VEIN is built around stat progression rather than character levels. Every action you perform contributes to one or more skills, and the more intentionally you train them, the stronger your survivor becomes. This VEIN Stat Levelling Guide gives you a clear roadmap for leveling every stat efficiently, using in-game mechanics rather than admin cheats.
VEIN Stat Levelling Guide – Skill Books, Food Buffs
How Stats Work
Open your stats panel:
• Press I → Select Stats Tab
• Scroll to view all skills
There is no character level. Your overall power is based on how high each of your individual skills are. Reaching level 25 in a skill unlocks perk choices, and higher levels significantly boost performance.
Skill Books and XP Boosters
There are two key book types that speed up stat leveling:
1. Instant Skill Book
• Consumed to increase a specific skill by +2 levels instantly
• Appears in the Food tab of your inventory because it’s a consumable
2. 30-Minute XP Boost Book
• Gives increased XP gain for a skill for 30 minutes
• Best used before grinding a skill in bulk
Important:
Schematic Books are not the same. Schematics unlock recipes only. They do not grant XP or levels.
Where to Get Skill Books (Early Game)
If you want easy access to multiple books early on, these two locations are the best:
Klein’s Archery & Bait – Saranac
• Magazine rack near the front of the store
• Refreshes daily
• Often spawns Mechanical & Farming books
Dannemora Court Building – Dannemora (EA Only)
• Large number of books & cooking schematics
• Most shelves have multiple copies
Make it part of your early route to visit these locations and stockpile books before intensive leveling.
Food Buffs (With Image Examples)
Food provides temporary stat multipliers that accelerate training. Recipes appear when you access a stove, firepit, or unlocked cooking station.
Below are three useful buff examples using your screenshots:
Cooking XP Food Example
Vegetable Fat – Boosts Cooking XP x2.0
Useful when power-leveling Cooking through boiling water or bulk recipes.
Ingredients needed:
• Fresh Vegetables x3
• Water
• Pot
Time: 2:30
Hunger: 8%
Image Reference:
(Your provided screenshot showing Vegetable Fat recipe appears here in guide)
Strength & Vitality XP Food Example
Caramelized Hazelnut Steak – Boosts Strength XP x2.0 & Vitality XP x2.0
Best used while chopping trees, mining, melee training, or moving heavy items.
Ingredients:
• Beef
• Butter
• Hazelnuts
• Cooking Oil
• Pan
Time: 4:10
Hunger: 38%
Omelette Variants – Boost Electrical XP x2.0 & Lockpicking XP x2.0
Crafting electrical parts or lockpicking a practice door becomes far more efficient with this buff active.
Ingredients vary by recipe (Eggs + one ingredient):
• Egg Tray + Artichoke
• Egg Tray + Avocado
• Egg Tray + Broccoli
• Egg Tray + Onion
• Egg Tray + Tomato
• Egg Tray + Cheese
Time: 0:35
Hunger: 45%
Buff Stacking Rules
• XP book + food buff do not stack beyond the highest multiplier
• Best combo is using multiple stoves to speed XP per minute, not stacking buffs
Fastest Ways to Level Each Skill
Cooking – Best Method
Boil water on a stove or firepit.
Steps:
- Place a kettle inside stove inventory
- Add water (large container recommended)
- Spam “Boil Water” repeatedly
Tips:
• Works passively – you can multitask while it cooks
• Use multiple stoves to double XP per minute
• Use Cooking XP food or XP book (but remember only one multiplier counts)
Strength
Grows through actions that require force.
Best methods:
• Chop trees
• Mine resources
• Fight infected
• Move heavy objects
• Hit walls with fists or weapons
Optimal strategy:
Pop a Strength XP buff and rapidly perform high-impact actions in a small area for fast progression.
Vitality
Improves through stamina-draining weight movement.
Effective method:
Carry heavy items long distances. A full fluid drum works well.
Note: You will gain exhaustion. Rest or use food to recover.
Medical
One of the fastest skills to max with the right setup.
Method:
Craft bandages in large quantities.
Why it’s strong:
• Crafting grants Medical XP
• Dismantling grants Crafting XP and returns cloth
Maximize:
• Use a Medical XP book first
• Use multiple crafting benches
• Dismantle the bandages you craft to re-use cloth and gain more XP
Farming
Quickly raised with simple loops.
Steps:
• Use existing planters or soil plots
• Water → Grow → Harvest → Repeat
XP gain is high, so this skill levels quicker than most.
Construction
Craft building materials and structures.
Fast starter loop:
• Logs → Planks → Scrap → Kindling
Avoid crafting too late at night as noise attracts zombies.
Electrical
Train by crafting electrical components or hotwiring cars.
Efficient progression:
• Craft electrical device parts
• Build electrical items
• Hotwire vehicles (wear gloves to avoid shock)
Electrical often levels in sync with Mechanical and Crafting when producing parts.
Lockpicking
Slowest skill if done normally.
Best solo method:
- Place a lockable door at base
- Lock from one side
- Pick repeatedly as cooldown allows
Even with buffs, expect a grind.
Scavenging & Dismantling
Level naturally as you loot.
Tips:
• Use “Take All” (H) when looting
• Dismantle almost everything early on
• Save rare items only
Both skills level together and fuel your resource supply.
Exercise Skill
Found in the Stats tab. Allows manual training of physical attributes.
Notes:
• Use XP books to avoid slow progression
• Switch to 3rd person to monitor stamina and stop before over-exerted
• Train in short bursts throughout gameplay