If you want to hit the ground running in Atomfall, you’re in the right place. The game drops you into a massive open world with no restrictions, allowing you to explore freely. However, while freedom is exciting, it also means you can quickly find yourself overwhelmed, under-equipped, and struggling to survive. That’s where this guide comes in, I’ve put together essential tips to make sure you get the best possible start and avoid rookie mistakes.
How to Get The Best Start
From the moment you step into Atomfall, the world is yours to explore. But don’t mistake freedom for ease, having the right gear and skills from the beginning will drastically improve your experience. I’ll show you what I think are the most important steps you should take early on.
Exploration Is Everything
In Atomfall, exploration is key to survival. Unlike linear games that push you down a set path, this world rewards curiosity. The best loot isn’t always in plain sight, so make sure to check every nook and cranny, especially abandoned buildings that often house high-tier gear.
Tips for Maximizing Exploration:
- Check every building – Even if it’s marked as a trespass area, there’s almost always a way inside.
- Loot carefully – Look for essential items like nail bombs, gunpowder, and rare materials.
- Stay stealthy – Sneak around to avoid alerting enemies while gathering resources.
Mastering Inventory Management
Your inventory space is painfully small at first, but with smart management, you can make it work. Here’s what you need to know:
Inventory Basics:
- 4 slots for heavy weapons (e.g., rifles, shotguns)
- Limited space for melee weapons, pistols, and consumables
- Only 12 slots for general items (expandable later)
Tips to manage your inventory efficiently:
- Learn crafting recipes to consolidate materials.
- Items don’t stack, so only carry what you absolutely need.
- Loot stays on the ground, if you don’t have space, come back for it later.
- Use traders as free storage! Items you sell stay in their inventory for a while, meaning you can buy them back when needed.
Best Early-Game Weapons/Tools & Their Locations
You start unarmed, but you don’t have to stay that way for long. Grab these weapons early to make your life easier:
Shotgun – One of the best weapons to grab early is a shotgun. Right after exiting the bunker, you’ll come across a character named Nat who introduces some story elements. Nearby, there’s a small house with a crawl space entrance. If you search inside, you’ll find your first shotgun on a corpse along with some much-needed ammo placed above a tabletop.
Rifle – After securing the shotgun, head into Slatten Dale. Look for a wheelhouse and a locked building, you’ll need to crawl through a side entrance to get inside. Be cautious, though, as there’s a trap waiting for you. Once you navigate past it, you’ll be rewarded with a rifle and extra ammunition.
A metal detector is one of the best tools you can get early on. It helps uncover valuable buried loot. You can find one near the water wheels in Slatten Dale. But if you don’t find one naturally, you can buy one from Molly, a trader in Slatten Dale near Wyndham Village.
You can also upgrade the weapons in Atomfall, so make sure to do so!
Managing Leads & Quests
Unlike traditional RPGs where you can grab tons of quests and complete them whenever you feel like it, Atomfall requires a more organized approach. Each area shows the number of unsolved leads available, and it’s best to complete them as you find them. Leaving too many unfinished leads can make progression confusing, and you might find yourself overwhelmed trying to track everything. Stay focused and tackle objectives efficiently to keep things manageable.
Combat Tips For Early Game
Combat in Atomfall is brutal, and enemies hit hard. Taking on too many at once can quickly lead to disaster, so using stealth to pick off threats one by one is a smart approach. Environmental weapons like grenades and traps can also be a lifesaver, helping you deal with groups without putting yourself at risk.
Melee combat is risky, but if you find yourself in close quarters, kicking enemies away can give you the breathing room you need. Combining melee attacks with ranged shots is an effective strategy, allowing you to stagger opponents before finishing them off. Keep an eye on your stamina, your heart rate is displayed in the bottom-right corner, and the higher it gets, the less damage you deal. Drinking tea or eating food before a fight can lower your heart rate and maximize your combat effectiveness.
NPC Interactions & Dialogue Choices
The people of Atomfall don’t trust outsiders, and your interactions with them can have long-lasting consequences. Choosing polite and honest dialogue options will open up questlines and trading opportunities, while rude or aggressive choices can get you permanently locked out of certain content. If you’re playing a chaotic character, though, feel free to go wild, just know that shooting first and asking questions later will limit your options.
Furthermore, consider checking out our guide on how to barter with NPCs in Atomfall!
Best Early Skills to Unlock
Choosing the right skills early on will make a big difference. One of the best to grab is Kick Stun Duration, which increases the stagger time on enemies when you kick them. Trap Disarming is another must-have, as many areas are filled with deadly ambushes that can take you out instantly. If you plan on trading a lot, investing in Charisma will help you get better deals and open up more dialogue options. Skill points are rare, so spend them wisely.
Wrap-Up
That’s it! You’re now armed with the knowledge to thrive in Atomfall. This game throws you into the deep end, but with smart exploration, proper gear management, and a solid combat strategy, you’ll have the upper hand.
At the end of the day, Atomfall is about adapting and making the most of what you find. Take your time, experiment with different playstyles, and most importantly, have fun. Whether you’re sneaking through abandoned buildings, striking deals with wary traders, or blasting your way through enemies, your journey is yours to shape. Now go out there and make your mark!
