State of Decay 2 5th Skills
Explore all of the State of Decay 2 5th skills available including quirk skills, community skills, Red Talon and Heartland skills.
| 5th Skill | Description | Effect | Also Gives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acting | Pretending to be other people for fun and profit. | +100% Standing Rewards +10% Influence Gained |
• Pop Culture Knowledge |
| Administration (Heartland) | Increases facility-building speeds and reduces overall food consumption. | -25% Food Consumed Overall +50% Build Action Speed |
None |
| Animal Facts | How many toes an elephant has, and other vital information. | No useful effect. | None |
| Bartending | Raising spirits with spirits. | +2 Morale (Community) | • Knowledge of Alcohol Beverages • Knowledge of Cooking |
| Business | How to make a profit doing practically anything. | +35 Influence per day +10% Influence Gained |
• Knowledge of Influence |
| Combat Medicine (Red Talon) |
Emergency medicine for the field of battle. | +2 Item Stack Size • Offers Medical Advice (via the Radio) |
• Knowledge of Medicine • Knowledge of Surgery |
| Comedy | The art of making people laugh. | +2 Morale (Community) +100% Standing Rewards |
• Pop Culture Knowledge |
| Demolitions (Red Talon) |
The delicate art of making things go boom. | +2 Item Stack Size | • Knowledge of Electronics • Knowledge of Munitions |
| Design | Figuring out how to make things for humans to use. | +Build Action Speed +50% Facility Action Speed |
• Knowledge of the Arts • Knowledge of Craftsmanship |
| Drill Instruction (Heartland) |
Unlocks Superior Defenses facility upgrade, which improves base defenses and allows training drills. | +25% Facility Action Speed | • An expert in Drill instruction |
| Driving | Life is a highway. I want to ride it all night long. | +100% Fuel Efficiency +50% Vehicle Endurance +50% Vehicle Stealth |
None |
| Excuses | Getting out of things in style. | +10 Morale | None |
| Farting Around | "I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different." - Kurt Vonnegut | +10 Morale | None |
| Firearms Maintenance (Red Talon) |
Keeping firearms clean, well-tuned, and ready for action. | -25% Durability Loss (Community) | • Knowledge of Engineering • Knowledge of Mechanics |
| Fishing | Turning bodies of water into food through engineering and trickery. | +2 Food Per Day | None |
| Foraging (Red Talon) |
Living off the land when cut off from the supply chain. | +1 Food Per Day +1 Meds Per Day |
• Knowledge of Gardening |
| Fortifications (Red Talon) |
Quick and elegant building techniques for short-order defense. | +2 Materials Per Day -2 Zombie Threat |
• Knowledge of Construction • Knowledge of Craftsmanship |
| Geek Trivia | Skrewts, Ainur, Jefferies tubes, and the uses of the number 47. | +6 Morale +50% Experience Rate |
• Pop Culture Knowledge |
| Gut Packing (Red Talon) |
Filling stomachs quickly and efficiently. | -30% Food Consumed Overall | • Knowledge of Cooking • Knowledge of Nutrition |
| Hacking (Red Talon) |
Cyberwarfare methods for a bygone age. | +1 Outpost Limit at Command Center (Max 1) | • Knowledge of Computers • Knowledge of Programming |
| Hairdressing | Styling hair with a mix of cutlery and chemistry. | +10% Influence Gained | • Knowledge of Chemistry |
| Hygiene | The lost art of keeping yourself clean and germ-free. | +50% Infection Resistance (Community) +10 Max Health (Community) |
None |
| Ikebana | Brightning a space with the careful arrangement of nature. | +2 Morale (Community) +10 Influence Per Day |
• Knowledge of the Arts • Knowledge of the Gardening |
| Infrastructure (Red Talon) |
Building and managing physical facilities for long-term deployments. | +1 Materials Per Day +1 Fuel Per Day |
• Knowledge of Plumbing
• Knowledge of Utilities |
| Law | What people used to do about crime and conflict. | • Knowledge of Influence +10% Influence Gained |
None |
| Lichenology | The study of lichens. | +2 Meds Per Day | • Knowledge of Gardening • Knowledge of Herbalism |
| Literature | Still important. Our children should know how their ancestors viewed the world. | +6 Morale +100% Experience Rate |
• Knowledge of the Arts |
| Logistics (Red Talon) |
Maintaining and managing gear and supplies. | +1 Item Stack Size (Community) +25 Parts Per Day |
• Knowledge of Craftsmanship • Knowledge of Metalwork |
| Making Coffee | Giving people a good start to each day. | -25% Fatigue Severity (Community) |
• Knowledge of Coffee Preparation • Knowledge of Cooking |
