The core gameplay of Project Zomboid can be quite difficult, but even creating a character can prove like a tall task for most beginners.
When creating your own character in Project Zomboid, after choosing your occupation you will have to choose Positive and Negative traits. The Positive ones will obviously improve your character, giving you various skills or special effects that might just save your life when facing the dangerous world of Project Zomboid. So, let’s take a look at all the Positive traits you can choose from. I will be giving each of them a score ranging from 1 to 5 in order of how useful they are.
Adrenaline Junkie
- Point Cost: -8;
- Effects: Your character will move anywhere from 20% to 25% faster depending on how panicked he is. This can be extremely important when dealing with sprinter zombies but otherwise, it has a pretty steep cost for what it offers;
- Score: 2/5;
Amateur Mechanic
- Point Cost: -5;
- Effects: This trait will net you a +1 to your Mechanics skill and the ability to repair standard and heavy-duty vehicles without the help of the magazines you would normally need;
- Score: 3/5;
Angler
- Point Cost: -4;
- Effects: For those who are interested in living near water to pursue fishing, this is a great trait. You get a flat +1 to your Fishing skill as well as the ability to make and fix a fishing rod without needing the magazine that teaches you that;
- Score: 3/5;
Athletic
- Point Cost: -10;
- Effects: A flat bonus of +4 to your Fitness skill as well as a 20% increase to your speed and -20% endurance loss. If you’re struggling with stamina conservation this can help out immensely when learning the game;
- Score: 4/5;
Baseball Player
- Point Cost: -4;
- Effects: If you’re primarily interested in using Long Blunt weapons, this trait will give you a +1 in that skill. Given the cost though, you’re better off with other traits;
- Score: 1/5;
Brave
- Point Cost: -4;
- Effects: Your character will only experience 30% of the usual amount of panic. This means that smaller hordes won’t really affect your character. Definitely pick this up if you’re planning on using guns since a panicked state will tank your accuracy;
- Score: 4/5;
Brawler
- Point Cost: -6;
- Effects: A costly trait that will give you a +1 bonus to both the Axe and Long Blunt skills. Unless you’re focusing on using those types of weapons, this trait is pretty much worthless;
- Score: 2/5;
Cat’s Eyes
- Point Cost: -2;
- Effects: You will get 20% better night vision and better chance of finding items during search mode. Even though it’s rather cheap, the benefits that it gives are kind of weak;
- Score: 2/5;
Cook
- Point Cost: -6;
- Effects: Despite giving you a +2 bonus to your Cooking skill, just like the Cook occupation, this trait is also still bugged and will not net you some cooking recipes. This is why unless you want to become a Master Chef of the apocalypse, you should probably skip this one;
- Score: 1/5;
Dextrous
- Point Cost: -2;
- Effects: This trait will increase your item transfer speed by 50% which is huge given the fact that looting is a big part of any run.
- Score: 5/5;
Eagle Eyed
- Point Cost: -6;
- Effects: Increases your field of view while also affecting search mode. Given the high cost you’re better off skipping this one;
- Score: 2/5;
Fast Healer
- Point Cost: -6;
- Effects: All of your injuries and illnesses will heal faster. If you’re playing on default settings though, this is not that useful since a bite will mean the end of that particular run;
- Score: 3/5;
Fast Learner
- Point Cost: -6;
- Effects: All of your skills will train 30% faster, with the expectation of Strength and Fitness;
- Score: 4/5;
Fast Reader
- Point Cost: -2;
- Effects: Reading books will be 30% faster by picking up this rather cheap trait;
- Score: 3/5;
Fit
- Point Cost: -6;
- Effects: This trait will net you a +2 to your Fitness skill, giving you better chances of escaping a sticky situation;
- Score: 4/5;
First Aider
- Point Cost: -4;
- Effects: If you’re worried about treating your wounds or those of your multiplayer friends, this can be a decent trait to pick up for a +1 to your First Aid skill;
- Score: 3/5;
Former Scout
- Point Cost: -6;
- Effects: This trait will net you a +1 to your First Aid and Foraging skills;
- Score: 2/5;
Gardener
- Point Cost: -4;
- Effects: If you want your character to have a green thumb, this trait will give you +1 to Farming as well as the recipes for mildew and fly cures for your crops;
- Score: 2/5;
Gymnast
- Point Cost: -5;
- Effects: Both your Lightfooted and Nimble skills will receive a +1 bonus;
- Score: 3/5;
