[Escape from Duckhoff (Dackhoff) Complete Strategy Guide]From beginners to advanced players! Thorough coverage of early stage efficient routes, list of essential skills, 20 small tricks, and strategies for all quests

Escape from Duckhoff, commonly known as “Dackhoff'', is a top-down PvE escape shooter game featuring cute ducks. In this game, you repeatedly go from your base to a dangerous map, collect supplies, and escape. It features a hardcore system in which all equipment is lost if you are defeated by an enemy, and contrary to its cute appearance, it offers a tense survival experience.

Immediately after the game was released, it became a popular work with over 250,000 concurrent users on Steam and sales of over 1 million copies. Quest and item names are also fully translated into Japanese, and this guide covers everything from basic operations for beginners to money-making routes and boss strategies for advanced players. We will focus on explaining the points where you are likely to stumble, especially in the early stages, and support efficient progress. Now, become a duck and survive in the world of Duckhoff!

Immediately after starting the game: How to select the difficulty level and proceed through the tutorial

First, we recommend “Balanced” on the difficulty selection screen that appears after starting the game. This mode is the perfect difficulty for beginners, allowing you to learn the nitty-gritty of the game while keeping the enemies moderately strong. The highest difficulty level, “Extreme”, is for advanced players, and the enemy's durability and damage are extremely high, making it easy to get frustrated when playing for the first time.

Don't skip the tutorials, just clear them all. The contents are as follows.

1. Move to the front of the base door.
2. Make up your character (you can change it later in your room).
3. Move around the map and collect items.
4. Weapon equipment and shooting practice.
5. Escape from the confinement facility.

With this, you will learn the basic operations (WASD movement, mouse aim, Shift dash, C key weapon storage). After completing the tutorial, return to the base and talk to NPC “Jeff” to receive the first quest “Start Fund”. This quest rewards you with 500 experience points and 1296 gold, solidifying your early foundation.

Efficient route in the early stages: golden pattern that completes base reinforcement in 1 hour

The goal in the early stages is “quest progression + item collection + base expansion”. The shortest route is summarized below.

Step 1: First sortie (area zero)

• Exit the ladder at the base.
• Go straight to the northwest and use the sandbags to defeat the enemies (more on this later).
• Get essential items.

Item name	Where to get it	priority	Purpose
makeup bag	Vending machine (base)	★★★★★	Increases bag capacity +8
AK-74U	Enemy drop in front of northwest camp	★★★★☆	Used as a main weapon in the early stages
tool box	en route attache case	★★★☆☆	Used for quest delivery
metal piece	enemy drop/box	★★★★☆	Use as construction material
old friend letter	small hill	★★★☆☆	Used to clear quests

• Return from the north green escape point. Avoid road camps (boss areas).

Step 2: Base work

• Store items in the warehouse (L-key lock protects important items).
• Purchase a makeup bag from a vending machine.
• Deliver the “Foundation Construction” quest to Jeff (Reward: Hemostasis Bandage x3).
• Accept the “Nutritional Balance” quest at Mad's house. Obtain materials from food boxes and vending machines.

Step 3: Release training room

• Clear the Mad Quest “Nutritional Balance 1-3” to obtain tires.
• Place training in the construction menu. Enables status enhancement.

This route will complete your bag expansion and initial skill development within an hour. By actively defeating enemies, you can also accumulate ammo.

Required for beginners! Expanded version 10 major tips + α 20 small tricks

We will dig deeper into the 10 items in the original article and thoroughly explain the contents that have been verified through actual play.

1. When developing skills, prioritize “bag expert” and strengthen it.

The core of the skill tree is the “Bag Expert” series. Dramatically increase the number of items you can carry in one sortie, improving circulation efficiency.

• Bag Expert I: Capacity +4 (Lv1, gold required, cold core fragment 1)
• Ⅱ: +4 (Lv5)
• Ⅲ: +4 (Lv10)
• Bag Master I: +5 (Top)

Developed with a reinforced machine. Select “Survival Instinct I (HP+5)” as the runner-up. Capacity +30 or more is possible by reaching the full tree.

Skill name	effect	Required level	Main material
bag expert Ⅰ	Capacity +4	1	cold nuclear fragments
Survival Instinct I	HP+5	1	carrot
Gun Mastery I	Damage +3%	3	Bag for elementary school students

2. Make full use of vending machines! Secure early quest items with gold

The base's vending machines are always stocked with Quest delivered items (nutritional balance materials, tools, etc.). As long as you have gold, you don't need to search. Limited items will also be available at the event.

