Explosives

Explosives are throwable, placeable, or launched devices that deal high area-of-effect damage to zombies, blocks, and structures. They are a core tool for demolition, mining, and clearing out large groups of enemies during Blood Moon nights.

Common Explosives

• Pipe Bomb — An early-game craftable thrown explosive built from gunpowder, a fuse, and metal parts. Cheap to make and effective against tight clusters of zombies, though its damage is modest compared to later options.
• Timed Charge — A placeable charge with a countdown detonator, ideal for breaching reinforced doors, safes, and heavy blocks. Very effective for horde-base demolition and mining shafts.
• Grenades — Thrown fragmentation devices that deal strong burst damage over an area. Useful for softening approaching groups before they reach your defenses.
• Rocket Launcher Ammunition — High-explosive and fragmentation rockets fired from the launcher, delivering the heaviest single-hit explosive damage in the game.
• Dynamite / Molotov Cocktails — Dynamite is a strong thrown or placed charge, while the Molotov spreads burning damage over a zone and is excellent for controlling large hordes.

Crafting and Gunpowder

Most explosives rely on gunpowder, which is produced by combining coal and nitrate powder. Nitrate powder is obtained from potassium nitrate ore, commonly mined or looted. A Chemistry Station speeds up gunpowder production and unlocks efficient batch crafting. Many explosive recipes are gated behind schematics or the appropriate crafting perk, so read magazines and books to unlock higher-tier options.

Practical Tips

• Mind the blast radius — explosives damage you, allies, and your own base blocks, so throw from a safe distance.
• Use timed charges and dynamite for mining to quickly open ore veins and underground tunnels.
• Stockpile gunpowder ingredients early, since ammunition and explosives both draw from the same supply.
• Molotovs and fire effects are strong crowd-control tools but can spread to flammable terrain and structures.
• Save your strongest explosives, like rockets and timed charges, for demolisher-type zombies and reinforced loot rooms where the payoff is greatest.

Updates Needed

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