Bitten in PZ? Hack It Off with The Only Cure Mod
Amputate or Die: Surviving a Bite in Project Zomboid
Bitten by a zombie and desperate for a cure? In vanilla Project Zomboid, you're out of luck โ a bite means certain death. But veteran survivors have one extreme fallback: amputation. With "The Only Cure" mod, you can cut off an infected limb and cheat death โ if you act fast and accept the consequences. For more details on vanilla infection mechanics, check our comprehensive bite survival guide.
โ ๏ธ Warning: This guide covers modded gameplay. In vanilla Project Zomboid (Build 41 & 42), amputation is NOT possible and bites are 100% fatal.
๐ Quick-Start: Emergency Amputation Steps โ
Goal: Amputate a bitten limb to prevent zombification. This is your do-or-die option when playing with the amputation mod. Follow these steps immediately after a bite:
- Install the Required Mod: Subscribe to "The Only Cure โ Rebuilt" on Steam Workshop (Build 41 compatible, B42 update in progress). Enable it (and its prerequisites Fancy Handwork and Brutal Handwork) in your mod list before launching the game. (No mod = no survival; in vanilla, you cannot amputate!)
- Prep an Amputation Kit: Always carry a Saw or Garden Saw, sterilized bandages or ripped sheets, and ideally sterilizer (alcohol/bourbon or disinfectant). If possible, have a tourniquet (the mod adds this item) and painkillers. This kit greatly improves your odds of surviving the operation.
- Secure Your Location: If bitten, get to safety immediately. Clear the immediate area of zombies or retreat to a locked room. You'll be vulnerable during and after surgery โ one zombie interrupting can end you. No time to drive home? Barricade in the nearest empty room or upstairs.
- Amputate ASAP: Open the Health Panel, right-click the bitten limb (highlighted in red) and select "Amputate [Left/Right Hand/Forearm/Upper Arm/โฆ]". (Alternatively, drag the saw onto the limb in the health panel.) Do this as soon as humanly possible. Every second counts โ the infection spreads fast internally.
- Stop the Bleeding: The moment you confirm amputation, your character will take damage (simulating massive blood loss and shock). If you had bandages or sutures in your inventory, the mod will auto-apply them to the stump, improving survival chances. Apply a tourniquet above the cut to slow blood loss.
- Manage Pain and Shock: Expect severe pain moodles. If you have Painkillers, take them immediately after cutting. If you had Beta Blockers, those can help prevent a panic spiral. Tip: If multiplayer or NPCs are present, having someone else perform the amputation might increase success.
- Rest and Recover: Find a safe place to sit or lie down. You'll likely be very weak (high exertion and dizziness from blood loss). DO NOT go back into a fight right now. Your health will start to stabilize if the bleeding is stopped.
- Aftercare (Next 1-3 Days): Change your bandages regularly โ keep the wound clean. If you see the bandage get dirty, disinfect the wound and re-bandage. Monitor the Health panel's wound status โ the mod adds a "cicatrization" (healing) progress indicator.
Quick Reference: Got Bit? โ Grab saw โ Safe spot โ Right-click limb โ Amputate โ Auto-bandage/tourniquet โ Rest.
No mod? โ Sorry, no cure in vanilla.
Late to amputate? โ If you already feel queasy, chances of survival drop sharply.
๐ฎ Why Vanilla Project Zomboid Has No Amputation
In Project Zomboid's base game, there is no way to stop the Knox Infection once it's in your bloodstream. The developers intentionally made bites 100% lethal โ "No cure. No immunity." This is a core design choice to keep the game tense and unforgiving.
From a lore perspective, the idea is that the zombie virus is so aggressive that it overwhelms the body before any treatment could help. In fact, early PZ lore had the infection explicitly stated as incurable.
"Limb amputation and zombification prevention are no longer planned features, at least until after full release." โ Project Zomboid Developer, 2023
Gameplay-wise, this means when you get tagged by a zombie's teeth, the game flips a death timer for you. Many players accept the inevitable: they get their affairs in order (or go out in a blaze of glory) because that character is as good as gone. This harsh finality is what makes PZ so intense โ every narrow escape feels earned.
