📖 Wilson's Beard Hacks: Surviving Don't Starve Winter
Quick Start: Winter Warmth with Wilson
- Early Autumn Shave: Let Wilson grow a Short beard (~Day 4) then shave it off. You'll get 1 Beard Hair and +10 sanity. This gives time to regrow Magnificent by winter.
- Prep Thermal Stone: By mid-Autumn, prototype a Thermal Stone (Pickaxe + rocks + flint). Start each day in winter by heating it near a fire while you cook breakfast.
- Layer Up: Use Wilson's beard insulation as one "clothing layer." Add a Winter Hat for moderate trips, or a Beefalo Hat for long excursions.
- Fire on the Go: If you push far from base, carry campfire materials. Don't wait until freezing – use that beard time to find a safe spot.
- Mind the Beardlings: In winter, your sanity might drop. If <40 sanity, rabbits become Beardlings which drop additional Beard Hair if killed.
Why Wilson's Beard Matters
Don't Starve's unforgiving world gives Wilson a unique edge: his beard. Unlike other characters who start with zero perks (and zero facial hair), Wilson grows a beard over time that provides free insulation and a renewable source of Beard Hair – a resource otherwise hard to get.
What the Beard Does:
- Insulation: Each stage of beard growth protects against the cold. A fully grown magnificent beard gives 135 seconds of freeze protection.
- Beard Hair Resource: Shave Wilson with a Razor to collect Beard Hair (used for the Meat Effigy, which lets you resurrect).
- No Downsides (Mostly): Unlike Webber or Woodie, Wilson's beard has no inherent drawbacks. However, it can make summer a bit tougher.
Beard Growth Basics:
Wilson's beard grows in 3 stages over 16 days. Here's what you need to know:
| Beard Length | Days Growing | Beard Hair if Shaved | Insulation (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Beard (clean) | 0 | 0 | 0 seconds (no bonus) |
| Short Beard | ~4 days | 1 Beard Hair | ~15 seconds (minor warmth) |
| Long Beard | ~8 days | 3 Beard Hairs | ~45 seconds (noticeable insulation) |
| Magnificent (Full) | ~16 days | 9 Beard Hairs | ~135 seconds (major insulation) |
Sanity from Shaving: Shaving any beard (even short) gives +10 Sanity, which is a nice perk if you're in a safe spot.
Beard vs Winter: Surviving the Cold
Winter is the first real "villain" new players face, usually arriving by day 21 in DST (day 20 in single-player). Wilson was practically built for winter survival and here's how his beard factors in:
Short Beard (Day 4-7):
Minor insulation (~15 seconds). This won't carry you through a winter night, but it's a free buffer. Many players shave early to start stockpiling Beard Hair.
Long Beard (Day 8-15):
Now providing ~45 seconds insulation, akin to a Winter Hat. Stack it with a Winter Hat, and you're looking at ~45 + 120 = 165 seconds of protection.
Magnificent Beard (Day 16+):
Maximum warmth: ~135 seconds. That's almost equal to a Beefalo Hat plus a Winter Hat combined. Wilson can sometimes skip crafting a winter hat altogether.
Pro Tip: Thermal Stone Combo
Even with a big beard, carry a Thermal Stone. Beard insulation slows how fast you freeze, but a Thermal Stone (kept warmed by a fire) resets your freeze timer. The combination is very powerful – Wilson can roam longer before needing a fire pit.
The Beard's Hidden Downside: Overheating in Summer
So, Wilson's beard is awesome in winter. But come summer (or even spring fights), that same insulation can turn against you. Think of the beard as a warm sweater – great in the cold, terrible in a heatwave.
Does Wilson's Beard make him overheat faster?
Yes – indirectly. The beard's insulation slows heat loss. In summer, you want to lose heat. If Wilson has a full beard and is overheating, he will cool down more slowly.
"Higher insulation can also be a downside. Cooling down after you start overheating is going to be harder."
Solution – Shave for Summer:
It's generally recommended to shave Wilson at the end of spring. Once the last frost passes, that beard has served its purpose. Shave it off to get your Beard Hair stash up and remove the overheating penalty.
