Section 1: Game Basics

Get a grip on Deacon St. John's survival adventure in Days Gone. Learn about weapons, crafting, and the harsh world of Oregon to stay alive against Freaks and raiders.

Alright, so you're diving into the wild, unforgiving world of Days Gone. It's a tough place out there, and you'll be playing as Deacon St. John, a former biker just trying to find his way after the world went sideways. A nasty pandemic turned most folks into Freaks and Swarmers, and they're all heading north. You'll be dealing with these infected, plus some nasty raider gangs and a fanatical cult called the Rippers who really have it out for Deacon and his buddy Boozer. Oh, and there's a Colonel with a militia who's on a whole crusade. Your main goal? Survive in the Oregon wilderness.

When it comes to gear, you've got a few options. You'll always have your trusty boot knife for stealthy takedowns, but it's not much good in a straight fight. Regular melee weapons, like planks or baseball bats you find lying around, have a damage and durability meter, so keep an eye on them. You can even craft some better ones, like the Spiked Bat after the 'No Starving Patriots' mission, or the awesome Baseball Bat Axe you get from the Ambush Camp Hunter storyline. If you really invest in the Melee skills, especially with the Superior Metal Axe you can find later, you'll be taking down Freaks in just a few hits.

You also get three weapon slots: a Sidearm, a Primary Weapon, and a Special Weapon. You start with a 9MM handgun and get a crossbow early on. You can pick up weapons from fallen enemies or buy them at camps like Hot Springs. Some awesome weapons are mission rewards, like Boozer's Shotgun after 'I Could Use a Hand' or the Rock Chuck assault rifle. Don't forget about explosives! Molotovs are super useful for burning out infestations, and you can craft them early. Pipe bombs come later, and grenades require a higher Trust Level. These can also be found scattered around.

Keeping your weapons upgraded is key. While some heavy hitters like the MG 55 or Talon 7 sniper rifle require a lot of grinding or high Trust Levels that are tough to get early, there are plenty of solid options. Shotguns aren't generally recommended over assault rifles or SMGs with good range and suppressors. Speaking of suppressors, they're made from oil filters and degrade over time – about 4% per shot for a sidearm suppressor. You can attach and remove them, which is great for sneaking around. Use a suppressed weapon until you're discovered, then maybe switch it up.

Remember, skills like Field Repairs let you fix melee weapons, and Hard-Hitter boosts their damage. If you really go deep into the Melee Tree, Home Run makes your melee attacks devastating. These weapons are going to be a big part of your survival, so keep them in good shape or swap them out before you're left with just your knife!