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Getting started in SCUM
The bare minimum to survive your first hours without dying from hunger, thirst or a chicken.
Welcome to the island. Your character spawns in a swimsuit with zero useful information. This guide is the bare minimum you need.
First 5 minutes
- Open the map (M) and find the nearest village. Avoid marked military zones until you know what you are doing.
- Drink water. Every village has fountains. Thirst rises fast and kills.
- Eat something. Chickens, rabbits and tree apples will do. Without food, your HP drops.
- Get a backpack. Without it, you cannot carry anything useful.
What to avoid on day one
- Puppets (the infected) in groups. One can be killed with a stick; three will kill you.
- Military zones. The loot is brutal but mechs see you before you see them.
- PvP in coastal villages. Everyone spawns there and the mortality rate is high.
Next step
Once you have food, water, a backpack and a decent melee weapon, check the mechanics section to understand why your character does weird things.