Boss Fights:
Some bosses like Klaus or Dragonfly either occur in winter or involve fire. For fire-based fights, consider shaving beforehand to prevent overheating during intense combat.
TL;DR: Shave come summer. Enjoy being a cool, clean-shaven gentleman scientist during the hot months.
Beard Hair: From Shave to Save (Effigies & More)
By now you might have 6–9 Beard Hairs sitting in a chest. What are they good for?
Other Uses for Beard Hair
Fuel:
Surprisingly, Beard Hair is decent fuel. Each Beard Hair used as fuel adds ~15 seconds of fire (similar to a twig). It's not very efficient, but in a pinch, you can toss beard hair on a fire pit.
Beard Hair Rug (DST & Hamlet):
This is a cosmetic turf you can craft with 1 Beard Hair + 1 Cut Grass at a Science Machine. Placing it on the ground makes a black, bristly carpet. It has zero gameplay benefit (purely decorative).
Storage Tip:
Keep Beard Hairs in a Chest or an Ice Box (as fuel, they don't spoil, but in an Ice Box you won't accidentally use them). In DST, make a dedicated "Magic" chest for things like beard hair, nightmare fuel, etc.
The Beard Skill Tree (DST) – Maximizing Wilson's Perks
In Don't Starve Together, Wilson received a big character refresh (March 2023) introducing a Skill Tree. His beard went from a passive perk to something you can upgrade and even get new abilities from.
Beard Skill Branch: Growth or Insulation?
Wilson's skill tree has a dedicated Beard branch, split into two improvement lines and one special ability:
Beard Growth I, II, III:
Each point here makes Wilson's beard grow faster. At max, he reaches full beard in 10 days instead of 16.
- Growth I = full beard in 15 days
- Growth II = 12 days
- Growth III = 10 days
Community Verdict: Highly recommended. Faster regrowth means more beard hair over time and quicker recovery after shaving.
Beard Insulation I, II, III:
Each point boosts the beard's warmth. At max, Wilson's beard provides +70% more insulation than default.
Potentially allows a nearly amulet-tier warmth just from beard. But experienced players argue it's overkill.
Community Verdict: Lower priority. Thermal stones and regular clothing already handle winter well.
Beard Hair Storage:
This is a unique skill unlocked after spending 3 points in the Beard tree (either all in one path or split). It costs no additional insight itself – it automatically becomes available.
Beard Hair Storage lets Wilson use his beard as a portable mini-fridge. It adds an extra inventory tab where you can store food items. The number of slots = beard stage (1 slot with short beard, 2 with long, 3 with full).
Skill Build Tip:
Many players beeline Beard Growth III and Beard Hair Storage, skipping Insulation. Wilson can use common items (thermal stone, clothing) for winter, but only Wilson can produce beard hair and use beard storage – so maximize those unique strengths first.
Alchemy and Torch – Beyond the Beard
While we focus on the beard, Wilson's refresh also gave him Torch and Alchemy skill branches:
Torch Tree:
Includes perks like Torch Toss (throw a lit torch like a flare) and extended burn times. This pairs surprisingly well with beard storage: you can carry extra light sources or even stash lightbulbs in your beard for cave runs.
Alchemy (Transmutation) Tree:
Wilson can transmute materials. Notably, he can convert Beard Hair <-> Beefalo Wool (2:2 ratio) with Transmute Icky II skill. This is actually a subtle beard buff: if you have excess beard hair, you can turn it into warm Beefalo Wool for clothes.
Beard Storage: Friend or Follicle Fumble?
We touched on it in skills, but let's dive a bit more into Wilson's Beard Storage because it's such a novel mechanic in DST:
How it Works:
After unlocking, you'll see a beard icon near your inventory. Click it (PC) or navigate (console) to open 1–3 slots (depending on beard length). You can only store edible items in these slots – think of it like a lunchbox woven into Wilson's chin.
Use Cases:
- Carry extra stackable food without using main inventory space. For example, you could keep a stack of berries in your beard while your backpack holds materials.
