Traits

Description

Traits define each survivor, and some are much better than others. Each survivor's trait is given at random so there's no telling what you'll get when you meet someone new. Traits cannot be upgraded or changed.

Not all traits are really all that beneficial, but there are some standout traits you'll hopefully find in strangers you meet that you can then recruit to your community. If you happen to already have one of these traits, make sure that person doesn't die.

Trait Description Effect

Action Movie Extra We all got weapons training before filming began. But I think the whole point was to miss.
Always Packed a Lunch The lunches I brought got more elaborate, until I was serving myself a three-course meal. Adds Cooking skill.
Amateur Pilot I guess I'll never achieve that dream of being asked to land a 747 during a crisis.
Ammo Hoarder You think I bought this ammo after the outbreak? This shirt is from the last election day. +3 Morale bonus from upgraded Storage.
Angler I'm pretty good at catching food, if we can find a body of water that isn't full of corpses. Adds Fishing skill.
Animal Lover I've had more friends with four legs than with two.
Anxious All the Time I have these persistent worries that I just can't shake. People tell me to let it go, but how? - 5 Morale
Assembly-Line Worker I was lucky to have on of the few manufacturing jobs left... before we lost them all. Adds Craftsmanship skill.
Assistant Principal My job was to work with the actual kids, while the principal sat behind his shiny nameplate.
At Home in a Bar It's not really about the booze. It's just the only place I feel truly comfortable. +3 Morale bonus from Stills and Bars.
Barista I like to make art with espresso foam. It's ephemeral, like life. Adds Making Coffee skill.
Bartender Do you like sweet or salty? Hrm ... okay. Do you like citrus or cinnamon? +3 Morale bonus from Stills and Bars. Adds Bartending skill.
Basketball Fan Honestly, it's the sounds of the game that I miss, more than even the game itself. +3 Morale bonus from facilities with a Projector.
Birdwatcher You should see what I can do with a pair of binoculars. (Watch birds. That's what.)
Beer Lover I'm not picky. I just love beer. +3 Morale bonus from Stills and Bars. Adds Bartending skill.
Blade Collector My bedroom wall was covered with swords. I could only take five or six of my favorites.
Bold Driver You can't really know a car until the gas pedal hits the floor.
Infection Survivor Can only be randomly rolled for. 100% Infection Resistance
Bleak Outlook This is more than just being sad. Everybody gets sad. This is ... something much worse. - 7 Morale
Braggart Not everyone loves being around someone as confident as I am, but they definitely know I'm here. -3 Morale to everyone
Broad-Shouldered You can carry a lot on a good set of shoulders. + 15 Max Carrying Capacity
Brush Clearer While other kids were off on spring break, I was hacking at the brush on my grandfather's land. +2 Morale bonus from outdoor bed facilities
Burly I've never been someone folks wanted to mess with. Irritable towards other people. -2 Morale to everyone
BBQ Master You can make the egg salad, but nobody touches the grill but me. Adds Cooking skill.
Caravan Mechanic Moving supplies across the frontier meant somebody had to learn how to keep the engines turning. +3 Morale bonus from an upgraded Workshop.
Carries Hand Sanitizer There is so much hand sanitizer left lying around stores. Is nobody washing their hands anymore? +50% Infection Resistance
Campfire Cook I make the bet foil dinners. You'd be amazed what I can do in there. +3 Morale bonus from outdoor bed facilities.
Camp Counselor I was actually teaching a wilderness survival class when the outbreak hit. +2 Morale bonus from outdoor bed facilities to everyone.
Camp Physician I'm not a part of the military, but when the refugee camps needed doctors, I volunteered. Adds Medicine skill.
Can Sleep Anywhere I don't need a bed. I can catch a bit of shuteye anywhere I need to. Doesn't need a bed.
Can't Sleep Alone I've had trouble sleeping alone since my last group got attacked in the middle of the night. -3 Morale to everyone, but doesn't need a bed..
