B42 Crafting Overhaul: Surviving the Apocalypse One Skill at a Time
B42 has completely transformed Project Zomboid's crafting system, bringing a whole new dimension to surviving the zombie apocalypse. After nearly ten months playing a B42 save, I've noticed many players feel overwhelmed by the less common skills, especially when trying to level them up. This article breaks down everything you need to know about crafting in the latest build, from getting started to mastering each skill. The days of simply hammering together a few planks are gone—B42 offers a rich crafting experience that makes survival both more challenging and more rewarding.
Getting Started with Crafting in B42
Before diving into specific skills, let's cover the essential basics that will set you up for crafting success in the zombie apocalypse.
Essential Tools and Resources
In B42, your crafting journey requires specialized tools for different disciplines. Here are the must-haves for any serious survivor:
- Basic Tools: Hammer, saw, screwdriver, and knife
Basic tools required for crafting in B42.
- Crafting Stations: Workbench, forge, kiln, pottery wheel
Crafting stations are crucial for advanced projects.
- Raw Materials: Wood, metal, clay, fabric, and stone
- Skill Books: These unlock crucial recipes and are more important than ever
One of B42's biggest changes is how interconnected crafting skills have become. To progress in metalworking, you'll need pottery to create crucibles, and carpentry to build your initial stations. It's a web of dependencies that feels much more realistic than previous builds.
First Projects Worth Tackling
When just starting out, focus on these beginner-friendly crafting projects:
- Wooden Poles: Require just one plank and one nail, perfect for leveling carpentry
- Stone Knives: With basic knapping, create essential cutting tools
- Primitive Storage: Simple crates and shelves organize your growing material collection
- Basic Weapons: Spears and crude axes provide fighting options beyond found weapons
In B42, the joy is in the journey. Don't rush to end-game crafting—take time to enjoy the progression.
Common Rookie Mistakes
After helping countless new players, I've noticed these frequent stumbling blocks:
- Ignoring Skill Books: In B42, books are essential for unlocking recipes
- Resource Hoarding: Use materials for skill advancement rather than stockpiling
- Overlooking Tool Maintenance: Tools degrade faster in B42—keep them repaired
- Skipping Intermediate Items: The progression system is designed to be followed
Maintenance: Keeping Your Gear in Fighting Shape
Maintenance might seem boring compared to flashier skills, but in B42, it's the foundation that supports everything else you do.
How to Level Up Maintenance
Getting started with maintenance is straightforward: 1. Read the new skill books (essential in B42) 2. Use your weapons in combat regularly 3. Repair and maintain your items
The beauty of maintenance is that you level it naturally through combat. Every swing of your bat or thrust of your spear contributes to your maintenance experience. Additionally, repairing items grants bonus XP, creating a virtuous cycle: use gear, repair gear, get better at maintaining gear.
Maintenance Tips From a Veteran
After reaching level 10 in maintenance, here's what I wish I'd known sooner:
- Focus on maintaining one primary weapon to accelerate skill gains
- Repair items before they fall below 50% condition for optimal XP
- Create a dedicated repair kit that you keep at your base
Maintenance directly affects how long your crafted items last, so don't neglect this seemingly mundane skill—it's literally a game-changer in B42.
Carpentry: Building Your Way to Safety
Carpentry has been in Project Zomboid forever, but B42 brings significant changes to how you level and what you can build.
Getting Started with Carpentry
Here's how to kickstart your carpentry journey: 1. Read the skill books—they unlock critical recipes 2. Construct wooden poles for quick XP (one plank + one nail) 3. Progress to more complex structures as your skill increases
Unlike in B41, disassembling items no longer gives carpentry XP, so you'll need to focus solely on building. Wooden poles are your best friend here—they provide substantial XP while requiring minimal resources.
