Nighttime in the Dying Light series is a key feature of the franchise. The night brings out the most terrible creatures, improves the aggressiveness of many monsters, and the apex predators of the night, Volatiles, come out to play. While the franchise has seen different implementations of it, Dying Light: The Beast is really bringing out the horror elements to the game.

The Beast’s nighttime experience is much more horror-focused, with a lot of work going into how Volatiles behave. The night itself is also much darker, and seeing things in pitch black is extremely difficult. As a result, nighttime is now much harder to navigate, and even deadlier than normal. The game does a good job of limiting safe spots to a degree, so counting down the hours means a lot. Here are the best tips we have for surviving the night in Dying Light: The Beast.

Nighttime Tips¶

The best tips we have for you are as follows:

• Best Skills
• Learn the hiding spot or UV locations
• Use your binoculars to find early safe zones
• Best Equipment
• The Beast powers

1. Best Skills¶

To survive the night, we strongly recommend that you get the Agility Perk - Dash as early as you can. You’ll need two skill points to reach it, thanks to needing to get Active Landing first, followed by Dash.

Both of these are some of the best skills in Dying Light: The Beast. The ability to take less fall damage and keep momentum is very important, alongside the added sprint speed from the Dash skill. Both of these are extremely useful for Volatile chases.

If you’re not already aware, Volatile AI got a massive change. They now try to flank you, call in allies to cut you off, and can be more aggressive in their moves to get on top of you. So, these parkour skills are a must to outpace or maneuver them.

Being able to fall off a rooftop chase down to the ground without losing momentum is very important for escaping. The dash is also handy for outpacing them. Both of these allow you to get further away, slip away, or even reach those few and far between safety hotspots. The ability to also get closer to inside buildings that are hard for Volatiles to reach makes for a nice way of hiding too.

The Stealth Expert is also handy. It’s largely used for getting closer to enemies for takedowns. But, we also found you can also get closer to Volatiles without triggering them with it too. It’s handy for sneaking around them and getting to sneak spots if that’s more your thing.

2. Learn the map¶

Unlike the first and second game, there is a distinct lack of environmental traps to trigger. You won’t be able to boot a Volatile into a spiky bin, or run to find the nearest UV light tap to buy time. The map is dark, and you have to use the horror and stealth elements to get around.

That said, the map isn’t entirely out to get you. There are hiding spots, tight squeezes and other elements of the level design there to assist your escape. Think of yourself playing more like Dead by Daylight rather than DL1 or 2, where you can cut paths that Volatiles can’t interact with.

Then of course, there are the stealth spots. You can find long grass all over the place, tables to hide under, and other things like that. You’ll want to find these when possible and learn where they are in case you need to make a break for it. Or you can parkour yourself into spots and get creative with what’s on hand.

As you play through the game, you’ll learn more where the Baron’s men have been. The Baron’s team all have UV in some capacity. Those vehicles and props tend to remain in place, without being a POI on the map. If you can remember the UV vans and cars in the Train Tunnel, or under the main bridge, then those are safe spots you can make a run to. There are many more out there to find and remember when you need to break glass in case of a nighttime emergency.

3. Finding Safe Zones¶

Binoculars are back from Dying Light 2, and the tool is not as potent as in DL2. However, it can still help you spot safe spots in the distance. Typically, the hunter watch towers, or tall buildings tend to have some form of safe spot or zone to unlock.
As you explore, and uncover parts of the map, you can find ? marks on the map. If you use your binoculars on them, and find the area entrance or other important parts of the facade, you’ll typically learn what it is. This should help you pinpoint areas to unlock, or whether it’s a Dark Zone or other map location.

If you check the mission journal, you’ll often have side content. The safe spots or hubs you can unlock can appear there if you’re looking for something to do.

We strongly advise getting these as it makes traveling to new areas much easier, no matter where you are. It’s also nice to have somewhere to run to if you desperately need a UV light at night.

4. Best Equipment¶

Equipment you can use is very important for nighttime behavior.

Firecrackers are your best way to alert and distract enemies. Volatiles will also fall for sounds too. Throw them in the direction away from you. But, make sure that nothing will cross your path while investigating it. Firecrackers will buy you time to run, and mask your sound while you run at full speed to get some movement.

The UV flashlight is very good. Staggering a few zombies, or a Volatile is good for recovering your stamina bar so you can get to dashing again.

5. Beast Meter¶

The Beast is a new feature in the game, which turns Kyle into a monster. Now, this bar will fill up in combat, and when it reaches max, ti will activate. Now, if you charge this up, you can deliberately avoid combat and then cap it when needed. Alternatively, level up your Beast skills and you can use it whenever you want.

When The Beast activates, you essentially become a Volatile yourself in damage. Beat the Volatiles up in that pinch, and you can even execute them when they get low or staggered enough. This should help since combat with Volatiles directly is otherwise difficult or pointless.