Cat Person If people were more like cats, there would be a lot more of us left.
Chainsaw Sculptor It was mostly bears. People have a thing for bears. Adds Craftsmanship skill.
Cheerful People sometimes catch me smiling for no reason. + 4 Morale to everyone.
Chiropractor Everything that's wrong with you is because your back is misaligned. Everything. Adds Medicine skill.
Churrascaria Server I can be pretty deft with a knife when I need to be, at least when it comes to food. Adds Cooking skill.
Cigar Enthusiast I'm wondering... maybe it's actually easier to get things from Cuba now? - 2 Max Stamina
Cleaned Offices When I did my job right, no one knew I was there.
Comic Book Dealer I traded and sold rare editions out on the convention floor, as well as a ton of other merch. +3 Morale bonus from an upgraded Lounge. Adds Geek Trivia skill.
Computer "Expert" Ice cream... Spoon it right in. Adds Computers skill.
Crazy Metabolism It's like I eat and eat, and all it does is give me more energy. Double Food Consumed Per Day. +6 Max Stamina
Decent Shot I've always been decent shot on the range, even without any formal training.
Delivery Driver I got to know the city like the back of my hand, just in time to leave it behind forever. Adds Driving skill.
Dependable Friend I was a lot of people's "one phone call"
Disorganized A clean desk is a sign of a sick mind. - 3 Morale
D-I-Y Remodeler Let me tell you the joys of remodeling your own home. +3 Morale bonus from an upgraded Workshop.
Does Heavy Lifting For some reason, whenever I go, I'm the one who has to carry all the big stuff.
Does Yoga You need to be limber and focused to survive out here. +3 Morale bonus from Lounge training facilities.
Dog Walker Rich people don't have time to walk their own dogs. I could get ten on the leash at a time.
Eats Like a Bird I don't know how other people can eat so much. I'm full pretty much the moment I sit down. - 50% Food Consumed Per Day
Empathetic Have you ever read any Bulter? I feel like I'm Lauren. If you feel it, then I feel it too. Avoids getting into conflicts.
EMT During the outbreak, I saved the ones I could, and made sure the ones I couldn't never got up. +3 Morale from upgraded Infirmary.
Encouraging Yes we can! Not Easily Frustrated + 3 Morale
Entrepreneur
Ethnomusicologist I came at it from the anthropology side, but I've really gotten into music since then. Adds Music skill.
Exhaustion I can barely keep my eyes open. -1 Max Fatigue - 15 Morale
Exile
Exuberant I've got that youthful exuberance that keeps me going all day! + 4 Max Stamina
Expert Traveler I can fit a full suitcase's worth of stuff in a carry-on bag. +5 Carrying Capacity
Fears Needles Just the sight of my skin being broken makes me panic a little. -2 Max Health
Film Director You have to have enough confidence in your vision to lead other people through the worst of it. +4 Morale from Movie Night
Fleet Manager It's been a while since I was shoulders-deep in an engine, but I still know my way around. Adds Mechanics skill.
Florist I did my share of flower arrangements, but I preferred to work with the potted plants. Adds Gardening skill.
Foam Dart Champion We had these foam dart guns at work, and I would annihilate everyone during lunch.
Food Allergies I've had to cook special meals my whole life. Especially now that epinephrine is so rare. -2 Max Health Adds Cooking skill.
Food Critic The real tragedy here is the lack of a decent chef anywhere on the frontier. +3 Morale bonus from an upgraded Kitchen.- 5 Morale
Food Hoarder I filled cart after cart, blasting through my credit cards, and trucked it all home. +3 Morale bonus from upgraded Storage.
Football Fan My friends and I used to get painted up for our home team, and go scream at the refs. +3 Morale bonus from facilities with a Projector.
Form Admin Sometimes I really start to miss the power of my banhammer. Adds People Skills skill.
Former Activist I've always had to fight to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. Easily Frustrated
Former Goth Yeah, it was cool back then. No really, it was.
