Don’t Starve, the unforgiving wilderness survival game developed by Klei Entertainment, throws players into a perilous world where knowledge and resourcefulness are the keys to survival. While the initial character, Wilson, offers a balanced starting point, the allure of unique abilities and playstyles of the other unlockable characters is a major draw. This guide provides a detailed walkthrough on how to unlock each character in Don’t Starve (Vanilla) and some tips for effectively using them.
Understanding Character Unlocks in Don’t Starve
In the original Don’t Starve, characters are unlocked by accumulating experience points (XP). This XP is gained simply by surviving days in the game. The longer you survive, the more XP you earn, gradually unlocking new characters. This system encourages players to learn the game’s mechanics and improve their survival skills. Unlike Don’t Starve Together, where some characters are unlocked through other means (like purchasing DLC or completing in-game challenges), the original Don’t Starve relies solely on the XP system.
The Character Roster and Their Unlock Costs
Here’s a list of all unlockable characters in Don’t Starve (Vanilla) and the XP required to unlock them:
- Wilson (Starting Character): Available from the beginning.
- Willow: 160 XP
- Wolfgang: 320 XP
- Wendy: 480 XP
- WX-78: 640 XP
- Wickerbottom: 800 XP
- Woodie: 960 XP
As you can see, the XP requirement increases with each character, meaning it will take longer and longer to unlock them all.
Detailed Steps to Unlock Each Character
The process for unlocking characters is the same for each one: survive, earn XP, and unlock. However, let’s break down some strategies to maximize your survival time and therefore, your XP gain.
1. Starting a New Game and Character Selection
Begin a new game in Don’t Starve. Since you start with Wilson, you’ll need to focus on learning the basics with him first. Wilson’s beard provides insulation in winter, making him a good character to learn the ropes.
2. Mastering the Early Game Survival
The first few days are crucial. Your priorities should be:
- Gathering Resources: Collect as much food (berries, carrots, seeds) and resources (twigs, grass, flint, wood) as possible.
- Crafting Basic Tools: Craft an axe and a pickaxe as soon as you can. These are essential for acquiring wood and rocks.
- Finding a Good Base Location: Look for a location near multiple resources, such as forests, berry bushes, and a source of water. Ideally, the biome should not have too many dangers, such as Beefalo in heat or frequent hound attacks.
- Building a Campfire: A campfire is essential for cooking food, providing light at night, and preventing Charlie from attacking you.
- Crafting Basic Structures: Build a science machine as soon as possible. This unlocks a wider range of crafting options. Then build an Alchemy Engine to unlock even more advanced options. A crock pot is very useful as well.
3. Surviving the Seasons
Each season presents unique challenges. Understanding these challenges and preparing for them is vital for long-term survival.
- Autumn (Starting Season): Autumn is relatively forgiving. Focus on building a strong base and stockpiling resources for the upcoming winter.
- Winter: Winter is the most challenging season. Food becomes scarce, and the cold can quickly kill you. You’ll need to craft warm clothing (such as a thermal stone and winter hat) and find reliable food sources (such as hunting Koalefants or farming). An Ice Box is also very helpful to keep food from spoiling.
- Spring: Spring brings rain, which can lead to wetness and overheating. You’ll need to craft waterproof clothing (such as an umbrella or raincoat) and find ways to dry off. Bees also become aggressive during spring.
- Summer: Summer is characterized by extreme heat and wildfires. You’ll need to find ways to stay cool (such as using a thermal stone cooled in an Ice Box or seeking shade) and prevent wildfires from destroying your base (using Ice Flingomatics).
4. Combatting Threats
Don’t Starve is full of dangerous creatures. Learning to fight effectively is crucial for survival.
- Hound Attacks: Hounds will periodically attack you. Learn to kite them (attack, move away, attack again) to avoid taking damage. Building traps can also help.
- Spiders: Spiders are common enemies, especially near spider nests. Craft armor and weapons to fight them effectively.
- Tallbirds: Tallbirds are aggressive birds that guard their nests. Avoid them if possible, especially early in the game.
- Beefalo: Beefalo are generally peaceful, but they will become aggressive during their mating season (spring). Avoid them during this time.
- Deerclops: The Deerclops is a winter boss that can destroy your base if you’re not prepared. You’ll need strong weapons and armor to defeat it. Prepare fire pits to keep warm during the fight.
