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tips

Dinkum’s best tips all come down to early planning, efficient progression, and using the game’s daily systems well. A good start saves a huge amount of time later, while a few smart habits make money, stamina, and progression much smoother.

Getting Started Well

Pick a strong map

A map with a large amount of connected land is easier to move through than one broken up by many small islands and winding rivers. Since the island is generated randomly when you start a new game, it is worth restarting until you get terrain that fits your plan.

Place your base near the center

The middle of the map is the best place for your starting base. Central locations give easier access to multiple biomes, make material gathering faster, and reduce the time needed to return home after exploring.

Watch the clock

At AM0:00, stamina maximum and movement speed drop heavily. Try to be back at base before midnight, especially when you are far away. Saving also only happens when you sleep and end the day, so quitting before that sends you back to the morning of the same day.

Early License Priorities

Mining and lumbering come first

Mining License Lv.1 and Lumbering License Lv.1 are available from the start and should be among your first unlocks.

  • Mining License Lv.1 lets you buy the Simple Pickaxe.
  • Lumbering License Lv.1 lets you buy basic tools for cutting trees.

After that, focus on the next tier of each:

  • Mining License Lv.2 unlocks the Copper Pickaxe.
  • Lumbering License Lv.2 unlocks the Copper Axe.

The Copper Axe is especially valuable early because it lets you cut tougher trees and obtain Hard Wood Logs, which become important for later money-making and crafting.

Hunting starts with spears

For hunting, the Simple Spear is one of the best early weapons because it has long reach and lets you attack with less risk of taking damage. When Hunting License Lv.2 becomes available, upgrade to the Copper Spear for better damage and durability.

Spear-style weapons remain some of the most versatile hunting tools throughout the game.

Fishing is worth unlocking early

Fishing License Lv.1 is inexpensive and lets you buy a fishing rod. Once you have one, you can fish without bait by casting near fish shadows in the ocean.

Fishing is also one of the best early money sources.

Fast Ways to Earn Money

Sell fish, but cook cheap ones first

Low-value fish should be cooked at a campfire before selling.

If a fish already sells well raw, cooking it can reduce its value, so only cook the cheap ones.

Animal capture becomes strong later

In the midgame, animal capture becomes one of the most efficient ways to make money. Trapped animals can be safely delivered for rewards, and stronger traps improve the process.

Sell through the right license

The Commerce License increases sale prices:

  • Lv.1: 5%
  • Lv.2: 10%
  • Lv.3: 15%

Daily Routine That Pays Off

Complete daily tasks

Good daily habits include:

  • Resident requests
  • Daily missions
  • Watering crops
  • Caring for animals
  • Capturing animals

These activities build progress steadily and are a reliable source of Permit Points and money.

Do resident requests before settlement

Before an NPC settles permanently, talking to them can trigger a request. Completing it raises friendship by a quarter heart. Many later residents require at least some friendship before they will move in, so do not ignore these requests.

Permit Points and License Progression

Main ways to earn Permit Points

The most efficient sources are:

  • Daily missions
  • Title conditions
  • Donations to the Museum
  • Bulletin board requests
  • Exchanging Dinks at the Bank

The Bank becomes especially useful later because it lets you buy Permit Points directly with money.

Unlock useful systems early

Several licenses open major progression tools:

  • Metal Detecting License Lv.2 reveals buried treasure spots directly on the ground with an X mark
  • Trap License unlocks animal traps and release points
  • Farming License Lv.1 unlocks farming progression and Rain-related access

Metal Detecting License Lv.2 is especially strong because it makes buried treasure easy to find and helps with island towers and other treasure-based progression.

Farming Tips

Start farming near water

Early farming is easiest near a water source because the watering can is much easier to refill there. Clear and flatten the area so you can work efficiently.

Use Wheat heavily

Wheat is one of the best crops to grow because it can be grown year-round and processed into Flour, which is used in many recipes. Flour is made in the Grain Mill using four wheat, so plan to produce it in bulk.

Plan sprinkler layouts

  • A Sprinkler covers 3×3 tiles
  • An Advanced Sprinkler covers 5×5 tiles

Use these sizes when planning your farm layout around water tanks and irrigation.

Food and buffs matter

Eating food and fruit gives buffs, including stamina recovery speed and sometimes stamina maximum increases. The buff works over time, so eat before you start a long task instead of waiting until you are already empty.

Animals and Breeding

Keep farm animals healthy

Domesticated animals can get sick if they are both dirty and unhealthy. Sick animals stop producing items, though they do not die from sickness alone.

To prevent sickness:

  • Feed them using the animal feeder
  • Brush them with the animal brush

If they do get sick, keeping them healthy and clean for 3 days restores them.

Breeding requirements

To breed, animals must:

  • Be adult
  • Be healthy
  • Have a home, such as a Bird Coop, Animal Den, or Animal Stall
  • Have been fed the day before

After giving birth, females need a resting period before breeding again. The rest period is half the pregnancy duration.

Roosters and Chooks

With Animal Breeding License 1, a domesticated rooster can be placed with at least three adult Chooks to give a chance of producing a Fertilised Chicken Egg the next day.

With Animal Breeding License 2, using Duff Dust on the domesticated rooster guarantees that up to three Chooks in the pen lay Fertilised Chicken Eggs the next day.

Combat and Hunting Advice

Do not fight head-on

When an animal becomes hostile, the background music changes. In combat, avoid standing directly in front of aggressive animals. Attacking from behind or using hit-and-run movement is usually safer.

Spear combat is reliable

Spears are the safest all-around hunting option because of their reach and quick attacks. Bat-style weapons can work too, but they often require more precise timing and positioning.

Bring combat food for dangerous enemies

Harder fights are easier with food buffs such as Dagwood Dog, Prime Roast, or other combat-enhancing meals. Some enemies hit extremely hard, so preparation matters more than raw aggression.

Travel and Teleport Towers

Use the towers

The island has fixed Teleport Towers placed to the north, south, east, and west. They enable fast travel once activated.

A fifth tower can later be placed freely, so you do not need to base your entire start around a tower location.

Towers need treasure

Each tower requires treasure deliveries to activate, and at least two towers must be repaired before fast travel is usable. Metal Detecting License Lv.2 makes this much easier by marking buried treasure points directly.

Residents and Priority Unlocks

High-priority residents

Some residents open very important services when they move in.

  • Franklin opens the Laboratory and gives access to many useful inventions
  • Clover opens the Clothing Shop
  • Theodore opens the Museum and grants Permit Points for each creature donation
  • Melvin opens the Furniture Shop
  • Milburn opens the Bank
  • Rain opens the Greenhouse
  • Irwin opens the Barn
  • Sally opens the Salon
  • Sheila opens the Cooking Shop

Useful move-in goals

Several residents have specific conditions tied to purchases, friendship, or prior residents. Keep meeting them with gifts and requests so you can unlock their services as soon as possible.

Cooking and Stamina

Cook before long activities

Cooking and eating are one of the best ways to manage stamina. Some foods improve stamina recovery speed, and others increase the stamina cap as well.

Good early and midgame food

  • Early: meat skewers
  • Midgame: Cooked Prime Meat
  • Later: foods that stack many useful buffs for a chosen task

Using the right food before mining, hunting, or long travel makes the whole day more efficient.

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