This Dungeon Settlers beginner guide starts with your first settlement base, your first party of up to four recruits, and your first floor of the procedurally generated dungeon. New players should pick a starting race, run one safe dungeon expedition, and harvest clay early so workshops can start producing for the Guild. Specific tutorial sequences beyond that early loop are not announced as of 2026-09-01.
Set up your first Guild settlement
The first decision every new player makes is where to place the initial Guild base. The Steam store page describes the colony sim plus settlement management loop, and the Turn-Based Lovers overview frames it as the natural starting surface before any dungeon expedition runs. Choose a settlement footprint that leaves room to expand, because the Steam store page lists bedrooms, dining halls, workshops, forges, smelters, and crop fields as core rooms. A cramped first footprint forces relocation later, while a too-spread base stretches the early ration supply. Every Guild expedition consumes rations and camping supplies, so the early settlement should stockpile both before sending a party of up to four into the dungeon. Specific recipes, ration burn rates, and crop yields are not announced as of 2026-09-01, so treat stockpile sizing as conservative until those values are published.
Recruit your first party members
Recruitment is the second major decision for new players. The Steam store page describes trait_by_race alongside background and personality, and the same trait trio is echoed by the MMOFLARE early-access guide, so the first party sets the trait baseline for the rest of the run. Start by choosing a race that fits the role you want to learn first, because race contributes the headline identity in the trait_by_race system. Full race roster and balance numbers are not announced as of 2026-09-01, so first-party race picks should focus on what you want to learn rather than a tier-list comparison. The Steam store page confirms a party of up to four characters per expedition, which is the cap for every dungeon run. Mix backgrounds and personalities so the trait trio produces varied combinations, since the same race can still feel different when background and personality inputs vary.
Run your first dungeon floor
Once the base is stable and the party is ready, send the team into the procedurally generated dungeon floors. The Steam store page lists merchants and rare resources as floor features, and the Steam Community page describes merchants as a restock opportunity for the next expedition. Specific floor layouts, enemy rosters, and merchant inventories are not announced as of 2026-09-01.
Harvest clay early to feed the workshops
Clay is the early- to mid-game resource most new players hit first. Treasure chests drop clay and dungeon floors carry a mining source, and that clay feeds the settlement workshops that build and upgrade the Guild base. Clay from chests and floor mining should be routed straight to the workshops, because workshops consume clay to build rooms and craft items. Treat clay as the bottleneck between exploration and base growth, and prioritize chest clears and floor mining until the workshops are running at full capacity.
FAQ
What should I do first in Dungeon Settlers?
Set up the first Guild settlement, recruit the first party of up to four, and run one safe dungeon expedition. Clay harvested early should feed the workshops so the base can grow.
How long is the Early Access tutorial?
The Steam store page does not publish a step-by-step tutorial length. Treat the specific tutorial sequence beyond the first settlement setup, the first party, the first race, the first floor, and the early clay loop as not announced as of 2026-09-01.
Which race should a brand new player pick first?
The Steam store page does not publish a recommended starter race. Pick whichever race fits the role you want to learn, and treat tier-list race picks as not announced as of 2026-09-01.
Is clay the main early resource in Dungeon Settlers?
Yes. The Steam store page and the MMOFLARE guide both list clay as the early- to mid-game resource tied to chest drops and floor mining, which makes it the first resource most new players need to learn.