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Left 4 Dead 2 Infected Tips; Against/As
Topic Started: Feb 7 2010, 11:38 AM (475 Views)
The Storyteller Feb 7 2010, 11:38 AM Post #1
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No U
 As the title suggests, this little guide is designed to asisst my fellow Left 4 Dead players if they have trouble as/against the infected. Please note that some tips may be insultingly obvious, but these are often the most overlooked.



BOOMER/AGAINST

The Boomer may seem laughable weak from a distance, but NEVER underestimate it! The Boomer's vomit is its trademark, and it has dangerous results when implemented correctly.

The Boomer's bile activates a sudden Panic Event when it connects with a Survivor. This means it attracts anywhere from 15 to 30 Infected to whoever it vomited on. Couple this with the fact that it can 'boom' any and all of you, this means that you could go from green health to red in a matter of moments.

However, be careful when you kill it. No matter how it dies, the Boomer always explodes. This explosion covers any Survivor near enough in Boomer bile, attracting the horde. It also has a strong knockback effect, so be wary of ledges.

But the Boomer, as stated previously, is the weakest of the Special Infected, only able to take a few shots from even a pistol. Take advantage of this and kill it from a distance with weapons such as a Hunting Rifle.

One thing I will repeat in all of the guides is that you need to LISTEN! All Special Infected make a destinctive noise, making them easier to notice. In the Boomer's case, it makes loud, gurgling noises similar to those made by a sick person. If you hear this, alert your teammates so that they can prepare and be on the lookout.

I would also like to note that Infected attracted by the Boomer's bile only target the Survivor covered, and will stay on this player/bot until they're either dead or the bile wears off. Assist those who've been hit by providing coverfire, helping them find corners where they can camp and wait it out, and notify them of obstacles.

The bile also blocks the victim's vision, making it difficult for them to see and making them completely unable to see the outlines around their allies. Because of this, most Survivors spam their melee so that they have less of a chance of hitting their opponent.

And remember that, if a Boomer gets close to you, always shove him away and back up a bit. This way you'll be safe from the imminent explosion that accompanies the Boomer's death.


BOOMER/AS

The Boomer, along with the Spitter, is the Infected team's only REAL means of support. As such, you must be careful. Do NOT rush the Survivors head on, that only makes your presense known and will result in you being killed long before you reach them.

Hide in siderooms and on roofs in order to get the drop on the Survivors. Try and wait until they're all together so that you can hit them all at once. If you miss one, don't be a Suicide Boomer and jump down, hoping to explode on them when they hit you. Retreat, and wait for another opprotunity.

Always remember that you can't simply pile stacks of hordes on the Survivors. Puking/exploding on Survivors that are already boom'd won't attract more Infected, so again: wait until they're all clean so you can hit them with the full force of a horde.

Also note that a Survivor's eyesight is severely impaired when covered. Use this to your advantage by sneaking in with the Common Infected you summon and dealing additional damage with your claw attack. It isn't much, but every bit of damage helps.

Pay attention to your fellow Specials. If you see a Hunter, Smoker, Jockey, or even a Witch as they're attacking a Survivor, assist them. Puke on the Survivor and summon the horde, doing further damage and possibly killing them. The horde can also act as a meat shield, defending your friends while they tear at their victim.

As I said in the 'against' section, always be on the lookout for ledges. As a Boomer, your bile can blind Survivors. When blinded, some Survivors panic and move around frantically. This often results in them walking to a ledge and needing to be rescued, or possible flat-out falling off. Your explosion is more reliable for this, however, as it naturally causes knockback.

Use your bile to seperate the Survivors! If one wanders off or is in an area where you can easily single them out, go for it. In areas like the hedge maze portion of 'Parish' in L4D2, you can cause a great deal of chaos. This can not only seperate the Survivors, but also give your more powerful allies (such as the Smoker and Hunters) a window of opprotunity to attack their respective targets, causing further chaos.




SMOKER/AGAINST

The Smoker can be dangerous to curious Survivors that wander off away from the group. Its job is to seperate Survivors by grabbing them with its tounge and pulling them where they don't want to go.

As I said in the Boomer section, listen closely. The Smoker's loud, wheezing cough is hard to miss. It's not quite as high-pitched and shrill as the Spitter's. Also, pay attention as you look around. If you see a greenish-brown cloud, shoot. Smokers emit a cloud of spores around their body, making them easier to notice.

Smokers like to hide in high up or dark places, so that they're harder to shoot or otherwise locate. Be careful of these areas, and always have someone scanning the rooftops.

