Each magazine series is organized by its related skilltree (Sniper falls under Perception since the skilltree utilizes Sniper Rifles). Other magazines are listed by what they assist best in, such as looting, resource yield, and stealth. They can be helpful in any build, with some unique synergies with other perks as well.

All volumes come with seven magazines, alongside a completion bonus. The details and effects of each magazine will be given alongside its respective series number. At the bottom of each magazine will be a short blurb on the magazine series' efficacy, usefulness, and involvement in a build.

If you really wanna know how to sort your build, see Additional Guides below. The main guide will show you every inch of the game's skill system.

Incase you're unfamiliar with my sorting system, here's a quick tourguide to help you get started.

Perception

• Sniper - Unlocks new combat potential with Sniper Rifles. New 7.62 Ammo crafting.
  
• Spear Hunter - Unlocks new combat potential with Spears.

Strength

• Shotgun Messiah - Unlocks new combat potential with Shotguns. New Shotgun Shell crafting.
  
• Batter Up! - Unlocks new combat potential with Bats/Clubs.

Fortitude

• Automatic Weapons Handbook - Unlocks new combat potential with Assault Rifles.
  
• Bar Brawler - Unlocks new combat potential with Fist Weapons.

Agility

• Pistol Pete - Unlocks new combat potential with 9mm Weapons (Pistol and SMG-5). New 9mm Ammo crafting.
  
• Magnum Enforcer - Unlocks new combat potential with .44 Weapons (Magnum and Desert Vulture). New .44 Ammo crafting.
  
• Ranger's Guide to Archery - Unlocks new combat potential with Bows and Crossbows. New Arrow and Bolt crafting.

Stealth

• Night Stalker - Grants buffs to stealth, knives, and more, but only at night.
  
• Urban Combat - Improves specialized stealth, such as silencers and parkour. Adds loud combat alternatives.

Looting

• Lucky Looter - Increases abundancy of loot groups, such as food, ammo, meds, and more.
  
• The Great Heist - Improves breaking/lockpicking into safes and player bases.

Resources

• Wasteland Treasures - Harvest unique loot, such as brass, lead, and military fibers, from multiple sources. Craft mineral water and cloth.
  
• The Art of Mining - Harvest more resources from mining. Craft blackstrap and mining utilities.

Miscellaneous

• The Hunter's Journal - Do more damage to wildlife, humans, and zombies. Harvest more meat, leather, and fat.
  
• The Fireman's Almanac - Gain buffs to help you survive in the Burnt Forest. Increase effectiveness with fire-based weaponry.
  
• Needle and Thread - Craft clothing and pocket mods.

- Lay low in the grass and smoke the smirk off of those far-distance targets. The Sniper series mainly improves your combat viability with 7.62 Rifles. Additionally unlocks 7.62 HP and AP rounds crafting recipes. Upon completion, bulk craft 7.62 ammunition and unlock the Ghillie Suit, an outfit which decreases your visibility and noise.


Vol 1 - While zoomed in with a scope, deal +10% Damage. Works with any firearm modded with a 2x, 4x, or 8x scope.

Vol 2 - Aim for the legs and incapacitate your opponent. With all Rifles, gain a +15% Chance to Dismember Legs. Shooting a normal zombie in the legs will guarantee a cripple. Feral zombies have an 80% Chance to be crippled. Irradiated zombies have a 60% Chance.

Vol 3 - Headshots are even deadlier. With all Rifles, gain a +15% Dismember Chance on Headshots. Normal zombies have a 60% Chance to Stun for 6s on headshots. Feral zombies have a 40% Stun Chance for 6s. Irradiated zombies have a 30% Chance for 4s.

Vol 4 - Gain +10% Reload Speed with all Rifles.

Vol 5 - Drain -15% Less Stamina while Aiming with all Rifles.

Vol 6 - Unlocks crafting recipe for 7.62 Armor Piercing Ammo. AP rounds deal the most damage, pierce armor, and penetrate through enemies.

Vol 7 - Unlocks crafting recipe for 7.62 Hollow Point Ammo. HP rounds deal slightly more damage at the cost of more resources.

Completion Bonus - Unlocks crafting recipe for Ghillie Suit. When equipped, the Ghillie Suit will decrease your visibility and muffle all noise created by actions. Unlocks 7.62 Bulk Crafting. Bulk Crafting allows you to craft boxes of any 7.62 ammo. Boxes contain 100 rounds and use -20% less resources in crafting.

• The Ghillie Hood decreases visibility by -7% (-5% when indoors)
  
• The Ghillie Pants decrease visibility by -7% (-5% when indoors) and noise by -5%
  
• The Ghillie Jacket decreases visibility by -7% (-5% when indoors) and noise by -5%

Opinion: The Sniper magazine grants all rifles massive buffs, allowing you to disable and take out targets even faster. Legshots can cripple your opponent, which can especially be useful if the enemy comes within uncomfortable proximity. The damage and reload speed modifiers help even moreso for those high-octane combat scenarios. Ghillie Suits can further help you snipe out targets from a vantage point as well, and are a must-have for stealth builds.

Synergies:

• All buffs from the perk Dead Eye stack
  
• Builds utilizing Assault Rifles (Fortitude) benefit from Vol 6, Vol 7, and the Completion Bonus (7.62 ammunition recipes)
  
• All guns benefit from Vol 1, as long as they are modded with a scope
  
• The Ghillie Suit from the Completion Bonus greatly assists in Stealth builds

- Unlock your primal side and impale your enemies with spears. Spear Hunter unlocks new abilities while using sharp sticks, from damage increments to improved throwing. Unlocks Steel Spear crafting, and a finishing move Completion bonus.