- Separation of concerns: some players put emergency food in the beard – e.g. 1 Meatballs, 1 Honey Poultice (healing) – so that in a panic, they know exactly where their sustenance is.
- Multiplayer silliness: You can actually feed Wilson while something's in his beard. Your friend could click on Wilson with food and Wilson might put it in his beard slots.
Limitations & Bugs:
- Auto-stack issue: If you have 2 meat in your beard and pick up a third, it goes to your normal inventory. You'd have to manually move it.
- Console navigation: On controllers, the beard inventory occupies a "phantom" slot that you reach by scrolling past the last inventory slot. Many have died trying to swap weapons or eat.
- No spoilage benefit: Food in beard spoils at the same rate as in inventory (unlike Insulated Pack which slows spoil by 50%).
Remember: If Wilson dies and revives, he respawns with no beard. Any items in the beard slots will likely drop on death.
Advanced Beard Tricks and Synergies
As you become a true gentleman scientist, you can exploit a few more beard tricks:
Silk Farming via Beardlings:
If for some reason you don't need Beard Hair, note that going insane as Wilson essentially turns rabbits into an alternate source of Silk too. Beardlings drop Beard Hair or Nightmare Fuel, but sometimes Silk if they were formerly a normal rabbit with silk in inventory.
Lightning Beard?
Fun fact: getting struck by lightning as Wilson will burn off his beard! In DST this usually only happens if you anger WX-78 (their lightning) or during storms if you don't have lightning rods. It's rare, but be aware – nature can shave you unexpectedly.
Team Utility:
In a group, Wilson's beard can indirectly benefit others:
- Resource conversion: Wilson can convert Beard Hair to Beefalo Wool – if a Wigfrid on your team desperately needs a winter hat and no beefalos have been found.
- Team quartermaster: Wilson can act as the carrier, holding extra food in beard storage for group expeditions.
Beard as Storage in Caves:
Caves in DST have a whole different set of challenges (constant darkness, Depths Worms, etc.). Wilson's beard storage shines here – you can keep lightbulbs or cave bananas in your beard to save space for loot (fossils, thulecite, etc.).
Conclusion: A Hairy Tale with a Happy Ending
In the harsh world of Don't Starve, Wilson's beard starts as a humble tuft and grows into one of your greatest allies. By following the strategies above – shaving at smart times, leveraging that beard for warmth and storage, and choosing the right skills – you'll find Wilson can breeze through challenges that might stump other characters.
One last action item:
If you're playing Wilson tonight, take a look at your beard in-game and plan your next shave. Is winter 5 days away? Let it grow. Got a Meat Effigy yet? Maybe time to harvest those whiskers and craft one. By being proactive with Wilson's beard, you're not just surviving – you're thriving with style. Now go forth and conquer the Constant with the power of MIND…and facial hair!
Patch History
| Date (Release) | Change Note | Impact on Early-Game Priorities |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 2023 (Wilson Refresh) | Skill Tree introduced – Wilson can spend Insight on Beard Growth/Insulation perks; added Beard Hair Rug turf craft in DST. | Huge buff: New players can rely on quicker beard regrowth and stash food. Early-game winter prep became easier. Base builders got a cosmetic use for excess beard hair. |
| Apr 8, 2024 (Hotfix) | Beard Storage Unlock Fix – Fixed a bug where Torch Toss or Beard Hair Storage were unlocked without meeting requirements. | Minor fix: Ensures Wilson players can't accidentally access beard inventory early. Early-game plan unchanged (must invest 3 points before food stashing). |
| Sept 2023 – Dec 2024 (QoL Updates) | No direct beard changes. Various QoL updates but Wilson's beard values and functions remained the same. | Stable strategy: Guides from 2023 still apply – no need to relearn mechanics. Players could focus on mastering beard timing without worrying about nerfs/buffs. |
| Hamlet DLC 2019 (Single-player) | Introduced Beard Hair Rug in single-player; Webber gets Shamlet Mask recipe using Beard Hair. | Indirect: This inspired DST's addition. In DST, it set a precedent for beard hair's creative use, encouraging players to stockpile hair even after effigy needs are met. |