State of Survival Beginner Guide (October 2026): Your First Week

For new State of Survival players and anyone restarting an account. Checked October 2026.

Short answer: In your first week, upgrade the Headquarters first, because no other building can go higher than it. Keep your builder busy, finish the main and Explorer Trail missions for hero fragments, join an active alliance, and pick a Talent Tree path. Do not attack other players until your troops are strong enough.

See State of Survival packs and prices

State of Survival mixes hero collecting, base building and real-time combat. The first week sets your pace. Below is what the beginner guides agree on, with the source for each point, so you can check it yourself.

Step 1: Upgrade the Headquarters first

The Headquarters (HQ) is the most important building. No other building can be higher than your HQ, so it sets the level cap for the whole base (BlueStacks, mobi.gg). Second, upgrade your production buildings. Third, build up the troop buildings.

BlueStacks adds that Gas Tank and Farms are open from the start, Lumber Yards unlock at HQ level 10 and the Furnace at HQ level 15. Resource buildings keep producing while you are offline, so they are your passive income.

An older guide from AppGamer says to reach HQ level 7 before you upgrade the Barracks, Garage and Range, because that unlocks tier 3 troops. That guide is from 2022, so check the numbers on your own screen.

Step 2: Keep the builder busy

Idle builders are lost time. Pocket Gamer says to never leave a builder idle, and to start upgrades before you sleep or leave the game for long. Always have a research project running, since research effects are permanent (Pocket Gamer).

You start with one builder. Pocket Gamer and AppGamer both say you can hire an extra builder for 2 days with 200 Biocaps, or buy a permanent one in the store. See the bundles guide before you spend on that.

Step 3: Follow the missions and Explorer Trail

Use the mission list to see what to do next. Each chapter gives bonuses and resources (mobi.gg). Main missions reward hero fragments, XP and resources, so do them early. Do not skip the Explorer Trail missions (Pocket Gamer). The Citadel unlocks exploration missions, and each mission sends a squad of three heroes (mobi.gg).

Step 4: Know your first heroes

• Sarge is the first hero. He is a ranged defender who summons a turret. He struggles against bosses because he lacks burst damage.
• Lucky is strong at gathering resources.
• Becca works in both offense and defense.

Extra fragments rank up the matching hero. When a hero is maxed, fragments turn into combat manuals (BlueStacks). Free hero search credits do not stack, so use them every day (AppGamer). For which heroes to build later, read the best heroes guide.

Step 5: Join an active alliance

Alliance members can move their base onto alliance territory, attack strongholds together, trade resources and join alliance events. Ask the alliance for help on construction and research, and do it before you use speed-ups, because help gives a time bonus (Pocket Gamer). Mobi.gg stresses that an alliance only helps if it is active, so donate often. The AppGamer guide says you start with 3 Alliance Relocators, which move you onto alliance land.

Step 6: Pick a Talent Tree path

The Talent Tree has two branches, War and Economy. Pocket Gamer suggests Economy early, and the tree can be reset at any time. BlueStacks counts over 50 talents, so decide how you want to play before you spend points.

Step 7: Do not attack players too early

The Wilderness map is PvP only. You can fight players, clear NPC camps or gather there. Before you attack another player, check that you are strong enough and whether their alliance can hit back (BlueStacks). Losing wars can cost Battle Power. Hunt wandering zombies and take resource points first (mobi.gg).

For spenders and alliance leaders

• Spend after the free steps. Claim the gift codes, finish the main missions and use the free hero searches first. Then decide what to buy.
• Buy for the bottleneck. In week one the bottleneck is usually builders and speed-ups, not heroes. Our bundles guide covers the second build queue.
• Leaders: write a short welcome note for new members. Tell them to ask for help before using speed-ups, to use their starting Alliance Relocators and to stay out of the Wilderness PvP until they are strong. Active members are what keep an alliance alive.

Our own view: a new account that follows these steps for a week gets more from a later purchase than one that buys on day one.

Sources: BlueStacks beginners guide, Pocket Gamer tips, mobi.gg beginner guide, AppGamer hints.

Spotted a mistake? Tell us in the Play Smarter Discord and we will fix it.

Where Packsify fits

When you are ready to buy, Packsify buys the State of Survival Diamonds or pack you pick. With Packsify you get up to 13% more pack value for the same money. Packsify buys the exact pack through the official Apple App Store or Google Play. Read how we keep accounts safe before your first order.

Check Packsify for State of Survival

More State of Survival guides: 7 tips to grow faster, rookie mistakes to avoid, State of Survival codes and how to top up.

Packsify is an independent service, not affiliated with State of Survival or its publisher.