Hey there, So, you’ve just booted up Kenshi, and you’re staring at this massive, dusty, post-apocalyptic sandbox, wondering where the heck to start. No fancy cutscenes, no glowing quest markers—just you, a raggedy shirt, and a world ready to chew you up and spit you out. Sounds intimidating, right? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back!
Table of Contents
This guide’s gonna walk you through everything you need to know to survive your first few hours in Kenshi, from picking the right start to building a squad and maybe even dreaming of your own desert empire. Grab a snack, settle in, and let’s dive into this brutal, beautiful game together. Trust me, by the end of this, you’ll be ready to carve your own legend in the sands.
Why Kenshi’s So Freaking Cool (and Tough)
First off, let’s talk about what makes Kenshi such a beast. This ain’t your typical RPG. There’s no hand-holding, no “chosen one” nonsense—you’re just some schmuck trying to survive in a world full of bandits, cannibals, and freaky robot spiders. The game’s a sandbox, meaning you can do whatever you want: become a sneaky thief, a noble trader, a badass warlord, or even a farmer growing cacti for a living. The catch? Everything’s out to get you, and the game doesn’t care if you live or die. That’s what makes it so thrilling—every victory feels earned, and every scar tells a story.
The world’s huge, spanning over 870 square kilometers of deserts, swamps, and ruins. You’ve got factions like the Holy Nation, Shek Kingdom, and United Cities, all with their own vibes and agendas. Your character levels up by doing stuff, not by grinding XP, so swinging a sword makes you better at fighting, and running makes you faster. It’s organic, but it also means you’re gonna suck at everything when you start. Don’t panic—that’s just Kenshi’s way of saying, “Welcome to the grind, buddy!”
Getting Started: Picking Your Adventure
Choosing Your Game Start
When you fire up a new game, Kenshi throws a bunch of starting scenarios at you, each with different gear, cash, and challenges. For newbies, I totally recommend going with “The Wanderer.” You kick things off in a scrappy little town called The Hub with a single character, 1,000 cats—that’s the game’s currency, not actual felines—and some basic gear like an Iron Club and a raggy loincloth. It’s not glamorous, but it gives you a safe-ish spot to learn the ropes without getting curb-stomped right away. The Hub’s in the Border Zone, a decent area with traders and enough low-level baddies to practice on.
Other starts can be tempting, but they’re trickier. “The Wandering Trader” gives you a pack animal and some goods to sell, which is cool if you wanna play merchant, but you’ll need to know trading routes early. “Rock Bottom,” on the other hand, is like signing up for a nightmare—you’re broke, missing an arm, and starving in a desert. Hard pass for now, unless you’re feeling extra spicy. Stick with “The Wanderer” to keep things manageable while you figure out how not to die in five minutes.
Learning the Controls and Interface
Once you’re in, the interface might look like a spaceship dashboard, but it’s not as scary as it seems. You move by right-clicking on the ground, and holding right-click on stuff like people or objects brings up actions like talking or picking pockets. Left-click selects your character, and the spacebar pauses the game, which is a lifesaver when things get hairy. Hit C to check your stats, M for the map, and I for your inventory. The bottom of the screen’s got buttons for combat modes like block, hold, or passive—play around with these to see what they do. For now, just know that pausing and taking a breather is your best friend when you’re overwhelmed.
Surviving Your First Day
Staying Fed and Avoiding Trouble
Alright, you’re in The Hub, looking like a lost puppy in a sandstorm. First priority? Don’t starve. Your character’s got a hunger meter, and when it drops below 250, they’ll automatically munch on any food in their inventory or a squadmate’s bag. No food spoils, so stock up on cheap stuff like dried meat or bread from a bar in town. Trust me, running out of grub in the middle of nowhere is a one-way ticket to passing out and waking up in a bandit’s cage.
Speaking of bandits, the world’s crawling with jerks who’d love to rob you blind. Early on, you’re way too weak to fight most of them, so stick close to The Hub and avoid wandering too far. If you see a pack of Dust Bandits or Starving Bandits—guys in rags with pointy sticks—don’t try to be a hero. Sprint back to town, where guards might bail you out. Oh, and carry a bandage or two at all times. Getting cut up without one can lead to bleeding out or infections, and that’s a lousy way to end your adventure.
Moving Around and Exploring Safely
Exploring’s a big part of Kenshi’s charm, but don’t go full Indiana Jones just yet. Stick to roads and check your map to find nearby towns like Squin, a Shek Kingdom outpost not too far from The Hub. Roads are safer than open desert, where you might stumble into a pack of Bone Dogs or worse. If you’re traveling, pause every so often to make sure you’re not about to walk into a bandit camp. The game’s got a sneaky way of throwing surprises at you, so keep your eyes peeled and your legs ready to run.
Fighting (or Not Fighting) in Kenshi
Understanding Combat
Combat in Kenshi’s a bit weird at first—it’s hands-off, meaning your character fights automatically based on their skills and gear. You can tweak things with modes like “Block” to focus on defense or “Taunt” to draw aggro, but mostly, you’re watching your dude swing and praying they don’t get knocked out. Skills like attack, defense, and strength improve by doing stuff, so fighting makes you better at fighting, and carrying heavy junk boosts your strength. The catch? You’re gonna be awful at first, and that’s okay.
Here’s a hot tip: losing fights isn’t always bad. Getting beat up trains your toughness, so as long as someone’s around to patch you up, you’ll come out stronger. Early on, try picking fights with Starving Bandits—they’re weak and great for practice. Just don’t take on a whole gang at once, and make sure you’ve got bandages ready for the aftermath. If you’re not feeling brave, set your character to “Passive” mode to avoid scraps altogether while you build up some skills.