The sniper rifles are the Smoker's worst enemy. He's got range, but he can't shoot his tounge THAT far. If you see a Smoker from a distance, do NOT hesitate to shoot.

Be careful if someone gets caught by its tounge. The Smoker almost always keeps the Survivor in front of him, making it more difficult to get him without hurting your friend. Go for the head!

Always be careful if you see a Smoker on the ground. These sneaky zombies often work in combination with Hunters. The most common use of these friends is in case a Survivor comes to rescue its target. The Hunter will usually hide off to the side or on a roof, where it can't be seen. Then, once the would-be rescuer approaches, the Hunter pounces on him.

When a Smoker is killed, it explodes into a cloud of . . . smoke. This smoke doesn't function the same as the Boomer's bile, thankfully. Instead of attracting the horde, it merely impairs your vision so long as you stay in it, and causes your character to cough. This can be harmful, however, because it prevents your character from yelling warnings and makes it harder to hear those of others.


SMOKER/AS

As stated above, Smokers are there to punish those who stray from the group. As smokers aren't the strongest of the Special Infected, try to stay out of sight. Aside from hiding, this can be done (though with varying degrees of success) by sticking with the horde. From a distance, you just look like a tall Infected.

Your job is to force the Survivors where they don't want to go. This can be exploited in many areas.

For example, in Dead Center's first level, the Survivors must make their way through a hotel to the bottom. At some points in the level, they must traverse the balconies outside the windows of the rooms. Stay one floor above or below them and wait, preferably around a corner. Once they come out, grab them and pull. You should force them to grab the ledge, or maybe flat-out pull them off, killing them instantly.

Below is a crude diagram of this. The "O" is the Smoker, the "X" the Survivor. The "/" is the Smoker's tounge. "H" is the inside of the building, and "A" stands for air, or wherever there isn't anything to stand on. "P" is where the Smoker is standing. The "Is" and "-s" are walls/balconies.

HHI------X-----------------------------------------------
HHI
HHI
----I
O


HHI------X-----------------------------------------------
HHI AA/
HHIAA/
----I A/
PPP O


Follow the example I detailed in the "Against" section, and work in conjunction with a Hunter or other such Special Infected. Chargers do well if multiple Survivors come to help due to their ability to scatter the Survivors, but more on that later.

One strategy that is as effective as it is cruel can be devestating. As a Smoker, hide behind an alarmed car. Once the Survivors are close enough, grab one. The Survivor will be dragged into the car, setting off the alarm and attracting the horde.

Boomers can be great allies for Smokers. If a Boomer hits the Survivors and blinds them/distracts them, the Smoker can grab one and seperate them during the confusion. As said in the Boomer section, the Boomer could also puke on your target, attracting the horde to deal more damage and protect you.

Also remember that Smokers are valuable. A good Smoker can lead his team to victory. One idea is to grab and seperate a Survivor, and then have a Hunter pounce the Survivor. Smokers can't do as much damage as the Hunters, so this can kill the Survivor more quickly while also allowing the Smoker a chance to escape so that it may strike again.




HUNTER/AGAINST

Ah, the Hunter. Often seen as the prince of the Special Infected, the Hunter is a glass cannon. With speed and great power mixed with low health and endurance, the Hunter can dish out much more damage than he can take.

The Hunter's signature screech can alert you of its rapid approach, as can its noticable growls and bark-like yelps. He can blend in well with large crowds of Infected, so look out for a blue-hooded zombie.

Aside from the Jockey, he's the only zombie that can leap far, but is more noticeable due to his leap's speed, distance, and the fact that he leaves a trail behind him.

One tip is that the Hunter isn't invincible during his leap. With proper timing, you can shove him out of the air. Be careful against Hunter playing people, though, as they are more intelligent and will likely jump around to confuse you before striking.

Always travel with a buddy! Hunters frequently spawn, and will often pounce whichever Survivor they very well please. Keeping another player close by will keep you relatively safe.

Also, never simply shove a Hunter off. If you hesitate for too long, the zombie will either A: pounce on you again, or B: Escape with his long-distance jumps.


HUNTER/AS

The Hunter, while not as strong as the Tank or as dangerous as the Witch, certainly stands above the other Infected. Capable of incapacitating enemies in mere seconds and then leap to safety if shoved off, it remains a constant threat even when nowhere near. The very presense of a Hunter can make someone quite nervous, especially if they don't know where it is.