Graceful
- Point Cost: -4;
- Effects: Your footsteps will be quieter, and you’ll have a lower chance of tripping when jumping over low fences;
- Score: 3/5;
Handy
- Point Cost: -8;
- Effects: This trait will give you a +1 bonus to your Carpentry and Maintenance skills while also increasing your building speed by 11%. This is a decent trait to pick up if you’re planning on building your own safehouse;
- Score: 3/5;
Hiker
- Point Cost: -6;
- Effects: A rather expensive trait that will get you a +1 to your Foraging and Trapping skills, which can be great if you’re trying to live in the wild;
- Score: 2/5;
Hunter
- Point Cost: -8;
- Effects: A great combat trait that will net you a +1 to your Aiming, Short Blade, Trapping, and Sneaking skills;
- Score: 5/5;
Inconspicuous
- Point Cost: -4;
- Effects: Halves the chances of zombies spotting you, which can be a lifesaver;
- Score: 4/5;
Iron Gut
- Point Cost: -3;
- Effects: A lower chance of getting food illness, and if you do get one, it will have a shorter duration. It is a pretty useless trait since you can avoid food illnesses by just watching what you eat;
- Score: 1/5;
Keen Hearing
- Point Cost: -6;
- Effects: The perception radius from sound will be doubled, meaning you’ll be able to spot zombies sneaking up on your way earlier. This can be a very useful trait for a beginner until you get used to always checking your back from time to time;
- Score: 4/5 for a beginner; 2/5 for an experienced player;
Light Eater
- Point Cost: -4;
- Effects: Your character will grow hungry 25% slower. This does not affect your calorie intake, only your hunger statistic;
- Score: 2/5;
Low Thirst
- Point Cost: -6;
- Effects: Thirst will affect you 50% slower. Given how easy it is to have a steady supply of water, this trait is pretty much a waste of points;
- Score: 1/5;
Lucky
- Point Cost: -4;
- Effects: Will increase your chances of finding loot by 10% while also giving you a -5% chance of failing any item repairs. Given the cost, this trait should generally be overlooked;
- Score: 1/5;
Organized
- Point Cost: -6;
- Effects: All containers, boxes, and storage spaces will have a 30% increase in their capacity;
- Score: 2/5;
Outdoorsman
- Point Cost: -2;
- Effects: Even though it costs very little, the benefit of catching a cold harder when outside and starting campfires a bit faster with a Notched Plank are pretty lackluster;
- Score: 1/5;
Resilient
- Point Cost: -4;
- Effects: Your character will zombify 25% slower while also halving your chances of catching a cold. If you’re interested in playing in a colder setting this trait might prove useful, but overall it’s not that great;
- Score: 2/5;
Runner
- Point Cost: -4;
- Effects: If running away from zombies is your go-to tactic while ignoring combat, this can be a great trait to have since it gives +1 to Sprinting;
- Score: 4/5;
Sewer
- Point Cost: -4;
- Effects: If you’re interested in easily patching up clothes or increasing their defensive stats, this can be a good trait to pick up;
- Score: 3/5;
Speed Demon
- Point Cost: -1;
- Effects: A 15% increase in vehicle speed and double the gear switching speed. If you’re interested in living out your Vin Diesel being chased by zombie hordes fantasy, this trait could be what you’re looking for;
- Score: 2/5;
Stout
- Point Cost: -6;
- Effects: Your Strength stat will get a +2 increase, which is great for melee combat and will save you a lot of time spent on training your Strength the old fashioned way;
- Score: 4/5;
Strong
- Point Cost: -10;
- Effects: If you’re looking to focus on melee combat, this trait will give you a whopping +4 to your Strength as well as a 40% increase to your knockback;
- Score: 4/5;
Thick Skinned
- Point Cost: -8;
- Effects: It will increase your chance of not getting hurt when attacked by a zombie by 30%. Since getting hit should be avoided at all costs, this is a very costly trait to pick up unless you’re struggling in combat;
- Score: 2/5;
Wakeful
- Point Cost: -2;
- Effects: Your character will sleep better by 10% while also growing tired 30% slower, making this a great trait to have if you struggle with stamina management;
- Score: 4/5;
Conclusion
With enough time, you’ll start understanding how these traits work and what advantages they offer your survivor. Depending on your preferences, you’ll start having favorites, just make sure to experiment when starting out. It’s easy to start playing the same character with the same traits over and over, but that can quickly become boring. So go out there and try out some interesting combinations and simply see what works for you.