However, it's exactly because the game is so brutal that some players started thinking: "If this were The Walking Dead, I'd hack my arm off and maybe survive. Why can't I try that in PZ?" The absence of this option in PZ is a design choice rather than an oversight.
Bottom line: In unmodded PZ you cannot amputate โ if you're bitten, it's game over unless you've turned off infection in sandbox. This is why the community created mods to fill that gap for those who want it.
๐ง The Reality of "Cutting it Off" โ Would it Even Work?
Let's put on our surgeon's mask for a moment. Amputation to prevent zombification โ could it work? In zombie fiction, occasionally yes. In real life, amputating a limb to stop a normal infection or snake venom is extremely risky and rarely done.
You'd have to amputate immediately after the bite, before the virus travels to the rest of the body. In practical terms, that might mean within a minute or two for major blood-borne pathogens. With a fast zombie virus, who knows โ maybe a few minutes tops.
Then consider the procedure itself: hacking off a limb causes massive blood loss. If you don't have a medical-grade tourniquet applied before cutting, you'll likely bleed out in a minute or two. The pain is another killer โ it can send you into shock or unconsciousness.
Real-World Amputation Challenges:
- Massive blood loss without proper tourniquets
- Extreme pain causing unconsciousness
- Risk of conventional infection (sepsis)
- Need for proper medical tools and training
- Extremely short window of effectiveness
In Project Zomboid terms, implementing all that realistically would mean: you'd need high First Aid skill, proper medical equipment, a controlled environment, etc. The chances of success would be very low โ maybe 10-20% even with preparations.
So why do it at all? Well, in vanilla you're dead 100% if bitten. With a hypothetical amputation, maybe there's a 20% chance you survive. A chance is better than nothing, and that's the hope players cling to.
Mods like The Only Cure simplify these calculations a bit for the sake of gameplay. They assume if you do it quickly and with the right tools, you can survive. But they also rightly impose a lot of negatives on you afterwards. It's not a free lunch โ you've traded an imminent death for a difficult life.
๐ Using "The Only Cure" Mod: Cutting Off an Infected Limb
If you're ready to defy Project Zomboid's rules and try amputating, The Only Cure is the flagship mod that enables this. We'll go in-depth on how it works and how to maximize your survival chances.
Mod Setup & Compatibility
๐ฎ Game Version: Built for Build 41. B42 support may require updates or patches. Check the Steam Workshop for the latest compatibility.
๐งฉ Required Mods: Fancy Handwork and Brutal Handwork (these handle animations and one-handed actions)
๐ฅ Multiplayer: Supported on servers. Split-screen co-op may not be supported.
Once the mod is installed and you're in-game, you'll know it's running if you see the "The Only Cure" logo or messages on load, and if you right-click a saw in your inventory you'll see amputation options (don't click them by accident!).
Finding or Crafting the Right Tools
To actually perform an amputation, you must have a bladed tool capable of cutting through bone. In TOC, the valid tools are specifically the Saw or Garden Saw.
Saw
Primary cutting tool for amputation. Found in hardware stores, warehouses, and homes.
Tourniquet
Reduces blood loss damage. Found in medical locations or first aid kits.
Disinfectant
Prevents regular infection. Use when changing bandages.
Painkillers
Mitigates severe pain after amputation. Essential for functionality.
๐ก Pro Tip: As a veteran survivor, once you install this mod, start carrying a saw in your backpack at all times. Bites often happen unexpectedly, and you might not be at your main base with all the gear.
The Amputation Process In-Depth
So the dreadful moment has come โ you've been bitten. Let's walk through performing the amputation with the mod:
1 Act Immediately
The second you see the "Bitten" status, pause the game if you need to gather your thoughts. The infection is now in your system and will kill you in ~2-3 days in-game if untreated. Aim to amputate within a few in-game hours at most โ earlier the better.
