How to Survive Your First Day in StarRupture

Your First Day Goals

You have about 15 minutes of daylight. Your goals: gather basic resources, build a shelter, craft tools, and survive the night. Follow this step-by-step guide and you'll make it through day 1 alive.

As soon as you spawn, start gathering immediately. Don't explore yet - focus on resources.

Step 1: Punch Trees (2 minutes)

• Hit trees with your fists to get wood
• Gather 50+ wood (you'll need 100+ total but start with 50)
• Wood is used for everything - tools, shelter, fuel

Step 2: Collect Stone (2 minutes)

• Hit small rocks on the ground
• Gather 30+ stone
• Stone is needed for tools and furnace

See our stone guide for finding stone quickly.

Step 3: Gather Plant Fiber (1 minute)

• Harvest bushes and plants
• Gather 20+ plant fiber
• Used for crafting and bed

Open your crafting menu (Tab key) and craft these items in order:

1. Stone Pickaxe (Priority #1)

• Recipe: 5 wood + 10 stone
• Why first: 2x faster gathering than fists
• Use it to gather more stone and mine ore

2. Stone Axe (Priority #2)

• Recipe: 5 wood + 10 stone
• Why second: 2x faster wood gathering
• Use it to gather the rest of your wood

3. Stone Hammer (Priority #3)

• Recipe: 5 wood + 8 stone
• Why third: Required for building
• Equip it to place structures

With these three tools, you can now gather efficiently and build.

You need shelter before night falls. Build fast but smart.

Step 1: Find a Good Spot

• Look for flat ground near water (river or lake)
• Avoid hills, swamps, or dense forests
• Stay close to where you spawned (don't wander far)

Step 2: Place Foundations

• Equip your hammer (right-click to open build menu)
• Place 4x4 wood foundations (16 total)
• Make sure they're level and connected

Step 3: Build Walls and Door

• Place wood walls around the perimeter
• Leave one space open for a door
• Place a wood door in the opening
• Craft and install a door lock (2 wood, 1 stone)

Step 4: Add a Roof

• Place wood ceiling tiles to cover the top
• Make sure there are no gaps
• Roof protects from weather and enemies

For detailed building instructions, see our base building guide.

Before night falls, craft these survival essentials:

1. Bed (CRITICAL)

• Recipe: 10 wood + 5 plant fiber
• Place inside your shelter
• Sleep in it once to set spawn point
• Why critical: If you die, you respawn here instead of far away

2. Furnace

• Recipe: 20 stone
• Place inside your shelter
• Used to smelt ore into metal
• Add wood as fuel to start smelting

3. Storage Chest

• Recipe: 20 wood
• Place inside your shelter
• Store extra items and resources
• Craft a lock for it (2 wood, 1 stone)

4. Campfire

• Recipe: 10 wood + 5 stone
• Place inside or near your shelter
• Cook food to restore more health
• Provides light at night

Getting Water

• Find a river or lake (look for blue on your map)
• Walk up to the water and press E to drink
• Craft water bottles (5 wood) to carry water
• Always carry 2-3 full bottles

Getting Food

• Hunt small animals (rabbits, birds)
• Gather berries from bushes
• Cook meat at campfire for better nutrition
• Always carry 5+ cooked food

Learn more in our water survival guide.

When the sun sets, stronger enemies spawn. Here's how to survive:

Stay Inside Your Shelter

• Lock your door and stay inside
• Don't go outside unless absolutely necessary
• Enemies can't break wood walls (yet)

Use Nighttime Productively

• Organize your storage chest
• Craft more tools and items
• Smelt ore in your furnace
• Plan tomorrow's activities

If You Must Go Outside

• Carry a torch or place torches around your base
• Have a weapon equipped (stone spear or sword)
• Stay close to your shelter
• Run back inside if you see enemies

Before you sleep, make sure you've completed these tasks:

• ☐ Gathered 100+ wood
• ☐ Gathered 50+ stone
• ☐ Crafted stone pickaxe, axe, and hammer
• ☐ Built 4x4 shelter with walls, door, and roof
• ☐ Placed and slept in bed (spawn point set)
• ☐ Locked your door
• ☐ Built furnace and storage chest
• ☐ Found water source nearby
• ☐ Have 5+ food and 2+ water bottles
• ☐ Placed campfire for cooking

If you've checked all these boxes, you've successfully survived day 1!

Now that you've survived day 1, here are your day 2 priorities:

• Find iron: Look for brown/orange ore in rocky areas
• Upgrade tools: Craft iron pickaxe and axe (3x faster)
• Expand base: Add more storage and crafting stations
• Craft armor: Basic leather or wood armor for protection
• Explore nearby: Map out your surroundings during the day

Check our early game resource guide for what to prioritize next.

• Complete Beginner's Guide - Everything new players need
• Common Beginner Mistakes - Avoid these errors
• Base Building Guide - Build better shelters
• Early Game Resources - What to farm first

Summary

Your first day in StarRupture: gather wood and stone, craft stone tools, build a 4x4 shelter with a bed, and stay inside at night. Complete the checklist above and you'll survive. Day 2 focus: find iron and upgrade your tools. You've got this!