5. Maximizing XP Gain
While simply surviving earns XP, there are ways to optimize your XP gain:
- Survive as Long as Possible: The longer you survive, the more XP you’ll earn.
- Explore New Areas: Exploring new areas can uncover resources and blueprints that help you survive longer.
- Defeat Bosses: Defeating bosses grants a significant amount of XP. However, only do this when you are adequately prepared.
- Don’t Die: Dying resets your XP progress for the current character. Avoid unnecessary risks.
6. Unlocking Willow (160 XP)
After surviving a few days (approximately 8-10 days, depending on how efficiently you’re playing), you should accumulate enough XP to unlock Willow. Willow is a pyromaniac who starts with a lighter, making her useful for exploring at night. However, she can also easily set things on fire if she gets too stressed, so be careful!
7. Unlocking Wolfgang (320 XP)
Continue surviving and accumulating XP. After unlocking Willow, it will take approximately another 15-20 days to unlock Wolfgang. Wolfgang is a character with two forms: Mighty and Wimpy. When he’s well-fed, he becomes Mighty, dealing more damage and having more health. When he’s hungry, he becomes Wimpy, dealing less damage and having less health. Managing his hunger is key to playing Wolfgang effectively.
8. Unlocking Wendy (480 XP)
Keep playing and surviving. Wendy takes approximately 20-25 days after Wolfgang to unlock. Wendy starts with Abigail’s Flower, which summons her deceased twin sister, Abigail, to fight alongside her. Abigail is a powerful ally, making Wendy a good choice for players who struggle with combat.
9. Unlocking WX-78 (640 XP)
Persist in your survival efforts. WX-78 will likely take around 25-30 days after Wendy to unlock. WX-78 is a robot who starts with low health and sanity but can be upgraded by eating gears. He is also immune to poison and can be charged by lightning, which heals him and provides a speed boost. However, rain damages him.
10. Unlocking Wickerbottom (800 XP)
Don’t give up! Wickerbottom should unlock in approximately 30-35 days after WX-78. Wickerbottom is a librarian who can craft books that provide various effects. She can also craft advanced farming structures earlier than other characters. However, she can’t sleep and spoils food more quickly.
11. Unlocking Woodie (960 XP)
The final unlock! Woodie requires the most survival time, usually taking around 35-40 days after Wickerbottom. Woodie starts with Lucy the Axe, a sentient axe that never breaks. However, Woodie is cursed to transform into a Werebeaver on full moons or when he chops too much wood. As the Werebeaver, he can chop down trees very quickly but loses control of his character. Managing his Werebeaver transformations is key to playing Woodie effectively.
Tips for Choosing Your Character
Each character in Don’t Starve offers a unique playstyle. Consider these factors when choosing a character:
- Your Playstyle: Do you prefer a character who is good at combat, resource gathering, or crafting?
- The Season: Some characters are better suited for certain seasons than others.
- Your Skill Level: Some characters are easier to play than others. Wilson is a good starting point for new players, while Wolfgang and Woodie require more advanced knowledge of the game.
Character Specific Strategies
Here are some specific strategies for each unlockable character:
- Willow: Use her lighter to explore at night, but be careful not to set things on fire. Keep her sanity high to prevent her from starting fires uncontrollably. She is also immune to fire damage.
- Wolfgang: Keep him well-fed to maximize his strength. Carry plenty of food with you at all times. Consider building a bee box farm to keep food plentiful.
- Wendy: Use Abigail to tank damage and fight enemies. Position yourself strategically to maximize Abigail’s effectiveness.
- WX-78: Upgrade him with gears to increase his health and sanity. Seek out lightning storms to charge him and gain a speed boost. Rain is dangerous to him, so be sure to seek shelter or craft an umbrella.
- Wickerbottom: Use her books to your advantage. “Birds of the World” is great for gathering food, while “Sleepytime Stories” can be used to put enemies to sleep. Don’t forget to build advanced farms to combat her increased food spoilage.
- Woodie: Be prepared for his Werebeaver transformations. Gather resources near your base so you can quickly rebuild after transforming. Learn the control mechanics of the Werebeaver form to maximize his chopping capabilities.
Conclusion
Unlocking all the characters in Don’t Starve is a rewarding experience that allows you to experiment with different playstyles and strategies. By understanding the game’s mechanics, preparing for the seasons, and mastering combat, you can survive long enough to unlock all the characters and truly master the unforgiving world of Don’t Starve.
