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.
About the beginner guide
New nights fail at the desk, not in surgery. Shift 1–2: learn appearance, photo, and CCTV rejects. Shift 3: wall Taser and Fire Extinguisher. Shift 4–5: first Ambulance. Spend early Animal Coins on Secretary (120) or Nurse (20) before chasing Surgeon (2,500).
First nights list
- 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 (+5 per sip, 3 sips). 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. The lobby wheelchair rack unlocks here too (Even More Lore).
- 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. Early buys: Secretary (120) for desk Sanity or Nurse (20) for a slot; Doctor (900) next; Surgeon (2,500) when hallway heals are your main job.
- 6
Fill Journal entries after Hazmat
Lobby Journal under Classes pays Animal Coins on first unlock — full codex is 1,170 across 55 entries. Anomaly pages usually need a desk check-in first. Good path toward Firefighter (1,100) or hiring Sam ($250) after slime nights.
Sanity and desk priority
Sanity at zero ends the run. Low visuals kick in around ~30% — drink Coffee (+5 ×3), Chocolate (~60 total), or Mint Tea ($100) before desk work piles up. Reject order: appearance → photo → CCTV → paperwork → audio. One failed layer means Shutters. 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 for Shutters tells and layer order. Progression for Sanity + dual currency. Threats for what guns miss. Classes / Tier List for Animal Coin order (Secretary 120 → Doctor 900 → Surgeon 2,500). Locations for Second Floor Lab serums.
- 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 are not sure whether to hit Shutters.
How do I stop losing Sanity so fast?
Reject anomalies early, avoid staring at threats, and restore with Coffee (+5 ×3), Chocolate (~60), or Mint Tea ($100). Secretary and Doctor refill Sanity on intake or heal — see Classes.
When should I open the Emergency Solver?
Any time a HUD alert stacks mid-shift: fainting patients, oxygen pump, fires, Ghost, Skin Walker, Death Ritual, or Ambulance. Timers run 30–120 s; the solver picks the next safe priority.
Do I need codes to start?
No. There is no redeem menu as of October 12, 2026. Grind shifts, Journal first-unlocks (1,170 total), and ×2 windows instead.
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 session as a deceased player. Self Revive puts you back on the floor; otherwise spectate until someone Teddy Bear revives you ($750 shop).