Here are 17 tips and tricks to do first to help you survive Way of Winter scenario in Once Human! See what you need to do first to survive the unforgiving world of Way of Winter!

Things to Do First in Way of Winter

1. Choose Where to Start: Vena Fjord or Onyx Tundra

Onyx Tundra is a great pick for newbies, offering plenty of places to raid for materials and gear. Meanwhile, Vena Fjord suits experienced players, as it's closer to higher-level areas, making it ideal for setting up a permanent home. Weigh the risks and rewards before picking your starting zone!

Onyx Tundra lies in the eastern region of the Snowy Realm, while Vena Fjord sits to the west.

Vena Fjord or Onyx Tundra: Where to Start Way of Winter

2. Gather Resources ASAP

Right from the start, gather essential resources like Wood, Stone, and Ores. These materials will be invaluable later for base building, making facilities, and crafting gear and consumables. Don't forget to stock up on water and food to stay healthy.

List of All Resources and Materials

3. Keep Yourself Warm

Keep an eye out for Polar Peppers, Sunny Ginger, and Spiketomatoes—they're great for keeping you warm! Hunt wild animals for their hides too, as they’ll be key to crafting armor that'll help you survive the freezing temperatures.

Once you have some hides, make a tent and craft at least two pieces of the Snowland Rustic Set as soon as you can. This gear gives you extra resistance to cold — invaluable for those frosty nights in the Snowy Realm. And don’t forget to make a Torch! When the temperature drops, just wield that flaming beacon to keep warm.

Cold Resistance Guide: How to Survive the Cold

4. Do the Main Quest Until You Unlock The Motorcycle

Focus on progressing the main quest until you unlock the motorcycle. Stick with the Follow the Stardust Tasks until the motorcycle becomes available to you. This two-wheeled marvel will make navigating the Snowy Realm a breeze—albeit a chilling one.

How to Repair and Refuel the Motorcycle

5. Build Your Territory

Start building your territory as soon as you can. Make sure it’s roofed and walled to keep the cold out!

Set up Supply and Gear Workbenches to craft tools, weapons, armor, and gear upgrades. Don’t forget to add a Stove for whipping up hearty meals and boiling water, plus Storage units to safely stash your hard-earned materials.
Your base isn’t just a home—it’s your lifeline in the unforgiving Snowy Realm.

Base Building Guide

6. Heat Up or Chill Your Home

While having a house helps fend off hypothermia and heatstroke, it's not quite enough in Way of Winter — you can still black out even in your own cozy little home! The cold and the heat are relentless enemies, so you must build temperature control facilities to survive

Get into your Memetics and grab Temperature Control I as soon as possible to whip up a Campfire right in your cozy abode! This upgrade will set you up for success, letting you access formulas like Simple Vintage Stove, Cooling Fan, and Electric Heater later on.

7. Complete V’s Commissions

Completing V's Commissions remains one of the best ways to level up Way of Winter. Aim to finish 5 commissions each week, as they offer plenty of XP and rewards. Levels are now more crucial than ever, as you unlock Cradle Override Slots not through Silos and finishing bosses, but by leveling up. Stay on top of these commissions to ensure you’re advancing efficiently!

EXP Farming Guide: How to Level Up Fast

8. Get What You Need from Your Spacetime Backpack

If you're transitioning from another Scenario, your Spacetime Backpack lets you bring along items from previous seasons—think resource materials, blueprints, weapons, armor, and deviations! Choose wisely, though; you have limited material points for transfers, so prioritize the essentials to ensure you're well-equipped for your new adventure.

Eternaland Item Transfer Guide

9. Get Essential Territory and Crafting Deviations

You'll want Digby Boy for mining ores, Lethal Rabbit to score meat and hides, Logging Beaver for wood, and Growshroom for all your planting and harvesting needs. Don’t forget the Electric Eel for that extra power boost in your territory!

Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to grab the Space Turner! This handy crafting deviation allows you to create Space Twisters, letting you teleport your team with ease.

All Deviant (Deviation) Locations

10. Unlock Combat Deviations

Unlike in Manibus, you won’t start with a free Butterfly's Emissary, and unless you transferred from another scenario with one, you’ll be without combat deviations to back you up in battles. Make it a priority to track one down and secure it ASAP to give yourself a fighting chance!

Keep your eyes peeled for those new Way of Winter deviations, like the Snowsprite and Invincible Sun!

11. Complete Journey Objectives

Don't ignore the Journey! Make it a priority to tackle your Journey tasks early on. Not only do they reward you with XP and Energy Links, but you'll also earn valuable Starchrom and Controllers—both of which you’ll definitely need later in the game.

12. Learn How Temperature Works

Keep an eye on the environmental temperature displayed in the top-right corner of the map! Each area has a base temperature that influences your gameplay, ranging from Frosty to Burning. Weather conditions can also affect temperatures, so don’t expect to leap into icy waters without consequences! Watch out for Hypothermia or Heatstroke, as these can cause your Meta-Human to black out!

Equip special fur armor or munch on dishes made from rare plants to enhance your resistance to extreme temperatures. And don’t forget to craft Heatium and Coldium stones at the workbench—these handy little gems will keep you cozy or cool during your adventures!

Temperature Guide

13. Get to Know the New Map

While the Snowy Realm is still in Nalcott, it's a brand-new landscape to explore! Take some time to familiarize yourself with the new layout, noting the locations of settlements, silos, zones, bosses, and teleportation towers. A little map knowledge goes a long way in navigating this frosty frontier!

Way of Winter Interactive Map

14. Join a Hive Team Up to Protect Your Thermal Tower

In Way of Winter, joining a Hive makes life easier! Teaming up with friends to explore strongholds and scavenge resources drastically increases your chances of survival. Plus, you can now roll with even larger squads!

A key aspect of survival involves the new Thermal Tower. This essential building provides various bonuses to your territory, speeding up production and boosting crop yields while letting you control the temperature. But be on guard! Colossal Chaosweavers are out to attack your Thermal Tower, so gather your allies and prepare to defend your vital heat source together!

Thermal Tower Guide: Best Upgrades to Get First

15. Activate Teleportation Towers You See

As temperatures get even more unforgiving, unlocking Teleportation Towers becomes essential for cutting down travel time! No one wants to brave those brutal landscapes longer than necessary. So, whenever you spot one, activate it to create fast travel points.

16. Plan Your Build and Brace Yourself for New Enemies

There are new enemies and bosses on the prowl, so be prepared! Check out one of our builds to take on these fresh threats and crush Deviants and other dangerous foes lurking in the Snowy Realm. And stay tuned for our Way of Winter-specific builds—coming soon!

Best Builds

17. Earn Starchrom to Get the Best Gear

Starchrom is one of the most crucial currencies in the game, letting you buy blueprints for top-tier gear. Get your grind on and make earning it a priority to gear up and boost your survival chances in these unforgiving realms of ice and fire.

How to Farm Starchrom

Once Human: Way of Winter Related Guides

Way of Winter Release Date and Full Details

Way of Winter Best Builds

Way of Winter Best Builds

Way of Winter Guides

Way of Winter Region Guides

Way of Winter Interactive Map

Way of Winter Deviants

All Way of Winter Deviant Locations

Way of Winter Securement Silo Guides

All Way of Winter Securement Silos

Way of Winter Side Quests