📖 Relaxed Mode Secrets: Stop Panicking in Don't Starve Together
Don't Starve Together: The Ultimate Guide to Relaxed Mode
Don't Starve Together (DST) introduced a Relaxed Mode in late 2022 as a new playstyle preset to make the unforgiving survival game more approachable. This comprehensive guide compiles everything you need to know about Relaxed Mode – from official changes to community opinions, strategies, mods, and content creator highlights.
Whether you're a beginner looking for a gentler learning curve or a veteran seeking a chill sandbox, this guide will help you get the most out of DST's Relaxed Mode.
What is Relaxed Mode in DST?
Relaxed Mode is essentially DST's built-in "easy" or casual setting, comparable to the "No Sweat" mode from Don't Starve: Pocket Edition. When you start a world with the Relaxed preset, the game automatically adjusts several rules to reduce difficulty and punishment:
Non-Lethal Environment
Hunger, freezing, overheating, and darkness cannot directly kill you. These hazards will still reduce your health, but they won't drop you below 1 HP.
Reduced Damage
All sources of damage (e.g. monster attacks) are 35% less effective against players. You only take about two-thirds of normal damage.
Fewer Hostile Encounters
Hound wave attacks and shadow creatures occur less frequently by default in Relaxed worlds. You'll still face dangers, but not as relentlessly.
Endless-Mode Revival
When you die, you become a ghost and can revive at the Florid Postern (starting portal) with no world reset. The server never regenerates the world on death.
No Summer Wildfires
The random wildfires in summer (which can burn your base) are disabled in Relaxed Mode, removing one of DST's more frustrating random events.
These changes make Relaxed Mode a low-stress, forgiving experience. You still need to manage survival basics, but mistakes are far less punishing. Klei Entertainment (DST's developer) explicitly described the Relaxed preset as a way to play "without the uncompromising aspects."
Official Release and Updates
Relaxed Mode was added in October 2022 as part of DST's "A Little Drama" update, which combined a content drop with major Quality of Life changes. The update introduced the concept of Playstyles, allowing players to choose a preset (Survival, Endless, Wilderness, or Relaxed) when creating a server.
No major mechanic changes have been made to Relaxed Mode since its introduction, apart from bug fixes and ensuring it works across platforms. Always double-check your world config if something feels off – the "Hunger/Temperature/Darkness Damage: Nonlethal" settings should be enabled for a true Relaxed experience.
Relaxed vs. Other Game Modes: Key Differences
Don't Starve Together traditionally offered three main game modes: Survival, Endless, and Wilderness. Relaxed Mode adds a fourth, easier preset. The table below compares the key differences:
| Aspect | Survival (Default) | Wilderness | Relaxed Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death & Respawn | Becomes ghost on death; ghost drains others' sanity; world resets if all players die after a timer. | No ghosts – on death you respawn as a new character at a random spawn point. World never resets. | Becomes ghost on death, no world reset ever. Can revive at the Florid Postern anytime with -25% max health penalty (configurable). |
| Hunger/Freezing/Darkness | Lethal: if hunger hits 0, or you stay too long cold/in darkness, you die. | Lethal (same as Survival rules for environment). | Non-lethal: you take damage but these will not kill you outright. They stop at 1 HP, giving chance to recover. |
| Damage from Enemies | 100% (Normal) – no adjustments. | 100% (Normal) – no adjustments. | -35% incoming damage – players take only 65% of normal damage from all sources. |
| Hostile Spawns | Standard – Hound attacks, Giant bosses, shadow creatures occur at normal intervals. | Standard – same timing for hounds, giants, etc., as Survival. | Reduced – by default "Less" hound waves and shadow creatures are set in Relaxed. |
| World Hazards | Wildfires, disease, etc. happen unless disabled by player. | Same as Survival (wildfires, etc., occur normally). | Wildfires off by default. Other hazards can be toggled. |
It's worth noting that under the new Playstyle system, Survival, Endless, Wilderness, and Relaxed are now just presets – you can mix and match settings if you want a custom difficulty. The server's Playstyle label will automatically update based on the settings you choose.
Strategies for Thriving in Relaxed Mode
Playing in Relaxed Mode can feel very different from standard DST. With lower risks, your priorities and strategies may shift. Here we'll cover advice for both beginners learning the game and experienced players using Relaxed Mode for creative purposes.
Tips for Beginners
- Don't Let Hunger Hollow You Out: Just because starvation won't kill you doesn't mean you can ignore it. When hunger hits zero, you'll be left at 1 HP – dangerously vulnerable to any minor damage. Still treat food as a priority.
- Practice Combat – But Don't Get Cocky: The 35% damage reduction means you can survive hits that would normally kill a newbie. This is great for learning combat timing but be aware that you're not invincible.
- Explore Freely: With world resets off the table, exploration is low-risk. If you die while exploring, you'll revive back at the portal. Use this to map out where important resources are.
- Build and Experiment: Without wildfires and with threats toned down, you can take a more relaxed approach to base-building. Try out organizing your base, planting farms, and crafting different recipes.
- Revival Etiquette: Since death isn't permanent, you can use it as a learning tool. Your max health will be reduced by 25% each time you revive, until you use a Booster Shot to recover.
Advanced Playstyles in Relaxed Mode
- Perfect for Co-Op with Mixed Skill Levels: One challenge in DST is when you have a group with varying skill. Relaxed Mode can equalize the fun, since no one's death will reset the world or drastically impact others.
- Base Building and Mega-Projects: With disasters like wildfires off and long-term survival guaranteed, Relaxed Mode is a builder's paradise. You can focus on elaborate bases and aesthetic projects.
