Latest
Oct 27 · 42.22 pre-release: ladders and crowbar break-insOct 23 · First-person mods are not officially supportedOct 21 · The Indie Stone on Java mods: download responsiblySep 28 · Build 42.21 Stable: zombie duplication fixesAug 26 · Security fixes on every branchAug 17 · Servers now handle up to 254 playersJul 29 · Build 42 goes Stable

Metal Forearm Armor

Metal Forearm Armor is a protective gear item in Project Zomboid. It gives 80 bite and 90 scratch defence where it covers you, with 0.35 insulation. Build 42.21 data, November 2026.

01Item

Metal Forearm Armor at a glance

Metal Forearm Armor icon

Protective Gear Clothing & armour

It gives 80 bite and 90 scratch defence where it covers you, with 0.35 insulation.

Scratch defence90
Bite defence80
Insulation0.35
Wind resistance0.3
Max condition5
02Item

What it is and how to use it

Clothing only protects the body parts it covers. Bite and scratch defence stop wounds, insulation keeps you warm, and wind and water resistance matter in storms. Heavy or bulky pieces can slow your running.

More: How protection works · Tailoring and repairs.

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Item ID and variants

Use the item ID in sandbox loot settings, admin tools and mods.

Item IDGame category
Base.Vambrace_LeftProtective Gear
Base.Vambrace_RightProtective Gear

2 versions share the name Metal Forearm Armor, usually different colours, sizes or states.

04Item

Where it spawns: the loot tables

Metal Forearm Armor is on 1 loot table in the game files. Share is how much of a table's total weight this item takes, before your sandbox loot settings. Each container rolls its table several times, so a bigger share and more rolls both mean you see it more often.

Loot tableWhere that table is usedShareRolls
Safehouse Armor LateSurvivor safehouse (late game) (box, crate, drawer, …)under 0.1%3

Town by town: loot locations.

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Recipes: how to make it and what it makes

How to make it

RecipeIngredients (used up)Tools (kept)Requirements
Assemble Forearm Armor
Forge
3 × any charcoal; Steel Sheet - Small; 2 × Leather Strips; 2 × Buckle; any heavy threadany smithing hammer; any metalworking pliers or any tongs; any sewing needle; any awlBlacksmithing 4, Tailoring 2. Read: Armor in the Iron Age or reach Blacksmithing 6

What it is used for

Used up as an ingredient in 3 recipes: Smelt Small Steel Item, Smelt Steel From Small Steel Item, Weld Spikes On Metal Armor.

Search all 1,234 recipes »

07Item

Quick answers

What is the item ID for Metal Forearm Armor?

Base.Vambrace_Left, Base.Vambrace_Right (variants share the name).

How much protection does the Metal Forearm Armor give?

Bite defence 80 and scratch defence 90.

Stats and item IDs from the Build 42 game data as listed on pzfans.com. Item art is from Project Zomboid.