How to cure Heavy Metal Poisoning in DayZ

Heavy Metal Poisoning is a frustrating illness in DayZ that can prove fatal if left ignored for too long. It’s caused by ingesting unfiltered snow on the new Sakhal map, which is easy to do when you’re in a desperate situation.

If push comes to shove and you need to do this, how do you actually cure Heavy Metal Poisoning in DayZ? Let’s find out.

DayZ Heavy Metal Poisoning Effects

If you have already contracted Heavy Metal Poisoning in DayZ, it’s worth knowing the effects. It won’t kill you right away, instead developing slowly over three stages. These stages are as follows:

• Stage 1: Drains 0.5 water per second, and you’ll shiver frequently.
• Stage 2: Drains 0.5 water per second, slows your stamina regeneration, and causes frequent periods of deafness, blurriness, and painful groans.
• Stage 3: All previous effects, as well as 0.04 health drain per second, and causes frequent periods of distorted vision and vomiting.

Even at stage three of Heavy Metal Poisoning, it’s still not too late to reverse the damage done to your character, although, at that point, you do have a maximum of 40 minutes to live, so you need to act fast to solve the problem.

Avoiding Heavy Metal Poisoning in DayZ

It’s worth pointing out that you can consume snow without getting Heavy Metal Poisoning. If you put it into a Filtering Bottle first, you can safely ingest it. Even boiling the water won’t help you dodge this – the Filtering Bottle is the only way forward here.

You won’t have the luxury of finding a Filtering Bottle on Sakhal with every character, so make sure you pick it up if you find one! It could be the difference between life and death.

How to cure Heavy Metal Poisoning in DayZ

So you’ve got Heavy Metal Poisoning, and the clock is ticking. So what now? The key to saving your own life is Chelating Tablets. You need to find and use this item, which can also be used to purify water. These aren’t preventative – only use them after you’re struck with Heavy Metal Poisoning, or else they won’t work.

Chelating Tablets are pretty rare in DayZ: Sakhal, but your best chance of finding them is in sheds and medical tents. Think anywhere you can usually find Multivitamin Pills, and that’s usually where you’ll locate Chelating Tablets.

After you’ve taken the Chelating Tablets, don’t expect your Heavy Metal Poisoning to disappear immediately. The cure takes time to bring you back to health. The length of time depends on the stage of the illness you’re currently experiencing.

• Stage 1: 2 minutes
• Stage 2: 4 minutes
• Stage 3: 10 minutes