Vol 1 - Gain +10% Damage with all Spears.

Vol 2 - Grants all Spears -20% Degradation, allowing them to last longer without requiring repairs.

Vol 3 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Steel Spears, the highest tier Spear, which possesses the greatest damage and armor piercing.

Vol 4 - Gain +15% Projectile Velocity on thrown Spears. This consequently increases Throwing Range by +15%.

Vol 5 - Gain +10% Swing Speed with all Spears.

Vol 6 - Aim for the chest. Puncture their lungs. Thrown spears that hit a zombie's torso have a +50% Chance to Stun for 8s.

Vol 7 - Three deadly strikes. Every successful hit (strike or throw) with Spears grant +10% Damage, which stacks up to 3 times, to a maximum of +30% Damage. The buff lasts 5 seconds and refreshes on every attack (except killing blows).

Completion Bonus - Plant your flag and nail them to the ground. Thrown spears deal +50% Damage to knockdowned targets.

Opinion: Perception builds are often lacking in melee potential. The Spear Hunter magazine makes up for that. The damage bonuses are very potent, and allow for the swift takedown of any target of any size. With the completion bonus, you can do a one-two combo: Knock down the target, and throw your spear at them for colossal damage.

Synergies:

• All buffs from the perk Javelin Master stack
  
• Use the Weighted Head mod to increase knockdown chance, making finishing moves easier

Learn from the Messiah himself and become the shotgun hero. Greatly improve the combat potential for all shotguns, and unlock recipes for new ammo types. Upon completion, learn how to bulk craft shotgun shells and breach barriers. When the Messiah returns, he shall send the dead back to their grave. You'll put them down, one shell at a time.

Vol 1 - Gain +10% Damage with all Shotguns.

Vol 2 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Breaching Slugs. Breaching Slugs do additional damage to blocks, doors, and safes.

Vol 3 - Rest in pieces. While within closer than a 3m radius of a zombie, gain +30% Dismember Chance with your Shotguns.

Vol 4 - Unlocks crafting for recipe Combat Slugs. Combat Slugs shoot a single high-damage, armor piercing shot.

Vol 5 - Grants all Shotguns -20% Degradation, allowing them to last longer without requiring repair.

Vol 6 - Unlocks crafting for Shotgun Tube Extender mods. Shotgun Tube Extenders increase magazine capacity for the Pump Shotgun.

Vol 7 - Start off the fight with a bang. Enemies at Full health receive +20% Damage from Shotguns.

Completion Bonus - Breach! Shotguns deal +300% Block Damage to all wooden objects. Unlocks Shell Bulk Crafting. Bulk Crafting allows you to craft boxes of any Shotgun shell type. Boxes contain 100 shells and use -20% less resources in crafting.

Opinion: Shotguns were powerful before. Now they're even more powerful. The Shotgun Messiah magazine improves shotgun potential to the point where, combined with perks, you can one-shot most enemies within close quarters. The risk of close quarters combat is high, but the reward is higher. The Completion Bonus allows you to further replenish your stocks of ammo, but can be very awkward in the event that you miss. You'll often blow up wooden blocks on complete accident, especially if using buckshot.

Synergies:

• All buffs from the perk Boomstick stack
  
• Dismemberment chance from the Strength Attribute stack

Knock 'em outta the park with the Batter Up series. Improve your damage and combat potential while wielding Clubs. Unlock new recipes such as Chain Mods and Letter Jackets, and gain bonuses while wearing them. Now's your time to live out all the classic baseball movies you watched as a kid.

Vol 1 - Gain +10% Damage with all Clubs

Vol 2 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Letter Jackets and Baseball Hats. Letter Jackets and Baseball Hats each now grant -5% Health Loss while worn.

Vol 3 - Sweep the leg! With all Clubs, power attacks to the legs decrease Enemy Movement Speed by -25% for 6s. Additional power attacks to the legs refresh the duration. As the duration runs out, the zombie's movement speed begins to approach its original value.

Vol 4 - Power attacks with Clubs have a +5% Knockdown Chance.

Vol 5 - Grants all Clubs -20% Degradation, allowing them to last longer before requiring repairs.

Vol 6 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Steel Clubs, the highest tier Club, which hits the hardest and lasts the longest.

Vol 7 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Metal Chain mods, which when equipped, increase knockdown chance.

Completion Bonus - Can't stop, won't stop. Upon killing an enemy with a Club power attack, you fully replenish stamina.

Opinions: If you love chaining melee kills among hordes of zombies, you'll love this. Want more damage with clubs? Got it. Enemy too close? Go for the legs and cripple 'em! Need more knockdown power? Strap on some chains and swing hard! Batter Up will teach you how to put those zombies in their place.

Synergies:

• All buffs from the perk Pummel Pete stack
  
• While using the perk Pummel Pete, knockdowned enemies will receive additional damage
  
• Health Loss buffs from other sources, such as the perk Pain Tolerance, stack with Vol 2's effect

Ten HUT, maggot! Listen to your drill sergeant and you will make it out of the apocalypse alive. Learn how to fire your Assault Rifles better and manage your recoil! Figure out how to craft Drum Magazines and the tried and true M60. Now DOWN and give me twenty.

Vol 1 - Gain +10% Damage with all Assault Rifles.

Vol 2 - Don't miss. Each successful shot with Assault Rifles grants +1% Damage. This effect stacks indefinitely, and ends when you miss or completely run out of ammo.

Vol 3 - Grants all Assault Rifles -20% Degradation, allowing them to last longer without requiring repair.

Vol 4 - Unlocks crafting for Drum Magazines. Drum Magazine mods double your magazine size, but decrease reload speed.

