Beginner Guide
First nights in order — desk checks, Sanity habits, Fast Start, Shift 2–5 milestones, and when to open the Anomaly Checker or Emergency Solver.
By Bloxron Editorial Team · Last updated
New nights fail at the desk, not in surgery. This page is the first-run order only — reject fakes, protect Sanity, then unlock tools before chasing class cosmetics. Full tables stay on the wiki pages linked below.
First nights — what to do in order
- 1
Survive Shift 1 at the window
Learn appearance checks first. Compare the live patient to what a normal animal should look like before you assign a room. Coffee restores Sanity when a jumpscare lands — keep one habit early. Lobby Fast Start can skip the first four tutorial shifts if you already know the desk (Shift 1 then plays as hard as Shift 4).
- 2
Get CCTV and shutters on Shift 2
CCTV and shutters unlock here. Run appearance → photo → CCTV whenever the UI offers them. Any failed layer means Shutters — never “hope” a suspicious patient is fine.
- 3
Stock Taser and extinguisher on Shift 3
Free wall Taser and Fire Extinguisher enter the loop. Skin Walkers and fires escalate from here; guns only help Skin Walkers, not slime or ceiling threats.
- 4
Brace for Ambulance nights around Shift 4–5
Paperwork and audio checks matter more. Watch for Mimic Patient lookalikes of recurring NPCs (often a fake Ratthew) — photo and CCTV can look clean. First major spike often lands with six-plus patients — triage intake before chasing hallway loot.
- 5
Spend Animal Coins between nights
Shift cash buys Supplies Shop tools mid-run. Animal Coins unlock Class Shop jobs in the lobby. Pick a class that restores Sanity or speeds desk work before cosmetic skins.
- 6
Fill Journal entries after Hazmat (if live)
Lobby Journal under Classes pays Animal Coins for anomalies, NPCs, and achievements — anomaly pages usually need a desk check-in first. Good path to Firefighter (1,100 coins) or hiring Sam ($250) after slime nights.
Sanity and desk priority
Your run ends when Sanity hits zero — not at a fixed shift number. Treat desk rejects as the main skill: appearance, photo, CCTV, paperwork, and audio when offered. Open the Anomaly Checker when you're not sure about a tell, and the Emergency Solver when HUD alerts stack mid-shift.
Where to dig next
- Anomalies — full Shutters tell list
- Progression — currencies and milestone nights
- Threats — what guns do not fix
- Tier list — early Animal Coin class priorities
FAQ
What should I do on my first Animal Hospital night?
Focus on desk rejects before treatments. Learn appearance tells, keep Coffee for Sanity, and open the Anomaly Checker when you're not sure whether to hit Shutters.
How do I stop losing Sanity so fast?
Avoid staring at threats, reject anomalies early, and restore with Coffee or food. Some class perks also refill Sanity between scares — see Classes and Progression.
When should I open the Emergency Solver?
Any time a HUD alert stacks mid-shift — fainting patients, fires, Ghost, Skin Walker, Death Ritual, or Ambulance. The solver picks the next safe priority so you do not guess under pressure.
Do I need codes to start?
No. There is no redeem menu yet. Use the beginner loop and tools instead of chasing fake code lists.
What is Fast Start?
Skip Tutorial / Fast Start skips the first four tutorial shifts, so early nights hit Shift 4 desk pressure right away. Use it only if you already know appearance, photo, and CCTV rejects.
What if I disconnect or die mid-run?
If a Reconnect prompt shows up, take it before Leave / Go to lobby — you rejoin the same multiplayer session instead of Shift 1. Die from Sanity and you spectate until someone Teddy Bear revives you.