Project Zomboid: How to Forage

Foraging is an extremely useful survivalist skill in Project Zomboid that allows players to search for various items in the wilderness and forests. With the release of the latest Update 41, foraging has been heavily overhauled.

Our guide will provide you with tips on how to forage in Project Zomboid. Foraging doesn’t mean searching only for food, it also means searching crafting materials, medicinal plants, dead animals, etc.

How to Forage in Project Zomboid

Investigate Area

The first thing you want to do is investigate the environment you’re in. In order to do this you need to select the “Investigate Area” option from the left menu, indicated by the magnifying glass icon.

This simple action will enable a search mode. Search mode shows info about the environment your character stands in, whether it’s an urban area or a wilderness, what kinds of inhabitants live there, as well as what kinds of materials and foods you can find.

But that’s not it, as the new investigation process requires you to search around for a little bit. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Walk around the area with the search mode enabled
2. Stop once an eye icon appears above your head
3. Look around and click your mouse in this area
4. Once you stumble upon an object, it will be indicated by its tag
5. Double-click the item tag to pick it up

The objects of interest are usually obscured, but once you identify them, you will see them clearly and decide whether you want to put them in your backpack or not.

The more items you find, the more XP you earn. The more XP you earn, the better and rarer things you find. Your search radius will increase and this helps immensely when you’re looking for specific items.

Improve Your Foraging

As you progress through the game, you will notice that certain actions help you find hidden items, while others prevent it. So how can you improve your foraging?

Choose Correct Occupation

There are several occupations that directly influence the success of foraging, including:

• Park Ranger
• Fisherman
• Chef
• Lumberjack
• Veteran
• Farmer

These occupations increase your radius of investigation, reduce weather effects that may prevent you from finding items, and reduce darkness effects.

Such occupations like Park Ranger and Fisherman even add a point or two to your foraging skill in the skill tree. But being unemployed is also beneficial for foraging skill, so consider it as well.

Choose Correct Traits

If you’ve already chosen an occupation that is not on the list above, then you can improve your foraging with the help of the following traits:

• Lucky
• Hiker
• Former Scout
• Hunter
• Eagle Eyed
• Gardener
• Outdoorsman
• Cook
• Cat’s Eyes
• Nutritionist
• Herbalist

All of these traits increase your radius of investigation, and some even reduce weather and darkness effects, such as Hunter and Outdoorsman.

You also need to avoid some of the traits that will reduce your foraging skills and abilities, such as:

• Unlucky
• Agoraphobic
• Short Sighted

Perform Correct Actions

Lastly, certain actions may strongly influence the success of foraging, either negatively or positively.

The following actions will increase the chance of finding items:

• Aiming
• Sneaking
• Walking

These actions will decrease the chance of foraging:

• Running
• Sprinting

You should also avoid specific types of equipment, which may prevent you from identifying objects on the ground, including:

• Helmets
• Face Masks
• Glasses
• Eyepatches

Project Zomboid Foraging Items List

Here you will find a list of all items that can be foraged in Project Zomboid, including the corresponding foraging levels.

No Foraging Level Required

• Junk
• Berries
• Mushrooms
• Stones
• Branches
• Twigs
• Violets

Foraging Level 2

• Wild Vegetables
• Grape Leaves
• Worms

Foraging Level 3

• Wild Onions
• Logs

Foraging Level 4

• Rosehips
• Crickets
• Cherries
• Recipe Magazines
• Logs
• Rare Junk

Foraging Level 5

• Oranges
• Dead Rats

Foraging Level 6

• Jalapenos
• Jabaneros
• Limes
• Lemons
• Insects

Foraging Level 7

• Grapes
• Dead Birds
• Frogs

Foraging Level 8

• Wild Eggs
• Strawberries
• Pears
• Grapefruits
• Corn
• Dead Squirrels

Foraging Level 10

• Dead Rabbits

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That’s all you need to know on how to forage in Project Zomboid. If you need more Project Zomboid tips and tricks articles, then be sure to check out our dedicated hub page.