PUBG: Looting and Reading the Zone
Once the initial chaos of landing settles down, the game becomes a series of decisions about what to grab and where to move. How well you judge this stage has a huge effect on how long you survive.
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Loot with a clear priority order
Rather than searching every building thoroughly, prioritize essential survival gear like a backpack, vest, and helmet first, then move on to weapons, attachments, and healing items -- this lets you gear up efficiently even with limited time.
Always keep the zone's center in mind
Comparing the white circle (next zone) against the blue circle (current safe zone) on the minimap gives you a rough sense of which direction to move. Drifting gradually toward where the zone is shrinking ahead of time helps you avoid a frantic last-minute sprint.
Scout high ground early
Identifying elevated terrain within the area you expect the zone to shrink into makes it much easier to claim a position with better sightlines and range once fighting starts.
Choose a safe route over a fast one
It's tempting to sprint across open ground to save time, but doing so also exposes you to being spotted from far away. Taking a bit longer to move using cover and terrain tends to pay off with a longer survival time in the end.
FAQ
Doesn't a vehicle's engine give away my position?
Yes -- vehicles move fast but their engine noise carries and reveals your location easily, so it's worth mixing in some travel on foot as you get closer to the safe zone.