RuneScape: Dragonwilds offers a thrilling new survival adventure set in the well-known RuneScape world, combining classic MMO elements with both traditional and innovative survival mechanics. This isn't a casual survival game — combat is tough, building your base demands strategic planning, and survival can feel challenging. To ease your journey across the dragon-filled lands of Ashenfall, here are seven essential tips and strategies for newcomers to thrive in RuneScape: Dragonwilds.
Fortunately, many verified sellers sell RuneScape: Dragonwilds accounts at Z2U.com, allowing new players to jump in with a cheap price and enjoy the game at their own pace.
1. Stay Focused on the Main Story Early
It might sound simple, but Dragonwilds doesn't aggressively push the main questline at you. Without much prompting, it's easy to get sidetracked by gathering resources, building, or simply exploring the world. However, following the central storyline is the best way to explore methodically in the early and mid-game stages.
Each new quest usually leads you to previously undiscovered regions, granting access to vital resources, creatures, and enemies needed for character and base upgrades. For example, while pursuing Cathan in the story, you'll eventually reach the Fractured Plains, where you can mine Copper and Tin Ore — key materials for crafting Bronze Bars and gear, critical for survival.
By advancing the main quests, you'll naturally stay aligned with the game's intended progression pace and avoid falling behind in terms of strength or resources.
2. Collect Everything You Find
In most survival games, players instinctively grab every item they see, but as inventories fill, it's tempting to ignore what seems useless. Resist that urge in Dragonwilds.
Even seemingly insignificant items — like rocks or minor foods — are worth picking up. Adding an item to your inventory for the first time often unlocks new crafting recipes, many of which are surprisingly useful for your current stage of the game.
Materials like ores and stones typically unlock structural blueprints for your base, while plants and food items often open up new cooking or brewing options. Every item contributes to your crafting progression, so pick up everything at least once.
3. Build Multiple Bases Across the Map
While your initial home base will serve you well for the first several hours, eventually you'll find that trekking back and forth becomes tedious as you explore farther out. Although you can fast travel using Lodestones, it's much more efficient to establish several smaller bases in different regions of Ashenfall.
Having multiple hubs provides easy access to storage and crafting facilities no matter where you are. For maximum efficiency, you could even specialize your bases — one for storage, another for crafting, and one purely for aesthetics.
Spreading out your bases will save you a huge amount of time in the long run and help keep your inventory and activities organized.
4. Use Your Bow for Safer Combat
Combat encounters in Dragonwilds can be brutal, particularly once you venture into areas with a threat level of 3 or higher. While many players instinctively opt for melee weapons, relying on a bow is often the smarter choice.
You may save stamina and deal steady damage from a safe distance when you use a bow. The game's mechanics allow for quick-firing without the need for precise aiming, and landing arrows often staggers enemies, slowing their advance.
If you start attacking from afar, enemies will frequently fall before they even reach you. Although melee weapons are powerful up close, mastering the bow will give you a significant advantage, especially early on.
5. Build Your First Base Near Water
Early on, one of your most repetitive tasks will be fetching dirty water, purifying it, and drinking it — thirst drains at an alarming rate in Dragonwilds.
To make survival easier, establish your starting base close to a water source. This cuts down the time needed to gather and boil water, allowing you to quickly quench your thirst without interrupting longer expeditions.
While this won't solve the thirst mechanic entirely, it will greatly reduce the amount of micromanagement needed to stay hydrated.
6. Fully Clear Every Vault You Enter
Vaults in Dragonwilds are its equivalent of dungeons — self-contained areas filled with enemies, culminating in valuable rewards. Guardians and Sentinels guard these Vaults, and they can deal massive damage if you're not careful.
While it might be tempting to rush straight to the exit, it's highly recommended to fully explore each Vault. There are useful resources hidden underneath, such as Lodestones for quick travel and Vault Cores, which are required to construct crafting stations.
You'll also uncover Vault Shards and treasure chests packed with loot. Thoroughly clearing a Vault ensures you maximize your rewards and walk away with crucial materials for your journey.
7. Upgrade Your Battlestaff Early
Finally, make it a priority to strengthen your Battlestaff. As a primary magical weapon, the Battlestaff becomes significantly more effective when upgraded, giving you access to better spells and much-needed combat versatility.
Enhancing your Battlestaff can dramatically improve your ability to handle tougher enemies, particularly those resistant to physical attacks. Investing time and resources into upgrading it early on will pay dividends as you progress deeper into Ashenfall's dangerous landscapes. If you're eager to explore Ashenfall with a stronger start or skip some of the early grind, you can also buy RuneScape: Dragonwilds account options through trusted marketplaces. This can give you access to more powerful gear and better resources, helping you enjoy the game more efficiently.
Conclusion
RuneScape: Dragonwilds offers a rich blend of survival mechanics and classic RPG elements that reward careful planning, exploration, and smart combat decisions. Whether you're a RuneScape veteran or a newcomer to the world of Gielinor, these beginner tips will help you avoid early pitfalls and build a strong foundation for your journey. Stay curious, adapt quickly, and don't be afraid to experiment — with the right strategies, Ashenfall can become more than just a battleground; it can be your new home.