Surviving in Don't Starve isn’t just about managing hunger – it’s about knowing which weapon turns a spider swarm into confetti and which leaves you as monster chow. Let’s cut through the noise and find tools that’ll keep you swinging longer than a piñata at a toddler’s birthday party.

Early Game Weapons: Surviving the First 10 Days

1. Spear (34 Damage)

Crafting: 2 Twigs + 1 Flint + 1 Rope
The duct tape of weapons – not glamorous, but it’ll hold your survival strategy together until day 10. Pair it with a log suit for your first hound attacks.

Spear and Log Suit setup in Don't Starve

The Spear paired with a Log Suit is an essential early game loadout.

-- Sample early loadout: local starter_kit = { weapon = "Spear", armor = "Log Suit", food = "8 Berries" }

2. Ham Bat (59.5 Damage Fresh → 29.5 Rotten)

Crafting: 1 Twig + 2 Pig Skin + 1 Meat
The “disposable chainsaw” – 10 days of unlimited whacks. Perfect for: - Spider nest raids - Clearing 15+ trees in one go - New players scared of durability meters

Fresh Ham Bat in Don't Starve

The Ham Bat is a powerful weapon for early to mid-game, perfect for clearing enemies.

Mid-Game Power Spikes: Weapons Worth the Grind

1. Tentacle Spike (51 Damage)

Drop rate: 25% from Tentacles
The “budget dark sword” – farmable through: - Merm vs. Tentacle wars - Lureplants near swamps - Wickerbottom’s On Tentacles book

Tentacle Spike weapon in Don't Starve

The Tentacle Spike offers great damage and is a farmable option.

2. Obsidian Spear (51-102 Damage)

Crafting: 1 Obsidian + 1 Rope + 1 Spear
Damage scales with use – think of it as a “rage meter” weapon. At max charge: - 102 damage/shot (Wolfgang: 204) - Lights targets on fire during dry seasons

Late Game Arsenal: When You Need to Delete Enemies

1. Dark Sword (68 Damage)

Crafting: 1 Living Log + 5 Nightmare Fuel
The glass cannon – melts bosses but drains 20 Sanity/min. Best paired with: - Tam o’ Shanter - Cooked Green Caps - Maxwell/Wickerbottom (no sanity penalty)

Dark Sword in Don't Starve

The Dark Sword is a high-damage weapon but requires careful sanity management.

2. Cutlass Supreme (68 Damage)

Crafting: 1 Swordfish + 2 Gold Nuggets + 1 Rope
Shipwrecked’s answer to the dark sword: - +50% durability vs dark sword - No sanity drain - 102 damage vs Sealnado

Cutlass Supreme weapon in Don't Starve

The Cutlass Supreme is a great alternative to the Dark Sword with no sanity drain.

-- Boss deletion combo (vs Deerclops): equip("Dark Sword") use("Pan Flute") attack_pattern(3 hits → dodge → repeat)

Situational Stars: Niche Weapons That Shine

Weapon Scenario Pro Tip
Morning Star Wet enemies (rain/spring) 72 damage vs soaked targets
Weather Pain Bee Queen fights Stunlock 8+ grumble bees
Thulecite Club Ruins exploration 10% speed boost = pseudo-cane
Blow Dart Kiting Klaus 100 damage/shot (no aggro)

Defense 101: Staying Alive to Swing Another Day

Armor Pairing Guide

  1. Log Suit (80% DR) + Football Helmet (80% DR)
    Stackable 96% damage reduction – your “panic button” combo for unexpected hound waves.

  2. Night Armor (95% DR) + Thulecite Crown (90% DR)
    Late-game invincibility (99.5% DR) – lasts 8 hits from Deerclops.

Advanced Tactics: From Button Masher to Combat Chef

The Kiting Cookbook

Kiting patterns for different enemies in Don't Starve

Understanding kiting patterns is essential for effective combat.

Enemy Attack Pattern Weapon Choice
Spider Stunlock with 3 hits Fresh Ham Bat
Treeguard 4 hits → dodge Dark Sword
Bearger 2 hits → run Weather Pain
Depth Worm Circle strafe Tentacle Spike

Character-Specific Builds

Character builds for different strategies in Don't Starve

Tailoring your weapon choice to your character can enhance your survival chances.

  • Wolfgang
    Mighty form + Obsidian Spear = 204 damage/shot
  • Wendy
    Abigail + 10 Blow Darts = AFK spider farming
  • WX-78
    Overcharge + Morning Star = 144 damage vs wet targets

When to Swing vs. When to Nuke

Explosives Cheat Sheet

Scenario Weapon Damage
15+ Spiders Coconade 250 AOE
Bee Queen Phase 3 Gunpowder (14 stack) 2000
Misplaced Base Old Bell 1000
Klaus Enrage Obsidian Coconade 340

The Verdict: What Should You Really Carry?

All-Around MVP:
Fresh Ham Bat + 2 Tentacle Spikes (backup) – unlimited durability beats perfect damage.

Boss Delete Button:
Dark Sword + 2 Night Armors – sanity management required.

New Player Safe Choice:
3 Log Suits + 5 Spears – survive early mistakes.

Extra Resources

  1. Weapon DPS Calculator: dontstarve.wiki.gg/wiki/Weapon/DS
  2. Kiting Practice World Code: c_spawn(“deerclops”)