Burying Your Secrets in DayZ: A Survivalist’s Guide
Yes, you absolutely can bury stuff in DayZ. This crucial mechanic allows players to stash supplies, hide valuables, and generally increase their chances of survival in the harsh and unforgiving world. Burying is your best friend when it comes to long-term survival. It’s about more than just finding food and water; it’s about securing your future.
Understanding the Underground Stash
The ability to bury items in DayZ is a game-changer for players looking to establish a hidden foothold. Rather than relying solely on above-ground storage, which is easily discoverable by other players, burying your loot creates an underground stash that can be much harder to detect. This strategic advantage allows you to stockpile resources away from prying eyes.
What Can You Bury?
Not everything is suitable for burial. DayZ limits what can be concealed underground, and understanding these limitations is key to effective stashing. Here’s what you can bury:
- Drybag Backpacks: Ideal for smaller stashes, offering a decent amount of storage while remaining concealable.
- Sea Chests: A robust option that provides good storage capacity and decent durability.
- Wooden Crates: Crafted using resources, crates offer ample space and can be buried for long-term storage.
The size and type of the container dictates how easy it is to bury and how much you can stash. Think carefully about your storage needs when choosing your container. Remember that the right tool will give you an advantage and help you survive longer.
Tools of the Trade: Shovels and Garden Hoes
To bury anything, you’ll need the right tool. A shovel is the go-to item for digging and burying. However, a garden hoe can also be used as a substitute. Without one of these tools, you cannot create an underground stash.
The Act of Burial
Once you have your chosen container and a shovel (or garden hoe), find a suitable location. Open your inventory, select the shovel (or garden hoe), and hover over the container you wish to bury. The prompt to “Bury Stash” will appear. Interact with the prompt, and your character will begin digging. The time it takes to bury an item varies depending on the container’s size and the terrain.
Choosing the Right Burial Spot
The key to a successful underground stash is choosing a location that is both convenient for you and difficult for others to find. Consider these factors:
- Concealment: Look for areas with dense vegetation, such as forests or overgrown fields. Areas where the ground texture blends well with the surroundings can also help to camouflage your stash.
- Proximity: Stash locations shouldn’t be too far from areas you frequently visit, but they also shouldn’t be in high-traffic zones.
- Landmarks: Avoid burying near obvious landmarks that other players might use as reference points. Instead, try to find unique but subtle features that only you will remember.
- Cemeteries: As the article mentions, cemeteries can be effective places to bury chests, especially on top of graves.
Understanding Despawn Timers
It is crucial to understand that buried stashes are not permanent. The game has a despawn timer for buried items, meaning they will eventually disappear if not interacted with. The despawn timer for buried chests, crates, and drybags is 14 days since the last interaction. Interacting resets the timer. This mechanic encourages players to check on their stashes regularly and maintain their supplies.
The Risks and Rewards
Burying your loot in DayZ comes with inherent risks, but the rewards can be substantial:
- Risk of Discovery: Even well-hidden stashes can be found by other players. Skilled players may use metal detectors or simply stumble upon your stash by chance.
- Despawn: Failure to check on your stash within the despawn timer will result in the loss of your stored items.
- Reward of Security: A successfully hidden stash provides a safe haven for your valuable loot, allowing you to survive for longer and progress further in the game.
Ultimately, the decision to bury your loot is a strategic one. Weigh the risks and rewards carefully, and adapt your approach based on your play style and the current server conditions. Consider joining the Games Learning Society community for even more survival strategies and tips. You can visit them at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Burying in DayZ
1. How long does buried loot last in DayZ?
Buried chests, crates, and drybags last for 14 days from the last interaction. Ensure that you return to interact with your stash before the timer expires to avoid losing your items.
2. Can I bury a tent in DayZ?
No, tents cannot be buried in DayZ. Tents are large above-ground storage solutions that are vulnerable to being discovered by other players.
3. What happens if I bury a stash and then die?
If you die, you will lose your current gear and respawn at a random location. However, your buried stash will remain in place, assuming it hasn’t despawned or been found by another player. You will need to remember the location to retrieve your stored items.
4. Can other players find my buried stash?
Yes, other players can find your buried stash. They may stumble upon it by chance or use tools like metal detectors to locate hidden stashes. Concealment and careful location selection are crucial to minimizing the risk of discovery.
5. Does server restart affect buried stashes?
No, server restarts do not typically affect buried stashes. Buried items are saved in the game’s persistent storage and will remain in place after a server restart, as long as they are within their despawn timers.
6. Can I bury multiple stashes in the same location?
While you can bury multiple stashes in the same general area, it is not advisable to bury them directly next to each other. This increases the risk of all stashes being discovered at once.
7. What is the best location to bury loot in DayZ?
There is no single “best” location. The ideal spot depends on your play style and the specific server conditions. However, areas with dense vegetation, such as forests and overgrown fields, are generally good choices.
8. Do zombies or infected detect buried stashes?
No, zombies and infected do not detect buried stashes. They are only attracted to players and above-ground objects.
9. Can I bury a body in DayZ?
Yes, you can bury player models with a shovel. By holding the shovel in hand and hovering around the body until you get the prompt.
10. Can you bury a wooden crate in DayZ?
Yes, the Wooden Crate can be buried in DayZ making it much harder for bandits to find and raid.
11. Can I bury a barrel in DayZ?
No, you cannot bury a barrel in DayZ. Barrels are designed for above-ground storage.
12. What is the best backpack to bury in DayZ?
Drybag backpacks are arguably the best for a small stash as they can be buried making them all but impossible to find if you choose a good spot.
13. Can you build a base in DayZ without a shovel?
You need a shovel or pickaxe to create the base but a farming hoe also works in place of the shovel when constructing.
14. How do you stop items from Despawning in DayZ?
Permanent storage is crates/tents/barrels/seachests and those containers will last 45 days since last interaction before they would despawn.
15. Do you build shelters in DayZ?
Yes, you can deploy a Shelter Kit on even ground and attach the required resources to the shelter site.
By understanding these mechanics and strategies, you can increase your chances of survival and thrive in the challenging world of DayZ. Remember that knowledge is power, and careful planning is the key to success. Happy stashing!