How to Get Rid of Miasma in Dwarf Fortress

Dwarf Fortress, despite some fantastical tones and creatures, tries to remain as realistic as possible. This is seen through the geologically accurate rock deposits and gems and the length the game goes to make processes as agonizingly inconvenient as possible (or as FUN as possible…). Miasma is one such case, even if it is an outdated idea. Here is how to get rid of miasma in Dwarf Fortress

How to Deal with Miasma in Dwarf Fortress

What Is Miasma?

Miasma is an old idea that sickness and plague travel in invisible clouds and infect those within in (a very canned description but it captures the spirit). The idea of miasma was a popular belief before Germ Theory replaced it, laying the foundation of modern healthcare systems and practices.

In Dwarf Fortress, miasma appears to not just be a popular belief, but a reality. Miasma will rapidly and heavily spread from rotting corpses or food items that have been left in the open and not dealt with. Purple clouds will invade your outpost, occupying halls and rooms.

Dwarves who witness miasma will be thinking bad thoughts, so miasma outbreaks will decrease the mood of your dwarves. If this happens too often, then your dwarves may be prone to fell moods, or may go insane.

Related: How to Grow Plants in Dwarf Fortress

Preventing miasma

You cannot get rid of miasma, as in fact, it rids itself. After a small while, miasma will diffuse into the air and will disappear. You can, however, avoid it.

You can do this by having coffins, caskets, or sarcophaguses prepared for dead animals and dwarves. You must also prepare raw food as soon as it becomes available, and try not to have huge surpluses of food else it may rot if it has been sitting for too long.

Plants don’t rot, they wither, which doesn’t produce miasma, so don’t worry about preparing plants as quickly as possible.

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