Mods are used to upgrade weapons in Dead Island. There are multiple mods throughout the game which the player can obtain. There are also blueprints that are used to make bombs and ammunition.
"Thanks to a couple of nails you'll turn any kind of wooden club into a deadly mace. Just follow the instructions below and you will have a chance to put holes in many human flesh mongers."
The Nail'd Mod is the first weapon mod received. It is given by Sinamoi after completing the quest "Passport to Life".
"If you're in possession of several large, heavy bolts and a sturdy club (ideally a metal one) then you will be able to assemble a mace that will come in handy in the current circumstances. A blow with this appliance should be a painful experience for whoever is at the business end of it."
The Nuts & Bolts Mod adds several massive bolts to the end of a club, adding massive damage and force to an already formidable weapon.
"Here is a simple way to use the barbed wire as an addition to various types of clubs. Thanks to that easy procedure you'll be able to seriously mutilate anyone unlucky enough to be wounded with it."
"The idea is straight like the piece of stick you'll wrap the rag around. Add some glue and most importantly - broken glass. A guy hit with that thing will bleed like a slaughtered piglet. Just be careful not to cut yourself with the glass shards when you are gluing them to the rag... "
"Provided you can find some sharp pieces of iron and some bolts you'll be able to turn most of the clubs into a killer mace straight from the middle ages. Bountiful Bleeding guaranteed!"
Bunker in the Jungle in Act III, next to "Nikolai's men" radio on the top floor of the bunker, next to ghost town with the 4 red skulls.
"Regular brass knuckles may not suffice to handle someone who doesn't feel a thing and the only thing they want is to eat your face. One needs something more. The inspiration for my upgraded brass knuckles was a certain superhero - after mounting a couple sizeable blades you will level the battlefield when you're confronted with one of those freaks. I can only wish you luck, friend." The "certain superhero" is Wolverine from the X-Men.
Found in the Resort on a table beside one of the bungalows at the southeast end of the Silver Bungalows. The basement area with the transformers that need to be turned on during the quest "A Ray of Hope" is right beside the bungalow. Note: This mod only becomes available after installing Patch 1.3.
"A baseball bat with a hint of blades and barb wire is a simple and cost-effective way to increase the chances of survival in a battle against the living dead. Just because their bodies are rotting doesn't mean they cannot bleed, right? And when treated with a bat such as this they will BLEED. Rest assured."
"By following my guidelines you will make your kanabo able to not only smash bones and crack skulls but also gut the veins out, literally. I'm not kidding, you'll hit a guy with this and he will be spilling blood as if shot with a shotgun."
Found in Moresby in Stan Dart's House during "Grasp All, Lose All." It is on a small table near the couch. If you complete the quest, you will NOT be able to get back inside and retrieve the mod.
"Considering the circumstances we found ourselves in we have to cope with whatever we can. Thus, decided to devise the most effective weapon I could make from the parts I had handy. The result of my efforts is a metal club wrapped in to a barb wire and a couple other gadgets so thoughtfully that every poor bastard that finds himself on the business end of it is literally pissing blood."
Found in the Laboratory, in the bathroom, in the right-hand stall.
"Follow my instructions carefully. I know it may sound complicated, but in the end you'll be rewarded with a vicious weapon that will allow you to slaughter the undead like helpless cattle."
The Saw Disc Axe Mod is obtained from Paul as a reward for completing Second Aid.
"Below I described how to turn a regular baseball bat into a small, handy sawmill. You put together various sharp junk and tools and then combine them to maximize the destructive force of such a club. The unfortunate punk who gets hit by something like that will bleed out before he hits the ground."
Found on the Laboratory map, on the roof of the house where you are sent to acquire samples of infected muscle tissue for the side quest
"Rotting Flesh."
A rotating Circular Blade attached to the end of a baseball bat. This is a very good medium range melee weapon and will hack and slash through enemies without any trouble. For the most part, it requires only a light amount of stamina to use.
Found early by traveling to the most South-Eastern point of the Resort at Bunker 06. (There is a portal on the map and a survivor to rescue, who also gives you 30 pistol ammo.) The mod blueprint is on a table inside the bunker.
"Weight is the foundations I've been always saying this. Especially in the case of the blunt weapons. By means of a simple trick (that I described below) you will make your darling crush the skulls of those damn maniacs like putrid watermelons."
The Heavy Mod adds more Force to a weapon. Force gives you a greater chance of knocking a zombie to the ground. In fact, you can even knock a Thug zombie to the ground with a weapon that has a high enough Force.
"I designed (and was even able to test in action) a clever tool to exterminate these monsters plaguing our beautiful island. Well, it will require collecting several special elements to be combined into one deadly whole that - provided you are strong enough - will allow you to survive the darkest hour."
"The thing I managed to compile is a dream of every homegrown designer with killer inclinations (or rather every murderer with an affinity to DIY). As God is my witness, I wished you didn't have to use that toy but it's out of my hands... Using it will turn those bastards into bloody scraps."
"Do you know how a torch works? Below you'll find a simple way to make one. If you get a good strike in on one of these bloodthirsty madmen, he'll light up like a Roman candle. Plus, it's always an additional source of light for the darkest hour..." The Torch Mod will set your melee weapon on fire, making it deal more damage and possibly set zombies ablaze.
"While it is true that it's usually very warm on the island, and recently the climate is exceptionally hot, I decided to up the temperature even more. The idea to build this device came to me when I was boiling water using the heater. The effect comes in the shape of a red hot blade that will warm up even a cold, dead body. Try it out yourself."
"The instruction below will allow you to heat up the blade of a machete to a temperature so high you will be able to cut through the flesh of the walking dead like butter. I advise you to be cautious while using - it can cause serious burns."
The Impact Mod is exclusively available on blunt weapons. Though it causes an electrocution effect like the Lightning Mod, the real power of this mod is that is causes a struck enemy to go flying through the air on a critical hit. An enemy sent flying is often killed on impact. Even if the target is not killed, the player is given on opportunity to perform a instant stomp kill while the enemy is recovering. This can be very useful against enemies with a lot of health, such as thugs.
"What you've got here is a relatively simple way to turn a blunt tool into a percussive weapon. An electrified hammer or some club will make then rotting freaks jump back after every blow as if hit by a train."
This mod can be used on blunt weapons and sends enemies flying when a critical hit is struck.
It is obtained from the Mayor's Office after arriving back at City Hall following the player's return from the sewers to see it has been overrun with zombies.
"I figured out how to upgrade the brass knuckles to make every user of the toy a KO expert. I assure you I made one of those for myself and tested in real-life environment. Let the fact that I lived to write down this manual be the proof of the weapon's efficiency."
Found in Moresby in an abandoned market, on the ground beside a desk along the east wall. The market is at the large intersection south / south-west of the Warehouse.
"In short — the description in front of you will teach you how to improve a regular pickaxe and change it into a tool of destruction. Attach batteries here, put some additional weight there — you'll find the details below. Simple, smart and deadly."
Found in Moresby, in the house where you kill Mugambe's wife and daughter, during the quest "In Cold Blood". As you enter the building there is a short hall on your left before you go down the hall where Mugambe's wife and daughter are. Enter the door and take the first door on the left. It's on a desk next to the fridge to your right, as you enter the room.
"A large, double-handed hammer itself is quite a weapon against the plague of those salivating tramps. If you add some load to it, throw in a couple gimmicks and run an electric charge through the head your enemies will launch on impact as if from a catapult."
Found in the Jungle, in the bunker just west of the Ghost Town, in the back room, on a desk. The Ghost Town is where you first see a Butcher. It is in the center of the map, just south of dead-end of fork off the main road.
"You surely have access to a hammer. It just takes some looking around and playing MacGyver to change the simplest tool into a makeshift weapon capable of crushing and knocking down the largest thugs you come across. In other words - the dream of every handyman."
Found in the Jungle, in the bunker just west of the River Village, where you find Sam. The bunker is surrounded by (and filled with) irradiated water. The mod is on the floor at the top of the ladder.
This mod adds a powerful shock attribute similar to that of the Magic Wand Mod. However, due to its more restricted weapon availability, it is most likely more powerful than the Magic Wand Mod.
This mod is found in the generator room, Laboratory area during Act III.
"What will result from a combination of a sturdy crowbar, weight plates and electricity? Follow the instructions below and you will have a chance to see for yourself. There's not much effort you'll need to put into this and the effect you get will be a blast, I swear."
In the main game it is found in the Jungle in the River Village in Matutero's hut on the shelf beside the Workbench. This Mod is also available in Ryder White's Campaign, you can find it soon after the helicopter crash, in plain sight, inside a metal box on the upper levels where you have to jump from ledge to ledge of the first area (it's impossible to miss it).
"Do you know what a Kanabo is? It's a goddamn heavy piece of metal club straight from Japan. In the hands of a strong enough person it makes for a truly destructive weapon. Now imagine such a club with blades and a strong electronic charge added to it. The effects? Total annihilation. Check it for yourself."
