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Fire Starting

Fire Starting is a Survival Skill that is used to start fires.

Fires generate heat to restore and conserve Warmth. Players can cook food, melt snow, and purify water on any fire started through the fire starting skill.

How to start a fire

Fire Starting is one of the easiest skills to train in The Long Dark, as players can increase their skill by lighting a new fire at any time during their playthrough.

To start a fire, players have to "use" an existing Firebox or fire or place a new campfire in an acceptable location. The player must then select an ignition source, tinder (optional at level 3 and higher), fuel, and an optional accelerant. At the top of the screen, the player's current fire starting skill and the chance of success with the currently selected materials are displayed.

Chance of starting

The chance of a fire-starting attempt succeeding is calculated directly by adding the benefits of the character's skill and all materials being used in the attempt. Changing the materials can improve the chance of a successful start. Chances greater than 100% are rounded down to 100% and cannot fail.

Attempting to start

Activating the start button on the bottom right will launch an attempt. A progress wheel will fill as the player character attempts to get the fire started. Normal attempts take 6 in-game minutes to achieve success. Attempts that include an accelerant take only 1 in-game minute. It is also possible to be interrupted in an attempt by aggressive Wildlife. Interrupted attempts count as a failure.

Failing to start

Failure, if it does occur by chance, will consume a random amount of time before canceling the progress bar and removing the campfire (unless the player is relighting an existing fireplace). Failing a starting chance consumes the tinder and any liquid used, but does not consume the fuel. Matches are consumed as ignition sources but torches and flares are not. Firestrikers suffer condition loss on every attempt, while a magnifying lens does not.

Equipment

Players need one starter, one tinder, and one fuel before they can start fire starting. Player can start fires without a tinder after achieving level 3 in their fire starting skill.

Starter

Players can select any starter currently carried in their inventory. They are sequenced alphabetically and further sorted by condition, highest to lowest. The condition of the starter does not affect the chance of success.

Image Ignition Source Benefit Additional Info
Cardboard Matches icon Cardboard Matches +0% chance Consumed in attempt
Flare icon Flare (lit) +5% chance Attempt may succeed even if item burns out
Magnifying Lens icon Magnifying Lens +5% chance Only effective outdoors with sunny weather [1. 1]
Marine Flare icon Marine Flare (lit) +5% chance Attempt may succeed even if item burns out

Beware of very short lifespan

Torch icon Torch (lit) +5% chance Attempt may succeed even if item burns out
Wood Matches icon Wood Matches +5% chance Consumed in attempt
Firestriker icon Firestriker +15% chance 2% condition loss each attempt
  1. Magnifying lens does not require direct exposure to sun. For instance, can be used to start fires in the stove inside fishing huts or underneath thick tree cover as long as the day is at least partly sunny.

Tinder

Players can select any tinder currently carried in their inventory. Currently, all tinders have equal buffs although their weight may vary. Heavier newsprint and newsprint rolls, as well as stacks of papers, can be broken down into tinder plugs. Player can start fires without a tinder after achieving level 3 in their fire starting skill.

Image Tinder Benefit Weight
Birch Bark icon Birch Bark +0% chance 0.05 kg
Cash icon Cash +0% chance 0.05 kg
Cat Tail Head icon Cat Tail Head +0% chance 0.05 kg
Newsprint icon Newsprint +0% chance 0.10 kg
Newsprint Roll icon Newsprint Roll +0% chance 0.10 kg
Tinder Plug icon Tinder Plug +0% chance 0.05 kg
Stack of Papers icon Stack of Papers +0% chance 0.10 kg

Fuel

Players can select any fuel currently carried in their inventory. Each type of fuel differs in how much burn time it will add to a fire, how easy it is to light, and how much heat it will produce once burning. Attempting to burn an unfinished Research Book will issue a confirmation warning to the player before it can be burned.

Image Fuel Benefit
Fir Firewood icon Fir Firewood +0% chance
Coal icon Coal +0% chance
Reclaimed Wood icon Reclaimed Wood -5% chance
Torch icon Torch (unlit) -5% chance
Firelog icon Firelog +7% chance
Cedar Firewood icon Cedar Firewood +15% chance
Stick icon Stick +15% chance
Book icon Book +35% chance
Research Book icon Research Book +35% chance

Accelerant

Players can optionally add any accelerant carried in their inventory. Accelerant increases the likelihood of success and shortens the start time for fire-starting to only one minute.

Image Accelerant Benefit
Accelerant icon Accelerant +40% chance
Jerry Can icon Jerry Can +40% chance
Lantern Fuel icon Lantern Fuel +40% chance
Can of Gunpowder icon Can of Gunpowder +40% chance

Types of fires

When lit, a firebox will increase nearby Warmth, dry Clothing, and most have Cooking slots.

Firebox Benefit Cooking Slots Additional Use(s)
Campfire Can be placed at the player's discretion

Deters predators Can be blown out by strong winds

2 Has 2 cooking slots.
Fire Barrel Wind proof 2 None.
Pot Belly Stove Wind proof 1 Only 1 cooking slot.
Wood Stove Wind proof 2 None.
Fireplace Wind proof 2 None.
Stove Wind proof 6 Has 6 cooking slots.
Rim Grill Wind proof 2 None.
Furnace Wind proof 1 Heats the Forge.
Ammunition Work Bench Wind proof 0 Can craft Bullets from Scrap Lead.

Feats

Players who have unlocked the Fire Master Feat are able to activate it to start a new game with a Level 3 Fire-Starting skill.

Image Feat Requirement Effect
Badge feat firemaster Fire Master Start 1000 fires Survivors start with a Level 3 Fire Starting skill

Skill levels

Players can increase their fire starting skill by starting any fire. It is possible to increase fire starting skill by lighting a torch, then using the torch to start new fires, which allows for many skill points to be gained with a single match.

A limited increase can be obtained from the Research Book Survive the Outdoors!, which allows players to increase their fire starting skill by 10 skill points with 5 hours of research.

Once players have reached a new skill level, they unlock a new bonus/bonuses get better.

Level Skill points Effects Flavor Text
1 0
  • 40% chance to start fires
You have no special knowledge or skill at starting fires, yet.
2 20
  • 55% chance to start fires
  • Fires last 10% longer
You're quite good at starting fires now. Your fires start better and last longer.
3 50
  • 65% chance to start fires
  • Fires last 10% longer
  • Can start fires without tinder.
You have well above-average experience in starting fires now. You're becoming very capable.
4 100
  • 75% chance to start fires
  • Fires last 25% longer
  • Can start fires without tinder.
Very few can match your skill. Your fires burn faster and for longer. You have woodsmoke in your veins.
5 200
  • 90% chance to start fires
  • Fires start 50% faster
  • Fires last 50% longer
  • Can start fires without tinder.
You have a spark at your fingertips. Your skills are legendary. You're the fire whisperer.
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