Vol 5 - Control your fire! Each shot with Assault Rifles in sustained full-auto mode will gradually improve your accuracy and decrease recoil. This effect ends when you cease firing. If you have ever played Borderlands 2, imagine a Hyperion SMG.

Vol 6 - If they won't get out of your way, you'll run them over! With Assault Rifles, each successful shot applies a +4% Knockdown Chance for 5s on the enemy. Each additional shot refreshes the duration, and adds a stack. The effect ends when the enemy is knocked down, or the timer runs out. The knockdown effect lasts 4s.

Vol 7 - Unlocks crafting recipe for M60s, the highest tier AR, which boasts the largest damage pool and biggest magazine.

Completion Bonus - That sweet adrenaline. Gain +20% Run Speed for 20s after killing an enemy with Assault Rifles. Each subsequent kill refreshes the duration.

Opinions: Usually I disagree with unrestrained, rapid firing. It rarely hits your target, and wastes expensive 7.62 ammo. With the Automatic Weapons Handbook, you can make it much more viable, especially with Vol 5's effect. The gradual increase to damage and ragdoll chance can also benefit nicely. If you have extremely precise aim (literally cannot miss), you can stack absurd amounts of damage with Vol 2's effect. And the Adrenaline Rush from the Completion Bonus is one of the best feelings in the game.

Synergies:

• All buffs from the perk Machine Gunner stack
  
• Combine with the magazine Sniper from the Perception category to unlock new 7.62 recipes (Bulk crafting, AP rounds, and HP rounds)

Learn from the Irish scrapper Sean "Lucky Bastard" O'Mulligan on how to have a good 'ole fashioned bar brawl. The Bar Brawler series will teach you how to make the most of your fist weapons, perform new moves, and get a better buzz outta booze!

Vol 1 - Gain +10% Damage with all Fist Weapons

Vol 2 - Charge down unsuspecting foes and drop a bomb! While sprinting, power attacks gain +50% Knockdown Chance. The Knockdown effect lasts 4s.

Vol 3 - You're a machine, and you're powered by pugilism. Gain +5% Damage for every kill with Fist Weapons, stacking up to 3 times for a maximum bonus of +15% Damage. This effect decays by one stack after 10s, and refreshes with each new kill.

Vol 4 - Finish him. While using Fist Weapons, all stunned and knockdowned enemies receive +20% More Damage.

Vol 5 - Tap into your adrenaline bank and get health outta nowhere. Every successful punch on an enemy restores +1 HP.

Vol 6 - A fire of rage and fury is burning deep within. Unleash it! After taking damage from an enemy, while your fists are out, gain +20% Attack Speed and +10% Movement Speed for 5s.

Vol 7 - T-that's..right. *hic* I AM the.. the.. champion... Beer has +100% Duration and no longer blurs vision.

Completion Bonus - An ancient warrior's technique: The Seventh Curse. With Fist Weapons, the 7th successful hit will deal +300% Damage. Each attack must be chained within 2s or the effect will be lost. You can see your chain in the bottom left where buffs appear.

Opinion: Brawling may be one of the most risky forms of melee combat, but is indisputably the most powerful. With this magazine, combined with perks, you can achieve a God-like status among MMA fighters, brawling your way through hordes of zombies. Use your newfound abilities to chain combos, like a sprinting power attack followed by a left hand! Combine with a heavy set of armor and you'll feel immortal.

Synergies:

• All buffs from the perk The Brawler stack
  
• The +300% Damage bonus from Beer stacks
  
• The attack speed bonus from the perk Flurry of Blows stacks with Vol 6's effect

Run 'em and gun 'em once you've read the adventures of Pistol Pete! Learn how to improve your potential with 9mm weapons, such as the pistol and SMG-5. Unlocks new kinds of 9mm ammunition, such as hollow points and AP rounds. Complete the series to ignore target armor at close range and bulk craft 9mm ammo.

Vol 1 - While aiming with 9mm Weapons, gain +20% Effective and Maximum Range.

Vol 2 - Shoot 'em full of holes, turn their knees into swiss cheese! Each successful legshot with 9mm Weapons grant +10% Cripple Chance for 20s towards the target The effect is lost once the enemy is successfully crippled, or the duration runs out. Each successful shot refreshes the effect duration.

Vol 3 - Steady hands, steady aim. Decrease Incremental Spread by -8% with all 9mm Weapons. This buff improves your accuracy while rapid firing.

Vol 4 - Grants all 9mm Weapons -20% Degradation, allowing them to last longer without requiring repair.

Vol 5 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Hollow Point 9mm Ammo. HP Rounds deal slightly more damage at the cost of more resources.

Vol 6 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Armor Piercing 9mm Ammo. AP Rounds deal the most damage, pierce armor, and penetrate through enemies.

Vol 7 - Gain +10% Damage with all 9mm Weapons.

Completion Bonus - Powder burns lay waste to enemy armor. All shots on enemies within a 3m Radius will Cause 1 Stack of Bleed and gain +20% Armor Piercing. Unlocks 9mm Bulk Crafting. Bulk Crafting allows you to craft boxes of any 9mm ammo. Boxes contain 100 rounds and use -20% less resources in crafting.

Opinion: Pistol Pete unlocks a few interesting ways to play with 9mm Weapons, especially the SMG-5. You can fight at further ranges, or in close proximity to enemies. For armored targets, especially feral/irradiated ones, aim for the legs to slow them down, and then go in for the kill using the Completion Bonus's bleed and armor pierce bonus. And, of course, the bulk crafting is superior to regular crafting. The bonus from Vol 4 is also very useful for the SMG-5.

