Perks Catalog

Perks are the most important items you purchase in Michael’s Zombies — passive buffs from drink machines costing 2,500–3,500 points each. Players slot up to four perks unless Mule Kick or events modify limits. This catalog covers every core machine plus PHD Crashout added in v2.1.0 Crash and Burn. Rankings on the perks tier list; return to items hub for weapons and attachments.

How perks work

Interact with perk machines using F on PC or X on controller. Perks persist until downed (Quick Revive excepted in some modes) or end of match. Downed players lose one random perk in standard rules — protect Juggernog by buying Quick Revive in co-op.

Perk bottles appear on your HUD icon row. Four slots maximum on most maps. The Giant Mule Kick Easter egg permanently unlocks Mule Kick machine access on The Giant.

Juggernog — 2,500 points

Effect: Doubles maximum health (four-hit down instead of two-hit on base health).

Priority: Always first purchase every map, every mode.

Juggernog is the foundation of S-tier builds and every high-round guide. Buy before rolling Mystery Box unless wall gun is mandatory for round 5 dog waves on Undead Nocturn.

Admin spawn: give_perk me Juggernog — admin commands.

Speed Cola — 3,000 points

Effect: Approximately halves reload time on all weapons.

Priority: Second on solo; third in co-op after Quick Revive.

Mandatory for Saiga-12 and PTRS-41 routes from the weapons tier list. Reload under pressure with R during training windows.

Double Tap — 2,000 points

Effect: Increases rate of fire on automatic weapons.

Priority: Third solo perk; fourth in co-op DPS roles.

Strong with automatic primaries and Wunderwaffe DG-2. Less value on pure sniper loadouts with Kar98k — skip until fourth slot if running bolt-action only.

Quick Revive — 1,500 points

Effect: Faster revives in co-op; one self-revive solo before consuming the perk.

Priority: Second in four-player; optional fourth solo.

Essential for Lighthouse escape where downs during boat prep fail the quest. Cheap at 1,500 — best co-op value per point.

Mule Kick — 3,500 points

Effect: Third weapon slot — carry Wonder Weapon plus PaP shotgun plus situational box pull.

Priority: Fourth slot after core three; earlier on box-heavy strategies.

Machine location varies — locked on The Giant until Easter egg completion. See Giant Mule Kick guide. Enables top builds tier list entries.

PHD Crashout — v2.1.0 (2,500–3,000 points)

Effect: Explosive damage resistance and buffs to explosive weaponry — introduced in Crash and Burn.

Priority: Situational — B-tier generalist, A-tier on explosive attachment builds with Trench Shotgun or grenade spam (G key).

Pairs with fire/explosive ammo crafted at map stashes. Not required for standard Juggernog → Speed Cola → Double Tap routes.

Other perks (event and map variants)

Stamin-Up — extended sprint on large maps like Definitely Origins.

Deadshot Daiquiri — headshot assist for controller players.

Trick-or-treat perks — random buffs/debuffs on Hallows Eve during Halloween events.

These sit B/C tier on the perks tier list — buy after core four.

Standard purchase order

Solo: Juggernog → Speed Cola → Double Tap → Mule Kick

Co-op: Juggernog → Quick Revive → Speed Cola → Double Tap

Explosive v2.1.0: Juggernog → Speed Cola → PHD Crashout → Double Tap

Adjust for map layout and points calculator projections.

Perks lost on down

When downed without Quick Revive self-revive, you lose perks randomly on respawn from Quick Revive machine purchase or teammate revive. Protect economy by training properly — training guide — rather than buying perks repeatedly.

Related pages

• Perks tier list — S through F rankings
• Weapons catalog — guns that benefit from Double Tap
• Attachments guide — PHD Crashout synergy
• Pack-a-Punch guide — perk timing before PaP spend
• Console IDs — perk spawn names