Fire can be a vital asset or a dangerous liability in the harsh world of DayZ. While essential for survival, it can easily reveal a player’s position if not placed carefully. Although fire is crucial for navigating the wastelands, new players may struggle to create one.
When used properly, fire allows players to cook food, boil water, and provide a source of light. Much like in the real world, fire can be started using various techniques, some easier than others. Below are detailed methods for creating a campfire in DayZ and its many uses.
DayZ: How to start a campfire
As mentioned earlier, there are several ways to start a campfire in DayZ, with some methods being easier than others depending on the items players have collected. Starting a fire requires three essential components: kindling, fuel, and a fire-starter. Once these items are gathered, players can ignite the kindling with the fire-starter and add fuel to ensure the campfire remains burning.
How to get kindling in DayZ
The most common kindling items in DayZ are Paper, Rags and Bark, both of which typically require a knife or sharp tool to obtain. Rags can be easily crafted by cutting up clothing found in houses or other buildings, while bark can be gathered by approaching a tree with a sharp tool in hand. A prompt will appear, allowing players to peel bark from the tree. Once kindling has been collected, the next step is to find a fire-starter.
How to start a fire in DayZ
Listed below are the most commonly used items to start a fire in DayZ:
- Hand Drill Kit
- Matches
- Lighter
- Road Flare
Matches, lighters, and road flares are commonly found inside buildings, but the Hand Drill Kit is an excellent alternative for players struggling to locate these items. To craft a Hand Drill Kit, combine a piece of Bark with a Short Stick. To get a Short Stick, simply walk up to any bush on the map, snap a Long Stick from it, then split the Long Stick in half. Once crafted, this the Hand Drill Kit can be used to start a fire, eliminating the need to loot other fire-starting items.
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Players can use any of the above items on the recently acquired kindling to finally start a campfire. However, this fire will not last long without additional fuel to keep it burning.
How to craft a Fireplace in DayZ
A fireplace can be crafted using one kindling item and one fuel item, such as a short stick or firewood. By combining these items in the inventory, players can craft and place the fireplace. To ignite it, simply use any fire-starter. While crafting a fireplace is a straightforward way to start a fire in DayZ, players who prefer not to craft one can place kindling directly on the ground and light it with a fire starter, as mentioned earlier.
Now that players know how to start and fuel a fire in DayZ, it’s time to learn what the fire can be used for.
How to cook food on a fire in DayZ
Now that players have lit their fire, it’s time to cook some delicious (preferably non-human) meat. Much like everything in DayZ, cooking food can be accomplished with a few different methods. The first method is to simply put meat on a stick to cook it over the fire. This can be done by combining a Knife with a Long Stick to create a Sharpened Stick. Simply grab the Sharpened Stick, add meat to it, and cook it over the fire.
The next method of cooking food in DayZ is to place a Cooking Tripod and Cooking Pot or Frying Pan over the fire. Players can craft a cooking tripod with two Short Sticks and one Long Stick, and Cooking Pots are commonly found throughout the map. Once the Cooking Tripod is attached to the fire, players will be able to hang their Cooking Pot on it and cook food that way.
Players should exercise caution when cooking food in DayZ, as the bright light and smoke from the fire can reveal their position. To mitigate this risk, it is recommended to build a secure base in a secluded area away from heavily populated zones on the map.