Kenshi Early-Game Guide — What to Do First
Last updated: August 12, 2026
conclusion
"I don't know what to do" is a specification. This work offers no story or purpose. If you get lost ① Find and defeat an opponent you can beat → ② Earn money by selling loot → ③ Hire allies → ④ Buy a house in town → ⑤ Build a base in the wilderness Please proceed in this order. Since there is no main character correction at all, it is normal to lose in the early stages.
The main character is really weak right after the beginning. Since you can't fight properly, you look for weaker opponents (small animals, small groups of robbers, etc.) around the city and gradually gain experience.
Note: If you step into the territory of a powerful force, you will be attacked even if you are not doing anything.
In the early stages of this game, the main source of money is the loot. By stripping and selling the equipment of defeated opponents, you can obtain equipment, funds, and combat experience at the same time.
Note: If you take on an opponent you can't beat, you'll be the one to be stripped of your clothes.
You can hire companions at bars in town. The estimated market price is around several thousand cat. It's a game where you can't do anything by yourself, so increasing the number of people will be the biggest strength in itself.
Note: The amount varies depending on the situation and version. If you force yourself to hire someone, you will run out of supplies.
Buying a house in town first is safer than immediately building in the wilderness. Raids are less of a concern, letting you practice research and production.
Note: There are areas in the city that are unsafe.
Once you've laid the foundation in your city house, build your base outdoors. If you build it near a town, it will be easier to move around, and it will also be a place to escape to in times of danger.
Note: Once you have a base, you become a target for attacks. Spread out when you are ready to defend.
No main character correction
As the official information states, the player character is not the chosen one. You have the same potential and life as NPCs, not extra HP. Losing is normal; the game asks you to manage how you lose.
Even if you lose, it's not the end
Even if you fall, it is not an immediate game over, but the story continues as you lose limbs or are transported as slaves. The process of climbing up from there is the main focus of this work.
No story or purpose presented
There is no fixed ending, and it is up to the player to decide what they want to achieve. Feeling like you don't know what to do is a specification, not an oversight.
You only grow as much as you use.
Characters gain experience, become stronger, and their appearance changes. The character of the unit is determined by what it trains.
Q. What should I do first after starting?
Find someone you can beat and defeat them. The main character is really weak right after the start of the game, and a proper battle cannot be fought. If you look for weak opponents around the city, strip the equipment from the defeated opponents, and sell them, you can obtain equipment, money, and battle experience at the same time.
Q. When will you hire colleagues?
The sooner the better. The design is such that one person cannot do anything, so increasing the number of people will be the greatest strength in itself. You can hire them at bars in town, and the average price is around a few thousand cat (the amount varies depending on the situation and version). However, it is counterproductive to forcefully hire people until you run out of supplies.
Q. Should I build my base in the wilderness or in the city?
Buying a house in town first is safer. There is less risk of raids, letting you practice research and production. Establish the basics before building outdoors; even then, building near a town makes travel easier and gives you somewhere to flee. Owning a base makes you a raid target, so expanding before preparing defenses can get you overwhelmed.
Q. I lost limbs or became enslaved. Is the run permanently stuck?
No, you are not permanently stuck. Being knocked down does not immediately end the game; play continues through injuries or enslavement. Recovering from those setbacks is central to the game, including obtaining prosthetic limbs or escaping.
We only use content that has the same step-by-step description on multiple strategy sites in Japan. The amount is a guideline as it varies depending on the version and situation: