Strength in Project Zomboid (Build 42)
Strength is a Physical skill. Taking it from 0 to 10 costs 487,500 XP before multipliers; the Farmer occupation starts with 1 level, and it unlocks 8 recipes.
From the Build 42 dedicated server's files (depot manifest of 23 Sept 2026).
XP for each level
Level 10 alone costs 150,000 XP — 31% of the total.
XP needed for each level
| Level | XP for this level | Total XP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| 2 | 3,000 | 4,500 |
| 3 | 6,000 | 10,500 |
| 4 | 9,000 | 19,500 |
| 5 | 18,000 | 37,500 |
| 6 | 30,000 | 67,500 |
| 7 | 60,000 | 127,500 |
| 8 | 90,000 | 217,500 |
| 9 | 120,000 | 337,500 |
| 10 | 150,000 | 487,500 |
What you actually earn is scaled first. Strength is one of the two physical skills the game leaves out of the occupation and learner multipliers. How the multipliers work.
Start with Strength
Levels a new character gets in Strength — and, through them, a faster XP rate:
- Farmeroccupation · +1
- Firefighteroccupation · +1
- Fitness Instructoroccupation · +1
- Lumberjackoccupation · +1
Strongtrait · +4
Stouttrait · +2
Weaktrait · +-2
Punytrait · +-5
What Strength unlocks (8)
Crafting and building recipes that need a Strength level. “Must be learned” recipes also need a magazine, a TV show or an occupation that teaches them.
| Level | Recipe | Also needs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Smash Small Herbivore Skull | — |
| 2 | Smash Herbivore Skull | — |
| 2 | Smash Pig Skull | — |
| 2 | Smash Stag Skull | — |
| 3 | Smash Cow Skull | — |
| 4 |  Cut Up Tire | — |
| 4 | Smash Bone | — |
| 4 | Smash Jawbone | — |
More skills
Pictures: item and trait icons and the health-panel figure are The Indie Stone's game art; item renders and shop signs are from PZwiki (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0).
Project Zomboid is a game by The Indie Stone. PinDrop is fan-made and not affiliated with The Indie Stone.