Welcome to Enshrouded

Enshrouded is a survival action RPG set in a massive open world shrouded in mystery and danger. This comprehensive beginner’s guide will help you survive your first days and set you on the path to becoming a master survivor.

Quick Start Checklist

Before diving deep, here are the essential first steps:

• ✅ Complete the tutorial to learn basic controls
• ✅ Build your first Flame Altar
• ✅ Gather basic resources (wood, stone, plant fiber)
• ✅ Craft essential tools (axe, pickaxe, weapon)
• ✅ Establish a safe base location
• ✅ Unlock your first skills in the skill tree

Starting Out: The First Hour

Gather Basic Resources

Your first priority is collecting resources for survival:

1. Wood - Chop trees with your bare hands or axe
2. Stone - Pick up rocks from the ground or mine with pickaxe
3. Plant Fiber - Harvest from bushes and small plants
4. Mushrooms - Collect for early food sources

Build Your First Flame Altar

The Flame Altar is your respawn point and base of operations:

• Place it in a safe, flat location
• Consider proximity to resources (water, trees, stone)
• This will be your main base initially
• You can relocate it later if needed

Craft Essential Tools

Use your crafting menu to create:

1. Stone Axe - For faster wood gathering
2. Stone Pickaxe - For mining stone and ore
3. Basic Weapon - For self-defense (bow or melee)
4. Campfire - For cooking food and staying warm

Understanding Core Mechanics

The Shroud

The purple mist covering the world is deadly:

• Entering the Shroud drains your timer
• You can only survive for limited time initially
• Upgrade your Flame Altar to extend shroud timer
• Plan your shroud expeditions carefully
• Return to safety before timer expires

Hunger and Health

Manage these vital stats:

• Health - Regenerates slowly when not in combat
• Stamina - Used for sprinting, jumping, attacking
• Hunger - Eat food to maintain energy and health regen
• Water - Drink from water sources to stay hydrated

Day and Night Cycle

Time affects gameplay:

• Daytime - Safer exploration, better visibility
• Nighttime - More dangerous enemies, limited vision
• Weather - Affects temperature and visibility
• Temperature - Cold at night, wear appropriate gear

Building Your First Base

Base Location Tips

Choose a location with:

• Flat terrain for easier building
• Proximity to resources (forest, stone deposits)
• Near water source
• Defensible position
• Away from enemy spawn areas

Essential Base Structures

Build these first:

1. Shelter - Protect from weather and enemies
2. Storage Chests - Organize your inventory
3. Crafting Stations - Unlock advanced recipes
4. Bed - Set spawn point and skip night
5. Walls and Doors - Basic defense

Crafting Stations Priority

Unlock in this order:

1. Workbench - Basic crafting and repairs
2. Furnace - Smelt ores into metal bars
3. Hand Mill - Process plants and grains
4. Charcoal Kiln - Create charcoal for advanced crafting

Combat Basics

Weapon Types

Choose your preferred combat style:

• Melee Weapons - Swords, axes, hammers (close range)
• Ranged Weapons - Bows, crossbows (distance)
• Magic Staves - Spells and magical attacks
• Shields - Block and parry enemy attacks

Combat Tips

• Learn enemy attack patterns
• Dodge roll to avoid damage (uses stamina)
• Block with shield when stamina is low
• Use terrain to your advantage
• Target weak spots for bonus damage
• Don’t fight multiple enemies at once initially

Enemy Types

Early game enemies you’ll encounter:

• Fell Creatures - Basic hostile mobs
• Scavengers - Fast, aggressive packs
• Undead - Slow but dangerous
• Wildlife - Animals can be hostile

Resource Management

Inventory Tips

Manage your limited carry capacity:

• Keep only essential items in inventory
• Store bulk materials in chests
• Organize storage by item type
• Use quick slots for frequently used items
• Drop unnecessary items to reduce weight

What to Hoard vs. What to Drop

Always Keep:

• Rare crafting materials
• Quest items
• Weapon upgrade materials
• Food and healing items

Safe to Drop/Sell:

• Excess basic resources (wood, stone)
• Duplicate low-tier weapons
• Common plant fiber
• Basic food ingredients (if you have plenty)

Progression Systems

Skill Tree

Your character progression system:

• Earn skill points by leveling up
• Choose skills based on your playstyle
• Early recommendations: survivability and gathering
• Can respec later (with cost)
• Plan your build for long-term

Flame Altar Upgrades

Essential upgrades to prioritize:

1. Shroud Timer Extension - Explore deeper
2. Health Increase - Better survivability
3. Stamina Boost - More actions available
4. Additional Quick Slots - Access more items
5. Crafting Speed - Faster production

