Bitten in PZ? The Only Cure Mod (Amputation) — B41 vs B42

Build 42.19 · The Only Cure (Steam Workshop) — B41 & B42 branches

Quick answers

Vanilla: why amputation is not an option

Project Zomboid’s base infection model treats Knox as a terminal condition once it is applied. There is no “cut the limb before the virus spreads” action in the stock Health panel. That is a design boundary, not a missing recipe you unlock with higher First Aid.

• Base game has no amputation, prosthesis, or The Only Cure–style tourniquet systems.
• Ordinary wound infection (dirty bandages, “Infected” wound states) is separate from Knox. Treating a wound is not curing the virus.
• For a non-mod escape hatch, change sandbox Transmission / Infection Mortality — see the related infection guides at the bottom of this page.

Workshop IDs (B41 vs B42)

Pao’s Workshop titles are branched by build. Older write-ups sometimes used the nickname “The Only Cure – Rebuilt”; subscribe by Workshop ID, not by nickname alone.

Optional timed-action patches

These patches only make sense if you already run the matching TOC package. They are not a substitute for the core mod.

Optional companion mods and load order

Both B41 and B42 TOC descriptions still list Fancy Handwork and Brutal Handwork “for the intended experience,” and both tell you to place those mods before The Only Cure. The same text also states those companions are not compatible with B42 at the moment. Treat them as optional presentation/combat polish for B41, not as a hard B42 requirement.

• Suggested B41 order (author text): Fancy Handwork → Brutal Handwork → The Only Cure (B41).
• B42: Prefer the official [B42] The Only Cure page alone until companion B42 support is confirmed on their Workshop pages.
• Host / split-screen co-op: B42 TOC description: Host mode is unsupported even if it appears to start.

How amputation works (author guide)

The steps below paraphrase the public Workshop “Quick guide” for The Only Cure. They are not a promise that infection is always removed or that blood loss is always survivable. Exact probabilities and damage values depend on the installed mod version.

Tools (differs by branch)

During the cut

1. Get to a place where you will not be interrupted. Combat mid-action is still a normal death risk.
2. Start the amputation from the saw/axe/machete context menu or by dropping the tool on the limb in the Health UI.
3. If you carry bandages and/or stitches, the mod description says they are used automatically and improve survival chances. No fixed percentage is listed on the Workshop page.
4. If you have a tourniquet, place it on the correct side beforehand to reduce post-cut damage (author text).
5. Upper-arm amputation: author warns you will not be able to equip a prosthesis on that stump.
6. After amputation, the description says you gain skill progress for the amputated side so timed actions become faster over time.

Cicatrization (healing the stump)

• Check cicatrization on the Health panel.
• Clean the wound with bandages over time to help the process.
• You may equip prosthetics before full cicatrization, but that can cause random bleeding from the stump.

Life after amputation

Expect a permanent mobility / inventory / combat tradeoff. Community patches exist specifically because whole-arm timed-action penalties can feel severe in multiplayer.

• Missing a hand/arm interferes with two-handed equipment until a prosthesis is equipped (author text).
• Leg amputations (if enabled in your installed version) should be tested for movement speed in a sandbox world.
• You can still die from ordinary bleeding, shock, secondary infection, or fresh zombie wounds after the cut.

Prosthetics

The public description says prosthetics can be crafted or found in medical areas. Confirm item names, recipes, and loot tables in your installed version before planning a hospital raid around specific gear.

Admin tools (multiplayer servers)

Author text: admins can right-click a player for Reset Amputations or Force Amputation per limb. Useful for bug recovery; still start from a stable load order first.

Sandbox alternative without mods

Before you enable it mid-run

1. Confirm your game branch (41 vs 42.x) and pick the matching TOC Workshop ID.
2. Note last Workshop update time, listed tags, and optional dependencies on the day you install.
3. Create a throwaway world: take a controlled bite (or use admin force tools if available), run one amputation with and without bandages/tourniquet, and note results.
4. Only then enable the mod on a valued save or multiplayer whitelist.
5. Re-test after every TOC or game patch — rebuilt B42 code can change tool lists and balance.

FAQ

Can you amputate in vanilla Project Zomboid?

No. Without a mod that adds the system, Health panel actions cannot remove a limb to stop Knox.

Does The Only Cure work on Build 42.19?

There is a dedicated [B42] The Only Cure Workshop entry tagged Build 42 and Multiplayer (last updated 2026-03-26). Always confirm on a test world after you install it against your exact build and other mods.

Is “The Only Cure – Rebuilt” a different mod?

Older community names mixed “Rebuilt” into titles. Current Steam titles are [B41] The Only Cure and [B42] The Only Cure, both Mod ID TheOnlyCure on different Workshop IDs. Always subscribe by ID, not by nickname alone.

Will Fancy Handwork / Brutal Handwork fix B42 amputation?

No. They are animation/combat companions. TOC’s own text still lists them for the intended experience while noting they are not B42 compatible at the moment. Amputation itself is TOC’s system.

Is amputation planned for vanilla in B43/B44?

There is no official vanilla amputation schedule published here. Treat any “Build 43/44 will add official amputation” claim as unconfirmed unless The Indie Stone ships it in a changelog.

Are there other “cure” mods?

Yes (immune-response packs, story cure items, etc.). See the bite/infection companion pages for how those options relate to sandbox and Knox rules.