Dead Sails: Ultimate Beginner's Guide

You might think being a ship captain is all smooth sailing, but *Dead Sails* throws a lot more at you than just steering straight. Balancing survival, ship maintenance, resource trading, and monster combat can be overwhelming for new players. But don’t worry — with the right strategy, you’ll be on your way to hitting that 100k meters goal in no time.

Beginner’s Guide for Dead Sails

Before You Set Sail

dead-sails-beginners-guide-boat-day Screenshot by The Escapist

If you're new to Dead Sails, rest assured that the gameplay is simple and straightforward—literally. As the captain of a ship, your mission is to sail forward for 10 thousand meters between towns until you reach the ultimate goal of 100k meters sailed. Keep moving, keep fuelled, and most importantly—stay alive.

Before each round begins, you'll find yourself in the in-game lobby, where you can spend Dabloons—the game's currency. Starting with 15 Dabloons, it may seem tempting to buy items like bandages or weapons, but many of these are readily available during gameplay. Boats are expensive and unnecessary for beginners, so focus on essentials instead.

How To Choose A Class

dead-sails-beginners-guide-class Screenshot by The Escapist

We recommend spending your Dabloons on classes—special in-game perks acquired via loot box-style draws. Each class purchase costs 3 Dabloons, and while you won't know which class you'll get, the game offers strong options like Pirate and Gunslinger. Your choice should reflect your playstyle. For more details, check out our Dead Sails Class Tierlist to help guide your selection.

What To Do In Towns

dead-sails-beginners-guide-town-day Screenshot by The Escapist

Each time you start a new journey, you begin in a town—your safe zone. These appear every 10 thousand meters sailed, offering essential services:

Trading Hut: Sell collected items for cash.
General Store: Purchase healing packs, fuel, and other supplies.
Hospital: Fully restore your health.
Gun Shop: Buy firearms and ammunition.
Sheriff’s Office: Earn bounties by bringing back corpses of enemies.

Although you spawn with a basic weapon like a pickaxe or hammer, prioritize purchasing coal—it's crucial for keeping your ship running. Spend all your money on as much coal as possible before heading out.

Dead Sails Tips & Tricks

Tips For Never Running Out Of Fuel

dead-sails-beginners-guide-zombie-fuel Screenshot by The Escapist

Fuel management is key in Dead Sails. While each piece of coal adds 20% fuel, collecting other "fuel" marked items gives only 5% per item. The most efficient alternative? Enemy corpses. Since you have to defeat attackers anyway, use their bodies to supplement your fuel supply.

How To Survive The Night

dead-sails-beginners-guide-wire Screenshot by The Escapist

Nighttime significantly increases difficulty due to reduced visibility and stronger enemies. If possible, stay in town overnight. Otherwise, equip Barbed Wire on your ship to prevent mob attacks. Without it, pause your journey and deal with threats manually to stay safe.

Which Weapon To Choose

dead-sails-beginners-guide-shotgun Screenshot by The Escapist

Weapon preference varies by player, but shotguns are highly recommended for their high damage output, especially when dealing with unexpected encounters. Early on, a revolver is also a solid option—easy to find and perfect for learning firearm mechanics.

Best Items To Collect

dead-sails-beginners-guide-water Screenshot by The Escapist

With a limited inventory space (max 10 items), collect wisely:

Moyai Statues & Bars (Diamond, Gold, Silver): High-value items ideal for earning quick cash.
Healing Packs: Useful for emergencies—better kept than sold.
Crosses: Can be used as a weapon against undead foes or sold for 35 cash.
Weapons: Either upgrade your arsenal or sell for profit.
Robot Head: Found in houses and banks, sells for 45 cash.
Holy Water: Usually found in churches, worth 25 cash.
Gold Llama: Rare but valuable—sells for 150 cash.

Keep in mind: Items placed on your ship will fall off unless welded into place. Use the weld button (Z) to secure them permanently.

And that wraps up our beginner’s guide to Dead Sails. Stick to these tips, and soon you’ll be navigating the perilous waters like a seasoned pro. If you want an extra edge, make sure to check out the latest Dead Sails redeem codes to boost your progress even further.