In PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, a wildly popular game reminiscent of the Hunger Games, available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, the objective isn’t merely to rack up kills or prove your superiority; rather, it’s to be the sole survivor (unless, of course, you prefer a more peaceful approach). Each match begins with 100 players parachuting from a cargo plane onto a vast, deserted island, armed with nothing but the clothes they wear. Once you land, the race begins to scavenge for weapons and outlast your opponents.

It may seem simple at first glance, but PUBG is packed with intricate mechanics and subtleties that can extend your survival. The expansive map often leaves you isolated for long stretches, pondering when and where you might encounter other competitors. Survival hinges on your ability to prepare and make wise decisions, ensuring you have every possible edge before engaging in combat.

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If you’re just starting out in PUBG, leaping from the plane for the first time might feel intimidating. We’ve outlined some essential tips to assist you in transitioning from a beginner to an experienced player in no time.

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First and foremost: Tinker with the settings.

When you begin your journey in PUBG, it’s essential to invest time in understanding the game’s intricate controls, which may not be immediately apparent. While PUBG employs many conventional first-person shooter controls across various platforms, it offers a level of precision that differs from titles like Call of Duty. Beyond the basics of running and shooting, players can crouch and adopt a prone stance, enabling them to crawl slowly while remaining less visible to opponents.

After mastering the fundamentals, there are numerous nuances to explore that can enhance your speed and efficiency as a player. For example, while in third-person perspective, you can aim down your sights, and there’s an option for a close, over-the-shoulder aim without a scope. If you want to peek from behind cover, you can easily do that. Additionally, consider walking instead of sprinting to minimize the noise you make. The controls also allow for a swift transition between single and automatic firing modes, and you can toggle between third-person and first-person views at your convenience.

One of the key features is the ability to personalize your controls by selecting various button configurations in the Settings menu to align with your preferred gaming style.

After you’ve grasped the controls, you can dive into the gameplay. Take advantage of the pre-game lobby to understand your character’s movement, especially what obstacles you can leap over and what you cannot. Although updates are on the horizon that will expand your jumping and vaulting abilities, they are not available yet, so it’s important to recognize your current limitations. In PUBG, mobility is crucial, and the sooner you understand your capabilities and the noise you make while moving, the more advantageous it will be.

Start off with intelligence.

Each match in PUBG kicks off with players jumping from a cargo plane as it soars over the island. As you glide above the terrain, every participant leaps out, aiming to reach the ground swiftly. Choosing your landing spot is crucial, whether you prefer to engage in immediate combat or seek a quieter area. There’s no need to stress about opening your parachute; it will automatically activate once you reach a specific height.

The most effective strategy for ensuring long-term survival is to steer clear of other players from the very beginning. Rushing to secure a weapon and engaging in combat with other newly arrived players is a recipe for failure. Instead, aim for a landing spot that is relatively isolated, yet has a sufficient number of structures to allow for a quick and fruitful gathering of supplies. While more populated areas tend to offer superior loot, they also draw in a larger number of competitors.

While jumping, you can manage your descent similarly to how you navigate while walking, though it requires some skill. By leaning into your fall, you can minimize air resistance and accelerate your descent. Focusing your gaze downward allows for a rapid drop, whereas looking ahead will result in a more horizontal trajectory. Nevertheless, free-falling will always result in a quicker descent compared to moving across the ground.

If you’re looking to travel a significant distance while parachuting, consider deploying your parachute sooner. This will result in a slower descent, but it will enable you to glide further. Alternatively, you can tilt your parachute downward to increase your speed, using a rocking motion to propel yourself forward. With practice, you can cover approximately one and a half yellow grid squares on your map, helping you to create distance from other players.

After you leap, be vigilant for other players descending to the same location. It’s important to assess whether you’re landing in an area where an immediate confrontation is likely.

The initial moments

As soon as you land, it’s crucial to equip yourself as effectively as possible, so make your way to the closest building and collect anything you can find. Prioritize helmets and body armor, commonly referred to as “vests,” along with backpacks to carry additional equipment. These items come in three tiers, with Level 3 being the highest, so keep an eye out for enhancements to your current gear. Additionally, you should gather first aid kits, bandages, medkits, energy drinks, and painkillers for healing. Adrenaline syringes and painkillers that provide a complete boost are valuable finds, although they may take longer to administer compared to energy drinks.