Must-Know Carpentry Projects
Once you've reached level 3-4, tackle these game-changing projects: 1. Rain collectors (water independence is huge!) 2. Secure storage solutions 3. Furniture for comfort bonuses 4. Barricades and defensive structures
In B42, carpentry intersects with other skills more than ever. Your carpentry creations will support pottery, metalworking, and other advanced crafting disciplines.
Carving: From Sticks to Survival Tools
Carving is one of the most accessible skills in B42, requiring minimal tools to get started.
Leveling Carving Efficiently
To become a carving master: 1. Read the skill books 2. Get a knife (even a stone knife works) 3. Chop down a tree 4. Carve stakes from branches or spears from saplings
The beauty of carving is its simplicity—all you need is a knife and some wood. This makes it perfect for nomadic playstyles or when establishing your first base.
Essential Carved Items
As your carving skill improves, prioritize these items: 1. Wooden spears (effective early weapons) 2. Tool handles (for crafting advanced tools) 3. Stakes (useful for traps and defenses) 4. Bowls and utensils (for cooking and food storage)
Carving synergizes beautifully with foraging, as you can transform found wood into useful items without needing a base or elaborate setup.
Cooking: From Raw Ingredients to Survival Feasts
Cooking has been completely revamped in B42, with new recipes, ingredients, and mechanics.
Leveling Cooking Fast
Here's how to become a post-apocalyptic chef: 1. Read the cooking books for recipe unlocks 2. Locate chickens and collect their eggs 3. Cook the eggs in an oven—harvesting the cooked eggs grants lots of XP 4. Progress to more complex recipes as you level up
While you can level cooking with various foods, eggs are the most accessible option. They're renewable, simple to prepare, and give excellent XP returns.
When butchering animals, remember to collect bones during the process, as that contributes significantly to your Butcher experience points.
Advanced Cooking Techniques
Once you've mastered the basics, explore these cooking strategies: 1. Preserving food through smoking, salting, or drying 2. Creating nutritionally balanced meals for moodle bonuses 3. Utilizing seasonal ingredients for maximum efficiency 4. Brewing beverages for hydration alternatives
In B42, cooking isn't just about preventing hunger—it's about optimizing your character's performance through proper nutrition.
Electrical: Powering Your Apocalypse
Electrical work might seem like a luxury in a zombie apocalypse, but it unlocks quality-of-life improvements that are worth the effort.
Leveling Electrical Skills
To improve your electrical expertise: 1. Read the skill books thoroughly 2. Dismantle every electronic device you encounter 3. Start with simple electrical projects like lamps 4. Progress to generators and advanced systems
Electrical remains one of the more tedious skills to level up in B42, unchanged from previous builds. The key is consistency—dismantle electronics whenever you find them.
Game-Changing Electrical Projects
Once you've gained some skill, prioritize these projects: 1. Generator setup and maintenance 2. Lighting systems for night activities 3. Refrigeration for food preservation 4. Alarm systems for base defense
Electrical knowledge transforms your survival experience from primitive camping to something resembling modern living—a psychological boost that shouldn't be underestimated.
Glassmaking: Crafting Clarity from Sand
Glassmaking is one of B42's most fascinating new additions, allowing you to create windows, containers, and more.
Starting Your Glassmaking Journey
This skill has a steep entry curve, but here's how to begin: 1. Search for a clay sculpt tool in vans or make the trek to Louisville's art store 2. Read the skill book (essential for recipes) 3. Use a sack and shovel to gather sand 4. Create glass panes using a small ceramic crucible, a furnace, and a sheet mold
The clay sculpting tool is the biggest hurdle, as it's rare and only appears in specific locations. Once you have it, though, the path forward becomes clearer.
Practical Glass Applications
Beyond windows, consider these glassmaking projects: 1. Storage jars for preserving food 2. Laboratory equipment for advanced crafting 3. Decorative items for improving base comfort 4. Reinforced glass for more secure bases
Glassmaking intersects beautifully with cooking and farming, creating a virtuous circle of production and storage.
