Into The Depths: Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Starting Strong: Your First Settlement

Your initial settlement placement is the single most important decision in Into The Depths. Aim for a location that balances access to three key resources: water, fertile soil, and stone. A spot near a small underground lake with a nearby rock wall is ideal. This gives you immediate access to drinking water, a foundation for early farming, and building materials for your first walls and structures. Avoid deep, narrow chasms that limit expansion. Instead, choose a cavern with a wide, flat floor and at least two natural exit tunnels. This allows for future expansion and provides escape routes if danger approaches. Remember, you can always relocate later, but moving early costs precious time and resources.

Resource Management: The Golden Rule

In the early game, food and fuel are your lifelines. Your colonists need to eat, and your base needs light and warmth. Prioritize building a mushroom farm as soon as possible—it provides a steady, renewable food source. For fuel, start by chopping the small, glowing fungi that dot the cavern walls. They burn well and are plentiful. As you expand, invest in a coal furnace to process raw coal into efficient fuel. Never let your stockpile of either resource drop below 50 units. A common mistake is hoarding rare metals for later upgrades while ignoring basic necessities. Always keep a buffer. Use the /en/guides/resource-management/ guide for deeper strategies on balancing your economy.

Exploration: Light and Sound

The depths are dark and full of terrors. Light is your greatest tool. Always carry a spare torch or lantern. When exploring a new tunnel, place a light source at every junction to mark your path and reveal hidden dangers. Listen carefully—the game's sound design is a crucial survival tool. The distant rumble of a cave-in, the skittering of claws on stone, or the hiss of a gas vent all provide vital audio cues. If you hear a growl, stop, equip a weapon, and prepare to retreat. If you hear dripping water, you are likely near a water source, which is a good place to establish a forward outpost. For a full breakdown of exploration mechanics, check out our /en/guides/mechanics-guide/.

Combat Tactics: Kiting and Terrain

Combat in Into The Depths is unforgiving, especially against the faster creatures. The key is kiting—hit an enemy, then move away before it can strike back. Use the environment to your advantage. Lure enemies into narrow corridors where they can only approach one at a time, or into patches of glowing moss that slow them down. Ranged weapons, like the sling or crossbow, are invaluable for picking off threats from a distance. Always keep your back to a wall or a lit area to prevent being flanked. If you are overwhelmed, retreat to a defensible choke point, such as a doorway or a bridge. For a deeper look at enemy behavior, see our /en/entities/enemy-types/ page.

Base Defense: Building Your Fortress

Your base is only as strong as its defenses. Start by building a simple wooden palisade around your settlement's core. This will deter small creatures and give you time to react. As you gather stone, upgrade to stone walls, which are much more durable. Place spike traps in front of your walls to damage enemies that try to break through. A well-placed watchtower gives your archers a height advantage, allowing them to fire down on attackers. Remember to build a gate—a wall with no entrance is a trap. For more advanced defensive strategies, refer to our /en/guides/beginner-guide/.

Progression and Upgrades: What to Prioritize

Your tech tree is your roadmap to survival. In the early game, prioritize these upgrades in this order:

1. Basic Masonry: Unlocks stone walls and a stone furnace.
2. Advanced Farming: Unlocks better crop variants and irrigation.
3. Metalworking: Allows you to craft iron tools and weapons.
4. Explosives: Opens up new mining opportunities and combat options.

Don't be tempted to rush to high-tier upgrades. A solid foundation of basic infrastructure—food, fuel, and walls—will serve you better than a single advanced weapon. Each upgrade should solve a clear problem you are facing. If you are constantly running out of food, invest in farming. If you are being overrun by enemies, focus on defenses. For a complete progression path, see our /en/guides/progression-system/.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Over-expansion is the fastest way to die. Don't build too far from your base until you have a secure supply line. Ignoring your colonists' morale is another pitfall. Unhappy colonists work slower and may even leave. Build a common room with a fire and some decorations to keep spirits high. Neglecting to scout before mining is a classic error. Always send a scout ahead to check for hidden threats or valuable resources. Finally, never dig straight down. You never know what you might find—or what might find you. For more on what not to do, read our /en/guides/troubleshooting-guide/.