Synergies:

• All buffs from the perk Gunslinger stack
  
• Other cripple chances, such as the +20% from the Cripple 'Em mod, stack with Vol 2's effect
  
• Other armor piercing buffs stack with the Completion Bonus
  
• The Bleed enhancements from the perk Deep Cuts stack with the Completion Bonus

Do you feel lucky? You should once you've read the Magnum Enforcer series. Learn how to do the most with your .44 Weapons, such as the Magnum and Desert Vulture, dealing extra damage and gaining bonuses while wielding it. Unlock new ammunition types for .44 rounds. So I'll ask you again...

Vol 1 - Gain +10% Damage with .44 Weapons.

Vol 2 - You've gotta look clean in a dirty town like this. Suit Jacket and Suit Pants both grant -5% Health Loss while worn.

Vol 3 - Did I fire 5 shots or 7? With .44 Weapons, the last bullet in the chamber does +100% Damage.

Vol 4 - Traders feel more convinced that they should give you a better deal. While holding your .44 Magnum or Desert Vulture, gain +5% Bartering.

Vol 5 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Armor Piercing .44 Ammo. AP Rounds deal the most damage, pierce armor, and penetrate through enemies.

Vol 6 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Hollow Point .44 Ammo. HP Rounds deal slightly more damage at the cost of more resources.

Vol 7 - Can't let them get away. While holding a .44 Weapon in combat, gain -20% Stamina Drain while Sprinting. This effect activates/refreshes once you take or deal damage, and lasts for 20s.

Completion Bonus - Line 'em up, knock 'em down! Normal and HP .44 Rounds can penetrate up to one enemy, dealing the same amount of damage to the target behind them. Unlocks .44 Bulk Crafting. Bulk Crafting allows you to craft boxes of any .44 ammo. Boxes contain 100 rounds and use -20% less resources in crafting.

Opinion - Magnum Enforcer gives all-around buffs to almost everything there is: damage, bartering, resistance, stamina, crafting... Every bonus grants a bit more situational use for .44 Weapons. But the combat bonuses are the most vital piece. Use the last shot double damage for the toughest of enemies. And the penetrative shots? Glorious. The handcannons first lacked in crowd control, but flourished in dealing massive damage to a single target. Now you can dish out the same amount of hate; to several targets.

Synergies:

• All buffs from the perk Dead Eye stack
  
• Buffs to bartering from other sources stack
  
• Health Loss buffs from other sources, such as the perk Pain Tolerance, stack with Vol 2's effect

Read the tale of a lone survivalist lost in the wild, equipped only with his trusty recurve. Learn how to improve your potential with Bows and Crossbows, unlocking new ammo types, maintaining your equipment, and riddling enemies with status effects. Unlocks bulk crafting for all arrows and bolts.

Vol 1 - Arrows and Bolts have a +20% Chance to Stick on enemy impact, rather than breaking. This allows you to effectively retrieve +20% more arrows.

Vol 2 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Exploding Arrows and Bolts. Exploding shots deal large damage in a radius.

Vol 3 - Your target is marked; they cannot run from you. With Bows and Crossbows, all legshots against zombies will guarantee a Cripple.

Vol 4 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Steel Arrows and Bolts. Steel heads have the highest damage and armor piercing.

Vol 5 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Flaming Arrows and Bolts. Flaming shots ignite your target dealing damage that scales overtime.

Vol 6 - Grants all Bows and Crossbows -20% Degradation, allowing them to last longer without requiring repair.

Vol 7 - They'll have no idea what hit them! Sneak attacks with all Bows and Crossbows have a +20% Knockdown Chance towards unalert enemies.

Completion Bonus - Unlocks Arrow/Bolt Bulk Crafting. Bulk Crafting allows you to craft boxes of any Arrow or Bolt. Boxes contain 100 shots and use -20% less resources in crafting.

Opinion: Bows are typically reserved for stealth combat, and perform less effectively when used in direct attacks. However, with the new bonuses given from the Ranger's Guide to Archery, you can use your bows and crossbows with more potential. Being able to craft new ammo types can further support situational use. Explosive arrows are excellent against crowds, and flaming arrows against armored targets. The cripple on legshot is also helpful for those fast-moving feral and irradiated enemies.

Synergies:

• All buffs from the perk Archery stack

For the aspiring turret junky and robotics nerd, you'll need to learn a few pointers from Tech Junkie. Read the series to unlock new ammo types for Robotic Turrets, as well as improving the power and functionality of your turrets and stun batons.

Vol 1 - Gain +10% Damage with all Turrets.

Vol 2 - All Turrets gain -20% Degradation, allowing them to last longer without requiring repair.

Vol 3 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Armor Piercing Turret Ammo. AP Rounds deal the most damage, pierce armor, and penetrate through enemies.

Vol 4 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Turret Shells. Shells have a greater spread and less range, but deal more damage up close.

Vol 5 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Stun Repulsor Mod, a mod for any Stun Baton. Upon electrocuting an enemy, cause immediate knockdown and knockback.

Vol 6 - Overcharge! Normal attacks with Stun Batons have a 25% Chance to Instantly Charge, and power attacks have a 50% Chance.

Vol 7 - Gain +10% Fire Rate with all Ranged Turrets, and +3.3% Fire Rate with Sledge Turrets.

Completion Bonus - Unlocks Bulk Turret Ammo Crafting. Bulk Crafting allows you to craft boxes of any Turret ammo. Boxes contain 100 rounds and use -20% less resources in crafting.

Opinion - While the bonuses aren't as significant or intricate as they are for other magazines, the buffs received from Tech Junkie can help with situational turret use. Turret Shells can be great for using indoors, especially around tight chokepoints like doorways. The bonuses for Stun Batons, from Vol 5 and Vol 6, can also improve your ability to electrocute enemies. And of course, bulk crafting will help to ensure you never run out of ammo.

