How to Master the Undead: A Comprehensive Guide to Getting Good at State of Decay
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Getting good at State of Decay, whether it’s the original or its sequel, State of Decay 2, boils down to mastering a delicate balance between combat prowess, resource management, community building, and strategic planning. It’s not just about shooting zombies; it’s about becoming a resilient leader in a post-apocalyptic world. This guide will detail the key areas where you need to excel to survive and thrive in the zombie-infested landscapes of this challenging franchise. Success comes from a combination of understanding the core mechanics and applying that knowledge consistently.
Core Strategies for State of Decay Mastery
1. Resource Management is King
Survival in State of Decay hinges on your ability to procure and manage resources. This goes far beyond just collecting food and medicine. You also need to be mindful of:
- Weapons and Ammunition: Essential for fending off hordes, learn to conserve ammo, scavenge effectively, and find a balance between melee and ranged combat.
- Building Supplies: Required for upgrading your Home Base with crucial facilities. These upgrades will enhance your stats, boost morale, and improve defense. Prioritize getting the basics up and running for a solid foundation.
- Gas: Cars are life-savers, but they need gas to function. Always keep an eye on the gas gauge and scout for gas stations.
2. Community Management: The Heart of Survival
Your community is the backbone of your success. Consider the following:
- Character Rotation: Avoid burnout by regularly rotating between your survivors. This will ensure everyone stays fit and proficient.
- Traits Matter: Select survivors with valuable traits that benefit the group as a whole, such as “Volunteer Coordinator” for better morale or “Indefatigable” for increased stamina.
- Morale is Key: A happy community is a productive community. Keep morale high by dealing with infestations, providing food, and fulfilling requests. Low morale can lead to infighting and even desertion.
- Survivor Limits: Remember, each game has a limit to how many survivors you can have. Choose wisely, and consider who to keep, exile, or recruit to optimize your community.
3. Combat and Stealth
- Don’t Be a Rambo: Running in guns blazing is a recipe for disaster. Often, stealth is your best friend, especially when entering buildings or sneaking around groups of zombies.
- Melee vs. Ranged: Learn when to use melee weapons for close encounters and guns for hordes. Conserve ammo and use stealth takedowns whenever possible to avoid wasting bullets.
- Master the Instant Kill: In State of Decay 2, perfecting instant kills can save you valuable time and resources, especially when facing basic zombies.
- Beware of Specials: Understand the different types of zombies and how to approach them. Feral zombies, for instance, require careful planning.
4. Strategic Base and Outpost Placement
- Choose Your Base Wisely: Your base serves as the heart of your operations, so choose a location that offers good defenses, adequate space, and access to resources.
- Outpost Placement: Carefully plan your outposts. They provide resources and safe zones. They need to be strategically placed around the map to maximize their benefits.
- Move at the Right Time: Don’t move your base too early. Make sure you have enough community members and resources to establish a better one. Remember, you will lose all facilities from the old base when you move to a new one.
5. The Importance of Vehicles
- Always Take a Vehicle: Vehicles are indispensable for moving around, scavenging for resources, and escaping from hordes. Don’t leave home without one.
- Vehicle Maintenance: Your vehicles will sustain damage, so make sure to maintain them regularly. The state of your car can mean the difference between life and death.
- Storage Capacity: Some vehicles offer more storage than others. Be mindful of this when looting and choose vehicles like the Brogan Trekker which have considerable storage.
6. Planning and Awareness
- Be Prepared for Plague Hearts: In State of Decay 2, always stock up when taking on Plague Hearts. They are challenging, and you’ll need ammunition and medicine to survive.
- Know the Map: Familiarize yourself with the map and the locations of valuable resources. Learn where to find loot and how to quickly reach vital locations.
- Be Nice to Your Neighbors: In both games, sometimes your best chance at long-term survival will be allying with other enclaves. A friend in the apocalypse can be an invaluable resource.
- Leader Choice: Understand your leader choice will impact your endgame legacy, some leaders such as the Warlord bring clear benefits for the base.
7. Learn From Your Mistakes
State of Decay is a game where mistakes can be costly, but they are also valuable lessons. Don’t be afraid to die, learn from your errors, and adapt your strategy. Each run should make you a better player.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best way to start in State of Decay 2?
Begin by claiming a decent home base, learning the map, understanding zombie types, and prioritizing essential resources such as food, medicine, and ammunition. Always bring a vehicle when scavenging, even short trips.
2. How long does it take to 100% State of Decay?
Completing the main objectives of State of Decay takes about 15 ½ hours. Aiming for 100% completion will likely extend this to around 37 hours.
3. Which leader is best in State of Decay 2?
The Warlord is often considered the best leader due to their Armory leader project, enabling the production of all forms of ammunition, essential for long-term survival.
4. What is the best vehicle in State of Decay 2?
The Brogan Trekker is one of the best vehicles due to its large storage capacity and ability to carry a large party of survivors.
5. What is the hardest map in State of Decay 2?
Drucker County, known as the Plateau, is often considered the hardest due to its massive size and driving challenges.
6. What is the max survivor limit in State of Decay?
Both games limit communities to no more than 12 survivors, though recruiting becomes rare after 9.
7. What is the point of State of Decay?
The game’s main point is to test your leadership and survival skills against resource scarcity, group morale, and zombie threats. It emphasizes community building and long-term survival.
8. What are the best traits in State of Decay 2?
Some of the best traits include Volunteer Coordinator, Officer Material, Red Talon Operative, Indefatigable, and Unbreakable, all of which offer direct benefits to the community.
9. When should I move in State of Decay 2?
Move when you have more community members and resources available to establish a bigger, better base. This typically happens after the initial settlement phase.
10. Are there cheats for State of Decay 2?
Yes, various trainers are available for State of Decay 2 with cheats for platforms like Steam, Xbox, and Epic Games.
11. What is the main goal of State of Decay 2?
The primary goal is to build a thriving community, manage resources, eliminate the Plague Hearts, and survive the zombie apocalypse. The ultimate aim is to complete your chosen leader’s legacy storyline, essentially “winning the game”.
12. What is the best difficulty to start State of Decay 2 on?
It’s subjective to your preference. Starting on “Dread Zone” is recommended for a challenge, but if it’s too hard, start again on “Normal”.
13. Can you win State of Decay?
Yes, by completing the final missions. After the credits, you can continue playing using your community in its post game state.
14. How many homes can you have in State of Decay?
You can only occupy one home site at a time. Moving to a new home means losing all previously constructed facilities.
15. Which is better, State of Decay 1 or 2?
It’s subjective. State of Decay may be favored for its difficulty, map, and story. However, State of Decay 2 shines in terms of customization, mission variety, and graphics. It often depends on what the player values most in a survival game.
By incorporating these strategies and understanding the mechanics of State of Decay, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the undead and leading your community to a brighter future, one scavenging run at a time. Remember, patience, planning, and adaptability are your greatest assets in the apocalypse.