Bend Studio brought Days Gone to PC on 18 May 2021, two years after the PlayStation 4 release, with unlocked frame rates, a wider field of view and ultrawide support. Deacon St. John rides through post outbreak Oregon across six regions, from Cascade in the north down to Crater Lake, and his bike is the only transport he gets. Hordes are the reason to stay: the Old Sawmill horde alone packs roughly 500 Freakers into one moving mass, and there is no version of that fight you win by standing still.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary weapons | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your role's key combinations |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary weapons | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Cascade
Key resources: Copeland's Camp shop, early bike upgrades, the first NERO checkpoints Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for MWS upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Belknap
Key resources: Hot Springs Camp weapon stock, Tucker's bounty missions, additional NERO injectors Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for MWS upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Lost Lake
Key resources: Drifter Crossbow, Iron Mike's bike upgrades, Rikki's mechanic services Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for MWS upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Iron Butte
Key resources: Old Sawmill horde clear, Ripper camp loot, high value NERO checkpoints Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Drifter Crossbow max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Crater Lake
Key resources: Wizard Island and Diamond Lake shops, top tier weapons, the militia storyline Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Drifter Crossbow max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Cascade to Belknap)
- Upgrade your starting weapons to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on MWS once accessible
Mid Game (Lost Lake)
- Push MWS to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Drifter Crossbow
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Iron Butte to Crater Lake)
- Max out Drifter Crossbow. This is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary weapons for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple weapons: Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials: Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear: Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Lost Lake farming: This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early: Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Fuel governs the early game more than ammunition does. Keep a can strapped to the bike, top up at every abandoned vehicle, and buy the larger tank upgrade before any cosmetic bike part.
- Farm Lost Lake during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build. Some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Days Gone Guides
- Days Gone Days Gone Overview
- Days Gone Best Builds
- Days Gone Tier List
- Days Gone Walkthrough
- Days Gone Beginner's Guide
- Days Gone Tips & Tricks
- Days Gone Weapons Guide
- Days Gone Combat Guide
- Days Gone Boss Guide
- Days Gone Maps & Locations
- Days Gone Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Days Gone, check out these related guides:
- Helldivers 2 Crafting Guide: action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Crafting Guide: action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Crafting Guide: action game with similar mechanics
