Dragonwilds Beginner Guide — What to Do First in Ashenfall

The opening moves

You wake in the Temple of Saradomin in Temple Woods. The Wise Old Man walks you through the basics, then points you to Doric the dwarf, who teaches survival: you need to eat and drink regularly, and the food and water meters live in the bottom-left of your screen. The tutorial also hands you your first crafting table through Build mode (B) — the default interaction key for most things is E.

Claim a bed early. It’s your respawn point — death without one sends you back to the Wise Old Man’s temple.

Gathering first, always

Skills level through use — mine ore to train Mining, cook to train Cooking, and there are no skill points to allocate. Mining and Woodcutting first: ore and logs feed Artisan and Construction, which produce your gear, your base and your food. Combat skills (Attack, Magic, Ranged) train themselves from every fight.

One thing skill levels don’t do: raise your power level. That comes entirely from armour — which is why the iron tier is your first milestone.

From campfire to iron

The bronze age is three builds: Campfire → Furnace → Blacksmith’s Bench. Copper and tin ore sit in the Fractured Plains; bronze bars unlock the Mystic Forge the moment you hold one. Then push to iron: Stormtouched Highlands and Fellhollow ore, a bronze pickaxe to mine it, 3 ore per bar, and the Iron Sword chain proves the whole pipeline.

Food is the resource every boss fight consumes, and food has its own power levels — keep cooking tiered to the regions you fight in. Brew antipoison before the Velgar attempt; the quest itself lists it among recommended supplies.

FAQ

What should I do first in Dragonwilds?

Finish the tutorial, claim a bed, then build Campfire → Furnace → Blacksmith’s Bench while training Mining and Woodcutting — gathering feeds every other skill.

Is Dragonwilds good for beginners?

Yes — nothing is missable, no skill is locked behind another, and the tutorial region eases you into hunger, thirst and building systems before the first region gate.

How long does it take to reach the first boss?

The intended first goal is iron-tier armour at Power Level 4 for Velgar — most players get there inside their first sessions by following the gathering-first order.