Undawn has a confusing in-game mechanic where Health and HP are completely different stats. While your HP can be full, you can be low on Health and each of them restores differently.
HP is the classic hitpoint system we all know and love (or hate, depending on how your last fight went). Health, though? That’s your overall wellness, and if it’s low, no amount of bandages is going to save you. Let’s sort this mess out.
In this guide, I will explain the differences between HP and Health in Undawn and showcase how to increase and restore Health.
For more starter guides, take a look at our article on how to customize your character in Undawn.
HP vs Health in Undawn: What’s the Difference?
HP: Your Hitpoints
What It Does: HP is your lifeline during combat. It goes down when you take damage from zombies, traps, or environmental hazards.
Where to See It: It’s the green bar on the top left of your screen – classic survival game territory.
How to Restore It: Use HP-specific items like Bandages and First Aid Kits.
Health: Your Wellness
What It Does: Health is a broader measure of your character’s overall condition. It’s influenced by four stats:
- Body: Affected by injuries, cold, and exhaustion.
- Mentality: Drops when you’re stressed or scared.
- Hygiene: Takes a hit if you don’t clean yourself or your gear.
- Metabolism: Suffers if you’re not eating nutritious food.
Where to See It: Check the Health Monitor tab by pressing the “U” hotkey.
Why It Matters: Health is the foundation of your character’s overall survival ability. This is why even with full HP, you can still have low health (and you should worry if it happens).
Overall, HP is the classic mechanic in survival video games that focuses on the damage you receive, while Health is affected by your wellness and living conditions.
Also read: How to Increase Homestead Storage in Undawn
How to Increase and Restore Health in Undawn
Your Health will decrease when you catch a cold, get hurt, don’t eat or sleep well, or have bad hygiene.
To restore Health in Undawn you will need to use any items in your backpack that say they can restore Health in their description.
The best early-game item is the Antibody (Restores 30 health)
How to Get It: Kill zombies for a chance to loot antibody materials. Alternatively, you can purchase them from Clint at the Ravens Shelter.
Pro Tip: Stockpile Antibodies if you’re planning a long exploration. Zombies might be good for farming materials, but they’re also great at lowering your HP and Health simultaneously.
If only your Health is low, using HP-restoring items won’t have any benefits on it.
Also read: Best Games Like Undawn
How to Increase/Avoid Losing Health in Undawn
Keeping your character in tip-top shape in the long term is essential for their well-being. There are plenty of things you should do and keep in mind to make sure that everything goes well. Here’s a quick guide on keeping your character’s health under control:
Body:
- Sleep regularly and eat meals that restore energy.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to cold or bad weather.
Mentality:
- Take breaks in safe zones to reduce stress.
- Avoid activities that increase fear (like fighting in tight spaces or dark areas).
Hygiene:
- Clean your character regularly at camps or shelters by taking baths.
- Keep your gear in good condition to avoid infections.
Metabolism:
- Eat balanced meals – don’t rely on junk food or low-quality snacks.
- Keep an eye on your hunger and thirst meters and keep them under control too.
Also read: Undawn Tier List
Wrapping up
You know now the differences between HP and Health in Undawn, but also how to keep them in check.
While HP is your immediate defense, Health ensures you can keep going in the long run. Make Antibodies your new best friend, pay attention to your wellness stats, and don’t skimp on meals or hygiene. At least it sounds easy!
Did you get confused by the differences between HP and Health? Do you have any other tips for keeping your Health high? Feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions in the comment section below.
Before leaving, consider checking out our guide on how to craft Yarn in Undawn, a key item needed to complete one of the first quests in the game.
He has a Master’s Degree in Philosophy, which allows him to always come up with a fresh approach to solving in-game puzzles and challenges, but also to create content that’s to the point, clean and easy to follow.
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