How to Change Zombie Spawn Rates on your Project Zomboid Server

General info

Learn how to customize zombie spawn rates on your Project Zomboid server with this step-by-step guide. Whether you want a lighter challenge or a true undead apocalypse, this tutorial will show you how to adjust settings for the perfect gameplay experience.

Changing Spawn Rates

• First, stop the server from your control panel

• Access Files tab on the left side menu
• Go to home/container/Pterodactyl/Server
• Open Pterodactyl_SandboxVars.lua file

• Locate ZombieConfig, usually at line 589
• Below, you will see PopulationMultiplier. Change it to the desired value
  

• Click on Save Content and start the server.
  
  Below you can see a table with all the values.

Values table

0.0	None
0.35	Low
1.0	Normal (default value)
2.0	High
3.0	Very High
4.0	Insane

FAQ – Zombie Spawn Rates

• What does the PopulationMultiplier setting do?
  It controls the total zombie population in the world. Higher values mean more zombies. The default is 1.0.
• Where can I find the Pterodactyl_SandboxVars.lua file?
  Go to home/container/Pterodactyl/Server in the Files tab of your server control panel.
• Can I change spawn rates while the server is running?
  No, the server must be stopped before editing the config. Restart the server to apply the changes.
• What are recommended values for different difficulties?
  
  • 0.0 – No zombies
  • 0.35 – Low population
  • 1.0 – Normal (default)
  • 2.0 – High
  • 3.0+ – Very high to insane
• Will this affect existing saves?
  Yes, spawn rate changes will impact ongoing saves, adjusting population gradually during gameplay.

Need Help?

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