The first thing to note about the Hunter is its pounces. While certainly powerful and useful, they can be quite difficult to time properly. This is because it must crouch in order to pounce, and afterwards it must wait for a second or so.

So some of you may be asking, "If you need to be crouching, then why don't you just stay down all the time?" While this may seem like a good idea, it can prove disasterous.

First of all, crouching Infected are rare. Only in vents and in the Swamp Fever campaign (mudmen Uncommon Infected) will you see them otherwise, so you'd be easy to differentiate from the other zombies.

Second of all is sound. While the Hunter makes noticable noises, like all other Special Infected, it is also the only Infected with a certain advantage: when standing, the Hunter is completely silent. This allows it to run along with Common Infected and blend in better, while also allowing it to set up ambushes more effectively.

Another thing of note is the Hunter's pounce, which isn't strictly offensive. Not only can you jump up to the higher points of climbable objects, the Hunter is also the only Infected capable of Wall Jumping. By jumping towards a wall and then turning around you prepare to wall jump, which can then be done by pouncing after hitting the wall.

The Hunter's pounce is also notable in that it can deal initial damage depending on how long you were in the air, or to put it more simply, how far you traveled. This can add up to a maximum 25 damage before you even really start to claw at the Survivor.

Because of these things, it is highly recommended that you practice pouncing while waiting for Survivors to reach your location. An out of practice Hunter can be a joke with a bad punchline that will make anybody laugh.

As a Hunter, you also have a more powerful claw attack than the other Special Infected, outmatched only by the Charger, the Tank, and the Witch. At 6 damage per hit, this can be used quite effectively.

Always work out some form of plan. Use the confusion and chaos caused by Boomers and Tanks to single out your prey, and then strike when the moment is right.

During the blinding effect of a Boomer, be careful. If a Survivor is seperated from the others, go for a pounce. But if they manage to stay close together, don't even try it. The knockback caused by your pounce to the other Survivors, coupled with your screams, will alert them of the attack.

Instead, take advantage of your silence and the confusion by slipping into the swarming Common Infected and use your claw attack. In the panic of their blindness, it can be difficult for Survivors to notice that a Hunter is attacking them as well.

When in an area such as the impound lot in the "Parish" campaign, take advantage of the Hunter's speed and leaping ability. Get the Survivors' attention so that they begin to shoot at you. While they focus, jump in front of an alarmed car and then away. If timed properly, they may shoot the car while you escape relatively unscathed.

On a similar note, act as a distraction. A Hunter, especially one good at wall jumping, can cause great confusion for the Survivors. This can provide your teammates time to spawn if they're dead. It can also allow them a chance to attack themselves while the Survivors focus on you.

For example, say you were playing in an area such as the mall or the swamp, and your friend was a Charger. Chargers' size make them easy targets unless the Survivors aren't focused on them. By leaping around and drawing the enemies' attention, you provide the Charger an adequet window to take one of the Survivors. This can cause further chaos, especially if the Charger barreled through all of the Survivors, scattering them about.

Also note that the Hunter is not bulky in the slightest. While they can be difficult to hit, if stunned by a shove or in a bad position, they can be shredded in seconds. Use the Common Infected as a meat shield, and NEVER attack the Survivors when they're together unless you've your own backup.

Asisst other Special Infected. If other Survivors are closing in, pounce a Smoker's target to allow it a chance to escape while you continue to do damage. Work with your team to incap two or more Survivors at once, such as having a Charger barrel through the enemy team, grabbing one of them, while you take a second. With a Smoker and/or Jockey, you can simply wreck a team.

Also, remember that you don't leap in a perfectly straight path. Always aim slightly higher than your target, especially if they're at a distance. I've seen Hunters pounce from so far away the enemy team didn't see them coming, and then land on a Survivor.




SPITTER/AGAINST (coming soon!)

The Spitter is one of the new zombies introduced in L4D2. Very similar to the Boomer, the Spitter is an infected capable of wrecking your team without directly attacking you, so always be careful.

First of all, let's talk about identification. Preperation is 9/10 of the law in this game, and you never want to be unprepared. To recognize the Spitter's presense, listen for a sharp, wheezing, screech-like rasp. It sounds similar to the Smoker, but higher pitch.

Spitters also follow the example of those before them, namely the Smoker and Boomer. As such, they will normally be hidden even more so than other Special Infected. Because of this, be sure to watch the roofs and corridors around you. Actually, watch those far away as well. This is because the Spitter has more range than ANY of the other zombies.

