early on
- Collect metal shards — buy early equipment
- Complete trials — earn skill points
- Upgrade pouch capacity — carry more resources
- Hunt wildlife — gather hides for pouch upgrades
- Override your first Tallneck — unlocks a map region
- Earn skill points for “Concentration+” — extends aiming slow motion
- Find the Power Cells — prepares you for the Shield-Weaver armor
- Explore low-level regions — learn the map and gather resources
Handy Tips#
- Save often, especially before entering new areas
- Prioritize the “Hunter Reflexes” and “Focus” skills
- Craft ammo in batches whenever possible
- Don’t neglect side quests
- Every Campfire doubles as a fast travel point
- Buy the Golden Fast Travel Pack for unlimited travel
- Sell spare modification coils
- Learn machine behavior patterns to predict attacks
- Keep moving during combat
- Use the Focus to mark every enemy position
This guide covers everything from the original PS4 release to the Complete Edition on PC.
Common New Player Questions#
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How long to beat? | Main story about 30 hours, main + side about 50 hours, 100% completion about 80 hours |
| What is max level? | Level 50 in the base game, extended to 60 with the Frozen Wilds DLC |
| Can I reset skill points? | No — plan your build before committing |
| Best outfit? | The Shield-Weaver armor |
| PC requirements? | GTX 1060 recommended |
| Chinese support? | Both Simplified and Traditional Chinese available |
| What is New Game+? | Restart the game after beating it, keeping your level and gear |
| Can I ride machines? | Yes — Striders, Chargers and Broadheads |
| Is there multiplayer? | Purely single-player, no online modes |
Advanced Keyboard & Mouse Settings#
| Function | Recommended key | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aim mode toggle | Right mouse button | Set to hold or toggle |
| Quick weapon swap | Mouse wheel | Swap weapons fast mid-fight |
| Uppercut | F | Use in melee combos |
| Call mount | X | Quick summon |
| Screenshot | F12 | Built into Steam |
| Photo Mode | F6 | Built into the game |
Suggested Story Milestones#
| Stage | Task | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Finish the prologue | Learn the basic controls |
| Hour 1 | Reach Mother’s Watch | Get the Focus and basic gear |
| Hour 3 | Join the Proving | Earn the Seeker title |
| Hour 5 | Reach Meridian | Unlock the main city and its merchants |
| Hour 10 | Get Shadow weapons | A major gear upgrade |
| Hour 15 | Get the Shield-Weaver | The game’s strongest armor |
| Hour 20 | Complete all side quests | Recruit every ally |
| Hour 25 | Enter the final battle | Finish the main story |
| Hour 30+ | Frozen Wilds DLC | An extra 15-20 hours of content |
Save File Recommendations#
| Advice | Details |
|---|---|
| Keep multiple saves | Use multiple save slots, keep at least 5 |
| Save before bosses | Manually save before entering a boss arena |
| Save before big choices | Some dialogue branches matter |
| Autosave is unreliable | Autosave intervals are long; manual saves are safer |
Basic Combat Loop#
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Scan | Use the Focus to mark all weak points |
| 2. Plan | Pick your attack order and approach route |
| 3. Stealth approach | Use tall grass to get close |
| 4. Strip components | Remove the most threatening parts first |
| 5. Apply elements | Maximize damage after freezing the target |
| 6. Burst | Fire triple precision arrows at weak points |
| 7. Repeat | Re-apply elements as needed |
| 8. Loot | Collect every drop after the fight |