Welcome to Hope County, Montana — a rugged open-world playground where chaos, resistance, and plenty of gunfire await. Whether you’re new to the Far Cry series or just need a refresher before diving into Far Cry 5, this guide offers seven foundational tips to help you get your footing fast and thrive as you dismantle the Eden’s Gate cult. These aren’t just throwaway pointers — each of them is a game-changer when applied right from the start.

1. Go Anywhere — But Tread Carefully

Once you finish the short introduction on the starting island, Far Cry 5 throws open the gates to its massive world. The freedom is exhilarating. The entire map becomes accessible, segmented into three primary regions, each dominated by a different lieutenant of the cult. You’re free to choose where to go first — there’s no enforced linear path. However, don’t mistake openness for ease. Some areas will be significantly more challenging due to tougher enemies or environmental hazards, especially if your skills are still bare-bones.

That said, committing to a single region and sticking with it has its rewards. Taking down one of the lieutenants unlocks a powerful perk, giving you a meaningful edge moving forward. So while exploration is encouraged, progression benefits from focused effort. Pick your region, dig in, and don’t leave until the boss falls.

2. Unlock Animal Companions Early

One of the standout features in Far Cry 5 is the ability to recruit ‘Fangs for Hire’ — animal companions that bring unique tactical advantages to your resistance efforts. Sure, you’ll also find human allies (‘Guns for Hire’), but they just don’t have the charm (or claws) of the animal kind.

Head straight for the missions that unlock Boomer the dog, Peaches the stealthy cougar, and Cheeseburger the brute bear. You’ll spot their locations easily on the map, marked with photo portraits. Each animal suits a different playstyle — Boomer is perfect for recon, auto-marking enemies; Peaches excels at silent kills; and Cheeseburger is a one-animal wrecking crew. Best of all? These missions are short and sweet, so don’t hesitate to collect them all.

3. Farm Challenges to Boost Your Skill Points

Skill points are vital — they unlock perks that dramatically impact your survivability, mobility, and firepower. Missions offer some, but the real goldmine lies in the game’s ‘Challenges’ system. These are mini-objectives, like killing a certain number of enemies with specific weapons or using different tactics. They’re essentially in-game achievements that pay you back with skill points.

Want fast progress? Cycle through weapons regularly, try different companions, and diversify your combat. In under an hour, you can rack up over a dozen challenges if you play smart — that’s a sizable chunk of perks unlocked without much grind. Keep an eye on that challenge tab.

4. Prioritize the Additional Holster Perk

Far Cry 5 limits your loadout early on, giving you just one primary and one sidearm. That’s a major constraint in a game that thrives on chaos and flexibility. The fix? Invest in the ‘Additional Holster’ perk as soon as possible. It’s a bit of a heavy spender in terms of skill points, but the payoff is worth every point.

With two primaries, you can carry a sniper and a shotgun, or an assault rifle and a bow — whatever combo suits your approach. And here’s a pro tip: when you fully liberate one of the three main regions by defeating its lieutenant, you unlock yet another holster slot. That means three primaries total, turning you into a mobile arsenal.

5. Score a Helicopter Early with Adelaide’s Help

Vehicles are important in Far Cry 5, but aerial dominance changes the game. Want a chopper without spending cash? Head to the northeast part of the map where you’ll meet Adelaide. Complete her mission and she becomes a Guns for Hire — but more importantly, she comes with her custom chopper, Tulip.

Tulip isn’t just for show. It’s one of the fastest helicopters available, complete with a mounted machine gun. Once you gain access, you can call it in whenever she’s on your team. Even better, if you complete a nearby mission for Xander (the yoga enthusiast), Tulip becomes available at all heliports across Hope County. That’s convenience and firepower on demand.

6. Embrace Stealth with Suppressors and Perks

You don’t have to be a ghost, but playing quiet pays off. Far Cry 5 offers a robust stealth system that’s surprisingly effective — even more so with the right gear. Silencers are available for a large variety of weapons, including some you wouldn’t expect, like shotguns. And unlike many games, suppressors in Far Cry 5 don’t cripple your firepower or range.

Combine that with perks like ‘Nimble Fingers’ or ‘Ghost,’ and you’ll be clearing outposts without setting off a single alarm. Even if you prefer going loud, having one silenced weapon in your loadout gives you more tactical options.

7. Dive into Far Cry Arcade for Extra Rewards

Need a break from the main campaign? Try out Far Cry Arcade — an experimental mode with community-made levels and strange scenarios. It’s not just for fun either: completing arcade missions increases your rank, earning you skill points and cash that transfer back to the main game.

The arcade supports co-op play too, so you can bring a buddy and farm perks together. The best part? The perks you unlock in the campaign also carry into the arcade, letting you tackle wild new levels with your full loadout.

Bonus: Don’t Be Afraid of Easy Mode

If you ever find yourself overwhelmed by cultists or just want a more relaxed pace, don’t hesitate to drop the difficulty. Far Cry 5 doesn’t penalize you for playing on Easy — rewards, achievements, and progression remain intact. That means you can fully enjoy the story, experiment with builds, and goof around without feeling punished.

Final Thoughts

Hope County offers a ton of freedom — and that can be both thrilling and intimidating. By focusing early on animal companions, essential perks, and the perks of exploration, you’ll gain the upper hand and feel more in control. Mix up your gameplay, invest in your skills, and don’t forget to enjoy the bizarre beauty of Far Cry 5’s twisted world. Good luck out there, deputy.