Summary
State of Decay 2is a zombie-style survival game that keeps players on their feet and constantly moving. Luckily, there is always a relatively safe haven to run back to in case things start getting a little dangerous.
Such a safe haven is ideal for theState of Decay 2players and survivors since they can get food, rest, and upgrade their weapons. However, a base is only as good as the survivors that live there. This is why having residents with great traits is so important. Without useful traits, players could find themselves struggling to keep their base safe, happy, or functional. Some traits are well worth looking out for, and some are worth avoiding.
Updated Jun 27, 2025, by Collins Erasmus:Each survivor inState of Decay 2has their own special abilities and characteristics that can help them in the fight, in the hunt, or in the group as a whole. There are many possible characteristics; the question is which one is more important. The survivors' personalities are essential, as is the group’s continued success. With the appropriate traits, an outsider can increase the group’s chances of staying alive. However, the incorrect traits might just as quickly lead to everyone’s demise. If players want to succeed in this survival environment, they will require the following traits, which are the best inState of Decay 2.
13Keeps Hidden Pouches
Increased carrying capacity
Keeps Hidden Pouches, like other traits, has its place in the zombie apocalypse. When doing a resource run, having survivors who are good at scavenging is a huge advantage, because gathering supplies takes a lot of time. It strikes a delicate balance between conserving resources and using them in the hopes of replenishing what was used.
In addition, the consumable stack is helpful for bringing critical goods into battle and maintaining team health. The Keeps Hidden Pouches trait is not only useful for storing loot, but can also help players find other settlements to barter with.
12Quartermaster
Boost morale and keep peace in the neighborhood
While it’s worth looking into traits that have more than one perk, sometimes they can lead to a clash, or they can just be three relatively useless additions that are only there to persuade the player into getting them. Luckily, the Quartermaster trait is the opposite.
This trait is fantastically useful for any player who struggles with storage. Any hoarder out there will need a survivor with the Quartermaster trait. Even if the player isn’t interested in getting every material possible, there is no such thing as too much ammo or fuel.
11Infectious Energy
Extra influence and speed
Infectious Energy might not seem like a lot at first, but it builds up over time and gives players a fair amount of purchasing power. Survivors with the ‘Infectious Energy’ trait earn an additional 15% influence on each task they complete. Influence is used for a wide variety of things, like purchasing items and establishing outposts.
Survivors with this trait also increase the speed at which their facilities perform tasks by 50%, which is a massive boost to their base’s production rate. This will allow them to create essential resources like food and ammunition much quicker than usual.
10Eats Like A Bird
Lessen the burden on foraging activities
Food can be a tricky aspect ofState of Decay 2. It’s something many players would rather not think about and often proves to be a pain that only comes up when players have better things to do. Nevertheless, with the Eats Like a Bird trait, survivors will end up consuming less food than the average person.
50% is a large amount and will aid players in their resources, time, and effort, which can be put into scavenging or simply stockpiling the food already available, allowing it to stretch a little further.
9Just Keeps Going
Players function longer at their highest level
Stamina is crucial inState of Decay 2.This is something that any player can attest to if they have ever encountered a horde of zombies and then watched as the undead tore them apart due to a lack of energy. A person who possesses the trait of “Just Keeps Going” will be of great help in these scenarios.
Not only can this trait provide a character with much more endurance, but it also cuts the duration that they stay weary by half. The “Just Keeps Going” trait gives players a significant 45-point increase in stamina on top of the standard 100.
8Can Sleep Anywhere
Helps players get sleep
Typically, at the start ofState of Decay 2, players will find themselves in a relatively small base thatprovides few empty slots for resourcesand even fewer beds. This can be frustrating, especially when survivors and the player get sleep-deprived.
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Sleep deprivation is a real problem inState of Decay 2and can force players to stop what they intend to do. This becomes an even bigger problem when there aren’t enough beds for players to sleep in. Grab a survivor with this trait, and one bed will become free, allowing for that precious rest from exploring dangerous lands.
7Immortal
Courage against danger without hesitation
While the name itself is enough to getmost fans ofState of Decay 2to grab the survivor as quickly as possible, it’s not entirely accurate. It would be particularly overpowering if a survivor were actually immortal.
That being said, characters with this trait are considerably stronger than other survivors, especially with the increase in health. This will allow the survivor to stay up longer, fight harder, and not be too scared to get into the fray of a challenging battle. Just don’t expect them to actually be immortal; they are not.
6Unbreakable
Durability and resilience
Any preference between Immortal and Unbreakable solely depends on the player, since both will grant the survivor more health and limit their injuries. However, Unbreakable will limit the chance of getting an injury by an impressive 100%, which can be fantastic when coming up against some damagingzombies like a Juggernaut.
After all, long-lasting injuries can be frustrating, and will limit both the survivor and the player if they are far away from the base or can’t heal quickly. Stopping this from happening is a boon many will look for.
5Diehard Veteran
Recovery from illness and injury
There are many things to do inState of Decay 2. Players can build up their base, complete quests, or simplygo around wiping out as many zombies as they can. If the latter is the preference, then a survivor with the Diehard Veteran trait is the best way to go.
This strong trait will keep the survivor going through injury, infection, and a heavy load. It’s the ideal companion to take or to play with when exploring the unforgiving landscape.
4Indefatigable
Physical strength and endurance
When players prefer to fight using a melee weapon or if they just feel like running to nearby areas, they should be looking for a survivor with the Indefatigable perk. It’s ideal for players who find their stamina to be a problem duringState of Decay 2, and it’s perfect for running away fromthose quicker zombies.
In the end, stamina is a challenging stat to manage and can be devastating when under attack from a horde. Having a survivor with more stamina and a lower fatigue severity could just be a lifesaver.