Former Homeowner I still get emotional when I think about all the equity we used to have.
Former Model I mostly modeled for local ads, but I looked great, I had an agent, and I was going somewhere.
Funny People tell me I'm funny, but it's really the world that's hilarious. I just point it out. + 4 Morale to everyone
Furniture Adjuster The company sent me out to all the biggest clients to adjust chairs and desks for ergonomics. + 3 Morale Adds Mechanics skill.
Gas Hoarder The moment I heard about the outbreak, I filled up every container I had. +3 Morale bonus from upgraded Storage.
Geocacher It was the world's best game, before all the GPS satellites got out of alignment. +3 Morale bonus from outdoor bed facilities.
Geologist Why couldn't it have been a volcano? I was ready for a volcano!
Generous No, you can have the whole can of potted meat food product. I'm fine.
Gets Rashes I always get rashes under my backpack straps if I let myself sweat too much. - 10 Max Carrying Capacity +3 Morale bonus from an upgraded Infirmary.
Goes by Last Name My friends always called me by my last name, and it sort of stuck throughout my life. None
Good Arm I could always through futher and hit harder than other kids in school.
Gracious There's no cost to saying "thank you" when someone helps you out. +3 Morale
Guilt-Motivated You don't need to tell me what I've done wrong. I'm perfectly capable of torturing myself. Easily Frustrated
Green Thumb For some reason plants grow kudzu around me. I might have superpowers. Adds Gardening skill.
Grew Up Around Cars In my neighborhood, every driveway had some old beater that the owner was fixing up. +3 Morale bonus from the Auto Shop.
Grew Up Poor I grew up in a town with a few thousand people, and only a few hundred jobs.
Had LAN Parties Every month, my friends brought their Xboxes to my house for some local eight-player Gears. Adds Computers skill.
Had a Paper Route I used to have a paper route as a kid. Every morning, up and biking at the crack of dawn.
Had Weapons Training My first group included this combat enthusiast who trained us with weapons every single day.
Halitosis My breath is fine. See? Smell it. Where are you going? -3 Morale to everyone.
Hall Monitor I volunteered at my kids' school as a hall monitor. It was nice to be there when they needed me.
Halo Champion I know it's not real combat, but you do learn something about tactics and teamwork.
Has Chronic Pain This pain has been with me since before the outbreak. My doctor wasn't even sure what to do. -2 Max Health +3 Morale bonus from an upgraded Infirmary.
Has Rough Hands Working hard everyday pays off. + 5 Max Health +3 Max Stamina
Has Traumatic Flashbacks I have these horrible reactions that remind me of the outbreak. I really can't talk about it. -7 Morale
Hated Thanksgiving I'm thankful we don't have time for ridiculous holidays anymore. +3 Morale
Hates Horror Movies I spent my life avoiding gross or shocking movies, and now I'm living in one. -5 Morale
Hates to be Alone I don't get along all that well with myself.
Heavy Hitter I wasn't always the best fighter, but when I hit somebody, they felt it.
High Lung Capacity My coach said I was a born swimmer. Really good lung capacity, apparently. +5 Stamina
High Metabolism I can really put it away at the dinner table, but I put all the energy to good use. +50% Food Consumed Per Day. +2 Max Stamina.
Hiker There used to be nothing better than being alone in the woods. +3 Morale bonus from outdoor bed facilities.
Holding Out Hope The government airdropped supplies that kept us going for months! We know they're coming back. +4 Morale
Hong Kong Cinema Fan I've seen every fighting style that exists. Plus a few that don't. +3 Morale bonus from facilities with a Projector
Hopeful I don't know, I just have this feeling that things are going to be all right. +6 Morale
Human Potato I'm soft, and I just sort of sat around most of my life. What else would you call that? -2 Max Fatigue +4 Morale bonus from luxury bed facilities
Idealist Look, we finally have a chance to get things right! Easily Frustrated
Immature You know what else is immature? Your butt. -3 Morale to everyone
Immortal Nothing can kill me, man. The world has tried, and the world has failed. Bring it, baby! Can only be randomly rolled for. +15 Max Health -50% Injury Severity
Incredible Immune System When everyone else was down with the flu, I always felt great. Can't really explain it. Can only be randomly rolled. +100 Infection Resistance
Indefatigable I'm always the last one to get worn out after a hard day out in the field. +5 Max Stamina, +2 Max Fatigue
In the Peace Corps I hope my experience will be as valuable to our new life as other folks' military training.
