Kenshi is often described as punishing, unforgiving, and borderline masochistic—but only if you don’t know what you’re doing. Once you crack the code, it’s less a desperate struggle for survival and more like roleplaying a desert demigod. This guide is a complete, step-by-step breakdown of how to go from nobody to near-immortal using a series of smart exploits, targeted training routines, and stat-boosting gear. Credit goes to streamer FrankieWuzHere, whose deep-dive content inspired much of this.

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Step 1: Secure the Bag (Backpack and Early Game Loot)

Before you start climbing the ranks of power, you need gear—specifically a large backpack. It serves three crucial functions:

1. Loot capacity (for raiding Narco’s Trap later)
2. XP optimization (combat penalties = longer fights = more XP)
3. Essential storage and logistics

Ways to earn your first few thousand cats:

• Rob the Skeleton Doctor at a waystation—he won’t hold a grudge.
• Lure bulls or animals to city gates and loot corpses.
• Heal wounded animals or guards for First Aid XP.
• Mine copper if you must, but it’s slow.

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Step 2: Armor King Watchdog + Strength Training

Send a hired recruit (e.g. Hubert) to the Armor King via river swim with some dry meat and 3,000 cats. Park him there to wait and check every 48 hours for Masterwork Assassin’s Rags, Tin Can helmets, and Samurai Legplates.

Meanwhile, you begin strength training:

• Fill your backpack with water (or anything heavy)
• Carry an unconscious animal for bonus strength XP
• To avoid slowing down, quicksave and quickload after walking some distance

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Step 3: Stealth Training in Skinner’s Roam

Head to Skinner’s Roam and locate a squad of 40 starving bandits. Pick a leader, stealthily follow the group during daytime (better XP), and grind your Stealth to 80+. Avoid detection—getting caught here is fatal.

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Step 4: Raid Narco’s Trap for Mega Profits

Narco’s Trap is a high-value target loaded with illegal tech. To raid it:

• Approach at night, sneak to the gate
• Pick the lock when guards aren’t looking (5% detection chance)
• Avoid the two Security Spiders using your 80+ stealth
• Prioritize loot worth 2,000+ cats per kilogram

If you’re spotted, escape via water. Paladins can’t swim, so they’ll give up the chase.

Sell loot at Blister Hill (except AI Cores and Ancient Science Books). To avoid contraband checks:

• Drop items 20 feet before the gate
• Get inspected
• Pick up everything again once inside

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Step 5: Limb Loss and Toughness Training in Fog Islands

Head to Mongrel and gear up:

• Sell excess tech
• Buy Skeleton Limbs (Scout legs and arms preferred)
• Buy a Fog Mask from the Shinobi Thieves
• Join the thieves for extra services

To lose limbs and raise Toughness:

• Stand on a Fog Pole outside Mongrel
• Let Fog Princes eat your limbs off
• Apply robot limbs as you go

For Skeletons:

• Use Iron Spiders to destroy legs (wear no leg armor)
• Use turret fire to remove arms (wear no chest armor)

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Step 6: Blocking Mastery in Mongrel Barracks

Time to grind Block XP:

• Place fogmen prisoners in cages on the barracks roof
• Equip Assassin’s Rags and sneak weapons into guard inventories
• Enter barracks, spam R to break block/dodge cycles
• Let guards wail on you without dealing damage in return

You’ll reach Block 90 quickly. Don’t worry about bounties—guards forget everything after you leave.

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Step 7: Final Toughness Grind in Skinner’s Roam

Return to Skinner’s Roam:

• Equip Masterwork Samurai Armor
• Remove your right arm for bonus XP
• Allow 40 starving bandits to beat you senseless
• Repeatedly stand up and “play dead” for massive Toughness XP

With full armor, this is safe. Heal in between rounds using a sleeping bag. Target Toughness 90–95.

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Step 8: Upgrade Limbs and Weapon in Black Desert City

Visit Black Desert City:

• Rest and heal
• Buy or steal Edge Type 3 Weapon from the Scrapyard
• Replace limbs with Masterwork Scout Legs and Skeleton Arms

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Step 9: Attack & Dexterity Training in Hower Maze

Fight baby crabs in Hower Maze:

• Wear all gear (Rusty weapon, armor, backpack)
• This prolongs fights = better XP
• Grind until Attack and Dexterity hit 60+

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Step 10: Final Combat Training at Skeleton Bandits HQ

Visit Iron HQ (Skeleton Bandits’ base):

• Build a shack with a bed just outside
• Run inside, attack top-floor enemies, lure them out
• Stand in a shack doorway and hold position
• Grind Attack to 90 with fast respawn enemies

Skeletons can sleep inside their own base, Organics need a shack.

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Final Touches and Random Pro Tips

At this point, you’re combat-optimized and god-tier. You can:

• Take on end-game bosses (Cat-Lon, Bugmaster, etc.)
• Customize your loadout: Assassin’s Rags, Fog Mask, Edge Type 3 weapon
• Buy or hunt down the Meitou version of your weapon of choice

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Bonus Tips:

• Instant heal robot limbs: Remove them, quicksave/load, re-equip
• Ally Holy Nation as Skeleton: Use Mole’s dialogue to earn +rep
• Max Assassination: Sneak behind Cat-Lon during his speech
• Max Thievery fast: Use item swap exploit with full inventory
• Backpack abuse: Carry your pack on another person for weight efficiency
• Zoom to heal faster: Zooming in speeds up recovery on beds
• Render optimization: Crossbows and enemies act slower when offscreen
• Spam R: Cancel stumbles, queue faster attacks, disrupt chase logic

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Congratulations. You are now a walking death machine. The world bends to your will. Whether you start a faction, wipe the map, or simply wander as a one-man apocalypse, your journey from copper miner to Kenshi god is complete.

The rest is up to you.