Fatigue is one of the most persistent early–game problems in Of Ash and Steel. Inns charge gold, most beds cannot actually be used, and long backtracking to rest breaks the flow of exploration.
Many players specifically search for “Of Ash and Steel free beds” and “free sleeping spots” after discovering that most hay bales, bedrolls, and campfires do nothing.
This guide lists all known free beds, free sleeping spots, and semi-free rest locations, explains how sleeping works, and provides practical routes and tips to manage fatigue efficiently.
Quick Answer: All Known Free Beds & Free Sleeping Spots
The following locations are confirmed free sleeping spots that reset fatigue without paying an Inn:
- Starter Cabin Bed (Netest’s House)
- Woodcutter’s Camp – Hay Bale
- Woodcutter’s Camp – Shelter Bed
- Port District – Hay Bale on the Docks
- Knights’ Headquarters – Second Floor Bed
Additional semi-free fatigue reset options:
- Marked Campsites after unlocking the Survival skill
- Purchased Player House near the hunters’ area (one-time gold cost, then free resting)
How Sleeping Works in Of Ash and Steel (What, Why, How)
What: The basic sleeping rules
In Of Ash and Steel, resting is only possible at specific, pre-defined locations:
- Certain beds and hay bales with a “Sleep” interaction
- Specific campsites that allow “Set up camp”
- Player-owned housing beds
Most beds, hay piles, tents, and fires in the world are decorative only.
Why: Fatigue and limited rest points
Fatigue increases during travel, combat, and time passing. Because functional sleeping spots are rare and Inns cost gold, access to free beds and free sleeping spots significantly affects early-game survivability, pacing, and resource management.
How: Identifying real sleeping spots
To find valid resting locations, players must:
- Look for an actual “Sleep” or “Set up camp” prompt
- Distinguish between “light fire” (cooking only) and “set up camp” (sleep possible)
- Approach beds and hay bales carefully, as interaction hitboxes can be small
All Free Beds & Free Sleeping Spots (Detailed Locations)
1. Starter Cabin Bed (Netest’s House)
- Type: Indoor bed
- Cost: Free
- Access: Available from the very beginning of the game
- Use: Reliable fatigue reset for early exploration around the starting area
This is the first and most consistent free bed in Of Ash and Steel, often used as the main early-game rest hub.
2. Woodcutter’s Camp – Hay Bale
- Type: Hay bale with sleep interaction
- Location: Back corner of the Woodcutter’s Camp
- Cost: Free
- Use: Early-game field rest point during lumber and nearby quests
Unlike most hay bales in the game, this specific bale functions as a free sleeping spot and is frequently used by players to avoid returning to town.
3. Woodcutter’s Camp – Shelter Bed
- Type: Makeshift bed inside the shelter
- Location: Within the logging area of the Woodcutter’s Camp
- Cost: Free
- Use: Secondary free bed in the same camp, useful during repeated visits
This bed provides a second free rest location in the Woodcutter’s area, allowing multiple fatigue resets with minimal travel.
4. Port District – Hay Bale on the Docks
- Type: Hay bale with sleep prompt
- Location: On the docks, close to the water, between ships
- Cost: Free
- Use: City-side free resting option
This Of Ash and Steel free bed in the port district helps players manage fatigue while completing city or dock-related activities without relying on Inns.
5. Knights’ Headquarters – Second Floor Bed
- Type: Indoor bed
- Location: Second floor of the Knights’ Headquarters in the city
- Cost: Free
- Faction requirement: Usable even before joining the Order
This bed serves as one of the best mid-game free sleeping spots, offering a safe indoor rest location in a central urban hub.
Semi-Free Fatigue Reset Options
6. Marked Campsites (Survival Skill Required)
- Requirement: First Survival skill
- Interaction: “Set up camp” at marked camp icons
- Cost: Uses camping supplies instead of gold
- Benefit: Multiple rest points across wilderness regions
After unlocking Survival, campsites become a flexible alternative to Inns and long backtracking, effectively functioning as semi-free resting locations.
7. Purchased Player House Near Hunters’ Area
- Type: Player-owned house bed
- Location: Near the hunters’ camp
- Cost: One-time gold purchase (price reduced by better Insight)
- Use: Permanent, central free sleeping option
Once purchased, the house provides a stable base where fatigue can be reset freely, making it one of the best long-term rest strategies.
