Zombie Dismemberment - Limb Loss and Critical Decapitation for Project Zomboid

Zombie Dismemberment adds arm and leg loss, wounded-body models and optional decapitation to Project Zomboid Build 42.21.

Machetes, katanas, axes and shotguns can dismember zombies when eligible hits meet the configured conditions.

Limb damage and movement

Zombies can lose either forearm or upper arm. Further hits can extend an existing forearm injury into an upper-arm amputation.

Leg dismemberment leaves below-knee stumps, removes footwear and can turn the zombie into a crawler. Zombies missing both arms remain grounded once they fall, but can still be attacked.

Headwear and other affected accessories are removed where appropriate to prevent floating equipment.

Critical hits and weapon support

Optional critical decapitation kills the target, with a 5% base chance that can be adjusted. Strength can modify the chance for cutting melee attacks.

Another setting makes eligible critical melee hits guarantee limb dismemberment. Shotguns retain their own separate probability.

Modded weapons can qualify through supported Long Blade or Axe categories, or by using shotgun shells.

Limb selection is probability-based, not precise impact-location tracking. Where a weapon visually lands does not reliably determine which limb is removed.

Visual effects and settings

Separate male and female models support zombie skin and decay variations. Dismemberment remains visible after death, including when corpses are lifted, dragged or dropped.

Sandbox settings control weapon chances, damage thresholds, leg targeting, critical cuts, shotgun support, decapitation and blood effects. Disable unwanted effects to reduce visual intensity or workload.

Experimental multiplayer

Server-controlled cuts and decapitations synchronize with clients. Server and clients must use the same mod version.

Co-op and dedicated-server support are experimental. This release has not been tested in a live multiplayer session or on a running dedicated server.

Cuts may disappear if the game virtualizes and recreates a zombie. Persistence after area unloading and server restarts still needs testing.

Requirements and compatibility

• Build 42.21; other builds are unvalidated.
• No additional mod dependencies.
• Can be enabled in existing saves.

Body replacements and mods affecting clothing masks, combat or corpses may need compatibility testing. Community reports indicate compatibility with Tomb’s models and Project Viewpoint, but the author has not personally verified it.

Author: Choko.