Knapping: Stone Age Skills for Modern Apocalypse
Knapping might seem primitive, but in B42, it's a crucial stepping stone to advanced crafting.
Knapping Progression Path
To advance your knapping skills: 1. Read the relevant skill books 2. Find a stone or hammer 3. Forage for flint nodules or mine stone deposits 4. Knap into sharp flint flakes until you unlock recipes for larger stone tools
Flint nodules will limit your progress until you reach level 2, when you can craft larger axe heads that provide ten times the XP.
Essential Knapped Items
Prioritize these knapping projects: 1. Sharp flint flakes (for basic cutting) 2. Stone knife (versatile tool and weapon) 3. Stone axe head (for crafting axes) 4. Arrowheads (for advanced weapons)
Knapping bridges the gap between found items and crafted tools, making it invaluable in the early game or when supplies are scarce.
Masonry: Building Solid Foundations
Masonry allows you to create structures that stand the test of time—and hordes of zombies.
Masonry Skill Development
To become a master mason: 1. Read the skill books 2. Acquire a masonry chisel (or create one through knapping) 3. Carve a mason trowel for more complex projects 4. Build using clay, bricks, and cement
This is a straightforward skill with minimal initial requirements, as you can create most of the necessary tools yourself through other crafting disciplines.
Critical Masonry Projects
As your skill improves, focus on these projects: 1. Stone foundations for secure bases 2. Brick ovens for advanced cooking 3. Furnaces for metalworking 4. Defensive walls for base protection
Masonry creates permanent improvements to your base that are difficult or impossible for zombies to destroy—a significant advantage in long-term survival.
Metalworking: Forging the Future
Metalworking transforms scavenged junk into valuable tools and weapons, making it one of B42's most valuable skills.
Getting Started with Metalworking
To begin your metalworking journey: 1. Construct a primitive forge, furnace, and kiln 2. Read the skill books for essential recipes 3. Locate smeltable materials (crowbars, pipes, etc.) 4. Start by creating simple items like knives
While metalworking requires a long-term commitment, starting out is relatively accessible. The primitive kiln needs clay, the furnace requires a carved bucket, clay, and cement, and the primitive forge uses a stone anvil crafted through masonry.
For blacksmithing in B42, you'll need a primitive furnace alongside a forge to smelt metal items into basic iron chunks or ingots. In the forge, you can further process those chunks into useful items.
Advanced Metalworking Tips
To accelerate your progress once you've mastered the basics: 1. Focus on crafting buckles at level 4-5 (each requires just one steel piece) 2. Create tongs early—they're essential for handling hot metal 3. Build a grinding wheel for maintaining metal tools 4. Establish a charcoal production system for fuel
Around level 4-5, crafting buckles becomes an efficient way to level up. Each buckle requires just one steel piece, but you'll earn significant XP from producing steel bars, allowing rapid skill advancement.
For charcoal production, you have two options: build a fire pit using a spade or create a charcoal barrel with any metal barrel. Both methods work well, though the barrel takes up less space.
Mechanics: Keeping Your Escape Vehicle Running
Mechanics remains crucial in B42, with some changes to how you acquire parts and repair vehicles.
Mechanics Skill Development
To improve your mechanical aptitude: 1. Read the skill books 2. Work on "wild" cars using the Ship of Theseus method (replacing parts systematically) 3. Practice on low-condition vehicles to minimize risks
The mechanics skill progression remains largely unchanged from B41, though obtaining specific magazines for different vehicle types is now more important.
To repair a car, you'll need a specific magazine for each car type, whether it's standard, sports, or heavy-duty. These magazines can be quite rare, so keep an eye out when looting bookstores and auto shops.
Vehicle Maintenance Strategy
Once you're comfortable with basic repairs: 1. Create a dedicated workshop area with all necessary tools 2. Stockpile spare parts for emergency repairs 3. Maintain a "parts car" for cannibalization 4. Practice preventative maintenance to avoid breakdowns
Pottery: Crafting Containers and Crucibles
Pottery might seem decorative, but in B42, it's essential for progression in other crafting disciplines.