3. If you feel the game is too difficult, change the difficulty level immediately! Easy adjustment at base desk

At your desk in your room, go to “Balance” → “Farm”. Ideal for practice with enemy HP/damage reduction. Raise it when you get used to it.

4. Prevent loss with item lock function (L key)

Locks important slots in your bag (ammo, healing potions, blueprints). This is essential as it will remain even if you store it. Perfect when used with a pet bag.

5. When movement is important, store the C key weapon! Return safely at twice the speed

Move faster than when holding a weapon. Use it when you return the way you came or after defeating the enemy. Fastest when used with Dash Shift.

6. Open the training room early! Raise status

Complete the Mad Quest “Nutritional Balance” to obtain and build tires. Accept the order at NPC Mad's house. After installation, HP/shooting accuracy will improve.

7. The true value of a pet bag: The divine function of eliminating loss and ignoring weight

Items with paw icons will automatically return upon death + no weight addition. Pack blueprints, valuables, and heavy expansion boxes. Capacity +2 with dog trainer skill.

8. Tips for recovering lost items: Retry immediately at the place of death to fully recover

If you die, you will lose your equipment, but you will be able to head to the scene on your next sortie. Recommended during the day (enemies will be strengthened at night). The condition for disappearance is collection by other players or passage of time.

9. Make sandbags your friend! one-sided defense wall

It's all over the map. It can be destroyed with close range fire. It will take zero hits until it breaks. It will become a staple of early battles.

10. Manage weapon range with the meter on the bottom right! Maximum damage in green zone

Displays the range of each weapon (e.g. AK-74U 50m) in green (optimal) → yellow → red. You can avoid disadvantages in long-distance battles.

10 additional tricks

11. Utilize data backup. Save in front of areas where you are likely to die.
12. Don't forget to collect the feathers. Get a totem with 8 pieces (status will increase).
13. Time skips in bed at night/during storms.
14. Perform a merchant check. Randomly sold divine items will appear.
15. Make money in the early stages by going around Chibigamo (this is the warehouse area boss).
16. Search the key room. Many luxury items appear.
17. Switch viewpoints (V key). Effective for checking blind spots.
18. Remove ammunition. It becomes lighter when not needed.
19. Use frying pan melee. Silent kill is possible.
20. Obtain the event weapon “Spirit Gun”. It will be an easy win.

List of all quests and strategy points

Quests are divided by NPC, and facilities/weapons are unlocked as rewards.

NPC	Quest name	Compensation example	point
jeff	starting capital	EXP500, gold 1296	This is my first quest
jeff	foundation construction	Bandage x3	We will expand the warehouse
mad	Nutritional balance 3	gold 1500	release training
orange	fishing enthusiast 1	flash light	start fishing
Xavier	parts wholesale	AK-74U release	Strengthen your weapons

There are also many event-limited quests, and new weapons can be obtained by chaining them.

Map Strategy: Warehouse Area – Farm Town – J-Lab

• Area zero (early stage): Escape north using sandbags.
• warehouse area: Key room/Chibigamo boss appears. Sniper is recommended.
• farm town: Many strong enemies will appear. Obtain the cannon in the quest “Mosquito Extermination”.
• J-Lab: This is the final map. Avoid poison gas/spiders (lateral movement is effective).

Strongest weapon tier ranking and how to obtain it

Tier	weapon	performance	How to get it
S	M107	long range high firepower	Xavier's “Gold Sniper” quest
A	StG 77A3	Strongest balance	We will go around the warehouse
B	SV98	sniper	Obtained from advanced quest

Elemental weapons (flame AK) are also very powerful.

Advanced Money Strategy: Little Duck Circulation & Puffer Fish Merchant

• Little Duck: Collect equipment using a safe route. You can earn tens of thousands of dollars in just 10 minutes per round.
• Mining equipment: Used as an idle money strategy.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: How many save slots are there?

A: The latest update has increased the number to 6.

Q: Is a reroll required?

A: No need. Lowering the difficulty level is enough.

Q: Can I use a controller?

A: Mouse is dominant, but third-person view is possible.

Summary: Turn Dakkov into the ultimate duck

If you follow this guide, you can go from being a beginner to reaching the end content in one week. Complete the cycle of expanding your bag → repeating quests → conquering the map, and always take thorough measures against lost items. Please check the update information from time to time and pray from the bottom of your heart that you can escape safely from the world of Duckhoff!