📖 Whirly Fan Survival: How to Not Burn Up in DST
Whirly Fan in Don't Starve Together: The Ultimate Guide
Don't Starve Together Guides > Survival Items > Whirly Fan
Introduction
The Whirly Fan is a unique, beginner-friendly tool in Don't Starve Together (DST) that provides a modest cooling breeze on the go. This humble pinwheel, craftable from just twigs and a flower petal, is often overlooked by veteran players, yet it can be a lifesaver in the early game – especially during the scorching Summer season.
Whirly Fan
Crafting: 3 Twigs + 1 Petal
Durability: 90 seconds (while running)
Effects: +60 Summer Insulation, ~10°C cooling while moving
In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything about the Whirly Fan: its basic utility and crafting, how it works to mitigate overheating, strategic uses, character interactions, comparisons with other cooling items, community tips, and even mods that involve the Whirly Fan.
Whirly Fan Basics: Crafting, Usage, and Mechanics
The Whirly Fan is an exclusive DST item found in the Survival/Clothing crafting tab. It requires just 3 Twigs and 1 Petal (flower) to craft, and is available from Day 1 with no Science Machine required.
How it works:
- The fan must be equipped in the hand slot like a tool or weapon
- It only provides cooling while your character is moving
- Provides +60 Summer Insulation (heat resistance) while equipped
- Actively reduces your body temperature by ~10°C when spinning
- Has 90 seconds (1.5 minutes) of total spinning time before breaking
- Durability only drains while the fan is spinning (while you're moving)
Known Bug:
Equipping a Whirly Fan after the first time may immediately deduct 1% durability each time you equip it (even before you start moving). This is a minor issue, but frequent toggling on/off could slightly waste durability.
Strategic Uses: Keeping Cool with the Whirly Fan
Surviving a Summer Start
If you spawn in the middle of Summer with no base or resources, craft a Whirly Fan and a Straw Hat immediately. Run between sources of shade (large trees), pausing briefly under each to maximize cooling.
Emergency Cooldowns
If you're far from your base and see the overheating warning (screen edges sizzling), equipping a Whirly Fan and running can drop your temperature by up to ~10 degrees, possibly staving off damage until you reach safety.
"Kiting" the Heat
Use a run-stop-run pattern during heatwaves. Run with the fan until nearly overheating, then stand under a tree or use an Endothermic Fire to cool off, then repeat.
Bridging to Better Gear
Use the Whirly Fan as a stopgap until you acquire better items like a Thermal Stone or Eyebrella. You can pair it with a cold Thermal Stone to extend your travel time in Summer.
PRO TIP:
Tree shade provides 180 insulation while standing under it. Combined with the Whirly Fan's 60 insulation, you get 240 total – essentially full protection! This is why running between trees with a Whirly Fan can completely negate overheating.
Character-Specific Interactions
Wes – The Suffering Mime
Wes is more susceptible to overheating than other characters. He gains temperature faster and will start taking heat damage sooner. This makes the Whirly Fan especially valuable for Wes in early Summer.
Willow – The Pyromaniac
Willow overheats 50% slower and takes half damage from overheating. While she's not immune to summer, Willow can get by with more minimal cooling. A Whirly Fan is still useful but less critical for her survival.
WX-78 – The Robot
WX-78 is extremely vulnerable to wetness. The Whirly Fan is a safe cooling choice for WX-78 as it doesn't cause wetness (unlike Ice Cube or Fashion Melon, which would damage WX).
Wormwood – The Plant
Wormwood loses sanity when picking flowers (-5 sanity). Crafting a Whirly Fan has a hidden cost for him. If playing Wormwood, consider planting some seeds after picking a flower to offset the sanity loss.
Wickerbottom – The Librarian
Wickerbottom cannot sleep (no siestas to skip daylight overheating). She must endure the heat in real-time. A Whirly Fan is particularly valuable for Wickerbottom since she can't fast-forward through the danger period.
How-To: Survive Early Summer with Only a Whirly Fan
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1
Assess Your Situation
If you're in Summer, immediately note the time of day. Your goal for the first minute: craft a Whirly Fan before overheating kicks in.
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2
Collect Materials
Gather 3 Twigs and 1 Flower Petal as quickly as possible. If you see multiple flowers, pick a couple (extras can be used for a Pretty Parasol or Garland later).
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3
Craft the Whirly Fan
As soon as you have 3 Twigs + 1 Petal, craft the Whirly Fan from the Survival tab and equip it immediately.
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4
Keep Moving
Start running! The fan will only work when you're moving. Run toward large trees for shade, and zig-zag to collect resources on the way.
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5
Craft a Straw Hat
Gather 12 Cut Grass and craft a Straw Hat for additional heat protection. The combined insulation will significantly improve your chances.
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6
Prepare for Night
Don't forget to gather 2 more twigs and 2 grass for a Torch before nightfall.
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7
Secure Long-term Cooling
By the next day, focus on obtaining materials for an Endothermic Fire Pit, Thermal Stone, or other advanced cooling solutions.
REMEMBER:
The Whirly Fan has only 90 seconds of active use time. Monitor its durability and be ready to craft a replacement when needed.