Additionally, collect firearms along with the corresponding ammunition, which typically appears nearby. Each weapon is unloaded upon acquisition, so be sure to reload it.

Menus are your allies.

Before you grab any items from a pile of loot, make sure to access your Inventory menu. This will display all the items around you, along with your character’s inventory. It’s a good idea to organize the items you collect into the appropriate slots right away. This is particularly useful for weapon attachments, as you can attach them to your weapon immediately instead of storing them in your inventory temporarily, which can take up valuable space.

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the inventory interface. It may seem trivial, but the game continues to run while you’re rummaging through your backpack, leaving you highly exposed whenever you check your map or inventory. Aim to access that screen, locate your desired items, and exit swiftly. Lingering in these menus can lead to your demise, so prioritize efficiency in handling your equipment.

The inventory menu is typically where you will find your healing supplies, which are assigned to specific number keys, such as 9 and 0, so it’s important to learn which keys correspond to which items. On consoles, there are no assigned keys, so you will have to cycle through your healing items and weapons manually. Each healing item has an activation timer, and during this time, you are unable to perform other actions, as doing so will interrupt the healing process.

Discipline at the entrance

Searching houses for supplies is essential in PUBG, but preparing for combat involves more than simply collecting survival gear. Observing whether doors are open or closed can provide insights into whether other players are present. Additionally, manipulating door positions can influence what other players perceive about a given area.

In summary, making it a practice to close doors as you move is a beneficial habit to cultivate, particularly when you suspect other players might be close by. When investigating a building to determine if it is occupied, take a moment to glance through the windows to check if any interior doors are ajar, as the majority of doors in PUBG are typically shut. You can utilize closed doors to create traps for unsuspecting players, or leave them open to create a false narrative. Keep in mind, however, that other players are likely to employ doors in a similar manner.

The most powerful tool you possess is sound.

The vastness of the island in PUBG leads to extended periods of solitude (or time with your team), as you frequently attempt to locate the positions of other players. Spotting opponents from afar can be inconsistent due to the extensive terrain, and astute players tend to keep a low profile to avoid detection. Relying on sound can be a more effective method for tracking players, so using headphones is highly recommended.

Pay attention to the sounds of footsteps and gunfire to determine the positions of other players. However, keep in mind that making loud noises, such as shooting a weapon or operating a vehicle, can reveal your location to a wide radius. Additionally, even the act of running can create significant noise, making it easier for others to locate you, especially if you are inside or near a building.

You can reduce the noise you create by moving at a slower pace or by crawling. Regardless of whether you’re being loud or sneaking around quietly, always leverage sound to your benefit.

Steering clear of conflict is generally a wise choice.

Choosing when to engage in combat is crucial in PUBG, as success is determined more by longevity than by the number of kills. Often, steering clear of confrontation is a more effective tactic than actually winning a fight. Firing at opponents, especially with unsilenced weapons, reveals your approximate position to a wide radius of players. Many gamers roam the map in search of others to eliminate for the loot they might possess. Even if you manage to take down an enemy, you expose yourself to the risk of being ambushed by others in the vicinity.

If engaging in combat isn’t necessary, it may be wise to remain in your current location to reduce potential dangers. At the very least, choose your confrontations carefully. Before taking a shot, consider whether you have adequate cover. Can your target easily locate you? Are there others nearby? Do you have a reliable escape route in case the situation turns unfavorable? In PUBG, it’s crucial to have strategies ready before taking action. If you’re not in an ideal spot to surprise your target, it’s better to let them go.

Continue to advance and remain within the boundaries of the circle.

As the match progresses in PUBG, a white circle gradually shrinks, limiting the playable zone and pushing players closer together, leading to confrontations. A timer located in the bottom-right corner indicates the time remaining until the next zone restriction, after which a blue circle will begin to encroach upon the white circle. This blue circle represents a lethal barrier — an electrified zone that will gradually deplete your health if you remain within it. It’s essential to understand the mechanics of the circle, including its closing speed and the effectiveness of healing items if you find yourself outside of it. Mastering this aspect of the game is crucial, as you will often find yourself racing across the island to reach the next safe zone. Being aware of your travel limits, speed, and your ability to survive will enable you to scavenge for loot more efficiently, even in the hazardous areas.

