Don't Starve winter guide: warmth, food and preparation
Prepare for the standard single-player winter without mixing in Reign of Giants seasons.
Edition covered
The original single-player survival game with its standard two-season world. Reign of Giants, Shipwrecked, Hamlet and Don't Starve Together change recipes, characters or seasons and are outside this reference. Pictures come from Klei's single-player Steam listing.
Prepare the winter kit
In the default two-season world the first winter begins after the initial warm season. World settings can change timing, so prepare while gathering is still easy.
| Need | Useful preparation | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Heat | Fire Pit and spare Logs | A permanent place to warm up |
| Insulation | Winter Hat or Beefalo Hat | Slows heat loss away from the fire |
| Travel warmth | Thermal Stone | Carry stored heat on short trips |
| Food | Crock Pot meals and stored ingredients | Crop and berry production becomes limited |
Winter decisions at a glance
Insulation delays freezing; it does not create heat. Warm equipment before leaving and shorten trips when fuel or daylight is low.
| Situation | Action | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Cold screen warning | Return to fire and warm up | Continuing a distant gathering trip |
| Short daylight | Gather near the camp | Starting a long cave or map expedition |
| Food running down | Hunt or use stored ingredients | Expecting berry bushes to grow normally |
| Deerclops warning | Leave valuable structures behind | Fighting beside chests and science buildings |
Build a reserve instead of one meal
Stockpile fuel and several kinds of food before winter. An Ice Box slows spoilage, but cooked meals and raw ingredients still need rotation.
Plan for Deerclops
Deerclops can destroy structures. Move the encounter away from your base, wear armor if fighting, and do not assume a wall will protect important buildings.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Don't Starve publisher listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Single-player wiki: Crock Pot | dontstarve.wiki.gg |
| Single-player wiki: Winter | dontstarve.wiki.gg |
| Single-player wiki: Characters | dontstarve.wiki.gg |
| Single-player wiki: Crafting | dontstarve.wiki.gg |