I’ve been waiting on this one just like everyone else. The Deer Plushy DLC finally became available after the update, and if you bought the real plushy and logged in expecting a code — that’s where most people got confused.
I saw a bunch of players asking the same thing in the Discord: “Where is my DLC?” So I wanted to walk through exactly how it works, because the unlock is in–game, not through a code.
If you already purchased the plushy, the DLC is automatically tied to your account. The only requirement is that you actually place the new furniture item in a run.
Before You Start
This is easier if you switch to the Lumberjack. You’re going to need wood immediately, and the Lumberjack’s axe makes gathering much faster. The basic axe just takes too long for this.
What you need:
- A run started in any mode
- 15 logs
- Access to your Crafting Table
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Start a run (I switched to Lumberjack for speed).
- Gather 15 logs.
Chop down a few trees near camp — with the Lumberjack, this only takes a minute. - Open your Crafting Table.
- Look for the new item: Toy Shelf
Cost: 15 logs - Craft & place the Toy Shelf at your camp.
- Your Deer Plushy will automatically appear as your first toy.
Once placed, you can interact with the shelf to view the plushy and its perk.
What the Deer Plushy Actually Does
The plushy isn’t just cosmetic — it provides a gameplay bonus.
| Plushy | Perk | Why It’s Useful |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Plushy (Slot 1) | +10% campfire healing | Helps during raid recovery and nighttime survival |
Since most fights and raids end with you patching up at the campfire, this perk activates often, and you’ll feel the difference over time.
About the Shelf Having Five Slots
The Toy Shelf has five plushy slots, but you only get one plushy from your purchase. I tested around to see if additional plushies spawn in the world, and I didn’t find any. Based on how it behaves, I’m fairly confident the extra plushies come from other players in your lobby.
In other words:
| Number of Plushies | Requirement | Likely Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 / 5 | You own the plushy | +10% healing |
| 2 / 5 | You + 1 friend own plushy | Increased effect |
| 5 / 5 | Full squad each owning plushy | Max perk stacking |
This appears to be a co-op bonus system, which honestly fits the tone of the game. I’ll test this with others and confirm whether the healing bonus stacks linearly or if new perks unlock.
Small Notes From Experience
- The plushy isn’t sent as a code, so don’t look for one in your email.
- The DLC will not appear in your cosmetic inventory, only through the Toy Shelf.
- If you try to gather wood without the Lumberjack, it just takes longer, but the steps are the same.
- The plushy looks in-game exactly like the real one, which is going to make for some fun real-life + in-game screenshots later.
I mainly wanted to make this clear because a lot of players bought the plushy and thought something went wrong. You didn’t miss anything — you just unlock it through gameplay, not the menu.
And yes — the Deer Plushy really is adorable sitting on the shelf.
