Summary
The multiplayer sequel toDon’t Starve,Don’t Starve Together,adds a fun fresh dimension to the base version. This iteration brought many new features to the concept, some of which have to do with the playable characters.
Each character comes withtheir specific prosand cons and is unique in its quirky way. However, some characters are much easier to start with than others inDon’t Starve Together. Players need to get a feel of the game before pursuing anything too complicated. So, which characters are better and worse for players to start with?
Updated July 15, 2025, by Alexandra O’Leary: Klei Entertainment are always keeping fans of Don’t Starve Together updated on game adjustments and additions. Highly invested in the complex world they’ve built, each character comes with an animated video delving into their backstory, meaning there’s a whole world to explore if players want it.
Despite the fun and informative nature of the universe, many players might find the game somewhat challenging. As one of the less forgiving survival games available, some players might feel disheartened after dying a few times over. One thing Don’t Starve isn’t short of, however, is characters. It’s a good idea to try out a few different characters so players can find one they really meld with and charge forward with a little more confidence.
75
Disadvantage
Can’t talk, extra vulnerable to attacks and environments
Wes is by far the hardest character to play since he’s specifically designed to challenge players. He’s a fragile little boy who can only mime, can’t fight, or even really survive at all. He has particularly low statistics, meaning he’s very difficult to keep alive. The only plus is that Wes spawns with a pile of balloons which he can blow up at a cost of 5 sanity and use to deal minor damage - which can be great in a pinch - but not much use overall.
New players will find Wes incredibly difficult to play, as he has basically no perks and will need more resources than average characters. If players are playing with lots of people, they might be able to stay alive through the combined efforts of the group - but friends may find it tiring to babysit Wes all the time. He’s more likely to overheat or freeze, takes longer to recover from nerfs - and to top it all off, he’s statistically more likely to be hit by lighting or targeted by wolves. One thing is for sure - Wes simply wasn’t built to last.
125
175
100
Fast runner, neutralizes nerfs
Aggros non-monkey mobs
Wonkey is a secretDon’t Starve Togethercharacter that technically isn’t a character. Wonkey cannot be selected from the start-up menu, but rather is the product of a curse. To “unlock” them, players will need ten Accursed Trinkets in their inventory, which will then turn them into Wonkey.
Wonkey is useful information for a beginner to have since turning into them will balance out any nerfs certain characters have. If players are having a hard time managing Wigfrid’s meat diet, turning into Wonkey will allow players to eat vegetarian dishes. Wonkey’s other benefit is that, although they may walk slowly, they can run 33% faster than other characters - which is the perfect ability for newer players who may prefer to run from a fight.
200
2700 spools or purchasing Wanda Chest
No health bar and 7 unique clock trinkets
Ages with the passage of time
The main advantage of playing as the time-obsessed Wanda is that shedoesn’t have a health bar. That sounds fantastic, but it does come with a caveat: Wanda doesn’t have a health bar, but she ages particularly quickly. To be specific, each day inDon’t Starve Togetheris twelve years of her life. If Wanda reaches 80 years old, then she’ll die.
Luckily, Wanda is a clock expert and can craft a few unique items. One of these items is the Ageless Watch, which will take eight years off Wanda’s life. This mechanic can be pretty tricky to get to grips with, but once players are familiar with it, Wanda can be near invincible. It’s worth noting that Wanda can take damage, which will add years to her life, but otherwise, her health won’t be depleted in normal ways.
150
Magic Costs Sanity
Maxwell is one of those characters that seems like a great choice on the surface, but he can be very challenging in practice. One of Maxwell’s main perks is that he spawns with the Codex Umbra, which he can use to summon Shadow Spirits, who will complete multiple different tasks, like harvesting and digging. However, summoning a Shadow Spirit costs Maxwell 15% of his maximum sanity - which luckily regenerates at 6.75% a minute, one of the fastest in the game.
This connection to the dark side also means Maxwell doesn’t take sanity damage from shadow items. The real challenge with Maxwell is that he’s not exactlyeasyto play, especially for those new to the game. It can be confusing to get a hold of all his magical abilities and master how to balance his sanity - since going insane can sometimes be useful. Shadow Spirits will disappear if they take too much damage, so using them frivolously can be detrimental too. His complicated abilities, combined with his low health, can often be a lot to juggle. Ultimately, Maxwell is great, but usually only in the hands of a player with a bit more experience.
