What to know

  • Your stash and skills are vital early on—upgrade them before anything else.
  • Every NPC offers quests that chain into bigger rewards.
  • Carry practical tools like shovels, dynamite, and healing items.
  • Avoid night runs until you’re fully prepared to face tougher enemies.

After investing hours in Escape from Duckov, YouTuber Mediocre Milton compiled thirty valuable lessons every new player should know. His video focuses on crafting efficiency, smart looting, and survivability strategies that make the chaotic duck apocalypse more manageable.

Things to do early in Escape from Duckov

Tip Key Takeaway
Upgrade Early Focus on stash and skill upgrades before anything else.
Prioritize Workbench Repair and craft often to save resources.
Loot Smart Keep rare items and sell extras to Voggo for credit bonuses.
Activate All Quests Each NPC chain unlocks new rewards and base functions.
Register Keys Save space—register all except safe keys for auto-use.
Offer Feathers Trade them at shrines for totems that boost abilities.
Pack Essentials Carry shovels, dynamite, healing items, and headphones.
Plan Routes Mark extractions early and avoid night runs before 22:00.
Read Notes They hint at fishing and quest mechanics for faster progress.
Stay Fed Eat or drink to restore stats and free inventory space.
Fight Smart Aim for headshots, clear areas before looting or fishing.
Extract Safely Leave before nightfall unless fully equipped for tougher enemies.

Getting started in Escape from Duckov

Your best opening move is improving your warehouse access and skill upgrades. You can open your storage anywhere in the bunker—no need to run back constantly. From there, upgrade skill enhancements for better vitality, stamina, and vision early on. Expanding storage is helpful but shouldn’t come before crucial survivability boosts.

The next priority is your workbench. Upgrade it often; it allows crafting, dismantling, and repairing items, which saves vital resources. Always repair your gear after each run to avoid permanent loss.

#1 - Make the most of loot

Keeping multiple copies of rare or quest-based items can save hours later. Some missions demand specific objects that spawn infrequently. Sell unwanted goods to Voggo at the kitchen for a consistent 4% bonus in credits. This small advantage adds up significantly over long sessions.

Finally, dismantling spare equipment can yield crafting materials needed for quests you haven’t unlocked. Balance selling and breaking down gear depending on what stage of the game you’re in.

#2 - Progress with quests

Every workstation NPC, from the gym to the medical bay, offers their own quest lines that reward experience, crafting options, and currency. Always activate all available missions—it helps chain new opportunities. Focus on completing at least one quest per run to maximize efficiency. Milton highlights how completing a single quest can unlock several others, rapidly expanding your base’s functionality.

#3 - Use keys and blueprints wisely

Register keys as soon as you find them, except for safe keys. Registered keys work automatically without cluttering your inventory. Save blueprints at either the workbench or medical station to unlock advanced crafting options. As you venture deeper, blueprints will be essential for weapons, armor, and totem production.

#4 - Use feathers and totems

Feathers can be offered at the underground shrine to receive totems—equippable items that give buffs such as stamina boosts or bleed resistance. There’s no rarity difference between small or large offerings; use whichever fits your feather count. Equip two totems at once for stacking bonuses.

#5 - Prepare for each run

Before heading out, pack essentials:

  • One shovel for digging hidden spots.
  • Two dynamite sticks to break walls or obstacles.
  • At least three healing items of varying types.

Headphones are also worth prioritizing since they enhance spatial audio awareness, helping you detect enemies earlier.

#6 - Plan and survive a run

Check the map for extraction zones as soon as you load in. Plot routes to ensure a safe exit well before nightfall—extraction after 22:00 is risky since stronger enemies spawn. Milton also emphasizes never looting before clearing nearby threats, as unguarded scavenging often leads to quick deaths.

#7 - Fish and read clues

Notes scattered across the world share hidden mechanics—some explain where or when certain fish appear. For instance, specific fish spawn only during rain or at night, sometimes with unexpected bait like batteries. Use these details to complete fishing quests efficiently.

#8 - Stay alive mid-loot

Don’t ignore hydration and energy needs. When your inventory fills up, eat or drink food immediately to restore stats and save space. Always pick up feathers, core fragments, and credits—they remain valuable throughout the entire game.

Reward Type Benefit
Feathers Exchange for totems
Core Fragments Used in upgrades and crafting

#9 - Fight smart

Aiming directly at enemy heads grants true headshots with higher damage. For sniper rifles, accuracy pays off. Clear hidden loot spots with shovels; they often yield rare items or crafting keys. When fishing or farming, clear surrounding areas before starting.

#10 - Extract before night

Always extract before 22:00 (in-game time). After dark, the difficulty ramps up dramatically, introducing tougher mobs that can decimate unprepared players. Once more confident and well-equipped, night runs can offer rarer rewards but carry greater risk.

Staying alert in Duckov

Escape from Duckov is deceptively cute but punishingly deep. Every upgrade and item matters. Success depends not on reflexes but smart planning—balancing risk, storage, crafting, and timing each extraction for maximum survival.