Found in Moresby, in the electronics shop where you collect the transformer and some cable for Carl in the quest Radio Ga Ga. The mod is on the floor in front of the counter. The shop is the perfectly rectangular building, two buildings east of the docks.
"An electric stun weapon that shoots electrodes generating high voltage with low intensity electric current. A hit with the electrodes results in strong pain and disruption of the nervous system and in consequence a complete temporary stunning of the victim."
Ryder White's Campaign (DLC). In the Prison after the electric maze.
"You will need various seaweeds and plants and detergents. Well you’ll also need a bladed weapon you can use it with. A poisoned blade is always better than an untainted one, I know a thing or two about it… Just make sure you follow the procedure carefully."
Found in sewers in a workbench room, very easy to come across during your first visit going to City Hall. In Dead Island Riptide, it is found in a cave near the entrance of Dr. Kessler's lab.
The Toxic Mod will cause your weapon to become shrouded in a poisonous mist, giving it added toxic damage and the chance to infect the target, inflicting massive damage. Critical hits will result in the zombie vomiting, leaving itself open to attacks, thus being one of the most effective mods.
"I developed a simple poison that can turn a sharp weapon into something that will make the undead spew out their own internal organs. A sight to see, believe you me. All you have to do is follow the guidelines below."
"Brass Knuckles, a couple blades and poison thorns - that is my answer to the urgent demand born within the couple last days. Put all of them together according to the description below and don't hesitate to use it when you come across a living dead. You have to be quick and determined - leave the rest to my super brass knuckles..."
Found on the Resort map, inside the southern most island bar, behind a locked door, on the counter.
The Shock Mod can be added to most melee weapons in the game and will electrocute zombies, causing them to be stunned and dealing damage. An extremely effective mod, resulting in 1-hit decapitations in most encounters with basic zombies.
"A High dose of electricity running through a well sharpened piece of metal is - as it turns out - a fucking good way to give those dumb fucks a serious reason for epileptic dance routines. Follow the instructions below and you won't regret it..."
The Old Smoky Mod Adds the same machete you mod to make something more powerful, it also adds electrical damage making it one of the most useful electric mod
I figured out a way to administer to those rotting crazies a dose of electrocution they will not soon forget... If they're capable of remembering anything in the first place. I made a list of several required elements; all you need to do is put them together with a sound machete and you'll get really awesome spark-crackling shiv'
Reward from Nick from completing the Spy Game Side quest.
"Provided you manage to combine everything as shown in the instruction you will receive a homemade electric club, which makes it a better model when compared to its commercial version, as it comes equipped with additional features. First you need to find a piece of wooden rod and then follow the description below. Good luck"
Found in the Laboratory, in the warehouse where the fuses are found during the quest "Power Slaves." The mod is on one of the desks in the room. The warehouse is just northeast of the main building.
"This is a truly epic version of the electric club. It crushes, squashes, wounds and, on top of that, causes convulsions. It’s simply a magic club like the ones you see in some fantasy movies, only real. Necessity is the mother of invention, right?
"Follow my method and you can turn your gun into something even more explosive. Just try not to make any mistakes while putting it together, as it may be the last mistake you ever make."
Reward from quest "Matter of Justice" given by Tim in the Church after rescuing Jin from the Police Station.
"The instruction below turns a handgun into a small flame-thrower... or something of the like. In any case, if you put enough effort into creating it you'll be able to set fire to the marauder you meet. Good luck!"
This mod is found in Act II, Chapter 7 in the Supermarket. It is found in the room after you encounter a few survivors. In this room are also a few punks you must deal with. Look for a stack of wooden crates at the back of the room near the top left corner.
The Striker Shotgun Mod adds minor (1x) fire damage to each shot fired and a possibility to ignite enemies. Can be used to modify the Short Shotgun, Shotgun and the Crowd Pleaser.
"A gun that can poison the enemy? I worked out a way to achieve that and tested its effectiveness. You'll find the detailed recipe below. If you get it to work, you will gain a truly useful weapon."
"A highly poisonous plant and a couple of ingredients will turn your rifle in the modern equivalent of a bow that fires poisonous arrows. Follow my instructions for a very effective weapon."
"Below you'll find the instructions to my new invention: a shotgun that will poison every son of a bitch who catches one bit of buckshot. While they're puking their guts out, you can reload."
Laboratory map, Act III, at the bottom of a damaged metal staircase in the building that has fallen down the cliff. The blueprint itself is located in on a fallen chair inside of the building
Similar to the Shock Rifle Mod, this mod will add electric damage and a chance to electrocute enemies to shots fired from a handgun. This mod does not work with revolvers.