Character Level

Level up by:

• Defeating enemies
• Completing quests
• Crafting items
• Exploring new areas
• Gathering resources

Important Early Game Tips

Do’s and Don’ts

DO:

• Save frequently (game auto-saves at Flame Altar)
• Explore during daytime initially
• Mark important locations on map
• Collect everything you see early on
• Complete tutorial objectives
• Build storage ASAP

DON’T:

• Rush into the Shroud unprepared
• Ignore hunger and thirst
• Fight enemies above your level
• Hoard unnecessary items
• Forget to repair equipment
• Travel too far without marking your base

Multiplayer Considerations

If playing with friends:

• Coordinate base building responsibilities
• Share resources efficiently
• Designate roles (fighter, gatherer, crafter)
• Communicate during shroud expeditions
• Build multiple beds for all players
• Share discovered map locations

Farming and Food

Basic Farming

Set up food production:

• Build farming plots near water
• Plant seeds from collected plants
• Water crops regularly
• Harvest when fully grown
• Replant immediately for continuous supply

Best Early Game Foods

Prioritize cooking:

1. Cooked Meat - Good health restore
2. Mushroom Soup - Easy to make, fills hunger
3. Berries - Quick health boost
4. Grilled Fish - Excellent stats
5. Vegetable Stew - Long-lasting buffs

Quests and Objectives

Main Quest Line

Follow the story:

• Guides you through game mechanics
• Unlocks important features
• Provides good rewards
• Teaches survival techniques
• Leads to new areas

Side Quests

Complete for extra rewards:

• Explore optional content
• Earn experience and materials
• Unlock recipes and blueprints
• Discover lore and story
• Find rare items

Exploration Tips

Map and Navigation

• Open map frequently (M key)
• Place custom markers
• Track quest objectives
• Note resource locations
• Mark danger zones

What to Look For

While exploring:

• Treasure chests (materials and items)
• Resource nodes (ore, plants)
• Quest objectives
• NPC locations
• Fast travel points
• Dungeon entrances

Common Beginner Mistakes

Avoid these pitfalls:

1. Overextending in the Shroud - Always watch your timer
2. Neglecting Base Defenses - Enemies can raid your base
3. Not Upgrading Tools - Better tools = faster gathering
4. Ignoring Skill Tree - Missing important perks
5. Poor Inventory Management - Running out of space
6. Not Cooking Food - Raw food is less effective
7. Fighting Unprepared - Check enemy level before engaging

Next Steps

After your first few hours:

1. Expand Your Base - Add more crafting stations
2. Explore the Shroud - Find valuable resources
3. Upgrade Equipment - Craft better gear
4. Complete Quests - Progress the story
5. Unlock Skills - Build your character
6. Summon NPCs - Add helpful craftspeople to your base

Recommended Early Skills

Focus on these skills first:

• Survivability - Health and stamina boosts
• Gathering - Faster resource collection
• Crafting - Unlock better recipes
• Combat - Improve damage or defense (based on style)

Resources to Prioritize

Early game resource priorities:

1. Wood - Building and fuel
2. Stone - Construction and tools
3. Metal Ore - Better equipment
4. Food - Survival essential
5. Plant Fiber - Crafting material
6. Animal Skins - Armor and upgrades

Conclusion

Enshrouded offers a deep survival experience with endless possibilities. Take your time, learn the mechanics, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Remember:

• Start small and expand gradually
• Prepare before venturing into danger
• Build efficiently and organize well
• Learn from deaths (they will happen!)
• Enjoy the exploration and discovery

Good luck, survivor! The world of Enshrouded awaits your conquest.

Related Guides

• Best Skills to Unlock First
• How to Survive Longer in the Shroud
• Class Tier List and Builds
• How to Get Gentian

Related Guides

Featured

skill easy

Best Skills to Unlock First in Enshrouded - Complete Skill Tree Guide 2024

Master Enshrouded's skill system with our complete guide to the best skills to unlock first. Essential perks for survival, combat, crafting, and exploration across all playstyles and builds.

🕒 15 min

Featured

beginner easy

How to Survive Longer in the Shroud - Complete Guide

Learn the best strategies to survive longer in the Shroud in Enshrouded, including Shroud Survival Flasks, Flame Altar upgrades, and essential tips for exploring dangerous shrouded areas.

🕒 12 min

Featured

beginner easy

Enshrouded Class Tier List - Best Classes Ranked

Complete tier list ranking all 12 classes in Enshrouded from S-Tier to D-Tier, including Battlemage, Tank, Survivor, Warrior, and more with detailed class analysis.

🕒 12 min