Rimworld How To Cremate Corpses Best
RimWorld forces you to deal with death constantly. Raiders attack your base, and diseases take your colonists. Managing these bodies is critical for survival. Rotting corpses destroy colony mood and spread deadly diseases.
Cremation is the most efficient way to handle this mess. It permanently deletes bodies and frees up valuable map space. This guide covers everything you need to master corpse disposal in RimWorld. Why Cremation Beats Graves
Many new players default to digging graves. This is a mistake that will ruin your colony over time.
Space conservation: Graves take up massive amounts of land. Cremation requires just a single 3x3 structure.
Mood management: Seeing corpses gives colonists a negative mood debuff. Piles of graves also make your map look like a wasteland.
Time efficiency: Digging a grave takes time. Hauling a body to a furnace takes seconds.
Wealth control: Burying enemies in graves does nothing to reduce your colony wealth. Burning their clothes and bodies keeps your wealth manageable, which keeps raid sizes smaller. How to Unlock and Build the Electric Crematorium
You cannot build a cremator immediately. You must research it first. Step 1: Research Open your Research tab. Locate the Electricity node. Research Electricity (requires a basic research bench). Locate and research Cremation. Step 2: Construction
Once researched, open the Production architect menu. You will need the following resources to build the Electric Crematorium: Steel: 170 units. Components: 2 units.
The building requires a 3x3 footprint and must be connected to your power grid. It consumes 200 watts of power when active. Setting Up the Perfect Cremation Bills
Building the cremator is only half the battle. You must configure the "Bills" tab correctly, or your colonists will ignore it or burn things you want to keep. The Standard Corpse Bill
Click on your cremator, go to the Bills tab, and click Add Bill -> Cremate Corpse. Open the bill details and apply these settings:
Set to "Do Forever": This ensures your haulers automatically clean up bodies after every raid.
Disallow Colonists: Never burn your own dead colonists unless you are running a specific ideoligion that demands it. They deserve a proper sarcophagus or burial to avoid massive colony-wide mood penalties.
Disallow Rotten (Optional): If you have a separate dumping zone for rotten bodies, you can uncheck "Allow rotten" here to save electricity and worker time. The Apparel Bill
Raiders arrive wearing clothes. When you burn a corpse, the clothes they were wearing drop to the floor. This creates massive clutter. Add a second bill: Burn Apparel. Set it to Do Forever.
Filter by Hit Points: Set it to 0% - 50%. This automatically burns tattered clothing that your colonists refuse to wear.
Filter by Quality: You can set this to burn "Awful" and "Poor" clothing to keep your storage clear of junk. Optimal Cremator Placement and Workflow
Efficiency in RimWorld is all about minimizing walking distances. Where you place your crematorium matters. The Ideal Layout
Build near the killbox: Place your cremator close to where raids usually end. This minimizes the distance your haulers must walk to fetch bodies.
Create a corpse stockpile: Paint a specialized stockpile zone directly next to the cremator. Set the priority to "Critical" and allow only fresh humanoid corpses. Your haulers will stack bodies right next to the furnace, allowing the cremator operator to work rapidly without moving.
Use shelves for clothes: Place a shelf next to the cremator configured to hold tattered apparel. Zone Management Trick
To prevent your colonists from hauling rotting corpses into your clean base: Create a "Dumping Stockpile" far away from your base. Set it to allow only rotten corpses. Set your Cremator stockpile to allow only fresh corpses.
This ensures that fresh bodies get burned immediately, while bodies that rot before you can get to them are hauled away to rot safely in the wilderness. Alternative Ways to "Cremate" Without a Cremator rimworld how to cremate corpses best
The Electric Crematorium requires power and components. If you are playing a tribal scenario or are low on resources, you can use these clever alternatives to achieve the same result. 1. The Molotov Cocktail Method (Highly Recommended)
This is the community favorite for early-game and extreme-scale corpse disposal.
Build a small room out of stone (never wood or steel, as steel burns in RimWorld).
Create a dumping stockpile inside this room and set it to hold corpses.
Once the room is full of bodies, draft a colonist equipped with Molotov Cocktails or an Incendiary Launcher. Force attack the ground inside the room to start a fire.
Close the stone door. The room will superheat and incinerate every corpse inside without using any electricity or colonist labor time. 2. The Frag Grenade Method
If you do not have fire weapons, you can use standard Frag Grenades. Pile corpses in a dumping zone. Draft a colonist with grenades and force attack the pile.
The explosions will destroy the corpses. This takes longer than fire but requires no tech. 3. Animal Disposal
While not strictly cremation, letting animals eat your corpses is incredibly efficient. Tame pigs, dogs, or wargs. Build a refrigerated room (corpse freezer). Zone your carnivores to have access to this freezer.
They will eat the raider corpses, saving you the trouble of burning them and saving you massive amounts of regular animal kibble.
To help me tailor the perfect base layout for your current run, could you tell me: What biome are you currently playing in? What is your current colony population? Do you have any carnivorous animals tamed?
