Quick answer
There is no hard cap on zombies: you can always resurrect more. But if you own more zombies than your zombie limit, the Keeper gets the Excessive zombies debuff, which cuts what every sermon prayer pays.[1] Your limit comes from Resurrection Lab quality, and you raise it temporarily by loading the PR Machine on Gluttony day with Charged Hypno-devices and/or Newspapers.[1][2]
How the limit works
- Base limit: set by the quality of your Resurrection Lab.[1] One Steam player describes the starting allowance as 10 zombies; check your own counter rather than relying on a fixed number.[3]
- When it is checked: not when you resurrect. The game compares your zombie count with the limit when a PR Machine program starts or ends, and when the "God of delusions" effect expires.[1]
- What the debuff does: it lowers the Faith prayers give. One player went from 36 Faith per sermon to 8 while it was active.[1][3]
Where to see your limit
Go to the Resurrection Lab and look at the top-right corner: the counter shows your zombies against the current limit, in the spot where the corpse count normally is.[3][4] Players report the counter only appears once the related quest line has progressed, in practice after the PR Machine has been used at least once.[4]
The PR Machine
You get it by finishing Congregation Trouble: charge a Hypno-device, return it to Gunter and hold the test sermon. The machine is placed in your home area.[2] It is loaded on Gluttony day (the first day of the six-day week).[2][5]
| Program | Charged Hypno-devices | Newspapers | Limit bonus | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | none | +10 | 1 week |
| 2 | 3 | 10 (any grade) | +20 | 2 weeks |
| 3 | 5 | 20 (silver or gold) | +30 | 3 weeks |
| 4 | none | 100 (silver or gold) | +50 | 4 weeks |
| 5 | none | 100 (gold) | +80 | 5 weeks |
Program data from Wikily.[6] It is a timed allowance, not a permanent upgrade: when the program ends, the check runs again and the debuff returns if you are still over the base limit.[2][1]
A routine that avoids the debuff
- Before Gluttony day, count your zombies against your limit in the Resurrection Lab.[3]
- If you are over, charge enough Hypno-devices at the Formulation Bench (1 Faith each) for the program you need.[7] See the Hypno Device guide.
- On Gluttony day, load the program. The limit is re-checked when it starts, so the debuff is cleared before Wrath-day's sermon if you are now under.[1][5]
- Note when it ends (1 to 5 weeks later) and reload on that Gluttony day.
Because Gluttony is day 1 and the sermon is on Wrath, day 6, loading on time protects that week's Faith.[5]
Common problems
- "I cannot find my zombie limit anywhere." It only shows in the Resurrection Lab, and only after the quest line has progressed.[4]
- "I got the debuff below the limit." Players on Steam have reported this before they could see the counter; check the Resurrection Lab after your next PR Machine load.[4]
- "The machine will not take my devices." It only loads on Gluttony day.[2]
Related guides
Sources & References
- Zombies: resurrection, collars, perks and jobs, Wikily ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- Zombie Limit and PR Machine, Graveyard Keeper 2 Wiki (Fextralife) ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Excessive Zombies? What?, Steam Community discussion ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4
- Where is the zombie limit / PR limit number shown?, Steam Community discussion ↩ 1, 2, 3, 4
- The six-day week: daily events and unlock quests, Wikily ↩ 1, 2, 3
- PR Machine V: recipes and tiers, Wikily ↩
- Charged hypno-device, Wikily ↩