If long-term survival is your primary goal in Project Zomboid, you’d do well to invest in your skills and crafting abilities. But how? THroughout the game world, you’ll find a selection of skill books randomly mixed with other loot. These books, when read to completion, provide the character with an experience multiplier to specific skills based on the topic of the book. As such, you’ll want to track down the most useful skill books in Project Zomboid!
What Are the Project Zomboid Skills?
Before we dive into skill books in Project Zomboid, let’s quickly touch on the skills themselves. In total, there are eleven character skills:
- Carpentry
- Cooking
- Electrical
- Farming
- First Aid
- Fishing
- Foraging
- Mechanics
- Metalworking
- Tailoring
- Trapping
Furthermore, each character skill features corresponding skill books throughout the game world based on level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, and Master.
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Where to Find Skills Books in Project Zomboid
In the world of Project Zomboid, it can sometimes feel as if loot is totally random. But look closely as you traverse the game world. You’ll note specific locations for unique items, like with skill books.
It’s more common to find books of any nature — skill books or otherwise — in libraries, schools, and the book shelves of residential neighborhoods.
For example, in Muldraugh, in a mini-mall by the Police Station, you’ll find a bookstore with a high probability of spawning quality skill books. The downside, however, is that this area is rife with zombies.
You’ll either want to sneak in or go guns-blasting to draw away the hordes.
The Most Useful Skill Books in Project Zomboid
While any and all skill books are extremely useful to the long-term survival of your favorite character, some prove more useful than others.
Which skill books should you prioritize when looting?
Mechanics
The mechanics character skill will allow you to install or uninstall various vehicle parts, salvage Spare Engine Parts from vehicle engines, and ensure you’re more effective at automotive repairs overall.
Electrical
The electrical skill will allow the player to craft various electronics, like a makeshift radio, along with a greater understanding of generators. Furthermore, you can focus on engineering, which grants the ability to craft traps and bombs.
Carpentry
For those of you who enjoy building bases in Project Zomboid, the carpentry character skill proves ever-useful. It allows you, once leveled, to craft building upgrades and materials to fortify a safehouse extensively.
Fishing
When it comes to long-term survivability, food and water are priority one. But eventually, you’ll loot an entire area and find yourself sorely lacking in canned goods. For that, the fishing skill can save your life for months on end, thanks to the bounties found in nearby rivers and ponds.
Foraging
Like fishing, the foraging skill allows the player to find sustenance more often by searching through the forest, scavenging in the trash, and by locating hidden items throughout the game world. The higher your foraging skill, the more likely you are to find useful items.