The wastelands of Atomfall are as real as they are ruthless—especially for newcomers. Plenty of fresh survivors have stepped into this irradiated no-man’s-land, only to meet a quick end.
Right when you start feeling confident, the wasteland finds a way to remind you who’s really in control. This guide is here to help you stay alive long enough to stand a fighting chance in the chaos of the post-apocalyptic world.
First Steps in the Wasteland
The moment you spawn, take a second to get your bearings. The starting area won’t protect you from anything, and hanging around too long is an easy way to get killed. Check your inventory—you start with only the basics: a rusty knife, a couple of water bottles, and some canned food. It’s not much, and it won’t last.
Your first task? Find shelter. Scan the landscape for abandoned buildings. Prioritize those with intact roofs and entrances that are easy to secure. One of these will serve as your makeshift home for the first few days.
Managing your resources is key. Hunger and thirst drop faster than you’d expect. Rivers are an endless water source, but don’t drink straight from them—boil the water at a campfire first to avoid radiation poisoning. For food, try hunting small animals or looting sealed cans from derelict stores.
Must-Have Gear for Early Survival
Crafting is essential in Atomfall—your best shot at making it through those brutal early hours. Focus on crafting:
- Backpack – 5 cloth, 2 leather scraps
- Water purifier – 1 empty bottle, 2 charcoal, 1 cloth
- Sleeping bag – 8 cloth
- Improvised bow – 2 wooden sticks, 1 string
Feeling brave? Head to the Military Outpost in the northeast corner of the map. It’s risky—other players will likely be there too—but the supply crates often hold medicine, ammo, and weapon parts. If you make it out alive, you’ll be far ahead.
Once you’ve gathered some decent loot, make your way to the Trading Post at the crossroads. Traders value old-world tech and medical supplies. Save your bullets—they’re worth more as currency than wasted in unnecessary fights.
Combat Tactics for Survivability
Combat in Atomfall favors patience and smart planning. Rushing in? More often than not, it ends with you bleeding on the ground. Instead:
- Use the terrain – higher ground gives you better visibility and a tactical edge
- Set perimeter traps – made from scrap metal and springs, perfect for catching enemies off guard
- Aim for the head – maximize damage and conserve ammo
- Study enemy behavior – raiders tend to attack in patterns you can learn and exploit
The revolver is your best bet for an early firearm. You can usually find one in police stations or sheriff’s offices in deserted towns. Ammo is limited, so make every shot count.
Reading the Land
Survival depends on more than just what’s in your backpack—it’s also about how well you understand the world around you. In Atomfall, learning your environment is just as important as having good gear.
The more you move through the wasteland, the more patterns you’ll start to see. Broken bridges, derailed train cars, or a single wind-worn tree at the top of a hill—these aren’t just scenery. They’re signposts in a world without signs.
Train yourself to notice these details. They can lead you back to shelter in a storm or steer you away from danger. Over time, you’ll start building a mental map—routes between water sources, safer paths, and hidden loot spots.
If you’re lucky enough to find or craft a paper map, treat it like treasure. Mark everything. A note about a clean stream, a half-looted bunker, or a quiet road might save your life later. In Atomfall, forgetting can get you killed—and the world won’t give you a second chance.
Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
Beneath the crumbling ruins of a gas station lies a hidden bunker that most players overlook. To enter, you’ll need to solve a terminal puzzle—the password is the date written on the nearby calendar. Inside, you’ll find high-grade military supplies and a safe place to wait out radiation storms.
The old mining tunnels are packed with valuable resources, but they’re also crawling with mutated creatures and pitch-black corridors. Don’t go in unprepared—at minimum, bring leather armor and a shotgun if you want to make it back alive.
Veteran Tips That Might Save Your Life
Radiation storms can hit without warning. When the sky turns an eerie green and your Geiger counter starts screaming, take cover immediately—or pop some anti-rad pills if you’ve got them.
Teaming up with other players can be a game-changer, but choose your allies wisely. Atomfall’s trust system means betrayal has real consequences. A solid team can turn a deadly ambush into a well-earned victory—or into your worst mistake.
When night falls, everything shifts. Visibility drops, but enemy awareness drops too. If you move carefully, this is your best time to sneak into dangerous areas and grab high-value loot under the radar.
Conclusion
Your Atomfall journey is only just beginning. Every failure, every death, will teach you something. Keep your head down, your gear in check, and your instincts sharp. You’ll need every bit of them.
Stay alive out there. And yeah – luck won’t hurt, either.