Most items will gradually decay in The Long Dark. Tools degrade when used, while food and clothing decays over time.
How fast items decay over time depends on the item and on the selected difficulty. Compared to Stalker difficulty, items only decay 80% as fast on Voyageur and 25% as fast on Pilgrim. On Interloper difficulty, on the other hand, all items decay twice as fast.
The decay values in the tables below are based on Stalker difficulty and are extracted from the game files.
Food and drink
Food decays at different rates depending on whether it is stored outside or inside. Currently the game also considers sheltered locations without a loading screen, such as the Mountaineer's Hut, the Forestry Lookout or caves, to be outside. It also doesn't matter whether the items are stored in a container or not.
When eating food with low condition, the Food Poisoning effect may be applied. Eating meat from carnivores also adds a risk for intestinal parasites on Stalker and Interloper difficulties.
Name | Decay inside (%/day) | Decay outside (%/day) | Best stored |
---|---|---|---|
Beef jerky | 0.100 | 0.010 | Outside |
Black bear meat (cooked) | 8.333 | 0.833 | Outside |
Black bear meat (raw) | 25.000 | 2.500 | Outside |
Candy bar | 0.250 | 0.025 | Outside |
Cat tail stalk | 0.000 | 0.000 | Any |
Coho salmon (cooked) | 12.500 | 1.250 | Outside |
Coho salmon (raw) | 33.333 | 3.333 | Outside |
Condensed milk | 1.000 | 0.250 | Outside |
Cup of coffee | 0.000 | 0.000 | Any |
Cup of herbal tea | 0.000 | 0.000 | Any |
Dog food | 0.667 | 0.167 | Outside |
Energy bar | 0.833 | 0.417 | Outside |
Granola bar | 0.333 | 0.033 | Outside |
Lake whitefish (cooked) | 12.500 | 1.250 | Outside |
Lake whitefish (raw) | 33.333 | 3.333 | Outside |
Military-Grade MRE | 0.056 | 0.028 | Outside |
Orange soda | 0.167 | 0.833 | Inside |
Peanut butter | 1.000 | 0.500 | Outside |
Pinnacle peaches | 0.333 | 1.667 | Inside |
Pork and beans | 0.133 | 0.667 | Inside |
Rabbit (cooked) | 12.500 | 1.250 | Outside |
Rabbit (raw) | 33.333 | 3.333 | Outside |
Rainbow trout (cooked) | 12.500 | 1.250 | Outside |
Rainbow trout (raw) | 33.333 | 3.333 | Outside |
Reishi tea | 0.000 | 0.000 | Any |
Rose hip tea | 0.000 | 0.000 | Any |
Salty crackers | 0.000 | 0.000 | Any |
Smallmouth bass (cooked) | 12.500 | 1.250 | Outside |
Smallmouth bass (raw) | 33.333 | 3.333 | Outside |
Stacy's grape soda | 0.167 | 0.833 | Inside |
Summit soda | 0.167 | 0.833 | Inside |
Tin of sardines | 0.067 | 0.333 | Inside |
Tomato soup | 0.200 | 0.050 | Outside |
Venison (cooked) | 10.000 | 1.000 | Outside |
Venison (raw) | 20.000 | 2.000 | Outside |
Wolf meat (cooked) | 10.000 | 1.000 | Outside |
Wolf meat (raw) | 33.333 | 3.333 | Outside |
Water (potable) | 0.000 | 0.000 | Any |
Quartering
Name | Decay inside (%/day) | Decay outside (%/day) | Best stored |
---|---|---|---|
Bear quarter | 10.000 | 10.000 | Any |
Deer quarter | 10.000 | 10.000 | Any |
Rabbit carcass | 10.000 | 10.000 | Any |
Wolf quarter | 10.000 | 10.000 | Any |
Clothing
Clothing items have three different decay speeds: when stored (in- or outside), when worn inside and when worn outside. Clothes gradually offer less protection from the cold the more they decay. It thus important to keep one's clothes in good condition.
Clothes can also rapidly decay from blizzards, wolf attacks, and falling.
