Action Points

Action Points (AP for short) are a basic unit of Urban Dead used to perform actions. Almost any action, such as moving to an adjacent block, searching for items, attacking, analyzing a zombie with a DNA extractor or attempting to build up a barricade expends 1 AP. Some actions, such as moving a zombie without Lurching Gait or standing up after dying, require more AP.

The efficient use of action points are the primary goal for most tactics.

A conscious character can perform actions even if the cost of that action exceeds their remaining AP; in this case the action will be executed, leaving them unconscious with negative AP.

Regeneration and Maximum Amount

A player can have a maximum of 50 Action Points. Action Points begin regenerating as soon as their amount drops below 50 and regenerate at a rate of 1 point per 30 minutes (meaning that a character can fully regenerate 50 AP in 25 hours.) When a players AP total is 0 or fewer, the following in-game message is displayed:

Exhausted, you can go no further.

No method exists of modifying maximum AP or recharge rates; AP settings are the same for all players. However in the official game FAQ, the game's creator, Kevan states:

"There may eventually be character skills which modify the maximum AP and its recharge rate, but the basic starting-character settings will remain the same."

List of AP per action

0 AP

• Logging in or out as a character.
• Buying skills.
• Looking at or editing your profile.
• Looking at someone else`s profile.
• Adding to or modifying your Contacts list.
• Looking at the full list of survivors in the location you're currently on when said location holds more than 50 of them by pressing the "list names" button.
• Attempting to enter a building that you cannot enter (because of barricades or, if a zombie, closed doors) or exit a building you cannot exit trough the main doors (by pressing the "Leave" button on a heavily barricaded building as a survivor, or at any barricade level as a zombie).
• Dropping an item.
• Trying to attack/gesture/generally do things to a character who isn't there (because they've moved, or they're dead), unless noted below.
• Attempting to retune radio transmitter (pressing the "Retune transmitter" button). Note that the retuning itself will cost 1AP and in case of handheld radios attempt to retune does cost 1 AP.
• Opening mobile phone in a suburb with online phone mast

Note that most of these actions do count towards the daily server hit limit.

1 AP

Any character

• Stepping inside a building, even when you're a zombie with the Memories of Life skill and the doors are closed (they are opened automatically).
• Stepping outside a building via the "Leave" button unless you can't do so.
• Jumping off from a tall building's windows (note that if you're a survivor the first time you press the button you'll be asked for confirmation, so pressing the button only once doesn't spend any AP).
• Attacking.
• Speaking.

Humans only

• Moving from one square to the next (including diagonal movement).
• Using a DNA extractor (even if the target cannot be analyzed/has already been sampled today/doesn't exist).
• Using binoculars (even if building isn't tall enough).
• Using the "Search the area" button once (even if nothing is found).
• Searching with your inventory full.
• Spraypainting.
• Using any item in the inventory except for a revivification syringe (even if the item has no active use, e.g. GPS receiver).
• Using a revivification syringe on anything but zombies without the Brain Rot skill or with that skill and inside a powered Necrotech building.
• Standing up after being revived with a Mk. I or Mk. II revivification syringe for survivors that already possess the Ankle Grab zombie skill.
• Closing a building's doors.
• Dumping a dead body from a building.
• Accessing NecroNet.
• Improving a barricade, or attempting to.
• Repairing damage to a ransacked building.
• Opening a portable radio receiver for tuning (clicking on the radio item in inventory).
• Tuning a radio to a frequency (even if the frequency remains the same).
• Using a First Aid Kit, even if they are at full health (unless the target moves away).

Zombies only

• Moving from one square to the next (including diagonal movement) with the Lurching Gait skill.
• Standing up with the Ankle Grab skill if the zombie hasn't been killed by someone with the Headshot skill.
• Performing a Flailing Gesture.
• Using Scent Death.
• Ransacking a building that is empty of survivors.
• Groaning by using the Feeding Groan skill, or failing to do so because survivors in the area have moved or died.

2 AP

Zombies only

• Moving from one square to the next (including diagonal movement) without the Lurching Gait skill.

6 AP

Zombies only

• Standing up with the Ankle Grab skill after being headshot.

10 AP

Humans only

• Getting up after being treated with the Mk. 2 revivification syringe (Mk. 1 syringes work instantly and do not cost AP) without possessing the Ankle Grab skill.
• Using a revivification syringe on a zombie without the Brain Rot skill or with that skill and inside a powered Necrotech building.
• Spraypainting on a Billboard.

Zombies only

• Getting up after being "killed" (reduced to 0 HP) without possessing the Ankle Grab skill.

15 AP

Zombies only

• Standing up after being headshot without possessing the Ankle Grab skill.

20 AP

Humans only

• Using NecroNet Access to manufacture a revivification syringe.