Gate
door
Wide two-tile gate for driving vehicles in and out. Zombies can't open it but will bash it down, and unlike a door it can't be barricaded.
Variants
| Variant | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Wood Gate | Medium | 8 planks, 8 nails, 4 door hinges, 2 doorknobs |
| Metal Gate | Heavy | 10 iron pipes, 4 scrap metal, 4 door hinges |
About the gate
A gate is a wide, two-tile barrier that opens to let vehicles drive in and out of a walled compound while still sealing the perimeter when closed. Like a door, zombies can't open it but will bash it down; unlike a door, a double gate can't be barricaded. It is the key piece that makes a vehicle-friendly base practical. Without a gate, you either leave a permanent gap in your wall or have to dismantle and rebuild a section every time you bring a car home.
Placement & defense tips
- ▸Position the gate facing a clear driveway or road approach so you can line up and pull a vehicle straight through without clipping the wall.
- ▸Keep the gate away from your main living and sleeping area; it's the entrance you open most often and the one most likely to be left open, so put distance between it and anything critical.
- ▸Leave open ground on both the inside and outside of the gate so you have room to park, turn, and back out under pressure.
- ▸Consider a double-wall airlock or a second inner gate so you can clear stray zombies in a buffer zone before opening the inner barrier.
- ▸Make sure the ground the gate spans is flat and unobstructed, since two-tile structures need both tiles buildable.
Choosing a variant
- ▸The wood gate is built with carpentry and is cheaper and faster to raise, suitable for an early base or a low-traffic side entrance.
- ▸The metal gate is built with the Welding skill (Build 42's name for metalworking) using a propane torch, welding mask and welding rods; it's a solid long-term option, though a well-built wood gate already out-tanks your wooden walls.
- ▸Because the gate is your wall's likeliest breach point, upgrading from wood to metal is usually worth the extra tools and skill once you have them.
- ▸Match the gate material to the surrounding wall tier so attackers don't simply target the weaker of the two.
Common mistakes
- ✕Leaving the gate open or forgetting to close it, which lets zombies wander straight into the base.
- ✕Building the gate on uneven or obstructed tiles so it can't be placed or a vehicle can't fit through cleanly.
- ✕Placing the gate right next to beds, generators, or storage, so a breach there immediately threatens the core of the base.
Frequently asked
Can I drive a car through a gate?
Yes, that is the gate's main purpose. It spans two tiles and opens wide enough for a vehicle, unlike a standard single-tile door.
Is a metal gate worth the extra effort over a wood gate?
It depends. A carpentry double gate already has 1,200 to 3,000 HP depending on your skill, well above a wooden wall, so metal is a nice-to-have rather than essential. Zombies hit whatever stands between them and you, not the gate specifically.
Do gates need to be opened and closed manually?
Yes. You interact with the gate to open or close it, so remember to shut it after driving through to keep the base sealed.