Dying Light combines first-person parkour traversal with zombie survival in an open world that transforms dramatically when the sun goes down. The game's defining feature is its day-night cycle — daytime is for scavenging and questing while outrunning standard zombies, while nighttime unleashes Volatiles, terrifying fast zombies that hunt by sound and chase relentlessly. Parkour traversal over rooftops makes movement feel exhilarating rather than tedious. Techland's continued support added The Following DLC (a massive countryside expansion with driveable buggies), numerous content updates, and one of the longest post-launch support periods in gaming. The game remains the benchmark for first-person melee zombie combat.
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 synergies |
| 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
Old Town
Key resources: Better weapon drops, advanced blueprints, grappling hook traversal Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Korek Machete upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Slums
Key resources: Story progression, early blueprints, Tower hub services Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Korek Machete upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Antenna
Key resources: Story progression, supply drops, vertical parkour experience Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Korek Machete upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Countryside
Key resources: Buggy parts, DLC weapons, DLC story, Legend Level XP Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for EXPCalibur max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Harran Stadium
Key resources: Bozak Bow, unique weapons, challenge-based rewards Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for EXPCalibur max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Old Town — The Slums)
- Upgrade your starting weapons to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Korek Machete once accessible
Mid Game (Antenna)
- Push Korek Machete to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for EXPCalibur
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (The Countryside — Harran Stadium)
- Max out EXPCalibur — 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 Antenna 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
- Night time gives 2x Agility and Power XP. Running from Volatiles at night is the fastest way to level these trees. Pop a UV flare if caught, sprint, and get to a safe house.
- Farm Antenna 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 Dying Light Guides
- Dying Light Dying Light Overview
- Dying Light Best Builds
- Dying Light Tier List
- Dying Light Walkthrough
- Dying Light Beginner's Guide
- Dying Light Tips & Tricks
- Dying Light Weapons Guide
- Dying Light Combat Guide
- Dying Light Boss Guide
- Dying Light Maps & Locations
- Dying Light Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Dying Light, 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
