The current meta for grinding DNA (as far as I can tell)

With 457+ species in the game, how do you get all of them? Well you don't, first of all, but if you want a lot here's what I've learned on grinding DNA

Battle Royale mode (I am too smooth brain to grind in this mode)

I'll be honest with you here and say that this is actually my worst mode, still, its not very consistent with DNA compared to the other modes. You can get as little as 2 and as much as 33? (research was inconclusive and also made me do math). If you are good at the mode obviously it might be more worth it but as magnets get harder to get as you level it feels not good to 'waste' one.

Generally in this mode you'll want to survive as long as possible, theoretically trying to extend the match-time by being tricky in the final few might work? (again, research inconclusive) but there's still RNG involved with a 1.99-3.01 modifier

Experience (for magnets) quoted from the wiki "is as follows: 50 + floor(a * 60) + (20 * b) where a is amount of time survived (decimal value) and b is the amount of kills." There's not much to say here other than that time survived is again more valuable than getting kills. Winning however, gets you a +100 bonus exp, and placing in the top few gets you bonus 50. Its debatable how much it's worth trying to win for it rather than just getting more kills.

If you can win consistently, you should; but I just don't have that kind of skill or luck

Bwoking Dead (weird grinding)

Bwoking Dead is (in my opinion) not the best mode for getting DNA and Magnets. Furthermore, when you try to optimize magnets you come out with a very weird way to play the game (though admittedly more fun than normal, and definitely more fun than camping in solos) Heres the logic:

In Bwoking Dead you get a measly 4 XP for killing joes. Assuming your teaming up with other survivors your number of kills won't be large enough to compensate. Killing survivors as a zombie joe gives you 35 xp. Even though winning as survivor gives you more exp (150 compared to a 1-100 depending on time spent being a joe) It still feels like Joe experience wins over Survivor Experience

So is the right thing to do throw survivor?

I don't think so. Not necessarily because that's not fun (for you or other players), but because there exists a much better* method. I have tried (and succeeded) at hanging out near the edge where zombie joes spawn and seeing how many I can kill. This not only bumps up the amount of Joe kills your getting (trying to put that 4 to good use) It also gives you a higher chance of becoming a Joe earlier, or even of winning as survivor with good kill XP. It still feels like throwing, but you are helping out your teamates a lot while you're alive by stalling zombie progress. If you still feel off about the method, I would look to the system that makes it effective. (Sorry Pixile, I love your game, but the grind calls to me, and it is unefficient.)

*I realize the mileage varies here

Unfortunately, your best off saving your magnets for another mode (nonsubtle foreshadowing) because the average DNA that I seem to get is around 14.

SAW Vs Rebellion (prime time for grind)

Yeah this ones my favorite for grinding.

The wiki has no information about how EXP or DNA works in this mode, which makes me think vaguely that it might be unchanged? When I researched further I didn't find anything. So I will have to just explain how it ends out and not the specifics.

Due to the quick respawning, fast paced nature of the game you end up with a lot more kills. I believe time survived is still a factor? Although it may just count how much time you spend dead. It certainly feels like I get more exp in this mode, though you're welcome to take that with a grain of salt due to my bias.

This one is much better for DNA though, I would place the average more around 17 which may seem like a small difference but it certainly adds up!

I can't give you much advice on how specifically to grind in this mode aside from getting kills, so play how you enjoy. (or don't, if you don't enjoy this mode)

Honorable Mentions (I didn't forget about these mechanics)

Super challenges are a huge part of getting fast exp in any mode, but there's not much to say about them other than 'do them when possible or convenient'

Mystery mode exists, I don't know how much it affects grinding, but if you like it its worth playing.

Super Serum is literally not something I have worried about for years. I don't know if that's because I'm early access or something but you'll have to look elsewhere for advice about it.

Obviously half of this guide is based on my feelings, google searches and bad math, if you have fun with a mode or are successful with it you don't have to listen to me.

Thanks! (you can skip the rant)

Yup, another SAR guide. Thank you very much for clicking on it, the number gives me serotonin.

Also since you're still here (if you're reading this that is) I will complain that my milestones don't like up with my achievements because I played before achievements. (I swear I've won in solos I just can't be bothered to get the achievement again)

If you have any info or advice to add to the guide leave it in the comments. :)

Thanks again

[shrymfox]

I just got 12 DNA for 12 kills in bwoking dead, its really discouraging