A prepared survivor survives. An unprepared survivor respawns. This checklist covers everything to do in the 2–3 days before every blood moon.
The Day-Before Checklist (Day 6, 13, 20, etc.)
Ammo Stockpile
- Check ammo count for primary weapon
- Craft additional rounds to reach your target (use the Ammo Calculator)
- Stock backup weapon ammo (200+ rounds minimum)
- Set aside AP rounds for special zombies
- Craft or find 2–3 extra stacks beyond your calculated need
Base Inspection
- Walk every side of your base and check block HP
- Repair any blocks below 50% HP with appropriate materials
- Check and repair all traps (blade traps especially)
- Replace broken electric fence posts
- Refill dart trap ammo
- Verify generator has fuel (full tank = 12 hours minimum)
- Test all electric connections - horde night is not the time to discover a disconnected wire
Base Stability Check
Use the Base Stability Calculator to verify your score before each horde. A score below 60 means your base may collapse under concentrated zombie attacks.
Supply Inventory
- 8+ First Aid Kits
- 4+ Bandages
- 2+ Antibiotics (night infection risk is real)
- 5+ Grilled Meat or equivalent food
- 2+ Coffee or energy drinks for stamina
Two Days Before (Day 5, 12, 19, etc.)
This is your last full day to scavenge, farm, and craft without time pressure.
Priority Actions
- Loot a hardware store or working stiffs - get repair materials, cement, forged iron
- Craft or buy traps - add 1–2 more blade traps to your kill corridor if possible
- Run the Horde Night Planner - enter your current game stage and see the projected horde size. Adjust prep if needed.
- Collect forging materials - coal, clay, and stone for emergency repairs mid-horde
The Day Of (Day 7, 14, 21, etc.)
Don’t loot on horde day - it wastes time and risks being away from base when the blood moon starts at 22:00.
Morning Tasks (Day 7, 8:00–12:00)
- Complete any unfinished repairs
- Place final traps
- Cook food and fill water
- Organize hotbar for quick weapon and item swaps
Afternoon Tasks (12:00–19:00)
- Run the Horde Readiness Score - if you’re below Grade B, identify the gap and fix it
- Return to base by 19:00 at the latest
- Double-check generator fuel
- Test your shooting position - can you see all approach angles?
Pre-Horde Window (19:00–22:00)
- Set up your hotbar: primary weapon, backup weapon, First Aid Kit, food, repair hammer
- Stand at your shooting position and confirm the view is clear
- Make sure no traps are accidentally damaged from setup
- Eat a full meal for the health/stamina buff before 22:00
During the Horde
A checklist you can reference fast under pressure:
- Target specials first - Cops, Demolishers, and Wights over standard zombies
- Don’t run dry on your primary - switch to backup before you’re empty
- Repair between waves - blood moons have brief lulls. Hit damaged traps with your repair hammer
- Move laterally from Cop acid - never stand still in a Cop’s line of sight
- Listen for demolisher sounds - the mechanical charge sound is your cue to target them immediately
After Horde Night
Don’t sleep through the repair window.
- Repair all damaged blocks before the next day begins
- Check all traps - blade traps often need replacing after heavy use
- Restock ammo to your target level
- Check your game stage - if it jumped significantly, adjust next horde prep accordingly
- Plan your Day 8+ activities around reaching the next horde better equipped