| Mobile Operations (Red Talon) |
Managing operations involving vehicles. | +25% Fuel Efficiency (Community) +1 Fuel Per Day |
• Knowledge of Automechanics • Knowledge of Mechanics |
| Movie Trivia | Box office grosses, Oscar winners, and obscure directors. | +6 Morale +50% Experience Rate |
• Pop Culture Knowledge |
| Music | Raising spirits with rhythm and melody. | +2 Morale (Community) +100% Standing Rewards +25 Influence Per Day |
• Knowledge of the Arts |
| Painting | Conveying meaning and evoking emotion through color and form. | +2 Morale (Community) +25 Influence Per Day |
• Knowledge of the Arts |
| People Skills | The most essential of the "soft" skills. | +100% Standing Rewards +10% Influence Gained |
• Knowledge of Influence |
| Pinball | Live catches, death saves, and outlane shakes. | +100% Standing Experience Rate | • Knowledge of Mechanics |
| Poker Face | I want to hold 'em like they do in Texas plays. | +20 Max Stamina +10% Influence Gained |
• Knowledge of Influence |
| Police Procedure (Heartland) |
Make less noise when searching quickly, and find more plague samples. | -50% Chance of Search Crash | • Extracts Plague Samples More Often |
| Political Science | The workings of power within government. | +100% Standing Rewards +25 Influence Per Day |
• Knowledge of Influence |
| Recycling | Finding use from your refuse. | +2 Materials Per Day +25 Parts Per Day |
None |
| Scrum Certification | We're going to get so much done. | +50% Build Action Speed +50% Facility Action Speed +2 Labor |
None |
| Self-Promotion | The underappreciated art of getting people to look at you. | +100% Standing Rewards | • Knowledge of Influence |
| Sewing | Turning cloth and threat into useful things. | +1 Item Stack Size (Community) +10 Max Health (Community) |
• Knowledge of Craftsmanship |
| Sexting | There's a right way to do everything. | -5 Influence Per Day | None |
| Shopping | How to find a bargain in a pile of useless junk. | +50% Search Speed +25 Parts Per Day |
None |
| Sleep Psychology | A better night's sleep leads to a better day's work. | +4 Morale (Community) +2 Beds |
None |
| Soundproofing | A quieter base is a safer base. | -4 Zombie Threat | None |
| Sports Trivia | Stats, jersey numbers, and classic plays. | +100% Cardio Experience Rate +100% Fighting Experience Rate +20 Max Stamina |
• Knowledge of Sports |
| Tattoos | Body artistry. | +10% Influence Gained | • Knowledge of the Arts • Knowledge of Medicine |
| TV Trivia | Actors, awards, and episode numbers. | +6 Morale +50% Experience Rate |
• Pop Culture Knowledge |
Red Talon 5th Skills
| 5th Skill | Description | Specializations | Also Gives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat Medicine (Red Talon) |
Emergency medicine for the field of battle. | +2 Item Stack Size • Offers Medical Advice (via the Radio) |
• Knowledge of Medicine • Knowledge of Surgery |
| Demolitions (Red Talon) |
The delicate art of making things go boom. | +2 Item Stack Size | • Knowledge of Electronics • Knowledge of Munitions |
| Firearms Maintenance (Red Talon) |
Keeping firearms clean, well-tuned, and ready for action. | -25% Durability Loss (Community) | • Knowledge of Engineering • Knowledge of Mechanics |
| Foraging (Red Talon) |
Living off the land when cut off from the supply chain. | +1 Food Per Day +1 Meds Per Day |
• Knowledge of Gardening |
| Fortifications (Red Talon) |
Quick and elegant building techniques for short-order defense. | +2 Materials Per Day -2 Zombie Threat |
• Knowledge of Construction • Knowledge of Craftsmanship |
| Gut Packing (Red Talon) |
Filling stomachs quickly and efficiently. | -30% Food Consumed Overall | • Knowledge of Cooking • Knowledge of Nutrition |
| Hacking (Red Talon) |
Cyberwarfare methods for a bygone age. | +1 Outpost Limit at Command Center (Max 1) | • Knowledge of Computers • Knowledge of Programming |
| Infrastructure (Red Talon) |
Building and managing physical facilities for long-term deployments. | +1 Materials Per Day +1 Fuel Per Day |
• Knowledge of Plumbing
• Knowledge of Utilities |
| Logistics (Red Talon) |
Maintaining and managing gear and supplies. | +1 Item Stack Size (Community) +25 Parts Per Day |
• Knowledge of Craftsmanship • Knowledge of Metalwork |
| Mobile Operations (Red Talon) |
Managing operations involving vehicles. | +25% Fuel Efficiency (Community) +1 Fuel Per Day |
• Knowledge of Automechanics • Knowledge of Mechanics |
Heartland 5th Skills
Note: Heartland facilities mentioned won't be buildable in the campaign.
