Once Human has launched a new scenario: Way of Winter, introducing fresh landscapes, content, and gameplay mechanics. Players can now explore uncharted areas and delve deeper into the Once Human narrative, all while adapting to new gameplay features like extreme cold.
Like many survival games, Once Human now includes cold and heat mechanics that significantly impact player experience. For instance, prolonged exposure to cold can lead to hypothermia, which can drain a player’s health to zero in seconds if not managed. The pressing challenge is: how do players survive these harsh winter temperatures?
Understanding the New Temperature Features
Temperature States and Effects
In Phase 1 of the Once Human: Way of Winter scenario, players can start in one of two regions: Vena Fjord or Onyx Tundra. I opted for Onyx Tundra to take a slower approach in this new environment. Regardless of where you begin, you’ll soon explore both locations.
Regardless of your chosen location, players will contend with the universal challenge of extreme cold. The icy climate can have severe consequences, draining your energy and health. The Way of Winter features five distinct temperature states, each with unique effects.
| Temperature State | Temperature Effect |
|---|---|
| Frost | Causes quick energy and body temperature loss, leading to hypothermia. It inflicts a stack of Frozen every three seconds, resulting in a 5% HP drop per second, ultimately causing instant death after four stacks. |
| Cold | Leads to rapid energy loss and gradual body temperature decline, resulting in hypothermia. |
| Cozy | Restores body temperature to normal. |
| Hot | Causes rapid hydration loss and rising body temperature, resulting in heatstroke. |
| Blaze | Intensifies hydration loss and body temperature. Heatstroke worsens, inflicting stacks of Combustion every three seconds, causing a 5% HP reduction per second and leading to instant death after four stacks. |
Your goal should be to achieve the Cozy state; however, maintaining this can be challenging. If you’re diving into Way of Winter, prepare to tackle these extreme temperatures head-on.
Top Strategies to Stay Warm During Way of Winter
Stay Warm to Prevent Hypothermia and Fatality
Experiencing hypothermia in Once Human: Way of Winter can be incredibly frustrating. If you’re finding it tough to manage your warmth, don’t worry—there are several effective strategies to keep warm while exploring Vena Fjord and Onyx Tundra.
Monitor Time
During the night, particularly from 8 PM to 8 AM, expect the temperatures to dip, making it critical to seek shelter. Of course, if you’re equipped with enough cold-resistant gear, you may survive extended exposure.
Even so, exercise caution: cold-resistant items merely extend your time outside—they don’t ensure safety. Always be mindful of the time and plan your expeditions wisely.
Head Home or Build Campfires
Your home acts as a critical refuge—while it won’t eliminate cold effects entirely, it will prevent your health from deteriorating. However, if you’re suffering from cold effects and embark on a journey the next day, you risk instant hypothermia. To mitigate this, keep a fire close or construct temperature control facilities, available in Phase 2. Ensure you have plenty of fuel to keep your fire burning.
If you’re caught outside as night falls, building a campfire can offer the same protections as your home, defending you against hypothermia. This will also allow you to continue your journey from where you left off the next day instead of retreating home.
Equip Yourself with Various Hides and Tools
In Once Human: Way of Winter, hunting and skinning different animals yields unique hides for crafting cold-resistant armor. If you start in the Onyx Tundra, your best options are deer, seals, and polar bears. In Vena Fjord, look for mutated bears and flamingos. Make sure to unlock the Leatherworking Memetic to benefit from this.
Each hide provides materials to create cold-resistant gear, enabling better survival against the wintery conditions. The animals in Onyx Tundra will get you started, but the hides from Vena Fjord will prove invaluable later.
Keep Essential Tools Handy
The Way of Winter introduces both old and new tools for surviving the cold. Crafting a torch provides warmth, but make sure you have it accessible for it to work. Additional tools like Thermoium and Heatium are also useful—just unlock the Polar Expedition Memetic first.
The Chaosium Lantern is another essential item to have. It requires Chaosium to operate, so stock up on this resource. You can find Chaosium through enemy loot or create it in a furnace. The lantern can effectively both raise and lower your body temperature.
Lastly, prepare meals that boost cold resistance. Several new crops have been added in Once Human: Way of Winter, such as Spikemato, Sunny Ginger, and Polar Peppers, all granting +5 cold resistance when consumed. Turning these crops into dishes like Salty Roasted Spikemato can significantly extend your cold resistance duration.
Embracing these strategies will enhance your experience in Once Human: Way of Winter and lead to a higher chance of survival in the challenging cold landscapes.