Hats and scarfs
Name | Decay when stored (%/day) | Worn inside (%/day) | Worn outside (%/day) |
---|---|---|---|
Balaclava | 0.100 | 0.250 | 1.000 |
Baseball cap | 0.333 | 0.833 | 3.333 |
Cotton scarf | 0.133 | 0.333 | 1.333 |
Cotton toque | 0.500 | 1.000 | 2.000 |
Fleece cowl | 0.125 | 0.313 | 1.250 |
Long wool scarf | 0.067 | 0.167 | 0.667 |
Wool scarf | 0.100 | 0.250 | 1.000 |
Wool toque | 0.133 | 0.333 | 1.333 |
Gloves
Name | Decay when stored (%/day) | Worn inside (%/day) | Worn outside (%/day) |
---|---|---|---|
Driving gloves | 0.500 | 1.000 | 2.000 |
Fleece mittens | 0.333 | 1.000 | 1.333 |
Gauntlets | 0.125 | 0.375 | 0.500 |
Rabbitskin mitts | 0.050 | 0.125 | 0.500 |
Ski gloves | 0.167 | 0.333 | 0.667 |
Wool mittens | 0.250 | 0.750 | 1.000 |
Work gloves | 0.167 | 0.333 | 0.667 |
Shirts and sweaters
Name | Decay when stored (%/day) | Worn inside (%/day) | Worn outside (%/day) |
---|---|---|---|
Cowichan sweater | 0.033 | 0.083 | 0.333 |
Dress shirt | 0.333 | 1.000 | 1.333 |
Fisherman's sweater | 0.040 | 0.100 | 0.400 |
Hoodie | 0.100 | 0.250 | 1.000 |
Plaid shirt | 0.250 | 0.750 | 1.000 |
Sweatshirt | 0.250 | 0.750 | 1.000 |
Thick wool sweater | 0.050 | 0.125 | 0.500 |
Thin wool sweater | 0.067 | 0.167 | 0.667 |
T-Shirt | 0.500 | 1.500 | 2.000 |
Wool shirt | 0.167 | 0.500 | 0.667 |
Coats, vests and jackets
Name | Decay when stored (%/day) | Worn inside (%/day) | Worn outside (%/day) |
---|---|---|---|
Bearskin coat | 0.133 | 0.033 | 0.133 |
Down vest | 0.250 | 0.750 | 1.000 |
Expedition parka | 0.063 | 0.188 | 0.250 |
Light shell | 0.167 | 0.333 | 0.667 |
Mackinaw jacket | 0.083 | 0.250 | 0.333 |
Mariner's pea coat | 0.071 | 0.071 | 0.286 |
Military coat | 0.071 | 0.214 | 0.286 |
Old fashioned parka | 0.083 | 0.250 | 0.333 |
Simple parka | 0.100 | 0.300 | 0.400 |
Ski jacket | 0.067 | 0.167 | 0.667 |
Sport vest | 0.333 | 0.667 | 1.333 |
Urban parka | 0.200 | 0.600 | 0.800 |
Windbreaker | 0.333 | 1.000 | 1.333 |
Wolfskin coat | 0.020 | 0.050 | 0.200 |
Underwear
Name | Decay when stored (%/day) | Worn inside (%/day) | Worn outside (%/day) |
---|---|---|---|
Thermal underwear | 0.200 | 0.500 | 2.000 |
Wool longjohns | 0.100 | 0.250 | 1.000 |
Pants
Name | Decay when stored (%/day) | Worn inside (%/day) | Worn outside (%/day) |
---|---|---|---|
Cargo pants | 0.067 | 0.167 | 0.667 |
Combat pants | 0.067 | 0.167 | 0.667 |
Deerskin pants | 0.029 | 0.071 | 0.286 |
Jeans | 0.100 | 0.500 | 1.000 |
Snow pants | 0.080 | 0.200 | 0.800 |
Work pants | 0.050 | 0.250 | 0.500 |
Socks
Name | Decay when stored (%/day) | Worn inside (%/day) | Worn outside (%/day) |
---|---|---|---|
Climbing socks | 0.100 | 0.250 | 1.000 |
Sports socks | 0.625 | 1.875 | 2.500 |
Wool socks | 0.133 | 0.333 | 1.333 |
Shoes and boots
Name | Decay when stored (%/day) | Worn inside (%/day) | Worn outside (%/day) |
---|---|---|---|
Combat boots | 0.067 | 0.067 | 0.667 |
Deerskin boots | 0.033 | 0.033 | 0.333 |
Insulated boots | 0.125 | 0.250 | 0.500 |
Leather shoes | 0.167 | 0.167 | 0.667 |
Mukluks | 0.040 | 0.100 | 0.400 |
Running shoes | 0.250 | 0.250 | 1.000 |
Ski boots | 0.050 | 0.100 | 0.200 |
Trail boots | 0.067 | 0.067 | 0.667 |
Work boots | 0.050 | 0.125 | 0.500 |
Accessories
Name | Decay when stored (%/day) | Worn inside (%/day) | Worn outside (%/day) |
---|---|---|---|
Wool ear wrap | 0.133 | 0.333 | 1.333 |
Medical supplies
Only painkillers, antibiotics and water purification tablets decay over time. Fortunately, there are craftable alternatives (Reishi tea, Rose hip tea) that do not decay.
