Don T Starve Together How to Get Sanity

Don't Starve: Why Wilson Is the Best Character

While Don't Starve's Wilson may be a pretty basic starting character, he has one quirk that makes him to best character in the entire game.

Klei Entertainment's gameDon't Starve has seen the addition of many characters since its release in 2013. Whether it be through routine updates, DLC or the multiplayer versionDon't Starve Together, the indie game has a wide cast that ranges from the indigestible Webber to the man behind the curtain himself, Maxwell.

With this in mind, players may wonder about the starting character, Wilson Percival Higgsbury, the gentleman scientist. He doesn't have sanity perks like Willow, he's not a friend to spiders like Webber and he's not immune to seasonal ails like Wormwood. He doesn't even get stronger like Wolfgang or WX-78, nor does he have an alternate moon-triggered form like Woodie or Wilba. However, despite lacking these kinds of perks, Wilson is secretly the best character in the game.

This might come as a surprise, considering Wilson has no strengths and his only quirk is growing a magnificent beard. Being a gentleman scientist doesn't come with any boosts like how being a librarian grants high-tier builds to Wickerbottom or how being a lumberjack speeds up Woodie's chopping. But to counter his lack of specialties, Wilson doesn't have any weaknesses. Wigfrid can only eat meat, Wickerbottom can't sleep, WX-78 can't get wet and even Wolfgang has to be kept well-fed if he wants to stay mighty.

On top of this, Wilson's stats are the most well-rounded of the Survivors. He's nowhere near the glass cannon that characters like Maxwell are, and while his stats are average, they are also not beholden to some other factor like Willow's fire or Wolfgang's hunger. Wilson's interactions with the world of the Constant is plain and straightforward without some odd influence -- which is fitting for a scientist.

However, it's his one quirk that makes him overpowered. On the surface, him growing a magnificent beard seems like a strange thing to list as a quirk, especially when compared to the other characters' more interesting quirks. It provides some insulation, which is great for winter, and when he shaves it his sanity gets a boost. You can use the shavings to fuel a fire or for the Ice Flingomatic, and you can use it to make Beard Hair Rugs -- but what you want to use it for is Meat Effigies.

Much like Touch Stones or the Life-Giving Amulet, Meat Effigies bring you back should you die in your game. Unlike the Life-Giving Amulet, it doesn't take up a slot, and unlike the Touch Stone, you can put it somewhere convenient instead of in the middle of a forest or desert. Itdoes have the penalty of taking a chunk out of your health, but it's a worthwhile exchange for reviving at your base.

The only issue for most other Survivors is that a Meat Effigy requires beard hair to craft. To get that, you have to let your sanity get dangerously low and farm Beardlings or Beardlords, the creatures that rabbits and Bunnymen turn into when you're insane. This isn't the case for Wilson, who naturally grows plenty of beard hair for the effigy -- and is possibly the one who created it originally since it's modeled in his image.

Wilson is the only character in the game who can build a Meat Effigy without risking insanity or extensively farming tumbleweeds, giving him a clear advantage over the other Survivors. Since he's a natural source of beard hair, he can get one or two effigies together with little effort, then explore the Constant as he pleases, putting him at a distinct advantage over the others.

Ultimately, this make Wilson the best character in Don't Starve. Not only is he an adorkable nerd, but his well-rounded stats, lack of weaknesses and ability to craft Meat Effigies with reduced effort makes him an impressive addition to the roster. He might not be indigestible or a pyromaniac, but Wilson certainly has what it takes to survive the Constant -- or at least, survive it longer than most.

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About The Author

Kelsey Dickson (102 Articles Published)

Dr. Kelsey Dickson is a writer and artist from Delaware. When she's not actively engaged in creative media, she's catering to the whims of her pets, who most likely run the house. Her degrees include a Bachelor's in Game Art, a Master's in Creative Writing, and a Doctorate in Online Education. She also spends a lot of time writing fanfiction, but we won't hold that against her. You can find her on Tumblr where she contributes fanfiction, fan theories, and general chaos.