Perks Tier List

Perks are the backbone of any zombies run. In Michael’s Zombies, each perk costs 2,500–3,500 points and occupies one of four slots — unless Mule Kick or event mechanics expand your options. This perks tier list ranks every machine by value across The Giant, Lighthouse, Hallows Eve, and post-v2.1.0 maps with PHD Crashout. See the tier list hub for weapon and build rankings.

Ranking criteria

Perks are scored on:

• Round impact — survival difference at rounds 10, 20, and 30
• Map universality — value on cramped vs open layouts
• Co-op synergy — solo vs four-player priority shifts
• Opportunity cost — points not spent on doors or box spins
• Patch relevance — v2.1.0 additions like PHD Crashout

Pair perk purchases with PC interact key F speed — slow buyers lose windows between waves.

S tier perks

Juggernog

Double health — non-negotiable first purchase on every map and difficulty. Juggernog turns two-hit downs into four-hit downs, buying time to reload (R) and reposition during training. Every S-tier weapon assumes Juggernog is active.

Speed Cola

Halves reload times on all weapons including Saiga-12 and PTRS-41. Second purchase after Juggernog on solo runs. Mandatory before Pack-a-Punch if your primary has a long reload animation.

A tier perks

Double Tap

Increases fire rate — strongest with automatic primaries and Wonder Weapons like Wunderwaffe DG-2. Third slot on most solo loadouts. Slightly lower priority on bolt-action sniper routes where Kar98k and PTRS-41 do not benefit from fire rate.

Quick Revive

S-tier in co-op, A-tier solo. Revives downed players faster and allows self-revive once solo. Essential on Lighthouse escape where downs during boat prep end runs. Four-player teams should buy by round 8.

Mule Kick

Third weapon slot — enables Wonder Weapon plus PaP shotgun setups from the builds tier list. A-tier because it requires 3,500 points and map access to the machine or Giant Easter egg unlock. S-tier on Mule-enabled maps when running box-heavy strategies.

B tier perks

PHD Crashout (v2.1.0)

New in Crash and Burn. Explosion damage immunity and buffed explosive weapons — niche unless running grenade spam or explosive attachments. B-tier generalist, A-tier on explosive loadouts with Trench Shotgun fire mods.

Stamin-Up

Sprint duration increase — useful on large maps like Definitely Origins but outclassed by Juggernog and Speed Cola for the same slot. B-tier unless doing no-sprint challenges.

Deadshot Daiquiri

Headshot assist — helpful for controller players using controller controls but redundant for mouse aim veterans. B-tier on console, C-tier on PC.

C tier perks

Electric Cherry, Who’s Who, and map-exclusive trick-or-treat perks on Hallows Eve sit here. Fun but inconsistent compared to core four perks. Event perks may spike to B-tier during Halloween Rune and Key event windows.

F tier — skip

Perks that duplicate mechanics you already have or conflict with speedrun routing on One Window. Do not buy F-tier perks before core S-tier machines unless doing meme builds.

Standard purchase order

Solo: Juggernog → Speed Cola → Double Tap → Mule Kick or Quick Revive

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

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

Adjust for map — Undead Nocturn tight corridors favor Speed Cola over early Mule Kick.

Perks and admin testing

VIP private server owners spawn perks instantly with give_perk me Juggernog via admin commands. Use console IDs for exact perk names when testing loadouts before public matchmaking.

Related pages

• Perks catalog — prices, effects, and locations
• Builds tier list — full loadout recommendations
• Weapons tier list — guns that pair with each perk
• How to play — when to buy your first perk
• Crash and Burn update — PHD Crashout details