state of decay 2 5th skills

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).

Get State of Decay 2 mods, a cheat facility, Sasquatch and more! - Click here
View Cart