What We Wish We Knew Before Completing Scum: Solving Tips

As yet another entry in the open-world survival crafting genre, Scum offers familiar elements found in similar games while introducing a wealth of distinctive features. Upon starting the game and selecting your preferred server, you will parachute down to an expansive, uncharted landscape. Your first priority is to touch down safely on the ground.

From that point forward, the game only becomes more challenging. You’ll begin with nothing but the clothes on your back, which you’ll need to discard shortly after. Fortunately, there are numerous items you can find to help you thrive in this vast world, provided you employ effective survival strategies.

Manage Your Temperature Effectively

Body temperature is vital in Scum, yet new players often overlook it. In your Metabolism tab, you’ll notice your body temperature starts at a normal level of 36.6°C. As your character feels colder or warmer, this temperature will fluctuate.

You can easily monitor your temperature changes on the left side of the screen, where your character’s conditions are displayed. If you’re only slightly uncomfortable, it’s usually not a major issue. However, if your discomfort escalates, here’s how to stabilize your temperature:

• If you’re feeling cold, either add more layers or start a fire. If rain is causing your chill, find shelter to stay dry. Just be cautious; fires can attract unwanted attention from other players, especially at night. It’s safer to set your fire away from roads.
• Conversely, if you’re feeling too hot, strip off some clothing or take a swim. It’s best to remove your clothes before entering the water to keep them dry. You can stash them in your inventory or drop them temporarily.

Prioritize the Right Items While Looting

As you advance in Scum, your loot will grow from minimal to plentiful, moving from dense forests to small settlements and finally into larger towns and remains of civilization. However, your inventory space is severely limited, especially if luck isn’t on your side.

This is why it’s crucial to prioritize what you carry. For instance, a smartphone is invaluable as it can help you complete quests and earn currency. The more you play, the more you’ll realize that some items are rarity, which affects their importance in your inventory.

Even if you’re already experienced with survival crafting, Scum presents a unique hurdle with its multitude of menus. Beyond inventory management, you’ll also navigate through Crafting, Health, and Metabolism tabs. Here’s a brief overview of each:

Familiarizing yourself with these tabs early on will significantly boost your chances of survival.

Utilize Focus Mode for Navigation

Focus Mode can be activated by right-clicking in Scum. If it doesn’t activate automatically, just move around a bit before trying again. This mode enhances your aim for shooting puppets or other NPCs with your firearm or bow.

Once you advance in Awareness and Survival skills, a special compass will appear when you enter Focus Mode, assisting you in navigating effectively without referring to the tiny red dot on the map.

Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time

The food and hydration systems in Scum are more intricate than many other survival titles. It’s essential to maintain proper nutrition, as each food item offers specific amounts of protein, carbs, fats, and other essential nutrients. A balanced diet is crucial.

Keep your protein level high while keeping your energy below 50 percent to maximize your skill advancements. Make it a habit to carry some food items with you for convenient access.

A sound strategy is to gather mushrooms during your travels and hunt any animals you encounter. With some meat and edible mushrooms on hand, you can whip up nourishing recipes once you obtain vegetables.

Scout Locations Before Diving In

Scum features various server types, some of which are more peaceful due to lower player counts, while others allow for intense PvP encounters. High-population servers are common, and you’ll often face opponents looking to defeat you.

Additionally, certain zones have high-level NPCs and mechs, making it critical to survey an area before charging in for loot. Here are the steps to follow when scouting:

• Use Focus Mode to examine the entrances of buildings and spot any open doors. An open door generally indicates that a player has been there recently.
• If there are no open doors, look for NPCs nearby. If the only enemies are puppets, you’re in a relatively safe area. But take extra caution if you see humans with weapons.
• Even after scouting, move carefully and slowly in high-population servers to avoid attracting attention.

Expand Your Inventory Whenever Possible

As previously mentioned, inventory space limits your exploration since you can only carry so much. While building a base with storage chests is one solution, it is a time-consuming process. Instead, consider these alternatives for increasing your inventory:

First, focus on acquiring or crafting a better backpack. After securing your initial one, aim for the highest quality available. While exploring, you may stumble upon various backpacks, but these are rare and take time to locate.

Additionally, look for clothing that provides extra inventory slots. Layering clothes can also increase your available space. For instance, wearing a sweater over a shirt and a jacket on top can significantly boost your inventory. Just remember, having more clothing will increase your character’s heat.

Sandbox Mode is Ideal for Learning the Basics

Throughout your time in Scum, you’ll come across numerous mechanics to learn. One effective way to accelerate this learning process is by using the sandbox mode. Accessible from the main menu, this feature allows you to experience the game solo and employ various console commands.

You can also activate Drone Mode by pressing Ctrl + D in the main menu before entering sandbox. This mode enables you to explore areas quickly, providing an excellent opportunity to familiarize yourself with the game’s mechanics.