Synergies:

• All buffs from the perk Robotics Expert stack

Creep through the night and stay outta sight. The Night Stalker series will grant unique buffs, but only at night. Such bonuses improve your damage potential with knives and bows, as well as enhancing your stealth damage and prowess. Other volumes also remove encumbrance and increase XP gain.

Vol 1 - Deal +10% Stealth Damage during the night.

Vol 2 - Hidden deep within the swirling darkness. While sneaking, gain +5% Noise Reduction and -5% Visibility during the night.

Vol 3 - Gain +10% Damage with all Knives during the night.

Vol 4 - A night full of loot fuels you with adrenaline. Never get encumbered at night (opens all inventory slots).

Vol 5 - Gain +10% Damage with all Bows and Crossbows during the night.

Vol 6 - Gain +5% XP Gain on Kills during the night.

Vol 7 - Slumber party! Deal +50% Stealth Damage to sleeping zombies at night.

Completion Bonus - The unseen strike, swift... and deadly. Deal +200% Stealth Damage with all Knives during the night.

Opinion - The Night Stalker can be considered an all-rounder perk magazine, but because its bonuses revolve mainly around stealth and knives, its usefulness excels in an Agility build. The stealth bonus from Vol 2 helps immensely, especially combined with perks. But most of all, the Completion Bonus and other stealth damage multipliers are insane. With knives, you can take out even the deadliest of enemies with one stab on night-stealth missions.

Synergies:

• All buffs from the perk Deep Cuts, Hidden Strike, and From the Shadows stack
  
• All additional buffs to Stealth Damage (such as the one from knives/bows) stack
  
• All additional buffs to Visibility and Noise Reduction (such as the Ghillie Suit bonuses) stack

The city is a dangerous place. Know your roads with the Urban Combat series. Obtain a multitude of buffs, such as improving parkour while stealthing, treading lightly, and performing superior while indoors. When the plan goes haywire, learn to harness Combat Adrenaline, which removes speed and stamina penalties from armor.

Vol 1 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Military Stealth Boots. Military Stealth Boots have the same stats as normal Military Boots, but have no stamina nor noise penalties.

Vol 2 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Cigars. Cigars increase Strength by +1 and Bartering by +10%.

Vol 3 - Kicking one loose can shake the whole hive. Sneaking over trash no longer makes more sound.

Vol 4 - Fall like a cat and always land on your feet. Landing while stealthed makes less noise, and jump height while crouched is not reduced.

Vol 5 - Watch your step. Landmines no longer trigger when stepped on.

Vol 6 - The thrill of combat makes you feel weightless. Upon taking or dealing damage, gain the Combat Adrenaline buff for 20s. Combat Adrenaline removes movement speed and stamina penalties from armor, allowing you to move at full speed.

Vol 7 - Clearing the area. While indoors, gain +10% Damage and -5% Health Loss.

Completion Bonus - Tech your silencers and fulfill your damage potential! Silencers no longer suffer from their -15% Damage Penalty.

Opinions - Urban Combat is a very sought-after perk book, particularly due to Vol 6's Combat Adrenaline. Being able to move at full speed while decked in armor is extremely helpful for tackling large crowds. All other buffs help for certain stealth missions, especially ones with numerous parkour tasks. Overall, if you find yourself stealthing a lot of indoor points of interests, keep an eye out for Urban Combat!

Synergies:

• Jump height buffs from the perk Parkour stack with Vol 4's effect
  
• Health Loss buffs from other sources, such as Pain Tolerance, stack with Vol 7's effect

Lady Luck is always throwing something your way. Read through The Lucky Looter and always find what you're lookin' for. Lucky Looter increases the quantity of several loot groups, such as food, brass, lead, ammo, medicine, and more. Quantity increases how much loot is found, not how often (e.g. finding 120 instead of 100).

Vol 1 - Shiny brass coins embossed with a vaguely familiar face. Find +20% more Dukes in loot.

Vol 2 - Never too much, always too little. Find +20% more Ammunition in loot.

Vol 3 - It's practically as valuable as gold nowadays. Find +20% more Brass in loot.

Vol 4 - Heaviest stable element with toxic properties. Find +20% more Lead in loot.

Vol 5 - Eh, could be something useful in there. Find +20% more Junk in loot.

Vol 6 - Starving to death? No problem. Find +20% more Food in loot.

Vol 7 - Infected? I feel fine! Find +20% more Medicine in loot.

Completion Bonus - All the good loot is hiding inside them! All Zombies have a +20% Chance to drop Loot Bags.

Opinion - What could there be more to say about Lucky Looter? You find more goodies from loot, and from almost every category. It works great with every type of build, and can help surge your gameplay progression. The Completion Bonus is sought after in almost every playthrough.

Synergies:

• Combine with the perk Lucky Looter to further increase your looting quality

Listen up! This is a robbery; we wanna harm everyone! Page through The Great Heist to learn all the secrets of breaking and entering, and stealing valuables. Gain bonuses to breaking/lockpicking safes, and find more jewelry within them. In multiplayer, break into player bases more efficiently. Unlock crafting for lockpicks and timed charges.

Vol 1 - Deal +10% Block Damage against all Safes.

Vol 2 - Ooh, shiny! Find +10% More Gems in loot (gold, silver, diamonds).

Vol 3 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Timed Charges. Timed Charges apply a massive amount of block damage to a small area, allowing you to swiftly blast open safes.

Vol 4 - They won't keep you out! Deal +20% Block Damage against Land Claimed property.