| 5th Skill | Description | Specializations | Also Gives | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administration (Heartland) | Increases facility-building speeds and reduces overall food consumption. | -25% Food Consumed Overall +50% Build Action Speed |
None | Aunt Fi |
| Bomb-Making (Heartland) |
Unlocks Demolitions Lab facility upgrade, which allows the crafting of explosives and ammunition. | +2 Item Stack Size -33% Weapon Repair Parts Cost |
• Knowledge of Mechanics • An expert in Bomb-Making |
Keesha Green |
| Car Chopping (Heartland) |
Unlocks Vehicle Depot facility upgrade, which offers vehicle upgrades and advanced vehicle repair toolkits. | +25% Fuel Efficiency +50% Vehicle Stealth |
• Knowledge of Mechanics • An expert in Car Chopping |
Larisse Davis |
| Drill Instruction (Heartland) |
Unlocks Superior Defenses facility upgrade, which improves base defenses and allows training drills. | +25% Facility Action Speed | • An expert in Drill instruction | Captain Logan |
| Fabrication (Heartland) |
Unlocks Fabricator Shop facility, which improves weapon durability and carrying capacity. | None | • Knowledge of Craftsmanship • An expert in Fabrication |
Diana Mullen |
| Game Hunting (Heartland) |
Unlocks Hunter's Kitchen facility, which allows the preparation of stat-boosting feasts. | +15% Influence Gained | • Knowledge of Cooking • An expert in Game Hunting |
Reba McGill |
| Machine Learning (Heartland) |
Unlocks Drone Uplink facility, which allows calling of drone strikes and deliveries. | -15% Most Radio Cooldowns +25 Parts Salvaged from Weapons |
• Knowledge of Computers • An expert in Machine Learning |
Isabella Reyes (IzzBee) |
| Outlaw Chemistry (Heartland) |
Unlocks Outlaw Chem Lab facility upgrade, which allows the crafting of stuff that burns and some chemical enhancements. | +5 Max Ammo Storage +5 Max Fuel Storage |
• Knowledge of Chemistry • An expert in Outlaw Chemistry |
Brock Jensen |
| Paramedicine (Heartland) |
Unlocks Trauma Pharmacy facility, which offers Health regen and injury/trauma removal. | • Offers Medical Advice (via the Radio) +5 Max Meds Storage -10% Most Radio Cooldowns |
• Knowledge of Medicine • An expert in Paramedicine |
Vicente Martin |
| Pioneering (Heartland) |
Unlocks Utilities Complex facility, which supplies water and power to the entire base. | None | • Knowledge of Utilities • An expert in Pioneering |
Chavez |
| Plague Pathology (Heartland) |
Unlocks Plague Annex facility, which allows the crafting of plague consumables and community-wide infection removal. | • Extracts Plague Samples More Often +50 Infection Resistance • Offers Medical Advice (via the Radio) |
• Knowledge of Medicine • An expert in Plague Pathology |
Isaac Robinson |
| Police Procedure (Heartland) |
Make less noise when searching quickly, and find more plague samples. | -50% Chance of Search Crash | • Extracts Plague Samples More Often | Helena Cruz |
| Subsistence Farming (Heartland) |
Unlocks Farming Complex upgrades, which increases food production. | +1 Food Per Day +1 Meds Per Day |
• Knowledge of Gardening • An expert in Subsistence Farming |
Malik Wilson |
| Weaponsmithing (Heartland) |
Unlocks Weapons Depot facility upgrade, which allows the crafting of badass melee and ranged weapons. | +15% Weapon Durability -33% Weapon Repair Parts Cost |
• Knowledge of Craftsmanship • An expert in Weaponsmithing |
Quincy Maxwell |
Community Skills
| 5th Skill | Description | Specializations | Special versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Unlocks Still, improves crafting of incendiaries and recovery items. | • Munitions • Pharmacology |
Outlaw Chemistry |
| Computers | Unlocks Command Center 3 and Spy Drones. | • Electronics • Programming |
Machine Learning |
| Cooking | Unlocks Kitchen 2, and allows preparation of feasts. | • Cuisine • Nutrition |
Game Hunting |
| Craftsmanship | Unlocks Forge and Barracks 2, and allows weapon crafting. | • Construction • Metalwork |
• Fabrication •Weaponsmithing |
| Gardening | Allows the improvement of yields and the growing of meds at Gardens and Farms. | • Agriculture • Herbalism |
Subsistance Farming |
| Mechanics | Unlocks Workshop 3. Allows the crafting of homemade crossbows, toolkits, and box mines. | •Automechanics • Engineering |
• Bomb-Making • Car Chopping |
| Medicine | Unlocks Infirmary 3. Allows crafting of first aid kits, reduces the cost of Emergency Medicine, and offers Health-boost actions at Infirmaries. | • Pathology • Surgery |
• Paramedicine • Plague Pathology |
| Utilities | Unlocks Hydroponics and boosts power and water duration. | • Electrical • Plumbing |
Pioneering |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Red Talon 5th skills?
Yes! Survivors can use Red Talon 5th skills.
Can I use Heartland 5th skills?
Yes, but Heartland-only facilities mentioned won't be buildable in the campaign.
Is there a skill book that lets you change your survivor's 5th skill?
No, skill respec books can only change your base skills (cardio, wits, fighting and shooting).
Does Hacking stack with Crowdsourcing for +2 outposts total?
No unfortunatley it does not.
What's the best 5th skill?
The Hacking 5th skill is a personal favorite of mine (+1 outpost limit).
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