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18;write_to_target_document19;_KGTuabbXAdPAkPIPi4_CKA_20;55; 0;92;0;a5; 18;write_to_target_document7;default0;1dd;
18;write_to_target_document19;_KGTuabbXAdPAkPIPi4_CKA_20;1542;0;40d; The Ultimate Guide to Corpse Disposal in RimWorld0;67;0;562; 0;49;: Cremation vs. The Burn Box 18;write_to_target_document7;default0;1dd;
18;write_to_target_document19;_KGTuabbXAdPAkPIPi4_CKA_20;526;0;86e; In the unforgiving world of
0;82;0;202;, death is a frequent visitor. After a massive raid, you're often left with dozens of bodies that threaten your colony’s morale and hygiene. While burying is a classic choice, it quickly consumes valuable building and growing space. For long-term sustainability, cremation is the gold standard for high-efficiency colony management. Why Cremation Beats Burial 0;381;0;423;
Space Efficiency: Unlike graves, which permanently occupy a tile, cremation completely deletes the body from the game, freeing up land for expansion.
Speed0;53e;: Building a grave takes about 13.33 seconds, while a single cremation at an electric crematorium takes only 3 seconds.
Mental Health: Leaving corpses to rot causes severe negative mood thoughts for any colonist who sees them. Automated cremation ensures bodies are cleared before your pawns suffer a mental break.
Preventing "Shamblers"0;bd;: Cremation prevents corpses from being resurrected during dangerous "Death Pall" events. 0;ea;0;7a;0;a5; Method 1: The Electric Crematorium (Set-and-Forget) 18;write_to_target_document7;default0;1dd;
18;write_to_target_document19;_KGTuabbXAdPAkPIPi4_CKA_20;145;0;906; The Electric Crematorium
0;6dc;0;dd; is a production building available after researching Electricity. RimWorld forces you to deal with death constantly
Setup: Once built, add a bill for "Cremate corpse." Set this bill to "Do forever".
Filtering0;505;: Go into the bill's Details to filter exactly what gets burned.
Humanoid Corpses: Enable for raiders, but consider disabling for "Colonist corpses" to avoid accidentally burning your own fallen heroes.
Condition0;3c8;: You can set it to only burn "Rotten" or "Dessicated" corpses if you prefer to keep fresh ones for other uses.
Automation: Cremating is technically a hauling job. Ensure you have pawns assigned to high-priority hauling to keep the crematorium running. 0;7a;0;a5; Method 2: The "Burn Box" (High Efficiency)
Many veteran players prefer a manual "burn box" over an electric crematorium because it can destroy dozens of bodies simultaneously with a single spark.
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18;write_to_target_document7;default0;4bf;0;dc3;18;write_to_target_document1a;_KGTuabbXAdPAkPIPi4_CKA_100;292b;0;33d2; How To Move Dead Animal Corpses In Rimworld
Cremating corpses in is essential for maintaining colony hygiene and preventing massive mood penalties from rot stink or "observed corpse" debuffs . While the Electric Crematorium is the official method, many players prefer "manual" mass cremation for its superior speed and efficiency. 1. The Automated Method: Electric Crematorium Once you research Electricity
, you can build a crematorium using 150 stony materials, 20 steel, and 2 components. It is the most "set-and-forget" option. RimWorld Wiki
Cremate corpses in RimWorld by using an electric crematorium or by tossing Molotovs into a designated stone burn room.
While the game provides a dedicated building for this task, seasoned players often use alternative strategies to save labor and electricity. 🏗️ The Best Cremation Methods 1. The "Stone Burn Room" (Player Favorite)
This is widely considered the most efficient way to cremate mass amounts of corpses. It requires zero pawn labor once the fire starts.
The Setup: Build a small, enclosed room purely out of stone (walls and door).
The Zone: Create a dumping stockpile zone inside the room set exclusively to accept humanlike corpses.
The Action: Once your haulers fill the room with bodies, draft a colonist equipped with Molotov cocktails or an Incendiary Launcher.
The Result: Have them throw a Molotov inside, then forbid the door so nobody tries to go in and fight the fire. The extreme heat and fire will disintegrate the bodies and tainted clothes instantly. 2. The Electric Crematorium (Vanilla Standard)
The standard, developer-intended approach to burning the dead. Electric crematorium - RimWorld Wiki
RimWorld: How to Cremate Corpses Efficiently
In RimWorld, managing corpses is crucial to maintaining a healthy and happy colony. Cremating corpses is a great way to dispose of them, but it requires some planning and strategy. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to cremate corpses efficiently:
Why Cremate Corpses?
