Wild hordes and hunting parties
Updated September 25, 2026. Figures come from the live game.
The short answer
Wild hordes of 4 to 14 zombies roam the map a block every 30 minutes, drifting toward loud villages. Hunt one with a party of 3 to 18 zombies, at half a serum and 1 biomass each. Catch it and every zombie in it joins your horde.
How hordes move
- 96 wild hordes roam the realm, and each fades after 6 hours.
- Each is 4 to 14 zombies of one strain: half are shamblers, three in ten runners, two in ten brutes.
- They move one block every 30 minutes (every 15 at night).
- Any horde within 12 cells of a village with 10 or more noise walks toward the loudest one.
Hunting one
- Tap a pack on the Map to open the hunt sheet.
- Pick a party of 3 to 18. The default matches the pack's size. Hunters leave from the reserve first, then from your gate guards; the hunt screen says how many guards will leave their posts.
- It costs half a serum (rounded up) and 1 biomass per hunter, so a smaller party is cheaper.
- The party walks at 5 minutes a block and re-routes as its quarry moves, up to 24 blocks out.
- On contact they fight on open ground. Win and the whole pack joins your horde when the party gets home.
| Strain | Tier | Binding research needed |
|---|---|---|
| Shamblers | 1 | Level 1 |
| Runners | 2 | Level 2 |
| Brutes | 3 | Level 3 |
When a hunt can't go, the sheet says why and offers a fix, like Send fewer.
Questions players ask
Why can't I hunt when I have zombies?
Hunts and raids need three zombies at home. If most of your horde is out on a march or a hunt, the screen says how many are away and when the first of them walks back in.
How many hunting parties can I send?
One at a time. A second party can't leave until the first is home, but you can call the first one back early.
What if someone else catches the horde first?
Your party turns back and walks home. It also turns back if the horde fades or at its 24th block.
Why can't I hunt this horde?
Usually Binding research is below its tier, you have fewer than 3 zombies free, the horde is out of range, or you're short on serum or biomass. The hunt sheet lists the reason and a fix.