Into Ultimate Frisbee It's great because you don't have to be good at it to have fun. Unless you're me. Then you do.
IT Worker Have you tried turning it off and on again? Affects skills Adds "Computers" skill
Judge I'm great at banging a gavel. Wish I'd brought a bigger one... Adds "Law" skill
Jury-Rigger Traveling after the apocalypse meant figuring out a lot of things I never knew about machines. +3 Morale bonus form an upgraded Workshop.
Knife Thrower I once nearly killed myself throwing a knife at a tree. Somehow, that didn't stop me.
Knitter I always have something to do with my hands, and I never run out of scarves.
LARPer Lightning bolt! Lightning bolt! Adds "Acting" skill
Lazy No job, no family, nobody to hassle me. This is the good life. -2 Max Fatigue +3 Morale Bonus from luxury bed facilities, cannot perform Labor.
Lies About Age I usually tell people I'm in my late twenties. They take me more seriously that way.
Lived Among Celebrities I grew up in a town where everybody though they were going to be famous.
Lived on Spoiled Food We had to eat the stuff they left behind at the grocery store. I got so sick. Never again. -50% Food Consumed Per Day
Loved Fast Food The greasier, the better.
Loved Riding Bikes When you're a kid, a good bike means freedom.
Loved School For those few hours every day, the world made sense.
Loved to Dance I'm not saying I'm great. I just like to be moving to the music +3 Morale bonus from having a Lounge
Loved to Hunt I wasn't necessarily the best shooter, but I loved my time out in the woods with friends.
Loves Spicy Food I had to learn to cook, because no restaurants in America make me food as hot as I want it. +10 Max Stamina +3 Morale bonus from an upgraded Kitchen Adds "Cooking" skill
Low Pain Threshold How do you people keep getting up? Just a couple hits, and I'm down for the count. -10 Max Health
Mall Cop I worked nights, and no one ever actually tried to break in. I mostly watched sitcoms. Adds "TV Trivia" skill
MCP Certified You should see all the "Computers" endorsements I have on my profile. Adds "Computers" skill
Meal Delivery Driver I used to deliver meals to elderly shut-ins, when their kids were too busy to give a crap.
Measures Twice You can't be too careful when your life depends on building something right. +3 Morale from upgraded Workshop Adds "Craftsmanship" skill
Majored in Chemistry I'd resigned myself to not really using my major for anything. Now it's essential. Adds "Chemistry" skill
Masseuse It takes a lot of strength to work some of the knots out of those muscles. +3 Morale to everyone
Miner We could have stayed underground, but one accident turned the mine into a deathtrap. +6 Max Stamina
Minored in Chemistry Honestly, I just had a crush on a TA. I didn't think chemistry would ever be important to me. Adds "Chemistry" skill
Model Hobbyist At first I had a room devoted to model robots. Then a whole house. Adds "Craftsmanship" skill
Neat I always keep my bed and my workplace clean +4 Morale
Needs Quiet Time Look, sometimes you just need to shut up a second, so I can think! Easily Frustrated Irritable towards other people
Neighborhood Watch I walked around my block every night, watching for anything suspicious.
Never Cries I used to be a crybaby in school. Now I've trained myself not to flinch in the face of anything. +5 Max Health
No Belief in Destiny "There is no fate but what we make for ourselves."
Nomadic Sleeper I can't get to sleep in the same place twice. Folks let me bunk anywhere I want.
