With the latest updates in Project Zomboid, crafting and forging have become more complex and rewarding than ever. This guide provides an in-depth breakdown of crafting tools, weapons, and armor, along with essential tips on gathering resources efficiently. Whether you’re looking to repair weapons, craft powerful melee gear, or start blacksmithing, this guide will set you on the right path.

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The New Crafting System in Build 42

Crafting has changed significantly from Build 41. Now, weapons have two durability conditions:

• Handle Condition – The shaft or grip of a weapon.
• Head Condition – The striking or cutting edge.

This means that when a weapon “breaks,” only one part may be damaged, allowing you to replace broken parts instead of losing the entire weapon. For example, if your axe head breaks during combat, you can still fight with the handle for a short while before it becomes unusable.

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Basic Tool Crafting

To craft tools like axes, hammers, and knives, you’ll need:

• A crafting surface (table, big rock, or similar workbench).
• Materials (axe head, hammer head, handle, etc.).
• Crafting tools (hammer, knife, sharpening tools).

Example: Crafting an Axe

1. Gather Materials – You need an axe head, a handle, and a hammer.
2. Use a crafting station – Place materials on a table or rock.
3. Craft the item – Using a knife or sharp tool to finish the process.
4. Final Product – Your axe is ready!

Sharpening Tools & Weapons

Keeping your weapons sharp is crucial. Dull weapons degrade faster and lose damage output. To sharpen tools, you need:

• Grindstone or Wetstone (craftable from stone and clay).
• File or Small File Set (increases sharpening success rate).

To sharpen an item:

• Right-click and select “Sharpen”.
• Success increases sharpness, while failure reduces durability.

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Forging Weapons & Armor

Forging is a deep and rewarding system in Project Zomboid. Before you start, you must craft a furnace and forge.

How to Craft a Furnace & Forge

1. Gather Materials:
   • 6 Clay
   • 4 Stones
   • Bucket of Clay Cement Mix
2. Build the Furnace – This requires a Mason’s Trowel.
3. Craft a Forge – Requires a Stone Anvil, made using:
   • Large Stone + Stone Chisel + Hammer.
4. Set Up a Smelting Station – You’ll need:
   • Crucible (large ceramic crucible for metal refining).
   • Tongs (crafted wooden tongs or metal tongs for later upgrades).

Smelting & Blacksmithing

To smelt metal, you’ll need:

• Wood Charcoal (created by burning logs in a fire pit).
• Metal Items (scrap metal, iron chunks, etc.).
• A Furnace (to refine metal into usable ingots).

Leveling Blacksmithing

Start by crafting basic items like knives, then work your way up to larger weapons and armor.

• Smelt down scrap metal into iron chunks.
• Forge a basic iron knife using tongs, charcoal, and iron bars.
• Repeat the process to gain experience and unlock advanced recipes.

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Gathering Essential Resources

Finding Clay

Clay is essential for forges, pottery, and cement mix. Despite common belief, clay is not found near rivers. The best way to find it is:

• Forage on roads – Clay spawns more frequently here.
• Set your foraging focus to ‘Stones’ – Increases clay discovery rate.

Collecting Stones & Wood

Stones and logs are found both through foraging and on the ground.

• Mineral Deposits (Gray) – Contains Flint & Nodules.
• Mineral Deposits (Yellowish) – Contains Limestone.
• Right-click objects to pick up materials manually.

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Final Thoughts & Tips

• Use skill books to multiply crafting XP gain.
• Keep extra handles and weapon heads for quick repairs.
• Blacksmithing is a long grind – Start with basic knives before moving on to advanced weapons and armor.
• Clay is rare – Prioritize gathering it early for pottery, forging, and advanced building.
• Be mindful of sharpness – Dull weapons degrade way faster.

Master these mechanics, and you’ll be crafting legendary weapons and armor in no time! Hopefully, this guide helps you navigate Project Zomboid‘s crafting and forging systems with ease. Good luck, survivor!