Storing these supplies inside does not alter the rate of decay.
Name | Decay over time (%/day) |
---|---|
Antibiotics | 0.100 |
Painkillers | 0.100 |
Water purification tablets | 0.200 |
Tools
Most tools degrade only when they're used. Once their condition goes below a lower threshold, they have a chance to break when they're used.
Note that these decay values are not affected by the difficulty multiplier.
Name | Decay per action (%) | Breaking threshold (%) |
---|---|---|
Can opener | 2.000 | 20 |
Distress pistol | 4.000 | 10 |
Firestriker | 2.000 | 10 |
Fishing tackle | 10.000 | 20 |
Hacksaw | 5.000 | 25 |
Hatchet | 2.000 | 15 |
Heavy hammer | 0.667 | 10 |
Hunting knife | 2.000 | 15 |
Hunting rifle | 1.333 | 10 |
Improvised hatchet | 3.000 | 30 |
Improvised knife | 3.000 | 30 |
Prybar | 1.600 | 20 |
Quality tools | 2.000 | 10 |
Rifle cleaning kit | 5.000 | 20 |
Sewing kit | 5.000 | 20 |
Simple tools | 3.333 | 20 |
Survival bow | 2.000 | 15 |
Whetstone | 5.000 | 20 |
Special tools
Name | Crafting (%/hour) | Harvesting animals (%/hour) | Clearing ice fishing hole (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Fishing tackle | 10.000 | ||
Hacksaw | 1.000 | ||
Hatchet | 1.000 | 1.000 | 5.000 |
Heavy hammer | 0.667 | 1.333 | |
Hunting knife | 1.000 | 1.000 | 5.000 |
Improvised hatchet | 1.500 | 1.500 | 10.000 |
Improvised knife | 1.500 | 1.500 | 8.000 |
Prybar | 1.600 | ||
Quality tools | 1.000 | ||
Sewing kit | 5.000 | ||
Simple tools | 1.667 |
Arrows
Arrows only degrade when they're used. The amount of decay depends on the angle with which the arrow impacts and on the hardness of the object it hits.
Arrows can break on impact when their condition sinks below 20%. If an animal is hit and the arrow breaks, it will not be embedded in the animal and instead just drop to the floor.
Bedrolls
Bedrolls both decay over time and when used.
Name | Decay over time (%/day) | Decay when used (%/hour of sleep) |
---|---|---|
Bedroll | 0.200 | 0.100 |
Bear skin bedroll | 0.274 | 0.068 |
Materials
Hides and guts stop decaying once they've cured completely. All other materials not mentioned here don't decay.
Name | Decay over time (%/day) |
---|---|
Black bear hide | 3.333 |
Deer hide | 3.333 |
Flare shell | 0.067 |
Gut | 5.000 |
Herbal tea | 0.067 |
Rabbit pelt | 6.667 |
Tin of coffee | 0.100 |
Wolf pelt | 5.000 |
Last updated for version 0.393