Pottery Basics
To start your pottery journey: 1. Build a pottery bench and wheel using carpentry 2. Read the skill book for recipes 3. Gather clay and create pots 4. For metalworking, create a large crucible using a pottery wheel
This skill is quite straightforward, though it does require crafting stations that need some carpentry skill to create.
Clay is typically found by foraging near natural rivers or lakes. Once you have your crucible, it needs to be cured in a kiln before use in metalworking.
Essential Pottery Projects
Focus on these high-value pottery items: 1. Crucibles (essential for metalworking) 2. Storage containers (for food and materials) 3. Cooking vessels (for advanced recipes) 4. Water containers (for clean water storage)
Pottery creates the tools that enable other crafting disciplines to flourish, making it a foundational skill despite its seemingly niche focus.
Tailoring: From Rags to Reinforced Clothing
Tailoring has changed significantly in B42, with new methods for obtaining materials and creating items.
Tailoring Skill Path
To develop your tailoring expertise: 1. Read the skill book 2. Find thread or salvage it from rags 3. Apply and remove rag patches to level up 4. Progress to creating and modifying clothing
There's a crucial step that's often overlooked in tailoring: the thread recipe is categorized as level 1. Unless you obtain thread through looting, your best bet is to transform jeans into shorts or dresses into skirts to reach that level. Once you achieve level 1, you can salvage thread and proceed with the patches method.
Unlike in B41, you can't obtain thread by tearing clothes; you must specifically salvage it or find it directly.
Tailoring for Survival
Beyond basic clothing repairs, consider these tailoring projects: 1. Reinforced clothing for bite protection 2. Specialized outfits for different weather conditions 3. Storage-enhanced garments (more pockets equals more capacity) 4. Insulated clothing for winter survival
In B42, tailoring provides practical defensive benefits that can save your life when a zombie gets too close for comfort.
Welding: Joining Metal for Stronger Structures
Welding allows you to create reinforced structures and specialized tools that aren't possible with basic crafting.
Welding Prerequisites
To begin welding: 1. Locate a propane torch, propane, and a welder's mask 2. Read the skill books for recipes 3. Dismantle car wrecks for metal 4. Start with simple projects to build experience
Like mechanics, welding requires specific tools that can't be crafted, making it somewhat dependent on lucky finds or strategic looting.
Game-Changing Welding Projects
As your welding skill improves, tackle these projects: 1. Metal reinforcements for wooden structures 2. Security doors and window bars 3. Advanced storage solutions 4. Specialized tools for other crafting disciplines
Welding represents the pinnacle of structural security in Project Zomboid, allowing you to create bases that resist both zombies and hostile players.
Crafting Weapons for Survival
Now that we've covered the individual skills, let's talk about one of the most important applications: creating weapons to keep the undead at bay.
Early Game Weapon Options
When you're just starting out: 1. One-handed blunt weapons are your most reliable option (pipes, hammers, wrenches, frying pans, tire irons) 2. Crafted spears provide good reach and reasonable damage 3. Stone axes require minimal materials but offer decent performance 4. Knapped stone knives work in a pinch
The most reliable early game weapons are one-handed blunts. These include pipes, hammers, wrenches, ratchet wrenches, frying pans, and tire irons. They're abundant, durable, and effective against small groups.
Mid-Game Weapon Progression
As your skills improve, consider these options: 1. "Kratos style" crude stone axe (requires Maintenance 1) 2. Railspike or sawblade + baseball bat or table leg (requires Carpentry 4 and the John: Street Magazine) 3. Large stone axe (requires Knapping 3, Maintenance 1, and Tool Use of Early Man Magazine)
These weapons offer improved damage and durability, bridging the gap between found items and high-end crafted weapons.