Nostalgic I found this old MP3 player full of synthwave music. I feel like I've rediscovered my childhood.
Noisy Yeah, I'm banging pots and pans. How else do you make breakfast? +1 Zombie Threat
Nosy There's no such things as "my business" and "your business". It's all just business. -3 Morale.
Overcame Fears I used to be afraid of everything. I needed a real life-and-death scenario to snape me out of it.
Pack Rat All of this stuff has deep emotional value to me. It's fine, I'll just stack it on a second bed. Needs 2 Beds
Paintballer We got so good, our team would annihilate anyone crazy enough to face use. +3 Moral
Partner in a Law Firm All those eighty-hour weeks, and I was finally made a partner... two weeks before the apocalypse. Adds "Law" skill
PC Gamer I changed out my graphics card every year. Not because I needed to. But because I could. +4 Morale bonus from facilities with a Projector Adds "Computers" skill
Philanthropist I'm kind of embarrassed when people find out how much money I inherited.
Philosophy Major With most of the world's greatest minds now staggering and moaning, I'm basically the new Plato. +3 Moral
Picnicker Why eat inside when there's fresh air right outside your door? +3 Morale bonus from outdoor bed facilities Adds "Cooking" skill
Plans Ahead You always have to go in with a plan, even if you know you're going to change it.
Played Sports If it has a ball, I've played it. +2 Max Fatigue
Played Tetherball My family had a tetherball... until I finally hit it into the neighbors' swimming pool.
Poor Typist Hunting an pecking just makes sense! How do you people know what buttons you're hitting?
Practical Joker I give the gift of humor. It's a public service. +4 Morale
Punches Walls I've built up callouses on my knuckles from punching through drywall when I get upset. +10 Max Health Easily frustrated
Quilter I used to organize these charity quilting projects out of my house Adds "Sewing" skill
Railroad Engineer Car engines are pretty different from the big ones, but I can still help out in a pinch. Gain "Mechanics" skill
Ran a Garden Department I'm not really a gardener myself, but I talked to gardeners, and I know what all the tools do. Adds "Gardening" skill
Ready for Anything I'm always pumped. I can handle whatever you throw at me.
Rescues Spiders They eat the bugs that contaminate our food. Of course I keep them alive!
Run the Neighborhood I didn't consider myself a "crime lord" ... too many negative connotations.
Sawbones I don't have any medical training, but you can learn a lot from cadavers... and from mistakes. Adds "Medicine" skill
Science Teacher I wonder if I could've been a criminal mastermind, like that chemistry teacher on TV. Adds skill "Chemistry"
Sees Blood and Faints It was one time! Right after the outbreak. People keep giving me shit about it. -5 Max Health
Self-Effacing I couldn't do it without you guys. Not Easily Frustrated
Self-Promoter I'm not trying to steal the spotlight. I just have ideas, and I want to share them. Adds "Self-Promotion" skill
Sewer Dweller I took refuge underground during the outbreak. I'm not really comfortable around humans.
Sings Badly in Public We have literally nothing to lose, We should all be singing, all the time. +4 Morale
Slaughter House Worker Crushing skulls and severing limbs is old hat for me.
Sleeps on the Ground I can't even stand to sleep in a soft bed anymore. Not after so many nights on the road. Doesn't need a Bed
Slept in a Tree For a few months after the outbreak, I climbed a tree every night, with all my stuff in tow. +3 Morale bonus from outdoor bed facilities.
Slightly Stocky I've always been a bit big-boned. I know it's had to tell after months on the run. +10 Max Health -5 Max Stamina
Smooth Talker I also like winking at people while making finger guns at them.
Social Butterfly I just sort of get along with people. I end up with more friends than I know what to do with.
Sold Cellular Phones I worked out of a kiosk in the mall. I was always jealous of the guy selling RC helicopters. Adds "Computers" skill
Sold Crafts Online I'm not really a specialist. Whatever caught my fancy, I learned how to make it, and then sold it. Adds "Craftsmanship" skill
Sold Fertilizer I did sales for a big fertilizer company. I had to know the product in and out. Adds "Gardening" skill
Soup Kitchen Volunteer I've seen what real hunger looks like.