Vol 5 - Fortune favors the bold! While carrying 5000 Dukes or more, increase Safe Fall Distance by 8.7m (up to 14.7m).

Vol 6 - You need to stealth this one, but you're still in a hurry. Sneak sprinting uses no stamina.

Vol 7 - Robotics seem to be oblivious towards you. Motion-sensing turrets now take +3s to Alert. This allows you to sneak past turrets without being detected and shot.

Completion Bonus - A thief's best friend! Lockpicks have a -10% Break Chance and are 16.7% Faster. In addition, unlock crafting recipe for Lockpicks and Lockpick Bulk Crafting. Bulk Crafting allows you to craft boxes of Lockpicks. Boxes contain 50 picks and use -20% resources in crafting.

Opinion: While a few of its buffs are only effective in multiplayer, The Great Heist has some great effects and perks, mainly being able to craft lockpicks and timed charges, and the long fall from Vol 5. 5000 Dukes is very easy to acquire in mid-gamestage, and if you always carry them on you, fall damage will never bother you again. Dealing additional block damage to safes and finding more gems is likewise excellent.

Synergies:

• All buffs from the perk Lockpicker stack
  
• Other safe fall distance modifiers, such as Impact Bracing, stack with Vol 5's effect

The new world around you is a cruel, desolate reality. But we can still find a glitter among the ashes! Harvest (destroy blocks) for additional resources from objects, such as brass, lead, acid, gems, and food. Unlock crafting recipes for mineral water and resources such as cloth.

Vol 1 - Nature's cure, all in your backyard. Gain a 5% Chance to Harvest Honey from any (non-burnt) Tree.

Vol 2 - The dead don't need it. You sure do. From breaking Coffins, you have chances to find various treasures.

• 5% Chance to harvest 1-4 Bones
  
• 5% Chance to harvest 1 Silver Nugget
  
• 5% Chance to harvest 1 Gold Nugget
  
• 5% Chance to harvest 1 Raw Diamond

Vol 3 - Caustic! Have an increased chance to harvest Acid from various sources.

• 50% Chance to harvest 1 Acid from Pill Cases
  
• 25% Chance to harvest 1 Acid from Acid Barrels
  
• 15% Chance to harvest 1 Acid from Buses
  
• 8% Chance to harvest 1 Acid from Cars/Army Trucks
  
• 5% Chance to harvest 1 Acid from Chem/Medical Piles

Vol 4 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Pure Mineral Water. Mineral water restores more hydration and grants a stamina buff.

Vol 5 - Gold of the wasteland. Harvest Brass Door Knobs from House Doors, and 2-7 Brass from Industrial Doors (blue doors).

Vol 6 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Cloth, an important resource for crafting clothing, bedding, and more.

Vol 7 - Plumbing ain't important in a zombie apocalypse, anyhow. Harvest 1-5 Brass and Lead from all Sinks.

Completion Bonus - The proper material for making bullet-proof armor. Harvest 1-2 Military Fiber from Barracks Chairs, and 10-20 from Army Trucks. In addition, Gain a 2% Chance to Harvest Military Fiber from any Trash Pile.

Opinion: Most of the effects are only by chance, making this book series not necessarily the carrier for most builds. For those who need a lot of brass, however, Vol 5's effect is very helpful, especially while raiding points of interest. Being able to craft mineral water, an otherwise rare beverage, is also very nice for survival. Military Fibers and Cloth will be very abundant as well, making this series useful for builds utilizing light armor.

Synergies: N/A


Deep within the caves of Navezgane glows a bounty of precious metals. Read The Art of Mining and learn how to make the best out of mining, allowing you to find precious gems in any ore, craft resources into stacks, and gaining buffs from drinking coffee. Unlocks other new recipes, such as Blackstrap, Lanterns, and Diamond Tip Mods.

Vol 1 - More shiny bits! From destroying any ore, you have chances to find rare treasures.

• 1% Chance to harvest a Silver Nugget
  
• .7% Chance to harvest a Gold Nugget
  
• .5% Chance to harvest a Raw Diamond

Vol 2 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Diamond Tip Mod. When equipped, they drastically increase durability.

Vol 3 - Get to the good stuff already! While under the effects of any Coffee, Harvest +10% More Resource from Any Ore.

Vol 4 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Blackstrap. Blackstrap grants +25% Stamina Regen (+5% more than Coffee) and +10 Cold Insulation (+5 more than Coffee) for 6 minutes.

Vol 5 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Resource Pallets. This allows you to turn stacks of wood, stone, and ore into bundles. Bundles improve storage and can be reopened at any time, with no loss in resources.

Vol 6 - Who needs a hardhat when you've got a hardhead? Take -50% Damage from Falling Blocks.

Vol 7 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Lanterns and Mining Helmets, to help you light your way in the darkness.

Completion Bonus - Hit the sweetspot. With mining tools, all hits against ore have a 20% Chance to Instantly Destroy the Ore (10000 Block Damage).

Opinion: For those who seek to quickly gather up resources, The Art of Mining is a prime pick. Everything in this book can be put to use. You can use Vol 1 and Vol 2 together to have a chance to find diamonds, and then use them to craft diamond tip mods for your tools and melees. Buzzing up on Blackstrap (or Coffee) during a mining trip can greatly improve your yield. Most importantly, however, is the Completion Bonus. Being able to one shot ores is a massive time saver, and becomes even more insane when combined with an Auger!

Synergies:

• All buffs from the perk Mother Lode stack

Living in the wild isn't so bad, especially when you know how to defend yourself. Read The Hunter's Journal to deal more damage against wildlife, players, and zombies. It's that simple. Complete the series to harvest more meat, bones, and leather from animals.