Comparison Table: Free Beds and Rest Locations
| Location | Type | Cost | Access Stage | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Cabin Bed | Bed | Free | Early | Reliable, always available starting point |
| Woodcutter’s Camp Hay Bale | Hay bale | Free | Early | Rare functional hay bale in early game |
| Woodcutter’s Shelter Bed | Bed | Free | Early | Second rest point in the same camp |
| Port District Hay Bale | Hay bale | Free | Early–Mid | Only free city-side resting option |
| Knights’ HQ Bed | Bed | Free | Early–Mid | Indoor, safe, no faction requirement |
| Survival Campsites | Campsite | Supplies only | Mid | Numerous outdoor rest points across the map |
| Player House | Bed | One-time gold | Mid | Permanent home base for free sleeping |
This table allows quick comparison between free beds, free sleeping spots, and semi-free resting locations based on cost, accessibility, and strategic value.
Tips: Quick, Actionable Fatigue Management Advice
- Prioritize a free-bed route:
Route exploration to pass through Starter Cabin → Woodcutter’s Camp → Port District → Knights’ HQ to maintain low fatigue with minimal cost. - Unlock Survival early:
Purchasing the first Survival skill significantly increases the number of viable rest points, particularly in the wilderness. - Watch the interaction prompts:
Only sleep at locations with a clear “Sleep” or “Set up camp” prompt; “light fire” alone does not restore fatigue. - Use the player house as a mid-game hub:
After purchasing the house near the hunters’ area, treat it as the main free sleeping hub before longer expeditions. - Expect decorative props:
Many beds, tents, and hay bales in Of Ash and Steel are environmental only. If no prompt appears, the object is not a valid bed.
Summary
Free beds and free sleeping spots in Of Ash and Steel are intentionally limited, which makes fatigue management a core part of gameplay.
By learning the locations of all confirmed free beds, using Survival campsites, and investing in a player house, fatigue can be controlled with minimal gold expenditure and reduced backtracking, creating a smoother and more efficient progression throughout the game world.
FAQ – Free Beds, Fatigue, and Sleeping Mechanics
1. Why are there so few free beds in Of Ash and Steel?
Free beds are intentionally limited to encourage exploration, resource planning, and route optimization.
The game design restricts sleeping to a small number of approved rest locations, which include specific beds, hay bales, and campsites that display a sleep interaction prompt. Most environmental props—such as decorative beds or random hay piles—do not function as resting spots, even if they appear usable. This controlled system creates tension around fatigue and makes each free resting point strategically valuable.
2. Why can’t most hay bales or indoor beds be used to sleep?
The majority of sleeping props serve as ambient world-building objects. Only a select set of hay bales, bedrolls, and beds are whitelisted to trigger fatigue recovery.
Functional sleep spots have a precise interaction point, and the prompt may appear only at certain angles due to small hitboxes. If a hay bale or bed does not give the “Sleep” prompt, it is decorative and cannot reset fatigue.
This system ensures that fatigue management remains an active gameplay mechanic rather than something trivialized by abundant rest options.
3. What unlocks the ability to sleep at campsites in the wilderness?
Sleeping at wilderness campsites requires the first Survival skill. After purchasing it, specific camp icons on the map convert into full rest-capable campsites. These sites allow the “Set up camp” action, which uses camp supplies rather than gold. Before unlocking Survival, these same campfires may only show “light fire,” which does not reset fatigue
. Once Survival is unlocked, players gain multiple semi-free rest points across forests, roads, and hills, significantly improving long-distance travel efficiency.
4. How do Inns compare to free beds and Survival campsites?
Inns provide guaranteed, safe fatigue recovery but require a nightly gold fee. Free beds and free sleeping spots eliminate this cost but are scarce and often located far apart.
Survival campsites fall between the two: they cost resources (supplies) but not gold, making them more flexible for players trying to avoid repeated expenses.
Inns are most useful during story progression in dense city areas, while free beds serve as economic alternatives, and Survival camps streamline wilderness exploration.
5. What is the best early-game strategy for managing fatigue without spending gold?
The most efficient approach is to follow a loop of known free sleeping spots. Most players benefit from routing exploration near:
Starter Cabin → Woodcutter’s Camp (hay bale + shelter) → Port District Hay Bale → Knights’ Headquarters Bed.
This path places multiple free fatigue reset options within reachable distances of early-game quests and travel routes.
Unlocking the Survival skill early expands this system further, enabling campsite sleeping across the open world. Before purchasing the player house, this combination of free rest points provides consistent fatigue control with zero gold expenditure.