Zombie Bestiary & Weaknesses

Not all zombies are created equal. Knowing who to run from and who to fight is the key to longevity in 7 Days to Die. This comprehensive bestiary covers every zombie type, their behaviors, and proven strategies to defeat them.

Understanding Zombie Tiers

Zombies in 7 Days to Die 1.0 are organized into three tiers based on their danger level. Higher-tier zombies spawn more frequently as your gamestage increases.

Tier 1 - Common Shamblers

These are the bread-and-butter zombies you'll encounter from Day 1. They walk slowly during the day and sprint at night.

Zombie Type	HP	Behavior	Best Counter
Basic Zombie	100	Slow, predictable attacks	Headshots with any weapon
Zombie Stripper	90	Slightly faster, weaker	One-shot with spear to head
Zombie Nurse	100	Standard behavior	Any blunt weapon
Zombie Businessman	110	Slightly tougher	Two stone axe headshots
Zombie Utility Worker	120	Wears hardhat (head armor)	Body shots or destroy hardhat first

Tier 2 - Ferals & Specials

Feral zombies have glowing orange eyes and always sprint, regardless of time of day. They appear around gamestage 30+.

Zombie Type	HP	Special Ability	Counter Strategy
Feral Zombie	200	Always sprints	Keep distance, use ranged weapons
Feral Wight	250	Fast + high damage	Shotgun or SMG burst
Spider Zombie	150	Climbs walls, leaps	Don't build overhangs, shoot while climbing
Crawler Zombie	80	Low profile, hard to hit	Look down, use melee

Tier 3 - Radiated

Radiated zombies glow green and have health regeneration. They spawn in Tier 5 POIs and high gamestage blood moons.

• Regeneration Rate: ~10 HP per second
• Counter: Apply 'Wasting' debuff via explosive or radiation weapons to stop regen
• Alternative: High burst damage (sniper rifle headshot, rocket launcher)

Special Infected - Boss-Type Zombies

The Cop (Bloater)

A large, bloated zombie that poses a dual threat.

• HP: 400
• Primary Attack: Vomits acid in a ranged arc (deals damage over time)
• Death Explosion: When killed, explodes violently dealing ~50 damage in a 3-meter radius
• Counter: Snipe from 10+ meters. When HP is low, back away before the final shot.

The Demolisher

The most dangerous zombie in 7 Days to Die. A hulking beast with explosives strapped to its chest.

• HP: 3,500
• Charge Attack: Rushes forward, destroying blocks in its path
• Weakness: Shooting the exposed chest button triggers a massive explosion (avoid at all costs)
• Counter: Aim for the head only. Use armor-piercing rounds or a sledgehammer power attack.
• Warning: Never use explosives or shotguns—they'll hit the chest trigger.

The Screamer

A pale female zombie that acts as an alarm system.

• HP: 150
• Scream: When alerted, screams to summon a horde of 8-12 zombies
• Trigger: High heat map activity (forges, campfires, generators)
• Counter: Kill immediately with a silenced weapon or bow before she screams. Reduce base heat.

Zombie Bear

An infected bear found in forests and occasionally blood moons.

• HP: 800
• Damage: 60+ per hit, can two-shot unarmored players
• Counter: Elevated position + ranged weapon. Never melee unless absolutely necessary.

Zombie Vulture

Flying enemies that attack from above, especially in the wasteland biome.

• HP: 75
• Behavior: Circles overhead, dives to attack, then retreats
• Counter: Shotgun as they dive, or bow while circling. Use a vehicle to outrun.

Blood Moon Horde Night

Every 7 days, a blood moon rises and all zombies know your exact location. During this night:

• Zombies always sprint regardless of type
• Zombies can sense you through walls and will path toward you
• Spawns scale with gamestage—expect Demolishers after Day 35
• Zombies have increased block damage to destroy defenses faster

Horde Night Survival Tips

1. Build a kill corridor: Funnel zombies through a single path lined with traps
2. Elevation advantage: Fight from platforms zombies must climb to reach
3. Ammo reserves: Stock 500+ rounds of your primary weapon ammo
4. Backup melee: Keep a steel sledgehammer for when ammo runs dry
5. Medical supplies: 10+ First Aid Kits minimum

Damage Types & Weaknesses

Damage Type	Best Against	Weak Against
Blunt (Clubs, Sledge)	All zombies, good stagger	Armored zombies (helmeted)
Blade (Machete, Knife)	Fast attack speed, bleeds	Thick-skinned (Bears)
Piercing (Spears, Arrows)	Headshot multiplier	Missing headshots
Explosive	Groups, Cops at range	Demolishers (triggers them)

Gamestage & Spawn Scaling

Your gamestage determines which zombies can spawn. It increases based on:

• Survived Days: +1 per day survived
• Player Level: Multiplied by 1.2
• Deaths: -2 per death (minimum of 1)

At gamestage 50, expect regular Ferals. At gamestage 100+, Radiated variants become common. Plan your progression accordingly.