Beginner Survival Tips That Work in Every Game We Host

After hosting survival servers for years, we've watched a lot of new players make the same mistakes. Here are the cross-game fundamentals that'll keep you alive across every game in the FDS lineup.

1. Build a temporary shelter first - then a base

Your first night in any survival game is the most dangerous one. Don't try to find the perfect base location on day one. Throw together a small shack with whatever you can craft, lock the door, and survive the first night. You can move tomorrow.

2. Water, food, then weapons - in that order

Most new players grind for the best weapon first and then wonder why they died of thirst. Make sure you have a renewable food and water source before you commit to a long expedition.

3. Mark your base on the map immediately

In nearly every game you can drop a waypoint or marker. Do it the moment you place your first crafting station. Future-you will thank present-you when you wake up confused at 3am after a long death run.

4. Loot fights are usually not worth it

If someone else is fighting a boss, a horde, or another player - 9 times out of 10 you're better off looting their corpse later than joining the fight. Survival rewards patience, not heroics.

5. Always carry a backup of essentials

A spare bandage. A spare torch. A spare weapon. The death that ends the run is almost always the one where you ran out of one specific thing.

6. Talk to people in Discord

This is the biggest one. Every game we host has a regular crew who know the meta, the safe spots, the trade rates, the everything. They love sharing. Just ask in the appropriate channel.

Game-specific quick wins

• 7 Days to Die - On horde night, get up high. Zombies are dumb about ramps.

• Conan Exiles - The Tier 1 dancer thrall is busted for keeping you alive early.

• Soulmask - Master Mind Control mode before you try the harder tribes. It changes everything.

• Palworld - Tame a Lifmunk early. Heals + ranged DPS = solo-pilot god mode.

• Ark - Tame a Doedicurus before anything else. Free stone, mobile shield, infinite resources.

See you on the servers.