You thought being a ship captain was easy? The new hit game *Dead Sails* proves otherwise. It's quite a challenge when you need to balance your own survival with maintaining the ship, selling valuables, and fighting off various monsters. Here’s how to become a pro in *Dead Sails* and reach the 100k meters finish line in no time.
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Table of contents
- Beginner’s Guide for Dead Sails
- Before You Set Sail
- How To Choose A Class
- What To Do In Towns
- Dead Sails Tips & Tricks
- Tips For Never Running Out Of Fuel
- How To Survive The Night
- Which Weapon To Choose
- Best Items To Collect
Beginner’s Guide for Dead Sails
Screenshot by The Escapist. If you’re new to Dead Sails, don't worry. Similar to its predecessor Dead Rails, the game is straightforward – you're the captain of a ship that needs to sail in a straight line for 10 thousand meters between towns, aiming to reach a goal of 100k meters sailed. Keep moving, ensure you don't run out of fuel, and stay alive. Sounds easy, right?
Before You Set Sail
The in-game lobby before you start a round is quite helpful, though it comes at a cost. As a new player, you start with 15 Dabloons, the game's currency. It's not much, but you can use it to purchase various items. Boats are expensive and unnecessary for beginners, and while bandages and weapons might be tempting, you'll find plenty of them in-game.
How To Choose A Class
Screenshot by The Escapist. We recommend spending your 15 Dabloons on a class. These are in-game perks bought in a loot box style, where you don't know which class you'll get. Each purchase costs 3 Dabloons, and if you're lucky, you might get a class you like on your first try. The game offers great Common and Uncommon classes like Pirate and Gunslinger, but your choice depends on your play style. Check out our Dead Sails Class Tierlist for a breakdown of every available class.
What To Do In Towns
Screenshot by The Escapist. When you join a round, you start in a town where your ship is docked. These towns appear every 10 thousand meters sailed and serve as your safe spots. They offer various amenities:
- Trading Hut: Sell items you’ve collected.
- General Store: Choose from items to aid your journey.
- Hospital: Heal yourself.
- Gun Shop: Purchase guns and ammunition.
- Sheriff’s: Earn bounty money from pirate and creature corpses.
You start with a blunt weapon like a pickaxe or hammer, so there's no immediate need to buy a firearm. Instead, focus on purchasing coal, spending all your money to get as much as possible. Fuel is crucial in Dead Sails, as the game ends if you can't move your ship.
Dead Sails Tips & Tricks
The gameplay is simple, but you'll encounter various buildings and structures and face attacks from undead creatures. Here are a few main tips to master the game.
Tips For Never Running Out Of Fuel
Screenshot by The Escapist. Your ship runs on coal, with each chunk adding 20% more fuel. Technically, you could finish the game by buying 5 coal pieces in every town, but where's the fun in that?
You'll find various collectible items off your ship, some marked as "fuel" offering a 5% increase. However, the most efficient way to fuel up, aside from coal, is using undead corpses. Kill everything that attacks you, and store their bodies in your inventory for fuel.
How To Survive The Night
Screenshot by The Escapist. Nighttime in Dead Sails is significantly harder due to reduced visibility. If you die, it's game over.
Ideally, spend the night in town where you're safe. If that's not possible, buy Barbed Wire from a shop beforehand. Mounting it on your ship prevents mobs from approaching. Without Barbed Wire, pause your journey and attack any creature that comes near.
Which Weapon To Choose
Screenshot by The Escapist. Weapon choice is a personal preference. If you prefer melee, the starting hammer or pickaxe might suffice. However, as you sail further, you'll face stronger enemies requiring stronger weapons.
A shotgun is likely the best choice due to its high damage, useful in unexpected combat situations. An early-game alternative is the revolver, weaker but good for learning firearms and often found in buildings.
Best Items To Collect
Screenshot by The Escapist. Every item you collect can be sold, starting with junk that costs 3 or 5 cash per item. However, with a limited inventory of 10 items, focus on valuable items:
- Moyai and Bars: Available in diamond, gold, and silver, these are top earners.
- Healing Packs: Best kept for emergencies, but can be sold.
- Crosses: Sell for 35 cash or use against undead.
- Weapons: Use or sell as needed.
- Robot Head: Found in houses and banks, sells for 45 cash.
- Holy Water: Found in churches, sells for 25 cash.
- Gold Llama: Rare and valuable, sells for 150 cash.
You can stack items on your boat, but remember to weld them to the surface to prevent them from falling off. Place an item and press the weld button (Z on the keyboard) to secure it.
And that's the beginner's guide to Dead Sails! Follow these tips to become the best captain on the seas – or, in this case, the small, canal-like river. For a gameplay boost, check out our Dead Sails codes.
