Rain World Guide | How to Survive the First Level

This guide prepares you to survive the opening region, Outskirts, in Rain World, explaining core mechanics, basic combat tactics, and map choices in clear, paragraph-style instructions. Rain World is challenging but rewarding, and there is a lot of fun to be found despite what the media may claim. 

This guide covers everything needed to get through the first level, including full map instructions and hostile strategies for Outskirts; it contains spoilers for that region. This guide is formatted from the attached document. 

Controls Notes

When the game is booted on PC, the first choice is between a controller and a keyboard. Either control method can be used to complete the game and obtain achievements, although Keyboard enables some deeper movement techniques that are useful for fancy play or speedrunning. 

Using a 360 Pad is a perfectly valid option for a straightforward playthrough; it is not necessary to pursue advanced movement tech to progress. Expect the initial in-game text tutorials to cover only the basics; the remainder of the mechanics are learned through experimentation and community resources.

Monk or Survivor?

The second decision is whether to play Monk or Survivor first. For a first playthrough, Survivor is the recommended choice. Monk may be an easier option and can be recommended by others, but it is not strictly an easy mode in all respects. Choosing Survivor simplifies the first run while still providing the intended challenge. 

Cosmetic changes are common — for example, a Slugcat may appear green due to a mod, but the underlying playstyle remains Survivor. The Rain World PC modding scene (see raindb.net) is vibrant and worth exploring if interested.

Food, Karma, Saving, and the Rain Timer

The game teaches basic moves and the need for food. At the start, food mainly appears as Fruit and Bats. Bats can be difficult to catch; consider throwing a Rock or a Spear to bring them within reach. Food must be eaten to fill the stomach to the point where sleeping in Hibernation Dens is possible. 

Hibernation Dens are secure save points that increase Karma and reset the Rain Timer. After waking from a den, a countdown to the next Rain appears and can be checked with the appropriate shoulder button; the Rain begins in a way that lets you try to reach safety, but will eventually kill the creature wherever it is (in most cases). 

There is no auto-save; progress is only saved in Hibernation Dens, and quitting between dens costs a Karma level. Karma acts as a leveling system that gates access to doors into other regions; sleeping enough cycles raises Karma and opens new areas. 

Dying by creature attack, Rain, falling into pits, or explosions reduces Karma unless a Karma Flower has been eaten to prevent a single drop; Karma Flowers exist in various spots, including near the start of Outskirts. Fruit respawns after enough cycles, but it is often easier to seek fresh food sources.

How to Fight Lizards

Creatures are central to survival in Rain World. The first likely encounters are Lizards, which appear in three primary color types in Outskirts: Green, Blue, and Pink. All Lizards have armored heads that cause thrown Spears to bounce; to injure them with a Spear, approach from behind, or flip them. 

A thrown Stone or Trash aimed at the head will flip and stun a Lizard, providing an opening for a Spear attack. Each Lizard type requires a different number of Spear hits to kill. Green Lizards are slow and can often be avoided by walking or jumping around them; they take many Spear hits and are usually not worth engaging. 

There is a slight chance a Lizard will rear up and catch you while jumping over it, but this is uncommon. When chased through tunnels, movement speed is maximized when facing the correct direction; backing up slows you down. To turn around in a tunnel, hold the jump button toward the desired direction. 

A core strategy is to pick fights selectively: if no Spear is available, avoid combat, seek high ground, or stand in places out of reach. Some Lizards can climb or use projectile attacks; learning each type’s mechanics will significantly improve survivability. 

Pink Lizards can climb poles in the Outskirts, though not perfectly. Lizards also use a tunnel network to teleport around the map; a brief flash of color signals when a Lizard is about to emerge from a tunnel.

How to Fight Pole Plants

Pole Plants (mimics) imitate climbable pipes. Careful observation of environmental cues helps distinguish a Pole Plant from a genuine pipe. If a Pole Plant grabs the creature, it will attempt to drag and kill it; this can be escaped if a Spear is available by spearing the plant to force release. Pole Plants can be preemptively speared before approaching their pipe if desired. 

When a Pole Plant sits perpendicular to a real pipe, safely passing it is possible by holding left or right and avoiding up or down input. This action is harder with an analog stick, so use the D-Pad on a controller for precise horizontal movement when necessary.

Map Insights

Outskirts connects to three different adjacent regions, each with distinct flora, fauna, hazards, and Karma requirements to access. The regions spread generally to the north, west, and south of the start. 

Exploration is encouraged—none of these routes are strictly wrong—but for concrete progress and a moderate difficulty increase without being overwhelming, head for the northern door leading to the Industrial Complex. 

Shelters and save points are located throughout the region. A general warning: there is little reason to head to the right in this region at the start; the right side is primarily Green Lizard territory and offers little progress if the goal is to move forward.