2 Initiate Amputation
Open your health status. Right-click on the bitten limb. With the mod active, you'll see new context menu options like "Amputate Left Hand", "Amputate Left Lower Arm", etc. Generally, you'll want to cut above the infection. Select the amputation option and confirm if prompted.
3 Experience the Immediate Aftermath
The moment the limb is removed, your character will take heavy damage to simulate trauma. Your Health panel will show a severe wound (Amputation). The mod then automatically bandages the stump and stitches it if you had those items. Pain moodle will spike to Severe or Agony.
4 Stabilize
Ensure bleeding is truly stopped. The Health panel should show if bleeding is still occurring. Take painkillers to reduce pain. Stay crouched and quiet โ your combat effectiveness is near zero at this moment.
5 Monitor Infection
If all went right, you will not develop the fever/nausea from Knox Infection. However, the amputation site itself can get a regular infection. Keep the wound clean. Use disinfectant when changing bandages.
6 Time to Heal
Over the next few days, your wound will slowly cicatrize (close up). You'll be one-armed (or one-legged) for the duration. Eat well, stay rested. Eventually, the wound will go from "stitched" or "bandaged" to just "Amputation (healed)".
Throughout this ordeal, the mod is essentially doing dice rolls in the background. It's not 100% guarantee even if you did everything right. Sometimes RNG might decide you bled too much or the shock was too great.
๐ฉธ Life After Amputation: Surviving with One Limb
You've paid an arm and a leg (hopefully just an arm... or just a leg...) for your survival. Now the real challenge begins: continuing to survive in Knox County with a permanent disability. Let's break down what changes for your gameplay and how to adapt.
Immediate Effects and Stat Changes
Health Panel Changes
The Health panel will permanently mark that limb as missing (amputated). If it's an arm, you won't be able to use anything in that hand's slot.
Combat Penalties
You cannot effectively use two-handed weapons with only one arm. Swing speed and accuracy are reduced.
Mobility Impact
If you lost a leg, your movement speed is severely reduced. You'll be stuck at a permanent "limping" speed with high stamina drain.
One-Handed Familiarity
The mod adds a hidden skill gain for performing actions on the side of the missing limb. Over time, you'll get better at doing things one-handed.
Combat and Gameplay Adjustments
One-armed melee: Stick to one-handed weapons. Knives, machetes, one-handed axes, short blunt like hammers and nightsticks โ those will still work. Avoid weapons that used to be two-handed.
Firearms: One-handed firearms like pistols are fine โ but remember, reloading might take longer. For shotguns and rifles (two-handed guns) โ you can't properly aim or fire them one-armed.
Stealth: Stealth becomes your best friend. With reduced fighting capability, you should resort to stealth kills more often, or simply avoiding zombies using line of sight tricks.
๐ฆพ Prosthetics โ Getting Some Function Back
This is where things get interesting. The Only Cure mod allows you to eventually offset some of your new handicap by obtaining or crafting prosthetic limbs. It won't make you as good as new, but it can significantly improve your quality of life in-game.
How to Obtain Prosthetics
๐ Looting
Pre-apocalypse prosthetics can be found in medical centers, hospitals, possibly pharmacies. They are uncommon. You're more likely to find them in large hospitals (e.g., Louisville Hospital).
๐ง Crafting
Look for magazine recipes with names like "DIY Prosthetics Volume 1". These, when read, give you the ability to craft a hook hand or wooden leg. Likely requires Metalworking and Carpentry.
Using Prosthetics
Once you have a prosthetic item, you equip it in the broken limb slot (likely via the health panel or maybe it appears as an equippable gear on that body part).
The mod then gives you some benefits: With an Arm Prosthesis, you can do two-handed tasks again as if you had a hand. The mod introduces a skill "Prosthesis Familiarity" which improves as you use the prosthetic limb.
Unique Feature: Zombie Attack Protection
Prosthetics have durability in the mod โ zombies that hit your prosthetic limb actually damage the prosthetic, not you. A zombie bite on your fake arm will ruin the prosthetic (eventually break it), but you won't get infected from that since it's not flesh. You can repair prosthetics if you have materials, up to a point.