- Combat Challenges on Your Terms: Some experienced players use Relaxed Mode to practice boss fights or test character abilities in a safer setting. You can survive some otherwise deadly boss attacks, giving you more room to learn patterns.
- Long-Term Goals & Collections: Set ambitious goals like collecting all seasonal boss creatures, completing the Crock Pot recipe book, or decorating for every season.
- Know When to Graduate: If you start to find Relaxed Mode too easy, consider switching to Survival or increasing difficulty through mods or custom settings. There's no shame in playing either way.
Community Reactions: Why Relaxed Mode Matters
The introduction of Relaxed Mode sparked a lot of discussion in the DST community. It touches on a classic gaming debate: accessibility vs. "intended" difficulty. Here's a synthesis of community opinions:
Embracing Relaxed Mode – "It's about having fun."
A large number of players, especially newer ones or those with busy lives, have welcomed Relaxed Mode as a much-needed accessible option. Many commenters noted that there's no shame in playing on easy if that's what you enjoy.
"If you like the easy mode, and I like the normal mode, so why complain? We're both playing the same game."
Newer players have reported that Relaxed Mode brought them back to the game or kept them from quitting. It effectively reduces "rage-quitting" – instead of an early death ending a session in frustration, the player can respawn and keep progressing.
Criticisms – "Not the real Don't Starve?"
Some veteran players have reservations about Relaxed Mode. The most common critique is that it diminishes the core tension that makes Don't Starve unique. To them, playing without the threat of permanent death can feel "meaningless".
"Why would I do anything if there is no way for me to lose? Why bother getting food when I can just starve and revive..."
There's also a fear of developing bad habits: because Relaxed forgives sloppy play, a player who stays exclusively in Relaxed might struggle when those threats turn lethal again in other modes.
Community Verdict:
Relaxed Mode has found a solid niche. It's widely appreciated by beginners, casual players, and those playing with younger gamers or mixed groups. It's politely ignored by hardcore enthusiasts who stick to their preferred challenge. And a fair number of players use it occasionally (for creative building or testing) even if they normally play Survival.
"Some people have fun speedrunning all bosses... some people just want to make it a full year. All are valid."
Mods and Tools to Enhance a Relaxed Experience
One of the great things about DST on PC is the modding community, which offers mods to tweak difficulty and gameplay far beyond the official presets. If you're playing Relaxed Mode and want to lean even further into the easy-going style, consider some of these popular mods:
Campfire Respawn Mod
This mod allows you to haunt any campfire or fire pit to resurrect on the spot. It makes campfires act like mini resurrection points, which is great for convenience.
Backpack and Armor Slots
These mods let you wear a backpack and armor (or amulet) at the same time, so you don't have to choose between protection and storage.
Increased Stack Size
Allows items to stack to 99 or more, which massively reduces the micromanagement of resources. Great for building big projects.
Insight/Show Me Mods
Display detailed info such as item spoilage time, mob health, damage values, season clock, etc. Great for learning the game mechanics.
Geometric Placement
Makes building perfectly aligned structures much easier. Great for base design and organization.
Peaceful Mode Mods
There are mods that remove all hostile creatures entirely or make monsters passive until attacked. Turning DST into a pure sandbox.
In addition to mods, remember you can customize many world settings directly in the game:
- Turn off frog rain and disease
- Increase resource regeneration
- Set "Lots" of carrots/berries for easier food
- Enable forever full moon for constant light
- Remove hound waves entirely
⚠️ Word of caution: Avoid going overboard with "cheat" mods if you still want some sense of progression. As one player noted, "some players become over-reliant on mods and cheats to the point where they never become better." Find the balance that keeps the game engaging for you.
Relaxed Mode in Action: Notable Content
Since its release, Relaxed Mode has been featured in various YouTube guides and Let's Plays, as content creators explore its value for the community. Here are a few highlights:
Analysis Videos
"Should You Play Relaxed Mode in Don't Starve Together?" and similar videos break down exactly what Relaxed Mode does and who it's best for. They demonstrate scenarios like surviving in total darkness with only minor health loss.
Update Guides
Popular DST YouTubers like Jazzy's Games released guides explaining the new custom difficulty settings. These videos show how to fine-tune your world for the perfect experience.
Let's Play Series
Some smaller YouTubers and Twitch streamers have done casual playthroughs on Relaxed Mode worlds, often as tutorial series for beginners or as "chill" streams focused on building rather than survival.
The consensus among content creators is that Relaxed Mode serves as an excellent entry point for new players. Most recommend it as a way to learn the game's mechanics before transitioning to more challenging modes if desired.
Conclusion: A More Forgiving Frontier
Relaxed Mode has cemented itself as a valuable part of Don't Starve Together's ecosystem. It provides a welcoming gateway for newcomers to enter the Constant without feeling overwhelmed, and a canvas for veterans to paint their own experience when they want a break from constant danger.
For those on the fence about using Relaxed Mode, consider this final takeaway: DST is meant to be fun. If you tried the default mode and found yourself asking "Is there an easier way?", Relaxed is the answer. You can always ramp up the difficulty later.
"In the end, Relaxed Mode has achieved what it set out to do: open DST to a broader audience and provide a relaxed, cooperative sandbox option."
So grab that Crock Pot, gather under the pretty light of an endless full moon, and enjoy the Constant in whatever way keeps you coming back. Happy (not) starving!
Interactive: Find Your Perfect Difficulty
Use this interactive tool to discover your ideal Don't Starve Together difficulty settings. Adjust the sliders to see different recommendations for world settings and mods based on your preferences.