Mastering the map and marker system in HumanitZ is one of the most important survival skills you can develop. Whether you’re a fresh zeek-fighter or a seasoned survivor, smart use of markers can mean the difference between thriving and losing everything to a horde — or simply forgetting where you parked your van.
How to Open the Map and Place Markers
Press M to open your in-game map at any time. To place a marker, click the marker type you want to set, type a custom name in the marker window, then right-click (RMB) anywhere on the map to drop it at that location. Want to remove it? Simply right-click the marker again. It’s that simple — and yet most new players completely overlook this feature.
Always Mark Your Car Before You Explore
The golden rule of HumanitZ: if you leave your vehicle to scout a building or loot a town, mark its position on the map immediately. The world is massive and disorienting, and relying on memory is a death sentence. A quick car marker takes two seconds and saves you 20 minutes of wandering — or worse, losing your vehicle entirely.
Mark Drivable Vehicles You Find Across the Map
When roaming the open world, you’ll come across vehicles in varying states of repair. Mark every drivable car, truck, or van you find on the map — even if you can’t use it right now. Yellow car icons represent generic drivable vehicles like SUVs and pickups, while green icons indicate rarer vehicles like vans, RVs, or military jeeps. These are limited in number, so tracking them is critical for your late-game mobility.
Mark Survivor SUVs for Re-Looting
Lootable Survivor SUVs (shown as blue car icons) are not drivable, but they’re a solid source of supplies, especially ammo. Crucially, their loot respawns over time and the lock resets when it does — so marking their locations lets you revisit them efficiently. Set a marker, loot them on rotation, and keep your stockpile full without wasting time searching.
Mark Your Base — And Potential Future Bases
Always keep a marker on your current base so you can navigate back from any corner of the map. But don’t stop there: as you explore, mark any location that could make a strong future base — defensible positions, buildings near military loot respawns, or spots close to medical supplies. Planning ahead with markers lets you move quickly when it’s time to relocate or expand.
Track Key Points of Interest With Markers
Beyond vehicles and bases, markers are your best tool for tracking high-value locations. Use them to flag gas stations (you’ll need a hose and funnel to siphon fuel), hardware stores packed with tools and building materials, auto repair shops with car parts, self-storage units full of varied loot, and ammo crates that respawn over time. When an airdrop is incoming, check your map for the red marker showing the drop zone and head there fast before other survivors do.
Stay Alive: What Markers Can’t Do
One important limitation — if you die, there is no automatic death marker placed on the map. You’ll need to remember roughly where you fell in order to recover your gear. This makes situational awareness crucial at all times. Also note that in multiplayer, map markers are currently personal only: teammates cannot see your markers unless shared map functionality is added in a future update. Use your markers wisely, name them clearly, and let your map become your most powerful survival tool in HumanitZ.