Although being caught outside the safe zone is never ideal, it doesn’t always spell certain doom. The blue zone inflicts different levels of damage at various stages of the match. For example, the initial circle allows plenty of time to escape, whereas the damage escalates significantly as the game progresses. Additionally, the blue zone inflicts less damage while it is shrinking towards the safe area compared to when it fully contracts. Notably, if you find yourself outside the safe zone when the blue circle reaches it, you will begin to take double damage.

As you continue to play, you’ll become adept at staying in sync with the blue circle, but it should remain a priority for you. Getting inside the circle early is a positive step, but don’t become complacent. Being safe from the circle doesn’t mean you should remain in the first structure you find. Other players are always on the lookout for superior equipment — if you find yourself in the top 10 with only basic gear, you’ll find yourself at a significant disadvantage.

Ways to achieve healing

Understanding how healing items function in PUBG may not be straightforward at first, so here’s a quick guide. Medkits provide complete healing, but they are not commonly found. Similarly, the adrenaline syringe is much more potent than energy drinks and painkillers, offering a full 100% health boost. First aid kits and bandages can restore up to 75% of your maximum health. Keep in mind that using any healing item takes time, so ensure your safety before you start the healing process.

Pain relievers and energy beverages provide healing through distinct mechanisms. When consumed, they trigger a “boost” effect that gradually restores your health. Utilizing multiple types of drinks or pain relievers can enhance your boost and unlock extra advantages, as shown by the orange bar above your health indicator. The initial benefit of healing over time can be complemented by a marginally faster movement speed and improved weapon accuracy with a higher boost level. In the final moments of the game, especially when only five or fewer players remain, the boost can be particularly advantageous.

Always strive to maintain your health at its peak. It’s wise to avoid operating at anything less than your best, as you never know when you could become a target. Even a random shot could be your downfall.

Additional speedy suggestions

Don’t shy away from using vehicles. As a newcomer to the game, it may seem wise to maintain a low profile, but driving a vehicle can actually be quite advantageous, especially in the early stages. Vehicles allow you to traverse large areas quickly and can help you reach the center of the play zone, which is typically the most strategic position as the circles contract. Additionally, they can offer some protection from enemy fire, although be cautious of the tires, which can be easily damaged, and you can still be targeted while inside. Keep an eye out for spike traps, as they can disable your vehicle and make you an easy target for clever opponents. While it’s important to be mindful of the risks, remember that mobility and an active approach are generally beneficial in PUBG.

Avoid leaping from moving vehicles. The likelihood of sustaining fatal injuries or significant harm is very high.

Always remember to adjust your fire mode. By default, all firearms are configured to single action, meaning that even weapons like the M16 or AK47 will fire only one round with each trigger pull when you acquire them. Be sure to modify the fire mode on your weapons, ensuring they are configured to your preference before entering a building or getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Rifles are typically the top choice. The Kar98 bolt-action rifle is a favorite among snipers due to its ability to eliminate opponents with a single headshot, except against a Level 3 helmet. The AKM is regarded as the most powerful assault rifle. The OTs-14 Groza is a highly effective assault rifle, though it is rare and usually found only in airdrop crates. The M24 sniper rifle is essential in many situations, but if you can acquire an AWM from an airdrop, it is the better option. Ultimately, it’s important to choose based on personal preference and experiment with different firearms to determine what works best for you. Most players typically seek sniper and assault rifles, as they are effective across various distances.

Focus on managing your inventory effectively. While it might be appealing to collect every item in sight, it’s unnecessary to gather ammunition and attachments for weapons you aren’t equipped with. Additionally, carrying more than 10 to 15 bandages is excessive, as they tend to be of limited value. Stuffing your backpack with unnecessary items will only lead to complications later on when you come across something you actually want to keep.

Holster your weapons to increase your running speed. By shouldering your guns, you can achieve a small boost in your speed. This can be particularly useful when you need to quickly reach the safe zone.

Stay still. Any movement can easily reveal your location, but remaining motionless can make you nearly undetectable in many situations. Allow other players to expose themselves; exercising patience can often be your best defense. Additionally, you might think about lying flat behind some foliage.

Explore the Wiki for more information. It offers a wealth of knowledge about PUBG and serves as an excellent starting point.

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