Cremating corpses has several benefits:
- Reduces the risk of disease transmission
- Eliminates the risk of zombies (in most cases)
- Saves resources compared to burying or storing corpses
- Can be used to create memorials or rituals for colonists
Requirements for Cremation
To cremate a corpse, you'll need:
- A sarcophagus or a crematory furnace
- A flammable material (e.g., wood, fuel, or combustible gases)
- A method to ignite the cremation (e.g., a lighter or a fire starter)
Best Practices for Cremating Corpses
- Build a Crematory Furnace: This is the most efficient way to cremate corpses. You can craft a crematory furnace using 2 steel, 2 stone, and 1 wood. To create a crematorium, consider building it outside to minimize risk.
- Use a Sarcophagus: If you don't have a crematory furnace, you can use a sarcophagus to cremate corpses. However, this method is less efficient and requires more resources.
- Stock up on Fuel: Keep a steady supply of fuel (e.g., wood or combustible gases) to ensure a smooth cremation process.
- Plan for Ignition: Make sure you have a reliable method to ignite the cremation, such as a lighter or a fire starter.
Reducing Risk and Increasing Efficiency
- Keep Cremation Area Clean: Regularly clean the cremation area to prevent the spread of diseases.
- Assign Tasks Efficiently: Assign colonists with high cooking or pyromancy skills to manage cremations.
- Monitor Cremation Progress: Keep an eye on the cremation process to ensure it's completed efficiently.
By following these steps and best practices, you'll be able to cremate corpses efficiently and effectively in RimWorld. Efficient crematory practices benefit both your colonists and your game.
In the unforgiving world of RimWorld, managing the aftermath of a massive raid is a logistical and psychological challenge. Leaving bodies to rot leads to "Observed Corpse" mood penalties, while digging hundreds of graves wastes valuable space and builder time.
The most efficient way to cremate corpses is using the Electric Crematorium for automation or a Burn Room for handling mass casualties quickly. 1. The Electric Crematorium: Automated Disposal
The electric crematorium is a production building unlocked via Electricity research. It is the standard method for "clean" and hands-off corpse disposal.
How it Works: It requires 250W of power and takes about 3 seconds of work per corpse. Best Setup:
Placement: Build it close to your kill zone or a dedicated corpse freezer to minimize hauling distance.
Automation: Set a bill to "Cremate humanlike corpse" and set it to "Do forever".
Hauler Priorities: Cremating is a hauling job. Ensure you have dedicated haulers or Lifter mechanoids (Biotech DLC) to keep the workbench clear.
Filters: Configure the bill to include both "fresh" and "rotten" corpses so they don't pile up outside. 2. The "Burn Room" Strategy (Advanced Players)
For large-scale colonies, a single crematorium often cannot keep up with the bodies from a 100-pawn raid. Many players prefer a manual "incinerator" room.
Construction: Build a small room out of non-flammable stone (like granite or marble) with a stone door. The Process:
Create a Dumping Stockpile Zone inside the room and set it to allow only humanlike corpses.
Once filled, have a pawn with Molotov Cocktails or an Incendiary Launcher throw one into the pile.
Forbid the door immediately so your colonists don't try to enter and fight the fire.
Why it's "Best": It destroys dozens of bodies and their tainted apparel simultaneously for the cost of a single incendiary shot. 3. Alternative Modern Disposal Methods
If you have specific DLCs or a certain playstyle, these methods can be more effective than cremation:
Why Cremation Beats Burying (Most of the Time)
Before we dive into the "how," let's justify the "why."
- Burying: Requires a grave per body. Graves take up space, look ugly, and if you dig them up later, the occupant comes out as a rotting corpse (ruining your freezer). You will run out of real estate.
- Dumping Zone: Leaving bodies in a river is a classic low-tech method, but it's slow (takes 10-15 days to rot) and still causes "observed rotting corpse" mood hits.
- Cremation: Instant destruction. No body, no problem. No graves. No lingering filth.
The only downside? You lose potential resources (leather, meat) unless you have a cannibal or butchering setup.
Best Strategy by Game Stage
| Stage | Recommended Method | |----------------------|-------------------------------------| | First raid (0–20 days) | Campfire or Molotov (if available) | | Mid-game (1–2 years) | Electric Crematorium (1 per colony)| | Late-game (3+ years) | Stone firebox + incendiary IED | | Large raids (50+ corpses) | Molotov + stone stockpile zone |
The Gold Standard: The Electric Crematorium
The Electric Crematorium is your end-game solution. It burns bodies into nothing but a small pile of ashes (literally nothing—no resources are recovered). Reduces the risk of disease transmission Eliminates the
How to optimize it:
- Bill Settings are King: Click the crematorium, add a bill, and set it to "Cremate Corpse."
- The "Strange" Filter: Do not leave it on "Any." You do not want your pawn burning your colonists before a resurrector mech serum arrives. Set the filter to:
- Corpse: Stranger (Raiders/Outsiders)
- Corpse: Non-Colonist (Visitors/Traders who died)
- Corpse: Animal (If you don't have a butcher table).
- Hitpoints: Check "Allow Fresh" and "Allow Rotten." (If you wait too long, they rot. Rotting corpses must be burned, as butchering them is disabled).