---
title: ZED ZONE Horde Mode: Waves, Airdrops, Leaderboard Rules
description: ZED ZONE Horde Mode: defend the trader’s RV camp from dusk waves, airdrops after every wave, a long rest every 5, 20 waves to win or Endless, progress that carries over, and the launch leaderboard event.
url: https://zed-zone.wiki/modes/horde-mode/
---

# ZED ZONE Horde Mode
Horde Mode is a camp defense with roguelike progression: a trader hires you to protect his RV camp, and every dusk the horde comes back stronger. It was also the mode of the 1.0 launch leaderboard event.

- 20 waves wins the defense; Endless keeps going.

- Airdrop after each wave, long rest every 5 waves.

- XP, attribute points and skills carry to the next run.

_[Image: ZED ZONE: a horde in a burning street]_

_Official screenshot · Leven Liu / INDIECN_

## ZED ZONE Horde Mode rules

| Your job | Keep a trader’s **RV camp** standing. Official |
| --- | --- |
| When attacks come | Each **dusk**. Waves grow tougher one after another, and later ones bring raiders, giant creatures and cataclysm-class monsters along with the infected. Official |
| Resupply | A supply **airdrop** lands in camp once a wave is beaten; waves 5, 10, 15 and so on are followed by a **long break**. Official |
| Winning | Survive **20 waves** on default rules, or switch on **Endless** and play until you fall. Official |
| Progress | XP, attribute points and skills from one run are **kept for the next**; the world itself is not saved. Official |
| Players | 1 to 4, ranked on separate solo and team leaderboards. Official |

## Planning a run
Because progress carries over, early runs are partly investment: the attribute points and skills you earn make the next run easier. The long rest every 5 waves is the moment to repair, reload and rebuild defenses. [Turrets and traps](https://zed-zone.wiki/building/turrets-and-defenses/) and the [skill tree](https://zed-zone.wiki/survival/skills-and-attributes/) matter more here than in Standard Mode.

## The 1.0 launch leaderboard event
From launch, the developer ran a **four-player Horde Mode** leaderboard challenge. Official

| Leaderboard window | 6 Nov 15:00 to 15 Nov 24:00, Beijing time (UTC+8); the English post gives 5 Nov 23:00 to 15 Nov 08:00 PST |
| --- | --- |
| Submission deadline | 16 Nov, 12:00 Beijing time; results 16–17 Nov; prizes 18–20 Nov |
| Prizes | 1st US$30, 2nd US$20, 3rd US$10, 4th–10th US$5 Steam Wallet gift cards |
| Counts | Only the four-player Horde Mode leaderboard |
| Rules | A legitimate copy on your own account, at least 2 hours played during the event; trainers, [console commands](https://zed-zone.wiki/data/console-commands/), save swapping, boosting or doctored screenshots disqualify |

Entry is by email with leaderboard screenshots; follow the official announcement for the address and format. Official This section is kept for reference after the event ends.

## Why players start with Horde Mode
It is the fastest way to test weapons and defenses: you restock and improve your setup between waves instead of scavenging first, and the 5-wave long rest is the moment to rebuild. 1.0 review It is also the co-op mode a group can jump into immediately, capped at 4 players. Official Because it does not save the world, treat each run as self-contained; only experience, attribute points and skills carry over. Official
Checked against version 1.0.4 Last verified 2026-11-07

## Sources

- [Patch notes: Zed Zone 1.0 is out now (New Island, co-op, farming)](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1211600/view/710039706052591851) · 2026-11-06 · official

- [Announcement: Horde Challenge leaderboard event](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1211600/view/710039706052591857) · 2026-11-06 · official

- [Patch notes: 1.0.4 (co-op room list, exoskeleton weight, fixes)](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1211600/view/710039706052591950) · 2026-11-06 · official

- [YouTube: Gaming Plus TV, “ZED ZONE 1.0: Don’t Buy Until You Know This!”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBEOkMpQqv4) · 2026-11-07 · single player report

## More in Modes & Co-op

- [guide Co-op multiplayer How ZED ZONE co-op works in 1.0: up to 8 players, room codes, the public room list, Steam invites and LAN, bringing your own save and character, friendly fire, mod sync and the relay server.](https://zed-zone.wiki/modes/co-op-multiplayer/)

- [entity Cataclysm Mode ZED ZONE Cataclysm Mode: unlocked by finishing Standard Mode, a horde night every 5 days, timed cataclysm-class enemies every 7, respawning where you fell, and solo and team survival-day leaderboards.](https://zed-zone.wiki/modes/cataclysm-mode/)