250
Unlocking
Is available at 2560 XP or for free inDon’t Starve Together
Spawns with crock pot and ingredients
Can’t eat uncooked food and the same dish more than once in a row
Warly is a great choice for players who find they eitherlove the cooking aspectof the game or that they struggle to focus on it too much. Warly spawns in theDon’t Starve TogetherConstant with a portable crock pot already in his inventory - as well as some great ingredients. Before his appearance in the game, Warly was a chef and that remains his passion even now.
Paired with someone like Wormwood (thanks to his farming ability), Warly is a great character to have on a team. His main disadvantage is he’s a little picky, so he won’t eat foods that haven’t been cooked and receives fewer benefits when eating the same dish twice in a row. If players can keep a solid selection of recipes in their brains, then Warly is a very strong and useful character. The crock pot being portable is also huge, allowing players to cook whenever they might need to - which helps combat expiry dates on dishes.
Is available at 3200XP
Great at finding things
Doesn’t have big pockets like the rest
While her health is detrimentally low, this go-getter is ready to explore the world. With her trusty Pew-matic Horn and Navigadget, the world doesn’t stand a chance against Wheeler. The Navigadget is an essential item to have in the Constant, as it helps players find items they’re looking for. If players place an item in the gadget, it will point in a direction to where that object can be found. And thankfully, she runs a bit faster than the other characters.
However, players should note that preparing storage is crucial when playing Wheeler, as she has less storage space. While the other characters have 15 inventory slots, she only has 12, so be prepared to craft a backpack or chest at the base as soon as possible.
225
Is available immediately
A great inventor
Almost blind and an upset stomach
Who wouldn’t enjoy playing as a mad scientist? Wagstaff is one of the few characters inDon’t Starvethat is available immediately with no experience needed, meaning players who buy the game can immediately start with him. This may be because Wagstaff willingly brought himself to this scary world in search of knowledge.
What makes this character great is his special Tinkering Tab, which allows players to craft a few special items. From Infrogoggles which allows players to see the world in infrared, to the Telipad, which allows players to teleport between pads depending on how far away they are, there are several useful gadgets that the scientist has for players. The only problem is that Wagstaff has bad eyesight, so if players exchange their glasses with any goggles, they’ll have trouble seeing far away.
120
Available at 2240XP
Loves to surf and chill
Pretty low health to start with
Walani is a pretty chill character, especially for someone who was justtransported into a dangerous world. While her health is low, her hunger and sanity are a huge plus for players just starting out. This is a great character for those who want to explore more than anything because she starts with her surfboard, meaning she can sail through the water without having to jump through hoops to craft a boat.
The only real weakness is her health, which can be an issue if players end up bumping into something bad or are poisoned. But if players work on exploring and gathering enough resources and defenses to prevent anything too harsh from coming her way, she’s a great asset to any team.
Available at 1920XP
Brought her own gear
Will only eat meat
Exclusive to the Reign of Giants DLC, Wigfrid is a courageous and tough character to have in the Constant. When starting, she already has a defense and offense item, with a Battle Spear and Battle Helm. The Helm has the same durability as a Football helmet, and the Spear has 200 uses with 42.5 damage. This is incredibly useful during the beginning of the game, as it gives players an upper hand when exploring the unknown.
The biggest problem would be her meat-only diet, which can be a bit of a problem, but if players work on finding rabbit holes early in the game, she could be a great asset to any team.
Is available when playingDon’t Starve Together
Very skilled builder and has her own gadgets
Hunger is a big factor in her crafting skills
Winona is a great choice for builders at a party. Her special power is that she has an exclusive tab of crafting for her called the Engineering Tab. Not only is her crafting speed higher than most, but she has five special recipes that span from Trusty Tape that repairs clothes and or boats to Winona’s G.E.M.erator, which can power up her Catapult or Spotlight for up to 6 days.
While she is a mighty crafter and is pretty strong in battle, she does get a knock of Hunger at each crafting unless they’re back to back. When her Hunger is below 50, her crafting speed is incredibly slow though, so make sure she is well-fed.
