Forged by Combat
The apocalypse doesn't forgive hesitation. But it does reward those who survive it.
Forged by Combat is a progressive combat mastery system for Project Zomboid. Every zombie you put down with a melee weapon leaves a mark — not on you, but in you. Over time, that experience shapes a fighter. No matter your skill with an axe or a hammer, the more you kill, the deadlier you are.
How it works
Kill zombies with melee weapons to earn XP and level up your Fighting Skill perk, visible in the Skills tab. No XP boost, only your kill count matters!
10 levels of progression — you start rough, and earn your edge:
- Melee kills only — vehicles, stomps, and ranged weapons don’t count
- Profession and trait starting bonuses — Veterans start with bonuses, the nurse doesn’t…
- Mid-game install compatible — initializes from your profession and traits
- XP bar visible in the Skills UI
- Three sandbox difficulty settings: Soft, Medium, Brutal
How it feels
Levels 0–2: Penalties to damage and attack speed. You’re not a fighter yet.
You’ve never done this before. Your grip is wrong, your timing is off. The weight of the weapon feels foreign in your hands.
Level 3: Baseline. You hold your own.
You’ve found your footing. Swings land where you mean them. Skulls crack a little easier now.
Levels 4-10: Growing bonuses to damage, attack speed, and critical chance. You become something to be feared.
You split skulls like firewood. The weight of your weapon has disappeared. You never miss.
One-handed weapons reward speed. Two-handed weapons reward power.
Progression table
Thresholds
Level
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Kills
0
40
100
200
350
550
800
1100
1450
1850
2300
Bonuses
Values are meant for medium difficulty
Level
Kills
1H Speed
1H Damage
2H Speed
2H Damage
Crit
0
0
-10%
-11.25%
-5%
-15%
+0%
3
200
0%
0%
0%
0%
+0%
6
800
+15%
+15%
+7.5%
+20%
+15%
10
2300
+15%
+30%
+7.5%
+40%
+25%
Speed caps at level 6. Damage and crit continue to grow up to level 10.
Sandbox settings
- Soft: 75% of bonuses and penalties
- Medium (default): Full values
- Brutal: 125% — higher ceiling, steeper early game
Compatibility
- Build 42.13+
- Available in English 🇺🇸, French 🇫🇷 & Spanish 🇪🇸. Other languages can be added — feel free to ask in the comments.
- Compatible with most mods — does not alter zombie behavior or loot tables
- Multiplayer: not fully functional. Fix on the way 🚑
Credits
This mod was inspired by the Combat Mastering Skill mod. The core mechanic is different: progression is driven exclusively by melee kills — no XP bonuses from books or other sources.
This is my first mod 👶 Feedback, bug reports, and suggestions are very welcome — don't hesitate to leave a comment.
Workshop ID: 3668844554
Mod ID: ForgedByCombat