Late-Game Weapon Mastery
For those who've developed advanced crafting skills: 1. Forged knives and machetes from metalworking 2. Reinforced bats and axes with metal components 3. Specialized tools modified for combat 4. Maintained and sharpened legacy weapons
Remember that in B42, weapon maintenance is crucial. Sharpen your tools and weapons after forging using a whetstone, file, or grinding wheel. The grinding wheel is your best option since whetstones and files can potentially damage your weapon. The lower the condition of your weapon, the less sharp it'll be, which directly impacts damage output.
Known Issues and Workarounds
No game update is perfect, and B42 has its share of bugs and quirks. Here are some common issues and how to fix them.
The Crude Whetstone Bug
Many players have encountered a critical issue: the crude whetstone cannot be crafted properly. The game struggles when a recipe includes two identical items, leading to confusion about which item to utilize. Currently, the only way to obtain a whetstone is through foraging, which can be challenging.
Here's how to fix it:
- Navigate to ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\recipes\recipes_fixing.txt
- Scroll to the bottom and locate "craftRecipe MakeCrudeWhetstone"
- Adjust the lines after "inputs" as follows:
Change this:
plaintext
{
1Base.St2][Prop2],
1Base.St2]keep flagsProp1MayDadeHeavy],
}
To this:
plaintext
{
2Base.St2]:destroy,
}
This modification makes both stones get destroyed during crafting, but at least allows you to craft whetstones reliably.
Blacksmithing Anvil Bug
There's also an issue with the anvil recipe in blacksmithing. You can't smelt an anvil using the wood charcoal you produce. You either need to acquire the correct type of charcoal or obtain the anvil through debug mode if you're comfortable with that.
Other Common Workarounds
- Missing magazine recipes: If you're struggling to find specific magazines (like fishing or mechanics), consider adjusting your loot settings or exploring specialized locations like bookstores more thoroughly.
- Thread acquisition: Remember that in B42, you can't tear clothes directly for thread. You must salvage it from rags or find it through looting.
- Animal handling: If you're working with animals, particularly Holstein cows, you might not even need animal care manuals. Additionally, when butchering animals, be sure to collect bones as they contribute significantly to your Butcher experience points.
Advanced Crafting Strategies
Once you've mastered the basics of each skill, it's time to think strategically about how crafting fits into your overall survival plan.
Seasonal Crafting Priorities
Your crafting focus should shift with the seasons:
Spring/Summer: 1. Focus on food preservation methods (smoking, canning) 2. Develop irrigation systems for farming 3. Build outdoor crafting stations to maximize daylight
Fall: 1. Craft warm clothing and insulation 2. Create indoor crafting spaces with good lighting 3. Stockpile materials that will be harder to acquire in winter
Winter: 1. Focus on indoor activities like tailoring and small item crafting 2. Maintain and improve tools during downtime 3. Create comfort items to combat cabin fever
Cross-Skill Synergies
The real power of B42's crafting system comes from combining skills:
Food Independence Pipeline: 1. Carpentry → Farming structures 2. Foraging → Seeds and initial food 3. Farming → Consistent food supply 4. Cooking → Preserved and nutritious meals 5. Pottery → Storage containers
Weapon Production Network: 1. Knapping → Basic tools and weapon components 2. Carving → Handles and shafts 3. Metalworking → Blades and reinforcements 4. Maintenance → Longevity and performance
By thinking in terms of production chains rather than isolated skills, you'll create more efficient and resilient survival systems.
Base Building Through Crafting
Your crafting skills directly determine what kind of base you can build and maintain:
Level 1-3 Skills support: - Basic wooden structures - Simple defenses - Rudimentary storage - Minimal comfort improvements
Level 4-6 Skills enable: - Multi-room structures - Effective zombie barriers - Specialized craft rooms - Sustainable food and water systems
Level 7-10 Skills unlock: - Fortress-level security - Self-sufficient resource systems - Specialized production facilities - Luxury and comfort features
The beauty of B42's crafting system is how it rewards long-term play and specialization while still allowing solo players to eventually master everything with enough time and effort.
