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 - Skill Tree Guide

Complete guide to the best skills to unlock early in Enshrouded, covering essential perks for survival, combat, crafting, and exploration for all playstyles.

🕒 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