Project Zomboid is the kind of game that can be very confusing to new players. There are a lot of gameplay systems at work here, and things can be a bit hard to figure out. One of the more crucial things players need to learn to survive the zombie apocalypse is that there’s random events that can happen.
Sure, learning how to get weapons, heal yourself and other stuff is key, but there’s more than that. Project Zomboid also thrives on more than that, though, as it also relies heavily on a bunch of random events and other chicanery. One of the more infamous random events in PZ is the helicopter in Project Zomboid. This particular event can ruin a run if you don’t see it coming, so you need to be careful. This is due to the overall change that it can cause in the state of the game world. Looking for info on the helicopter in Project Zomboid? Here’s a guide on that, keep reading to learn more.
What is the helicopter in Project Zomboid?
The helicopter is a one-time random event that occurs part-way through your run in PZ. It will be somewhat randomized when it occurs, but it has a specific effect on the game world. When the helicopter in Project Zomboid flies over, it makes a ton of noise. And because zombies follow loud noises, this is really bad for an unprepared player. There’s nothing worse than having a huge horde led right to the front door of your base by a helo flying over.
You might not know this, but zombie hordes can form in PZ. The gunshots, screams, and other loud noises can attract zombies from pretty far away. And since the helicopter tracks the player there’s a fairly certain chance that a horde will land on your head in short order.
If you’re concerned about getting caught out by this giant horde, you can predict when it’s coming. The in-game radio will allow you to see it coming. To do this, you’ll need to use a radio to tune into the Automated Emergency Broadcast System, or AEBS. Hunt around residential neighborhoods for a radio and batteries to set this up. Tune into the emergency broadcast every hour (make sure you’re indoors when you do this to minimize noise travel). This system will warn you of incoming events. You may get reports of incoming rain storms, the power getting cut, and other issues. The AEBS will also announce when the helicopter event is scheduled to happen with the warning “Air activity detected”. Keep an eye out for that.
Are there other events?
There is another in-game world event that can occur in Project Zomboid which happens more often. Once per day, you may hear gunfire or screams in the distance. This can lead to hordes spawning if it happens often enough nearby. Cars can also attract hordes, they are pretty loud after all. Breaking windows and other loud noises, like when breaking into a car in Project Zomboid, can attract a few close by undead, just to warn you.
So how do you manage all this? The most often way to deal with these PZ random events is to plan around them. If you hear gunfire or screams, get in cover now. Find a sturdy building to hide in, and bunker down. The ability of the player to hide away from zombies will save you more often than you realize. Picking a base a bit out of the way can save you, but isn’t guaranteed to keep you out of harm’s way. The more urban areas are much more likely to spawn hordes, though.
But really, the best way to avoid this is to stay mobile and lead the hordes away from your base. There are two ways to handle this event in the game’s settings as well. You can turn off random events or reduce their frequency. You could adjust the distance that noises attract zombies when making your game as well.
That’s everything you need to know about the helicopter event in Project Zomboid, now get out there and try to survive.
There are plenty of other things to learn about the game as well. Before you go out on that supply run, make sure you’re well-prepared for what’s to come. Basic tasks like boiling water are key to survival. You must know how to build defenses too. Cleaning up after yourself after all the zombie slaying is a good idea. You don’t want a bunch of blood hanging around. Burning corpses is also a great thing to do. It’s a good idea to learn how to deal with cuts and burns as well, which can keep you alive.