The Shock Rifle Mod will give each bullet additional electric damage, as well as a chance to electrocute the enemy on a critical hit. It is only usable with Auto Rifles, Burst Rifles and Semi-Auto Rifles.
The Shock Shotgun Mod will give each bullet additional electric damage, as well as a chance to electrocute the enemy on a critical hit. It is only usable with Shotguns, Short Shotguns and the Crowd Pleaser.
A blueprint that allows the player to make ammo. The recipe requires 2 metal scrap and 1 bleach. The recipe gives 10 rounds of pistol ammunition.
The pistol ammo recipe is located in the police station, after you enter and go up the stairs, take a right and break into the locked room with the thug inside, the pistol ammo recipe is on the table to the left of the workbench.
Found in Police Station (in what looks like the Records room) on top of a shelf in the middle of the room. After you talked with tim in the church and accepted his mission
"Combine together a couple of deodorants in the way I described and you will have in your hands a homemade bomb. Just make sure man that the deodorant bottles are not empty!"
The Deo-Bomb is a grenade made from deodorant. It has a high damage output, and sets enemys on fire
The Molotov Blueprint does what its name implies. It lets you create your own Molotov Cocktails! Molotovs are good to use against large crowds of zombies.
Found in the Royal Palm Resort Hotel Building. After getting the quest from the guard in his room, you're going to have to restart computers. It is located in the first room the guard sends you in. It is to the right of the Thug in the room when you first walk in.
"Would you like to have the possibility to knock down several guys at a time, without much effort, and more importantly, without using your fists? Man do I have something especially for you — a recipe for a homemade stun bomb! See the details below."
When entering Bloodbath Arena's Arena B, go down the stairs straight ahead on the left side, then turn around and enter the tunnel in front of you. The mod will be in the middle of that tunnel, between two explosive barrels. This mod was introduced in Dead Island's Patch 1.3.1.
"In a domestic environment I devised a recipe for a simple but at the same time deadly dangerous bomb that while exploding showers everyone around with a rain of makeshift metal bullets. Everything can be done in one's own garage or workshop. Watch out for shrapnel!"
Found in the Resort map, on the beach, beside a lawn chair, half way between the two entrances to the Diamond Bungalows. It is north of the stage, near a wrecked lifeguard truck, beside a freestanding wooden wall.
"I prepared a relatively easy-to-construct bomb that spreads a poisonous substance, that will bring upon the unlucky affected a literal puke fest. Just remember not to stand windward when using it!"
When entering Bloodbath Arena's Arena C and following the main road you'll soon reach a small shack on the right with a small boat inside it. The mod blueprint is on a metal shelf on the right of that boat.
"Read carefully through the instructions below and then try to recreate in practice the device it describes. You will be dealing with electricity so remain extremely cautious while working on this. The effect of your effort should come as a bomb of specific type whose effectiveness will be striking… literally and figuratively speaking."
When entering Bloodbath Arena's Arena D you'll see a large wooden hut. The mod is inside that hut, on the left side, on a mattress on the floor.
Released to PlayStation Home users who participated in the Dead island pre release event "Zombie Survivor game". The meat attracts zombies when thrown, moments before exploding.
The Sticky Bomb Mod will cause your melee weapon to explode in a few seconds from being thrown, causing massive area of effect damage. It is unknown at this point if the level of your character will effect the amount of damage done by the blast. In the "To Kill Time" trailer it showed the hero throwing a knife at a Thug. The Thug still had a lot of health, but the throwing knife bomb blew him away in one hit. This seems to be the most effective way to take down hordes or harder enemies.
Great use for low level knives, since weapon is lost upon use. Great to use in a pinch.
This mod is obtained in the main game from Antonio Margarete after finishing the side quest"Drowned Hope". This Mod is also available during Ryder White's Campaign, where you can obtain it during the Stolen Thunder quest, when you will go up a ladder and proceed to an upper area where you will find a survivor: on the left of a workbench table nearby you will find the Sticky Bomb mod.
"Below I described a way to turn a knife into an electric grenade. You throw this contraption at the walking dead, the blade plunges into the rotting meat, and at the same time releases an electric charge which will strike anyone around the hit son a bitch. I should get a Noble prize for this invention."
When entering Bloodbath Arena's Arena A go to the leftmost area of the map, passing the work bench. The mod blueprint is on the floor behind a rock pillar. This mod was introduced in Dead Island's Patch 1.3.1.