Aside from her noise, also pay attention to the ground. While it is for only a brief period of time, Spitters leave behind a short trail of their acidic spit. This can be a good indicator of their direction. So if you see spit leading up to a wall, keep someone looking above.

Always be careful from the Spitter's acid. This puddle covers a very large area, and can be difficult to get around. If a Spitter's acid is blocking your path, do NOT cross, no matter how high your health is! Acid hurts, a lot, and it can weaken you severely if you're in a small passage way.

Never risk crossing, and take the risk of remaining where you are. While this makes you more vulnerable to being attacked, it also means you'll have more health when it comes. The Horde isn't going to wait politely aside as you cross the acid, contrary to idiots' belief.

If a teammate does get downed while in a puddle of acid, wait it out. Don't run in to save them, because this can be just as dangerous for you. You're not much of a hero if you run into acid to revive someone and wind up getting downed yourself. Besides, unless they were forced off of a ledge, they will always have the same amount of health upon revival, so don't rush it.

If there is a patch of acid, look around. Stand up on tables, beds, or other raised surfaces. These can save you from unnessesary damage, though they could just spit up there. Also note that if you see a large, green glob, don't stand there starring at it thinking, "Ooh, pretty!" Get out of the way! While the Spitter's acid is very long-ranged, it is also quite slow and descends after traveling for awhile.

Oh, and melee weapons are a big "no-no". Like with Boomers, Spitters explode when they die. Killing them with a bat is risking being hit by a smaller but just as dangerous pool of acid.

SPITTER/AS

You are weak. You can take only several bullets. You look like a white-trash pregnant woman with a serious pain in the neck.

You spit acid. You shoot from great distances with precise marksmanship. You can stop a team in its tracks.

You are the new zombies' long-ranged specialist.

You are the Spitter.

As I stated above, the Spitter is a dangerous force at a distance. They can shoot at Survivors from several rooftops away, then back off before being spotted.

Spitters are fragile, so you don't want to be running around with the likes of Chargers and Tanks. Stay back on the rooftops, but NOT in dark areas. Because you're . . . filled with acid, I guess, you glow slightly, or at least your spit does. So don't think you're invisible in the dark.

A Spitter's main purpose is to deny the Survivors passage to areas they want or need to go. You do this, how else, but spit? The Spitter has a relatively long recharge time after spitting, so stay out of sight.

Another advantage Spitters have is support. If a Smoker, Charger, or any of your friends has a Survivor in their grasp, speed up the process. Spit at they feet, or (in the Jockey's case) where its moving to. This can rack up extra damage and, even if the Survivor is freed they have to wait until the acid is cleared to be rescued safely.

Like the other zombies, a Spitter can stall the Survivors until the others spawn to attack themselves. Defend mandatory passages, objectives needed to be carried, and weapon caches to force the enemy to slow down.
Edited by The Storyteller, Apr 23 2010, 02:57 PM.
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"I'm in a hostile environment, I'm completely unprepared, and I'm surrounded by people who probably want to kick my ass. It's like being back in highschool!" ~ Lancun, Metroid Prime LP in the Phazon Mines.

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Phoenix-Saturn Apr 23 2010, 12:02 PM Post #2
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i just wwant to be beautiful for this one month
I know it's been a while since you updated this, but can you continue to do so? These tips are quite useful.
i'm actually really sorry bout this
unfashionably late as alwways
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I... Am... THE WEREHOG SUPPORTER! MUHAHAHAHA! *Howl*

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The Storyteller Apr 23 2010, 02:59 PM Post #3
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 At the urge and remindment of Saturn, I've added a section about Spitters. Please note that I rarely play as them, nor am I very good, so it isn't nearly as long as the others' are. Thanks for reminding me of this, Saturn!
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"I'm in a hostile environment, I'm completely unprepared, and I'm surrounded by people who probably want to kick my ass. It's like being back in highschool!" ~ Lancun, Metroid Prime LP in the Phazon Mines.

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Lady BlizShadow Apr 23 2010, 03:07 PM Post #4
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I still can't use this.

 I'm going to move this to the regular gaming section as this isn't a game review at all. xP
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Because staff made me do it. =P

Art Topic ~ Drawing Tutorial ~ The Seven Chaos Forum
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Cee Jay HaychPosted Image Apr 23 2010, 03:09 PM Post #5
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"I didn't use the whole thing ...."
 No, But it is an walkthough of sorts, witch means it fits in this section.
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