Scavenging is the third option listed when clicking on a location.
Scavenging is the most efficient way for survivors to obtain items. It is also the best method of acquiring Survival Points. All non-safehouse Locations can be scavenged.
How To Scavenge
On the Map screen you can find the option to scavenge by clicking on a location. After clicking the "scavenge" link you will be taken to the main scavenging screen. The squad you elected to scavenge with is moved inside the location and the squad's status is changed from "Outside" to "Scavenging". It is important to note that survivors are still in the zombie infested city and zombies (and subsequently injuries or even death) can still happen while scavenging.
When in the menu, the squad's survivor names and various status bars, most importantly fatigue, will appear. Once a survivor's fatigue reaches 100% they will no longer be able to scavenge The rest of their squad may still scavange until they too are overfatigued. Make sure your survivors are well rested before sending them out to scavenge for more efficient scavenging.
The Scavenging Screen
The scavenging screen shows you information about the locations. Most importantly it tells you the Lootability and Difficulty of searching the location for supplies.
Scavenging Probability
When scavenging, the probability of finding items is affected by various factors. The main two are Lootability and difficulty. As items are scavenged from a location it loses lootability nodes whereas difficulty stays fixed.
Lootability
Every Location has a lootability rating, made up of Ten Squares. The number of green squares shows how much loot is available at a location. A high number of lootability squares shows there are a lot of items available.
After a number of successful scavenges in the same location, one of it's lootability Squares will turn from green, to black, as you take more items from the location. Once a lootability square has been lost, it will not regenerate. Since all squares can be exhausted, this can lead to locations with no green squares at all, meaning that there are no more supplies present. In such cases continuing to scavenge is useless.
Difficulty
Every Location also has a difficulty rating, made up of Ten Circles. The number of red circles shows how difficult it is to loot the location.
The Higher the number of Red Circles, the greater the difficulty to search the location. This is reflected in a higher Fatigue Cost to search more difficult locations.
Earning Survivor Points
Every time a survivor discovers items, they earn you 5SP. This value remains the same whether they find a single box of juice, 5 cans of peanut butter, or an Assault Rifle.
Scavenging Skills
There are 2 skills which once obtained directly improve the results of scavenging, Urban Forager and Lead Looter.
| Name | Available Levels | Bonus Per Level | Total SP Cost |
| Urban Forager | 5 | 1% | 150 |
| Lead Looter | 3 | 1% | 540 |
These two skills both stack, meaning one character can have +8% scavenging solo, with each member of the scavenging squad's also giving an additional scavenging bonus of 3% if their Lead Looter skill is at maximum.
Player Safehouses and Scavenging
Once an operative reaches level 5 and can construct their own safehouses, they can start to gain territory, represented by a green hexagon around their safehouse. Any scavenging undertaken within area will have a higher chance of success. However if the location is also inside the territory of another operatives safehouse neither of you will receive the benefit.