To cure a zombie Sim in The Sims 3, have them drink (or throw at them) a Cure Elixir, a basic Alchemy level 2 recipe from the Supernatural expansion made from a Red Valerian Root and a Mandrake Root. A witch with the Sunlight Charm can also cure them, and short-term zombification simply wears off. This guide covers what causes zombification, every cure, the one cure that removes more than you want, and how to stop zombies appearing in the first place.
What Turns a Sim Into a Zombie
Zombies come from Supernatural. EA’s description of the pack says you can “mix a special elixir to create shuffling, brain-hungry monsters of your very own,” and adds: “Don’t fret; you can always concoct an elixir to change your Sims back.” Per the community wiki, the main causes are:
- The full moon. When the lunar cycle hits a full moon, random Sims outside your household rise as zombies and shamble onto lots.
- A zombie bite. A zombie’s “Braiiins” attack turns a regular human Sim into another zombie. Occult Sims shrug the bite off.
- Zombification elixirs. The regular Zombification elixir (Alchemy level 3) lasts a limited time; Potent Zombification (Alchemy level 9, from a recipe book) is described as permanent.
- A witch’s Reanimation Ritual on a gravestone brings the dead Sim back as a zombie, and a backfire can zombify the caster.
- Rarer triggers from other packs and store content, such as the Dream Pod from Into the Future.
Babies, toddlers, children and pets can never become zombies. A standard zombie carries the Zombified moodlet, which the community wiki puts at 48 Sim hours; when it ends, the Sim is normal again.
Cure 1: The Cure Elixir (Best Option)
This is the cleanest fix for any zombie.
- Buy Aleister’s Alchemy Station in Buy mode and reach Alchemy level 2. Our Sims 3 alchemy career guide covers leveling the skill.
- Learn the Cure Elixir through research at the station.
- Get a Red Valerian Root and a Mandrake Root. Both are Supernatural ingredients that players gather or grow, and the elixir consignment store sells some ingredients if you are short. Our Sims 3 gardening guide helps if you want a steady supply.
- Mix the elixir, then have the zombie drink it or throw it at them.
Per the community wiki, the Cure Elixir cancels zombification along with toadification, Tragic Clown transformations and the Pestilence Plague, and it leaves any other life state alone.
Cure 2: The Sunlight Charm (Witches)
A witch with spellcasting level 8 can cast the Sunlight Charm on the zombie. It gives the Bathed in Sunshine moodlet, which cures zombification and clears most other negative moodlets too. Spells can fizzle at lower skill, so cast it with plenty of magic power. If you do not have a witch yet, our guide to becoming a witch in The Sims 3 covers every route.
Other Cures That Work
- Fairy dust. The community wiki lists a jar of fairy dust used on the zombie as a cure.
- The Peashooter. Zombies beaten by a Peashooter drop to the ground and get up normal. The Peashooter was exclusive to the Supernatural Limited Edition, so most current Steam and EA app buyers will not have it.
- Wait it out. Temporary zombification from a bite, the full moon or the regular elixir ends on its own when the Zombified moodlet expires.
- Toadification Curse. A witch can turn the zombie into a Toad Sim, which overrides the zombie state, but you then have a toad to cure instead. The Cure Elixir fixes both.
The Cure to Avoid: Potent Cure Elixir
Many guides recommend the Potent Cure Elixir (Alchemy level 7: Wolfsbane Flower, Glow Orbs and a Ruby). It does cure zombification, but per the community wiki it also strips any occult life state. Throw it at a zombified witch, vampire, fairy or werewolf and they come back fully human. Use the regular Cure Elixir unless you actually want that. If you are trying to reverse vampirism on purpose, our Sims 3 vampire cure guide covers it.
How to Stop Zombies Appearing
- Change the lunar cycle. Supernatural adds lunar cycle settings to Game Options. Per the community wiki, setting the moon to a single fixed phase that is not the full moon stops random zombies spawning.
- Fence your garden. Zombies eat harvestable plants. The community wiki reports they virtually never spawn inside a fenced garden.
- Keep occults around. Only regular humans can be converted by a bite, so an occult household is immune to the spread.
Want a zombie on purpose instead? Our guide to becoming a zombie in The Sims 3 covers that side. More walkthroughs are on our Sims guides hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does zombification last in The Sims 3? Most zombification is temporary and ends when the Zombified moodlet runs out, which the community wiki puts at 48 Sim hours. Potent Zombification is described as permanent and needs a cure.
What is the easiest zombie cure? The Cure Elixir. It only needs Alchemy level 2, a Red Valerian Root and a Mandrake Root, and it does not touch other life states.
Does the Potent Cure Elixir cure zombies? Yes, but it also removes any other occult life state, turning a zombified vampire or witch fully human. Use the regular Cure Elixir unless that is what you want.
Can witches cure zombies? Yes. A witch with spellcasting level 8 can cast the Sunlight Charm on a zombie to restore them.
How do you stop zombies at the full moon? Set the lunar cycle in Game Options to a single phase that is not the full moon, and fence your garden to keep zombies off your plants.