Spry You might not guess it, looking at me. But I'm totally nimble.
Stays Fit Keeping in shape always came a little easier to me. I don't even exercise. +7 Max Stamina
Stress Eater There's no problem that can't be solved by a crate of gas station pastries, am I right? Needs 2 Food Per Day
Strong It's not my fault, being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even exercise. +10 Carry Capacity
Student Mentor I worked part-time at my school, helping new kids figure out the ins and outs of the college.
Stylist You should see what I can do with a razor blade and a pair of scissors. Adds "Hairdressing" skill
Survived Indoors I spent months locked in an apartment. I had to rig up power and water myself. Adds "Utilities" skill
Talks to Plants I know from firsthand experiences that plants really thrive when you have a relationship. Adds "Gardening" skill
Taught Gymnastics I taught tumbling to kindergarten-age kids. The best part was how proud they all looked.
Taxidermist I thought of putting myself forward as a sort of surgeon... then I realized that was insane.
Telemarketer It's half sticking to the plan, and half thinking on your feet
Tells Tall Tales This one time, I ran into a big, fat zombie with another zombie inside it! True story! +3 Morale
The Muscle My old crew kept me around because I was so physically intimidating. Adds "Powerhouse" skill
Tires Quickly I just don't have as much energy as everybody else. -6 Max Stamina, +3 Morale bonus from luxury bed facilities
Took a Gap Year I took a year off before the outbreak. On the bright side, I don't have any student debt!
Tourist I've been to all fifty states and four continents. Come have a look at my photo album!
Tour Guide I knew my way around the historic district downtown, but now that place is thoroughly infested.
Tractor Driver I wish I could say I knew much about farming, but I just drove where they told me. Adds "Driving" skill
Trained in CPR I realized that I was no good to anyone in an emergency, unless I got a few basics down. Adds "Medicine" skill
Trilingual I'm constantly translating my thoughts from one language into another.
Turned Life Around I've made my share of bad decisions, but that's all behind me now.
Uncomfortable at Parties Social gatherings make me feel really anxious, but I'm finding ways to cope.
Undertaker I dug the holes at a small cemetery. Only equipment I needed was a shovel and a strong back.
Used to be Reckless It's bet that you didn't know me when I was younger.
Used to Hate Guns Nothing like being chased by Zombies to make you appreciate things like stopping power.
Vacationed in Spain My parents flew us all out each summer to their vacation home on the coast of Spain.
Video Game Streamer I had this great group in my chat every day, but now I have no way to find them. +3 Morale bonus from facilities with a projector
Vlogger I got to the point where I was making a pretty good living just on reaction videos. Adds "Self-Promotion" skill
Waiter I'll get you what you need before you even ask for it.
Watched Sports It didn't matter who was playing... or even what they were playing. Adds "Sports Trivia" skill
Watched Westerns I used to have a huge collection of Westerns on VHS. Now I live on the frontier. Go figure. +3 Morale bonus from facilities with a Projector
Weak Stomach All kinds of violence just make me ill. I do what must be done, but it just kills me.
Went to Grad School Four years weren't enough for me.
Will Drink Anything You're worried about the worm in that tequila? I used to drink bottles with scorpions inside. +3 Morale bonus from Stills and Bars
Willowy I've always been slim for my height. Being light has its advantages when you're on the run. -10 Max Health, +8 Max Stamina
Whittler When I actually bought a dentist's drill to decorate my walking stick, I knew I had a problem. +5 Morale bonus from an upgraded workshop. Adds Craftsmanship skill
Woodcutter People have trees they want to burn. I'm the one who shows up with the chainsaw and the axe.
Zoologist Animals are great aren't they? Yes....Yes they are. Adds "Animal Facts" skill