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Training Without Dying
If you wanna get better without risking a dirt nap, there’s a sneaky trick. Head to a town with guards, like Squin, and find some low-level baddies nearby. Lure them toward the town gates, where guards will jump in and handle the heavy lifting. You can land a few hits to train your skills, then let the pros finish the job. It’s not glamorous, but it’s a solid way to get tougher without ending up in a slaver’s chain gang.
Building Your Crew
Recruiting Your First Buddies
Solo life in Kenshi gets old fast, so it’s time to make some friends. Head to a bar in The Hub or Squin, where you’ll find folks willing to join your squad for a price—or sometimes for free. A great pick is Ruka, a tough Shek warrior chilling in Squin’s bar. She’s got no horns—kinda a big deal in Shek culture—but she’s loyal and ready to smash faces at no cost. Most other recruits run you about 3,000 cats, so Ruka’s a steal for starting out.
Your squad’s like your family, minus the awkward holiday dinners. They’ll carry stuff, fight alongside you, and patch you up when you’re bleeding out. Start with one or two extra members to keep things manageable. Give them jobs by right-clicking—like telling one to mine while another stands guard—and use the “Follow” command to keep everyone together when you’re on the move. Just make sure they’ve got food and bandages, or you’ll be playing nursemaid to a bunch of hungry, beat-up pals.
Managing Your Squad
As your crew grows, you’ll need to juggle their roles. One guy might be your main fighter, swinging a heavy club, while another’s your medic, always ready with a bandage. Early on, don’t stress about specializing too much—just make sure everyone’s got a weapon and some grub. Check their inventories regularly to spread out supplies, and don’t let one person carry all the food, or you’re screwed if they get knocked out. It’s like herding cats sometimes, but a tight squad makes surviving way easier.
Making Some Cash
Mining for Cats
Money—cats, in Kenshi speak—is your ticket to better gear and more recruits. The easiest way to start raking it in is mining copper near The Hub. You’ll spot copper nodes outside town—big, shiny rocks you can right-click to mine. Each haul fills up your inventory fast, so sell the ore to a trader in The Hub’s bar or a shop for a quick buck. It’s not exciting, but it’s safe and steady, and you’ll have enough cats to upgrade your gear in no time.
If mining’s too slow for you, try looting defeated enemies. After a fight—preferably one the town guards mostly handled—check the bodies for weapons or armor to sell. Just don’t get greedy and pick a fight you can’t win for a rusty sword. Another option’s trading goods between towns, like buying cheap stuff in The Hub and selling it in Squin, but that takes a bit more know-how. For now, stick to mining and looting to keep your wallet happy.
Upgrading Your Gear
With some cats in your pocket, hit up a shop to grab better equipment. In Squin, check out the weapon shop for something like a guardless katana—it’s light, fast, and great for training dexterity. For armor, leather shirts or dustcoats offer decent protection without weighing you down. Make sure your strength is at least twice the weight of your weapon, or you’ll be swinging like a drunk noodle. Don’t blow all your cash on one shiny toy—spread it across your squad so everyone’s ready for a brawl.
Planning for the Future
Exploring the World
Once you’re comfy in The Hub and Squin, it’s time to see more of Kenshi’s crazy world. Start with short trips to nearby spots in the Border Zone, like the Waystation or Stack, another Holy Nation town. Stick to roads and avoid sketchy areas like the Fog Islands, where Fogmen will turn you into lunch. Exploring’s risky but rewarding—you’ll find ruins to loot, traders to haggle with, and maybe even some new recruits. Just keep an eye on your map and don’t wander too far without a plan.
Dreaming of a Base
Down the road, you might wanna settle down and build a base. It’s a big step, so hold off until you’ve got a squad of five to ten folks with decent skills. A good spot’s near Squin or The Hub, where you’ve got access to iron, copper, and water, plus nearby towns for trading. Building’s a blast—you can craft weapons, grow food, and make your own little kingdom—but it attracts raiders, so you’ll need walls and fighters to defend it. For now, focus on getting stronger, but keep that base dream in the back of your mind.
Avoiding Rookie Mistakes
Look, Kenshi’s gonna kick your butt sometimes, and that’s part of the fun. But there are a few traps you can sidestep with a little know-how. Don’t go picking fights with everyone you see—those Dust Bandits might look scrappy, but they’ll swarm you if you’re not ready. Keep an eye on injuries, too; a little cut can turn into a big problem if you don’t bandage it fast. And please, for the love of all that’s dusty, don’t travel without food or medical supplies. Running out of bread in the desert’s like forgetting your phone charger on a road trip—bad news.
Another thing—don’t be afraid to lose. Getting knocked out and crawling back to town builds character, literally. Your toughness and skills go up, and you’ll learn what not to do next time. The game’s all about failing forward, so embrace the bruises and keep pushing. If you do get captured by slavers, don’t panic—breaking out or getting rescued can lead to some epic stories.
Your Kenshi Adventure Awaits
So there you go, newbie—you’ve got the lowdown on surviving Kenshi’s wild, unforgiving world. Start in The Hub, mine some copper, recruit a pal like Ruka, and take it one day at a time. Whether you’re dodging bandits, swinging a rusty club, or dreaming of your own desert fortress, every step’s a piece of your story. The game’s tough, no doubt, but that’s what makes it so darn rewarding. Every time you limp back to town or score a big win, you’ll feel like a total badass.
Now’s the time to jump in and make some mistakes, find some treasures, and maybe lose a limb or two—it’s all part of the Kenshi charm. Got a favorite moment or a epic fail to share? Let me know, and let’s swap stories from the sands. Happy wandering, my friend—go make your mark!
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