Survival is one of the most important mechanics in Deadside. No matter how strong your weapons are or how well you can aim, you will not last long if you ignore your health, hunger, and hydration. The game does not do a great job of explaining how to consume items, which leaves many new players confused when they pick up food or bandages and have no idea how to actually use them.
If you are struggling to heal yourself or keep your hunger and thirst under control, here is a detailed breakdown of how healing, eating, and drinking work in Deadside.
How Healing Works
Taking damage is unavoidable in Deadside. Whether you are fighting AI enemies, engaging in PvP, or getting caught in a bad position, you will need medical supplies regularly.
There are two main ways to restore health. You can craft Sanitized Rags, or you can purchase bandages from a trader. Bandages are more effective and restore a larger amount of health over time, but they can become expensive if you rely on buying them frequently. Crafting your own medical supplies is often the more sustainable option, especially early on.
To craft Sanitized Rags, you need regular rags and a form of alcohol. This can be Vodka, Moonshine, or Alcohol. These items are commonly found inside houses, buildings, and various loot locations. Any clothing item you find can be torn into rags, giving you the base material needed for crafting.
Once you have both rags and alcohol in your inventory, open the crafting menu and combine them to create Sanitized Rags. This gives you a basic healing item that can be used whenever you take damage.
How to Use Healing Items
Simply having a bandage or Sanitized Rag in your inventory is not enough. You must place it into your hotbar to use it.
To do this, open your inventory and drag the healing item into one of the hotbar slots at the bottom of your screen. Once it is assigned to a slot, press the corresponding number key to equip it.
After selecting the item, hold down left click to begin applying it. You must hold the button until the healing animation completes. Your health will gradually increase over a short period of time. If you are heavily injured, you may need to use multiple bandages or rags to return to full health.
It is important to find a safe location before healing. If you attempt to bandage in the open during a fight, you leave yourself vulnerable.
Eating and Drinking
Managing hunger and thirst is just as important as healing. If you ignore these survival stats, your health will begin to drop even if you have not been shot.
Unlike healing items, you cannot craft food or drinks in Deadside. You must find them through looting or purchase them from traders. Food items and soda can be found inside buildings, especially in kitchens and small shops, but they do not always spawn consistently. Sometimes you may search several locations before finding what you need.
Because of this, many players prefer buying food and drinks from safe zones. Traders usually sell them at reasonable prices, making it easier to stock up before heading out on a long trip.
How to Consume Food and Drinks
Using food and drinks works exactly the same way as using bandages.
Drag the item into your hotbar, select it with the corresponding number key, and hold left click to consume it. Your hunger or thirst bar will increase depending on the item used.
It is smart to monitor these bars regularly. Do not wait until they are completely empty. Keeping them above critical levels ensures you can travel, fight, and explore without sudden health penalties.
Preparation Tips
Before leaving a safe zone or heading into a dangerous area, always check your supplies. A good rule of thumb is carrying at least three food items and three drinks for longer trips. This prevents you from being forced to retreat early due to starvation or dehydration.
Also, try to maintain at least one healing item in your hotbar at all times. Quick access to bandages during combat can mean the difference between surviving a fight or losing everything you are carrying.
Final Thoughts
Survival in Deadside goes beyond gunfights and looting. Understanding how to properly use healing items, food, and drinks is essential if you want to stay alive for extended periods.
Craft Sanitized Rags whenever possible to save money. Stock up on food and drinks before long journeys. Always assign essential items to your hotbar so you can use them quickly when needed.
Once you get into the habit of managing your health, hunger, and hydration properly, you will find yourself surviving longer and progressing much faster.