๐ Tips for Thriving as an Amputee Survivor
It's not just about coping โ you can still thrive and build a great story for your survivor after an amputation. Here are some pro tips and strategies:
๐ Alter Your Playstyle
If you were a melee brawler pre-amputation, consider switching to a stealth marksman role. One player who lost a leg entirely shifted to using cars as their primary zombie-killing tool.
๐ฅ Use Followers or Friends
In multiplayer, team up. If you lost your arm, maybe you become the driver and navigator while your friend handles the heavy combat. You can still contribute with crafting, farming, cooking.
๐ Secure Base Upgrades
With physical limitations, having a safe base is more important than ever. Set up sheet ropes for escape. Build fences and obstacles that slow zombies, so you don't have to run as much. Consider choosing a strategic base location that's easier to defend.
๐ Embrace Vehicles
Vehicles are your best friend if a leg is gone. You effectively take your mobility disadvantage out of the equation when in a car. Just be careful exiting โ don't park surrounded by zombies.
๐ Alternative "Cures" โ Other Mods & Options
What if you're not keen on chopping limbs or the mod isn't up to date for your version? Are there other ways to survive a bite? The community has indeed come up with a few alternatives:
๐ "They Knew" Mod
This mod takes a completely different approach. Instead of self-mutilation, it posits that a secret group had developed an experimental cure inhaler ("Zomboxivir") and scattered them on some zombies in Knox Country.
In gameplay, it means a very rare special zombie (in a hazmat suit) can drop a one-time cure item. The cure, if found and used in time, will purge the infection from your system. There are also preventative pills (Zomboxycycline) that can give 24-hour immunity if taken daily.
โ๏ธ Sandbox Settings
If you don't want to mod at all, you could manipulate Sandbox settings. For example, set Transmission to Blood+Saliva (default) but Infection Mortality to something like "Never". This means you'll still get sick from a bite, but won't die from it. However, you'll remain queasy forever unless you turn off infection entirely.
๐ญ Challenge Runs
Rather than getting bitten and amputating, some players just start the game missing a limb to simulate being an amputee survivor from day one. They use mods to create custom traits or use the Amputations RP mod that might allow you to select an amputee trait at character creation.
โ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you survive a zombie bite in Project Zomboid without mods?
+Does amputating a limb stop the Knox Infection with the mod?
+How soon after a bite should I amputate?
+Do I need a high First Aid skill to amputate or to survive it?
+What happens if my character loses a leg? Can I still move?
+Where do I find prosthetic limbs in-game?
+Will the developers ever add amputation to the base game?
+๐ Conclusion: A New Lease on (Un)Life, At a Hefty Price
Surviving a zombie bite in Project Zomboid by amputating a limb is not for the faint of heart โ neither in-game nor out. It's a story of extreme desperation and will to live, the kind that turns a doomed run into a legend among your friends.
In practical terms, you've traded an immediate death for a harder life. The following days or weeks will test your adaptability. You'll have moments of frustration (perhaps fumbling to open a jar one-handed, or hobbling away from a mob yelling "Nope, nope, nope!"). But these difficulties also lead to some of the most rewarding gameplay PZ has to offer.
A few final actionable tips:
- Plan Ahead: Stock another amputation kit at your base or safehouses. Lightning can strike twice in Zomboid.
- Share Your Story: Post your tale on the Project Zomboid subreddit or forums. The community loves hearing "I survived a bite by amputating" stories.
- Reevaluate Your Goals: You've beaten the odds. Maybe it's time to settle down a bit โ build that fortress farm and focus on long-term survival.
- Consider Amputation Runs: Try a deliberate challenge next time: start a new character and intentionally amputate a limb early to play a whole run as an amputee.
Above all, take pride in your accomplishment. In the apocalypse, survival is victory. You've turned a death sentence into a continuing story. As you bandage up and carry on, one less arm but one extraordinary experience richer, you've truly embodied the Project Zomboid mantra: "This is how you died" โ well, not today.