Vol 1 - Size doesn't matter. You can take 'em. Deal +10% Damage to Bears and Zombie Bears.

Vol 2 - Lone or in a pack. Deal +10% Damage to Wolves and Zombie Dogs.

Vol 3 - Like wolf, only smaller. Deal +10% Damage to Coyotes.

Vol 4 - Like cat, only bigger. Deal +10% Damage to Mountain Lions.

Vol 5 - It's hunting season! Deal +10% Damage to Deer.

Vol 6 - Shιthawks, Randy! Deal +10% Damage to Vultures.

Vol 7 - It was self-defense! Deal +10% Damage to Humans and Zombies.

Completion Bonus - Use every part and the ecoterrorists will be pleased. Probably. Harvest +20% more Resource from Butchering Animals.

Opinion: The Hunter's Journal is a simple series. The damage bonus against animals won't really matter in the long run, unless you encounter something, like a bear, up close. But the +10% Damage against Zombies from Vol 7 is very good to have. It stacks on top of every other damage modifier, and every little bit counts. The extra harvest from the Completion Bonus is nice, too.

Synergies:

• Great when combined with the perk Animal Tracker
  
• Bonus resource harvest stacks with the perk The Huntsman
  
• Vol 7 damage bonus stacks with every other damage bonus

The Burnt Forest may just be a crossroads between the wasteland and forests, but even the most desolate of plains can have their use. Gain various buffs specialized to surviving in the Burnt Forest biome. In addition, deal more and take less damage with fire weapons, and unlock recipes for new equipment and mods.

Vol 1 - Can't handle the heat? Gain +10 Heat Insulation.

Vol 2 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Fireman Axe Mod. When equipped, deal more block damage but less entity damage.

Vol 3 - A valiant fireman acts swiftly! Gain +5% Attack Speed with all Axes.

Vol 4 - Burn, baby, burn. All Fire-based Weapons (ex. Molotovs) burn for +1s.

Vol 5 - I'm already on fire! You have a -25% Chance to be Ignited.

Vol 6 - More fuel for the flame! Deal +10% Block Damage to Coal and Burnt Wood.

Vol 7 - Unlocks crafting recipe for Firefighter Helmets. Firefighter Helmets count as heavy armor and grant heat insulation.

Completion Bonus - Home at last. While in the Burnt Forest or Wasteland, deal +20% Damage, gain -20% Stamina Drain, and Never be encumbered (opens all inventory slots).

Opinion: Before actually knowing what The Fireman's Almanac does, the Burnt Forest was always my least favorite biome. Now, it might be my favorite. To get it out of the way quick, while in the Wasteland or Burnt Forest, the Completion Bonus grants a significant damage bonus to all weapons, less stamina drain, and not a care in the world about carrying capacity. It's insane. Reading Vol 1 will ensure you almost never overheat in the Burnt Forest. The perks to fire damage are additionally helpful, as well as being a bit thematic to your playstyle.

Synergies:

• Completion Bonus damage buff applies and stacks to everything
  
• Completion Bonus stamina drain stacks with other similar buffs

For those who need a less-intense sport. Read Needle and Thread and learn how to sew your own clothing. Unlocks a multitude of crafting recipes, such as leather dusters, puffer coats, and pocket mods, to help you survive the cold or hot climate.

Vol 1 - Winter wear to keep you warm and cozy. Unlocks crafting recipe for Flannel Shirts, Sweatshirts, and Skull Caps.

Vol 2 - Legwear to conceal your genitals. Unlocks crafting recipe for Jeans, Overalls, and Skirts.

Vol 3 - All the sneakerheads will be jealous. Unlocks crafting recipe for Worn Boots, Running Shoes, Cowboy Boots, and Dress Shoes.

Vol 4 - Survive the burning desert sun. Unlocks crafting recipe for Tank Tops, T-Shirts, Cowboy Hats, and Shorts.

Vol 5 - They may be bulky but they protect you from everything! Unlocks crafting recipe for Leather Dusters.

Vol 6 - For the most intense of cold conditions. Unlocks crafting recipe for Puffer Coats.

Vol 7 - Can't carry enough? Sew some pockets into your clothes! Unlocks crafting recipe for Clothing Cargo Storage Mods. Clothing Cargo Storage Mods open two additional inventory slots, as opposed to the Pocket Mods, which only open one slot.

Completion Bonus - The most durable and versatile of all apparel. Unlocks crafting recipe for BDU Tops and BDU Bottoms.

Opinion: Being able to craft clothing is nice, especially if you want to customize your character. The most useful volume is definitely Vol 7, which allows you to craft mods to expand your open inventory room. Overall, pretty sufficient, but not the best of the bunch.

Synergies: N/A

This section of the guide will serve as a directory for you to find exactly what you're looking for in a build. If you want something more in your build, like more damage, or better use of out armor, scroll through and you'll find something to help you out!

• This is entirely dependent on your build, but it should also be very simple for you to figure out. Typically, your main attribute determines what weapons you use (ex. If you're using Fortitude, you're most likely also using Assault Rifles and Fist Weapons). The First 5 categories are listed by main attribute.

• Sniper - Vol 1
  
  • Gain +10% Damage while aiming with a scoped weapon.
• The Fireman's Almanac - To Completion
  
  • Gain +20% Damage while in the Burnt Forest or Wasteland.
• The Hunter's Journal - Any volume
  
  • Vol 7 grants +10% Damage against humans and zombies.
    
  • All other volumes grant +10% Damage towards animals, respective to the series number.
• Urban Combat - Vol 7
  
  • Gain +10% Damage while indoors.

