To this day, years after its initial release, State of Decay 2 continues to pull in new players and entice returning players to dump hundreds of hours into the game. Why? Because developer Undead Labs continually provides massive, worthwhile content updates. So, if you’re new or returning, early-game survival in State of Decay 2 is not to be trifled with.
Early Game Survival in State of Decay 2
Finish the Tutorial
If you’re like me, the idea of finishing a tutorial for the umpteenth time sounds…fun. Right, yeah, fun. The reality is we often think of ourselves as all-knowing players who remember every combo and gameplay mechanic if we’ve even remotely touched a video game.
That’s fine. State of Decay 2 isn’t an overly complex game regarding controls and mechanics. You smash zombies, loot, and build up your base. Easy!
But don’t knock those starting survivors. You can choose two from various backgrounds, including a couple, friends, brother/sister, etc. Their backgrounds don’t matter much, as there is little to no character development, story-wise, in the game.
Their starting stats and leader type, however, make a difference. Depending on your playstyle, they all come with valuable stats and a leadership type you’ll want to focus on first. I would recommend a Trader or Builder.
Rush An Infirmary
Depending on your difficulty level, zombie strikes and Blood Plague may prove fatal. Therefore, it only makes sense to rush the construction of an infirmary at your first base.
You need to locate and return materials rucksacks to your base for that. Easy!
Where do you find materials in State of Decay 2? The easiest way is to climb up a recon point, like a tower or billboard, to scope out the surrounding area. You’ll quickly discover points of interest, like homes under construction or storage units, which generally spawn bags of materials.
Furthermore, the lower your difficulty, the fewer materials it costs to construct an infirmary.
Related: How to Play Co-op in State of Decay 2
Save Your Blood Plague Samples
The earliest quest you’ll receive in State of Decay 2 is to help out a nearby enclave searching for Blood Plague samples. They want anywhere from two to three samples, depending on game difficulty, and in return, they’ll usually provide you with influence, trade opportunities, and rucksacks.
Is it worth doing? Sometimes, yeah. If you need influence and want friends, help out other enclaves.
But remember: Your community comes first. If you’re playing on, say, Nightmare or Lethal Zone, then those Blood Plague samples prove ever-useful for your purposes.
State of Decay 2
State of Decay 2, developed by Undead Labs and published by Xbox Game Studios, is an open-world zombie survival game with a focus on building and managing a community of survivors.
Don’t Worry About Firearms
State of Decay 2 features a large assortment of firearms. There are a lot of guns to choose from and play around with.
Instead of rushing out to find a handgun or shotgun to dump rounds into undead heads, learn melee combat first.
You can get genuinely good at melee in State of Decay 2 through practice. You’ll soon find yourself dodging, stealth killing, and throwing zombies to and fro.
Of course, the best part of playing co-op, even in the early game of State of Decay 2, is running over your partner with the occasional rampaging vehicle. Here’s a guide on the game’s vehicle upgrades so that you can become the true road warrior!