Can zombies attack downward?
In older versions of 7D2D, zombies (it seemed to me) would not attack the ground, nor even a hatch that they were standing on. Even crawler zombies seemed to only attack blocks in front of them, and not ones they were on top of. Is that still the case?
Is building a base completely underground, with a hatch level with the natural contour of the ground a practical option? Looking for some feedback prior to embarking on this massive undertaking.
Best Answer
In older versions of 7D2D (earlier October of last year) zombies couldn't attack/dig vertically down, and or break ground hatches even if they were present at the surface. The only way they should be able to "attack down" is if they were to get wedged or stuck in a hole somewhere around the hatch.
Similarly they can't attack up, so if for example you're suspended above iron bars over an open ground, they'll just crowd under you while you hover. Some factors you've got to keep in mind is of the feral horde's weight that may be on your hatch, as that could cause it to cave in.
To answer your question though,even if the hatch appears to be on the ground, it still is using that one block above ground where it is placed. So technically the hatches hit box is waist level and that's why they are able to hit it.
Just a quick tip, but digging at an angle until you hit bedrock is fairly effective if you can manage. By then, you'd be a long distance from your entrance. When a horde spawns, they want to go directly to you, where you're standing at. So yes, they'd be above you, but away from the hatch, which could prove to be useful.
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7 Days to Die Can Zombies Dig or Attack Downward? (No longer valid on A16)
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Answer 2
I have had zombies dig underneath a wall by digging down one block then forward under the wall. They only dug down one block, so only crawlers could go through the gap, but they did it. Similarly, I have also had zombies dig through a bunch of sand after falling into a pit, then dig up through my floor. I don't know about older builds (only started playing recently) but it seems in current builds that yes, they CAN dig up and down.
Answer 3
they can dig at angles above or below them if the terrain is shaped in a way that puts the hit box somewhere "in front" of them
they can not dig in a direct vertical line above or below them
in order to take advantage of this fact the dirt/floor the zombie is walking on must be 100% smooth and have nothing to change their elevation as they move around on it
if you have any kind of ramping or bumps in the dirt or tiny hill effects in the terrain it can change what blocks are considered "in front" of the zombie and then they may end up taking out blocks slightly above or below the walk path
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