Does Taking Items Out of Containers Stop Their Decay Rate?

[Just Another Jinx Main]

Basically the title. I've gathered from what I've read something about taking items out in order to stop (or just slow?) their decay rate, and that's why you don't want to just set up in one place for too long: everything will decay. Is this accurate, or do I have it wrong?

[Scavenger]

Well, you find them so you can use them or repair them before they disappear due to decay. They will still further decay once you find them though.

[iwasa]

The game has a general global decay time line of 1,000 days for items like clothing. Craft a bearskin bedroll, put it into a cabinet or leave it on the floor and it will lost condition through decay (and condition loss will be faster if it is being used).

Tools and similar things don't lose condition over time because they lose condition through use (and many complain that the rate of loss from use is too high and it is, but that's likely what the devs wanted for story mode purposes).

Item decay can be somewhat inconsistent. I have sandboxes that are two thousand days and have found 95% items, not many, but I have found a few, generally in newly introduced regions.

Better to enjoy the game knowing that it is all supposed to crumble into dust at some point. You can always restart the game afresh.

[LaxusDreyar]

Originally posted by Jack left town:

Items at 0% condition get instaremoved from containers, except clothing. That means you can use a container as a garbage chute and zap ruined items before your very eyes. That also means a container that would otherwise have goodes would be empty past a certain point. This applies to carcass quarters too which get despawned at 0%, while 0% meat chunks placed in the world never despawn.
Tools that aren't bedrolls and emergency stims never decay, so you'll always find those. Not sure about matches, but 1 decent firestriker and a magnifying lens (cannot decay at all) will cover all your firestarting needs for the most part.

Originally posted by Just Another Jinx Main:

you don't want to just set up in one place for too long: everything will decay

Well, yes, most the loot at the places you're not at will be ruined eventually, which-a-why if you're not looting the timberwolf plane crash by day 50 or so you're missing out on a ton of stuff. Explore as much as you can first, then you settle down.

Does the logic for 0% apply to MRE and other food packages too? I've stored a lot of loot in cabinets and drawers, should I dump them on the floor?

[LaxusDreyar]

Originally posted by Jack left town:

Food is definitely despawned from containers, because I garbage chuted a lot of bear meat recently before having lvl 5 cooking. Your MREs and beef jerky will decay slower outside in the snow cause, I unno, better refrigerator effect. Salty crackers though don't lose 1% condition ever, so put them wherever.

Wow, glad I saw this as I just stashed my entire food inventory in drawers and cabinets, thanks :) In fact, even medicines, hides and arrows and much more. So only clothes are safe inside them, rest should be laid out?

[LaxusDreyar]

Originally posted by Jack left town:

Clothes at 0% don't despawn, but cannot be repaired anymore either. So any clothes you care about, fix them 1st then store them indoors wherever you want. "Natural" medicine never decays, but might as well use up all the water purificiation tablets while you can and pop painkillers like they're candy. Not sure about hides, arrowheads keep at 100% forever.

Got it, I'll remove all the food items just to be safe and will take a second look at other inventory items. I'm sure there were painkillers and purification tablets at around 10% condition, and some soda pops. Thanks again, this was really helpful. :)

[DsnowMan]

Item decay rate depends on the item and where it is stored. There are many different decay rates, and when you start a new game, items are loaded with random starting condition. Unless something changed recently, it doesn't matter where it is in a container or not (until it hits 0, then it might despawn). It only matters whether it is inside or outside.

Check the wiki for details, food depends on the type (animal meat definitely better outside)

[Paph]

Here's a link to the Wiki that shows the decay rate of all items based on where they are stored.

https://thelongdark.fandom.com/wiki/Decay

I can't say for sure if this info is current or not.