Surviving the early game in Once Human without a roadmap is rough
The game throws crafting, base building, sanity mechanics, Deviants, and a seasonal reset system at you simultaneously. Most players spend their first few hours doing things in the wrong order and paying for it later. This guide pulls together 18 tested tips, sourced from Game8's Once Human wiki and the OnceHumanWorld guides platform, to get you moving efficiently from the moment you spawn.
What should you do first in Once Human?
The answer is simpler than most new players expect: follow the Main Quest. According to Game8's beginner guide, the Main Quest is specifically designed to walk you through the game's core mechanics, including combat, resource gathering, crafting, and base building. Skipping ahead or free-roaming before completing early quest objectives means missing out on unlocked crafting stations, tutorials on key systems, and the motorcycle blueprint that makes traversal far less painful.
Speaking of the motorcycle, get it as fast as you can. Progress through the main questline until the blueprint drops, then craft it immediately. You can modify and customize the motorcycle to improve its handling, speed, durability, and fuel tank capacity. The map is large enough that running everywhere will cost you significant time every session.
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You can teleport to your base from anywhere on the map for free, but there is a cooldown period after each use. Pair this with an activated Teleportation Tower network for fast movement across the entire map.
How should you place your base?
Base placement is one of the decisions that keeps paying off or costing you throughout a season. The ideal location, according to Game8, is an area surrounded by plentiful resources so you are not constantly running out to gather materials. A resource-rich location also speeds up your Deviants' automatic farming, meaning more materials accumulate while you are doing other things.
As you progress deeper into the game, you can and should relocate your territory. Press B to enter Build Mode, then hit Z to begin the relocation process. Hover your territory over a valid spot and confirm with a left click. Moving your base closer to late-game zones gives you faster access to stronger enemies and higher-tier resources.
Territory placement in build mode
Which Memetics should you unlock early?
Memetics function as Once Human's progression tree, and the early choices matter more than they might appear. Based on Game8's guide, the four Memetics worth prioritizing first are:
- Smelting Essentials to unlock Furnaces for ore processing
- Essential Tools to access the Supplies Workbench
- Stoves to unlock cooking, which keeps you fed and healthy
- Disassembly Techniques to recycle junk items into useful materials
Unlocking cooking early is non-negotiable. Some foods are dangerous if eaten raw, and staying well-fed provides meaningful survival bonuses. Hunting animals, harvesting crops, and fishing are your three main food sources. Once you have a Stove or Electric Stove built, you can cook safely at your base. A camp set up in the field handles basic cooking and water boiling when you are away.
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Eating raw food can harm your character. Always boil Dirty Water gathered from natural sources before drinking it, either at a Stove or a campsite.
How do Deviants work and which ones should you find first?
Deviants are companions that provide passive benefits ranging from AFK resource farming to active combat support. The catch is that other players on the same server can claim them first, and you may have to wait for respawns if you miss one.
For the early game, Game8 specifically recommends hunting down the Logging Beaver and The Digby Boy. Both can be placed in your base to automatically gather resources without any input from you. The Extradimensional Cat, found in Deadsville, is another strong early pickup because it improves healing speed when you sleep on your bed.
Speaking of beds, build one as early as possible. Sleeping restores both health and sanity passively, and the Extradimensional Cat amplifies this effect significantly.
What is sanity and why does it matter?
Sanity is a resource that depletes when you encounter monsters or enter Pollution Zones. Low sanity reduces your maximum HP, which makes you far more vulnerable in combat. The fix is straightforward: carry sanity-restoring items when exploring, and sleep on a bed regularly back at your base.
This is one of the systems new players tend to ignore until it becomes a problem. Monitoring your sanity bar before heading into a dangerous area takes seconds and can prevent a frustrating death.
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Your character's weight choice during creation is not purely cosmetic. Underweight characters gain higher stamina and attack speed but deal less damage and carry less. Overweight characters hit harder and carry more but move and roll more slowly. Plan your weight around your intended playstyle.
How do you progress efficiently beyond the basics?
A few systems that new players commonly overlook:
V's Commissions refresh weekly and reward EXP along with other useful items. Checking in regularly keeps your progression moving between major milestones.
The Journey tab functions as an extended tutorial series. Completing Journey tasks earns EXP, Energy Links, and Controller materials, all of which are useful early on.
Joining a Hive opens up cooperative play for both PvP and PvE content. Tackling powerful bosses solo early in a season is significantly harder than coordinating with Hive members.
Journey tasks reward EXP and materials
For Starchrom farming specifically, the OnceHumanWorld guides platform has a dedicated write-up on the risk and strategy involved in spending Starchrom on blueprints and legendary weapons. If that currency is your focus, it is worth reading before you start spending.
For more strategies across Once Human and other games, you can browse more guides on GAMES.GG.
What happens during a server wipe?
Once Human runs on a seasonal reset system. At the end of each season, your character's progress is wiped and everyone starts fresh. This is by design: it levels the playing field, introduces new seasonal challenges, and gives you a clean slate to try different builds and playstyles.
Knowing this upfront changes how you approach the game. There is no point hoarding resources you cannot use before the reset. Push your progression, experiment with builds, and treat each season as its own complete experience rather than a permanent save file.
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You can switch between worlds on the same server by activating Teleportation Towers. This is useful for finding Deviants that have already been claimed on your current world.
Quick-reference checklist for new players
- Follow the Main Quest to unlock core crafting stations
- Place your base near abundant resources
- Craft a motorcycle as soon as the blueprint is available
- Unlock Smelting Essentials, Essential Tools, Stoves, and Disassembly Techniques first
- Build a bed immediately for passive health and sanity recovery
- Claim the Logging Beaver and The Digby Boy Deviants early
- Monitor sanity before entering Pollution Zones
- Complete Journey tasks and V's Commissions weekly
- Join a Hive for boss fights and cooperative content
- Prepare mentally for seasonal server wipes and plan accordingly