Surviving the Pacific Northwest in Bend Studio's Days Gone means mastering two distinct kinds of settlements: the sprawling safe havens where you trade and upgrade, and the hostile ambush camps you must clear out to map the wilderness. If you don't manage your trust levels and credits efficiently, you'll find yourself stuck facing hordes with subpar weapons and a sputtering motorcycle.
The game separates safe zones into five core friendly encampments—Copeland's Camp, Hot Springs, Iron Mike's Camp, Diamond Lake, and Wizard Island. Each hub operates independently, meaning credits earned in the Cascade region won't buy you anything down south in Crater Lake. Understanding how these economic bubbles function is the key to thriving instead of just scraping by.
The Economy of Encampments
Every friendly camp runs on two metrics: Trust and Credits. Credits are earned by turning in bounties (freaker ears), animal meat, and completing local job board missions. Trust dictates what items are actually unlocked for purchase. You can have thousands of credits, but if your trust level is sitting at Tier 1, the camp mechanic won't sell you better engine upgrades or nitro.
The most efficient way to climb trust isn't grinding minor bounties. It's clearing out regional infestations, NERO checkpoints, and most importantly, hostile ambush camps. Every time you clear an ambush camp, you reveal a chunk of the regional map, uncover hidden underground bunkers, unlock a fast-travel point, and inject a massive lump sum of trust into the nearest friendly settlement.
Prioritizing Your Early Upgrades
Early in the game, resources are scarce. You shouldn't try to max out trust with every single camp immediately.
- Copeland's Camp: Focus here early for motorcycle upgrades. Better gas tanks, frames, and exhaust parts keep you from running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere.
- Hot Springs: Shift your focus here if you want firepower. Tucker's camp offers superior early-game weapons long before Iron Mike's camp opens its gates.
- Iron Mike's Camp: This serves as a balanced midpoint. Save major purchases here until you hit Tier 2 and Tier 3 trust, as mid-tier specialty weapons and suppressors become available.
Surviving and Clearing Ambush Camps
There are 14 hidden ambush camps scattered across the map. Unlike friendly hubs marked clearly from the start, these hostile zones are hidden under fog until you stumble upon them or spot their signature campfire smoke rising through the trees.
Rushing into an ambush camp guns-blazing is a fast ticket to a loading screen. Most camps feature tripwires, sniper towers, and alarm systems that summon nearby freakers if triggered.
Stealth and Environmental Tactics
Before firing a single shot, use your survival vision to scout the perimeter.
- Cut the alarms: Locate the camp's speaker system or generator and disable it first. If an enemy triggers the alert during a firefight, a wave of freakers will crash the party.
- Turn traps against them: Shoot enemy tripwires from a distance when hostiles patrol nearby, or use rocks to lure marauders into their own bear traps.
- Use the local wildlife: If you see a stray wolf or a freaker wander near the camp perimeter, throw a rock or use a crossbow bolt to aggro them into the camp, letting chaos do the heavy lifting.
Once every human enemy is down, your next objective is finding the underground bunker. Look for a small shed, a tent, or a cabin hatch hidden within the camp boundaries. Entering the bunker removes the regional fog of war, rewards you with a crafting recipe, adds a new safe bed, and activates a fast-travel map.
Managing Resources in the Wilderness
Safe camps provide sanctuary, but surviving the stretches of road in between requires careful resource management. Your motorcycle is a fragile lifeline. Hitting trees drains durability fast, and running out of fuel leaves you completely exposed to freaker swarms.
Always keep a sharp eye out for abandoned cars, tow trucks, and gas station pumps. Keep spare scrap handy for field repairs. If your scrap count drops below five, stop exploring new territory and scavenge local buildings until you're restocked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share credits between different encampments?
No. Credits are tied strictly to the camp where you earned them. You cannot transfer credits from Copeland's Camp to Iron Mike's Camp.
Why won't the camp mechanic sell me better bike parts?
Your credits don't matter if your trust level is too low. Check the camp vendor menu to see what trust tier is required to unlock specific upgrades, then clear local side activities to boost your standing.
Do ambush camps respawn enemies after I clear them?
No. Once you clear an ambush camp and find its underground bunker, it becomes a permanent safe zone and fast-travel marker for the rest of your playthrough.
What is the best weapon to buy early on?
Focus on purchasing a reliable secondary sidearm and a decent assault rifle from the Hot Springs camp once you reach Tier 2 trust to handle armored targets and smaller freaker groups efficiently.
