Tactics | Fight Don't Starve Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

. Once you dress properly, it is time for some tactics. First of all, always try to fight single opponents. If any opponent comes in groups, try to lure one of them away from the others and then kill it before the remaining ones arrive.

Melee weapon

Fighting a single opponent is especially easy, if it is vulnerable to stunning. This means that every blow you deal resets the attack performed by the creature. This means that if you keep attacking, you make it impossible for the creature to defend itself, which removes the danger of a counter-attack. Unfortunately, only the weakest opponents can be killed this way. The stronger ones are resistant to stunning, so you need to utilize different methods here.

The first one uses a melee weapon and consists in running away from the opponent right before it deals a blow, and coming counter-attacking as quickly as possible. The method is effective, but it is not the safest one. It suffices that your character returns a fraction of second too late and you may receive a lot of damage.

Ranged weapon

If the enemy you encounter cannot be approached, or if it's too fast for avoiding to be effective, you need to make use of a ranged weapon. The ones that are included in this class are a Boomerang, any darts (e.g. Fire Dart) and magical staffs (Fire/Ice Staff). Thanks to these, you can kill an enemy without risking taking damage from counter-attacks. There are special characteristics to each of these, and it is a good idea to acquaint oneself with these.

As you can deduce, a special characteristics for a Boomerang is the fact that it returns to the owner each time it is tossed. Still, to catch it, you need to press and hold down the SPACE key. If you don't, the weapon will hit your character and inflict damage.

Darts are excellent for the battles, but they require a lot of materials, and they can be used only once. That is why you should equip yourself with at least several of these before you go hunting, and be frugal about using them.

Dart types:

1. Blow Dart - standard dart that inflicts 100p damage.

2. Sleep Dart - this dart type does not inflict damage, but it puts the targeted creature to sleep. Still, you need to remember that some bigger creatures (e.g. Hound or Tallbird) require four hits before they fall asleep, and some opponents are even invulnerable to this type of darts (Butterfly, Ghost, Mandrake, Tentacle and all apparitions).

3. Fire Dart - inflicts 50 damage and sets the target on fire. The blazing opponent, starts running then and setting on fire all of the nearby flammable objects. If the beast drops meat, it is already going to be roasted. You need to remember that some opponents are invulnerable to this weapon (e.g. Hound).

As far as staffs are concerned, they come in two types::

1. Ice Staff - shoots projectiles that freeze the target. To immobilize a larger opponent, you need to shoot several times (one shot merely slows the opponent down). Additionally, with every individual use, the item decreases your character's sanity level by 1 and speeds up his freeing process. To alleviate this , you should be dressed properly while using the Ice Staff.

2. Fire Staff - sets opponents and flammable objects on fire. Like in the case of the Ice Staff, each use decreases sanity by 1.

Traps

Apart from melee and ranged weapons, there are also traps available in the game. Thanks to these, you can defeat many formidable enemies without putting yourself to danger.

1. Trap - this kind of trap is most effective against small animals like spiders or frogs. The trapped animals die on the spot. It can be used 8 times.

2. Tooth Trap - inflicts 60 damage and it can be used 10 times

3. Bee Mine - a single-use mine that releases 4 bees after it is set off. The insects do not attack your character and they can call reinforcements in if they are wounded. After the fight finishes, it is possible to catch the surviving bees and reuse them to make another bee mine.