Real-World Analogies: Understanding B42 Crafting
Sometimes, the best way to grasp game mechanics is through real-world comparisons. Here are some analogies that might help you better understand B42's crafting system.
The Apprenticeship Model
Think of each crafting skill in B42 as a traditional apprenticeship:
Apprentice Phase (Levels 1-3): You're learning fundamentals, making simple items, and building basic skills. Much like a real apprentice, you'll make mistakes and create imperfect items, but each attempt builds experience.
Journeyman Phase (Levels 4-7): You've mastered basics and can reliably create quality items. Like a historical journeyman, you can now produce work that's useful and durable, though you're still refining your techniques.
Master Phase (Levels 8-10): You've achieved expertise that allows for innovation and teaching others. Similar to a guild master, you can create exceptional items with special properties and understand the theoretical underpinnings of your craft.
This three-phase progression mirrors how real-world crafting skills develop, making the game's system feel natural and rewarding.
The Medieval Village Economy
B42's interconnected crafting skills function like a medieval village economy:
- Resource Gatherers (Foraging, Farming): Provide raw materials
- Primary Processors (Carpentry, Knapping): Create basic tools and structures
- Specialized Craftsmen (Blacksmithing, Tailoring): Transform basic materials into finished goods
- Service Providers (Cooking, Maintenance): Support and enhance other activities
In a medieval village, no craftsperson worked in isolation—the potter needed the woodcutter for fuel, the blacksmith needed the potter for crucibles, and so on. B42 captures this interdependence beautifully, encouraging players to develop multiple skills or specialize and trade in multiplayer settings.
Modern DIY Progression
If medieval analogies don't resonate, consider how modern DIY skills develop:
- YouTube Tutorial Phase (Levels 1-3): Following basic instructions, using pre-made kits, and learning terminology
- Weekend Warrior Phase (Levels 4-7): Tackling more complex projects, owning specialized tools, and understanding principles
- Skilled Hobbyist Phase (Levels 8-10): Creating original designs, modifying techniques for better results, and teaching others
Each phase requires more time investment but yields increasingly sophisticated results—just like in B42.
Conclusion: Crafting Your Apocalypse Story
B42's crafting system transforms Project Zomboid from a survival horror game into something approaching a crafting RPG with zombies. The depth and interconnectedness of the various skills create a compelling progression that rewards long-term play and thoughtful resource management.
Key Takeaways
- Read the books: Skill books are more important than ever in B42, unlocking crucial recipes and accelerating your progress.
- Start simple: Focus on wooden poles for carpentry, stone tools for knapping, and other basic items to build your skills efficiently.
- Think in systems: The true power of B42 crafting comes from connecting different skills into production pipelines.
- Maintain your tools: Weapon and tool maintenance is crucial in B42—neglect it at your peril.
- Fix the bugs: Don't hesitate to implement the whetstone fix and other workarounds to improve your experience.
Next Steps For Aspiring Crafters
If you're just starting your B42 journey:
- Choose 2-3 complementary skills to focus on initially (e.g., Carpentry, Farming, and Cooking)
- Establish a secure base with crafting stations for your chosen skills
- Collect skill books whenever possible, prioritizing your focus skills
- Gradually expand into supporting skills as your needs evolve
Remember that in Project Zomboid, as in life, the journey is as rewarding as the destination. Take time to enjoy the crafting process rather than rushing to end-game items.
It's also worth noting that the crafting features available in the current B42 unstable version (42.3.1) are still quite basic. These elements are likely to evolve as the update progresses, so stay flexible and be ready to adapt your techniques as the developers continue to refine the system.
Now get out there, craft some tools, build your base, and show those zombies that humanity's greatest strength has always been our ability to create!