V Rising has no XP levels. Your power comes from the gear you equip, which the game tracks as Gear Level. Early on, that means gathering materials, crafting starter equipment, establishing a Castle Heart, tracking the V Blood targets that unlock stronger recipes, and upgrading what you wear and wield. Stunlock Studios lists the game on Steam and PlayStation 5.
What V Rising is
Stunlock Studios describes V Rising as “a gothic open-world survival action RPG.” Its official site says you build a castle, hunt for blood, and can play solo or online. The same site lists Steam and PlayStation 5 as platforms. This guide covers the early game on both. Confirm the current edition, storefront and version details on the official site before you buy.
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Progression runs on gear, not XP
Stunlock’s support article “How Do I Level Up in V Rising?”, dated July 7, 2025, puts it directly: “Unlike traditional RPGs, V Rising does not use a standard experience point (XP) leveling system.” Gear Level is the primary indicator of your power, and it rises through the items you have equipped. Replacing weak equipment is therefore the most direct way to become ready for harder fights.
Bosses matter for two separate reasons. Tracking V Blood targets through the Blood Altar unlocks stronger crafting recipes. Boss abilities also contribute to combat. Abilities do not raise Gear Level on their own, so a spell-focused character still depends on better equipment to handle tougher encounters.
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The early-game sequence
The steps below follow Stunlock’s official guidance where it exists. Where they come from the independent V Rising Guides walkthrough (updated July 10, 2026), that is noted. Treat the walkthrough’s order and specific items as one player’s route, not official direction.
1. Check the Journal first
Stunlock’s support article recommends checking the in-game Journal when progression feels slow. Use its objectives as your tutorial path before improvising.
2. Gather basic materials and craft starter gear
The independent walkthrough begins in Farbane Woods, collecting basic resources and crafting a Bone Sword and armor. Use that as a starting point. Your Journal objectives take priority if they differ.
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- Use darkness and cover to avoid being overwhelmed by the ship's deadly new inhabitants
- Seek out the weapon fabricators to increase your firepower as you journey deeper, into the dark and terrifying depths, but beware ammo is limited
- Gather materials & schematics for weapon upgrades and suit customizations with buffs
- Harvest DNA material to improve health, toughness and defensive capabilities.Survive an ever changing labyrinth. Each and every expedition into The Persistence will be disorienting and different.Death is just the beginning. Fatal encounters will result in Zimri's consciousness being uploaded into a new cloned body, ready to try again, with any upgraded stats, suits & weapon schematics kept to aid the next attempt to save the ship
3. Establish a Castle Heart and essential workstations
The walkthrough recommends placing a Simple Workbench and a Sawmill early. Build storage as well, so you are not carrying every resource on your character. Your Castle Heart is the base that everything else depends on, so give its layout some thought, though Stunlock’s later update allows relocation (see the castle section below).
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Stunlock recommends using the Blood Altar to track V Blood targets for progression. Doing so unlocks stronger crafting recipes, which is the main route to better gear once your starter equipment starts to fall behind.
5. Replace outdated equipment
Upgrade crafting stations and swap out old gear as your recipes and resources allow. Stunlock uses replacing a Bone Sword with a Copper Sword as its example of a Gear Level increase. That example comes from the July 7, 2025 support article, and item names and values may have changed in later updates.
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Sunlight is a real survival limit
Stunlock’s support guide says Sun Resistance from consumables, gear and other enhancements extends the time before sun damage begins. It does not make your vampire immune. Plan routes so you can reach shade or shelter, and treat Sun Resistance as extra margin for getting there.
Castle advice: what still holds and what has aged
Level Infinite’s castle article, dated June 26, 2023, recommends enclosing workstations, choosing the floor type that matches each station, expanding with resources, labeling storage, and assigning servants to suitable missions. These are sound organizing habits. The numerical production bonuses in that article are from 2023, however, and should not be treated as current.
Stunlock’s official launch update page states that a castle can be relocated, so a first placement is not necessarily permanent. The same page describes advanced crafting stations with faster crafting and PC gamepad support, which applies to PC players only.
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Choosing your approach
The sources used here do not establish a single best beginner build, so this guide does not prescribe one. Compare options on three points instead:
- Solo or online play. Stunlock confirms both modes. Decide how you plan to play before committing to a base layout.
- Combat-forward or spell-forward play. Abilities contribute to combat, but they do not raise Gear Level. Either route still depends on equipment.
- Your current Gear Level against the boss you are facing. If you are under-geared for a fight, upgrade equipment before pushing on.
What this guide does not settle
The independent walkthrough describes situational blood types and quality thresholds. The official Stunlock pages used for this article do not confirm those details, so this guide does not list blood-type bonuses, exact boss thresholds or build prescriptions. Check the in-game information and Stunlock’s current update notes for current numbers.
Quick Recap
Sources cited
- Stunlock Studios, official game site: game description and platform listing (Steam and PlayStation 5).
- Stunlock Studios Support, “How Do I Level Up in V Rising?”, dated July 7, 2025: Gear Level progression, boss tracking and Sun Resistance.
- V Rising Guides, independent beginner walkthrough, updated July 10, 2026: early-game order and starter items.
- Level Infinite, castle article dated June 26, 2023: older castle organization advice.
- Stunlock Studios, official launch update page: castle relocation, advanced crafting stations and PC gamepad support.
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