• Urban Combat - Vol 6
  
  • While in combat, remove stamina/movespeed penalties from armor.
• Wasteland Treasures - To Completion
  
  • Harvest Military Fiber from Trash, Barracks Chairs, and Army Trucks, to craft Military Armor.
• Fireman's Almanac - Vol 7
  
  • Craft Firefighter Helmets (Tier 2 Heavy Armor w/ Heat Insulation).
• The Art of Mining - Vol 7
  
  • Craft Mining Helmets (Tier 2 Light Armor w/ Headlight).

• Batter Up - Vol 2
  
  • Craft Baseball Hats and Letter Jackets. When worn, they provide -5% Health Loss each.
• Magnum Enforcer - Vol 2
  
  • Craft Suit Pants and Suit Jackets. When worn, they provide -5% Health Loss each.
• Urban Combat - Vol 7
  
  • Gain -5% Health Loss while indoors.
• The Great Heist - Vol 6
  
  • While carrying 5000 Dukes or more, increase safe fall distance to 14.7m.
• The Fireman's Almanac - Vol 1 and 7
  
  • Gain +10 Heat Insulation.
    
  • Craft Firefighter Helmets (Tier 2 Heavy Armor w/ +10 Heat Insulation).
• Needle and Thread - Any Volume
  
  • Craft most clothing types. Specialize in cold or heat insulation.
• The Art of Mining - Vol 6
  
  • Take -50% Damage from falling blocks.

• Night Stalker - To Completion
  
  • Applies multiple unique buffs, but only during night. Best when used with an Agility build.
    
    • +10% Stealth Damage (Additional +50% on Sleeping Zombies)
      
    • +10% Damage w/ Knives, Bows, and Crossbows
      
    • -5% Visibility, +5% Noise Reduction
      
    • +200% Stealth Damage w/ Knives
• Urban Combat - To Completion
  
  • Craft Military Stealth Boots, which have no stamina or noise penalty.
    
  • Improve parkour (jumping/landing) while stealthing.
    
  • Make less noise when landing/stepping on trash.
    
  • Remove Silencer damage penalty.
• Sniper - To Completion
  
  • Craft Ghillie Suits. Each piece worn decreases visibility and noise.
• The Great Heist - Vol 6
  
  • Use no stamina while sneak sprinting.

• Lucky Looter - To Completion
  
  • Find loot groups in a larger abundance. These groups contain food, ammo, brass, lead, dukes, and more. See series under Looting for more.
• The Great Heist - To Completion
  
  • Find +10% More Valuables in Loot
    
  • Deal +10% Block Damage to Safes
    
  • Bulk Craft Lockpicks. Lockpicks are 16.7% Faster and have -10% Break Chance.
• The Hunter's Journal - To Completion
  
  • Harvest +20% More Meat, Fat, Leather, Bones, and Feathers from Butchering Animals.
• The Art of Mining - To Completion
  
  • Find valuables while mining.
    
  • Harvest +10% More from ore while under the effects of Coffee.
    
  • Have a 20% Chance to Instantly Destroy Ore
• Wasteland Treasures - To Completion
  
  • Find many more resources from multiple sources. Includes honey, acid, bones, valuables, brass, lead and military fiber. See series under Resources for more.

• Needle and Thread - Vol 7
  
  • Craft Cargo Mods for clothing. When equipped, gain +2 open inventory slots.
• The Great Heist - Vol 4
  
  • Open all inventory slots during night
• The Fireman's Almanac - To Completion
  
  • Opens all inventory slots while in the Burnt Forest

A brief debriefing of certain words I used in this guide. The Glossary can help you better understand certain terms.

Bartering - Stat bonus. Increases the value of sold goods by a given percentage, and discounts all trader goods by the same percentage.

Bleed - Stackable status debuff. Each stack of bleed deals 1 Damage per second, ignoring armor, for 20s. Each new bleed stack refreshes the duration. By default, the maximum number of bleed stacks is 2, but this can be increased by the perk Deep Cuts. See the parent guide under Additional Guides for more info.

Cripple - Status debuff. When crippled, zombies have their movement speed lowered by -30% for 5 minutes. Additional cripples will not stack or refresh the debuff's duration; the cripple must completely wear off before the enemy can be crippled again.

Knockdown - Status debuff. When knocked down, zombies are completely immobilized and ragdoll for a short duration. During this time, they cannot attack. When the knockdown ends, the zombie recovers, and gains 5s of knockdown resistance.

Stun - Status debuff. When stunned, zombies have their movement speed lowered by -80% and their attack speed by -50% for a short duration. As the stun wears off, the enemy will gradually return to their original movement and attack speed. Additional stuns refresh stun duration. Enemies that were stunned receive stun resistance for 3s.

Thanks for checking out my third guide so far! It's been fun making these, and makes 7 Days a bit more interesting when playing. Check out a few of my other guides for even more information!

First, I'd recommend looking at the parent guide, The Complete Builds, Skills, and Items Guide for as much information as you can get for the game. I discuss every attribute, its perks, weapons, and overall playstyle. Also includes the stat ranges for every weapon, tool, and armor piece.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2147570212

If you want a bit more information on item modding, my second guide, Mod Stats, will suit your needs. There I'll give you all the specific stats for every mod in the game, and their effectiveness while playing.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2186742344

A small place to put any changes made to the guide.

September 17, 2020

• Guide was birthed. C-section required.

January 23, 2022

• For the most part, there were not many changes made to any perk books in Alpha 20. However, I have revised a bit of information in this guide; it should be a bit easier to digest and understand the content without the need for the parent guide.
  
• Added Change Log
  
• Added Glossary
  
• Revised most information directories to be less bulky and more straightforward
  
• Updated information to be in accordance with A20