Infected Types
There are many types of zombies in Left 4 Dead 2. Most of them consist of the "horde" type, but you'll also frequently encounter one of the seven "special" infected types.
The Horde
The horde consists largely of your usual, run of the mill zombie. They're weak, they're dumb, but they make up for this with their numbers. If you encounter one by himself, it's a safe bet there's more--lots more--nearby. Tackling them doesn't take require any special skills, so long as the survivors stick together.
- Surrounded? Try spinning around in a circle while firing repeatedly to get them off your back. This works best with machine guns.
- Explosives, such as the scattered gas canisters, work great for thinning the herd. If you find a gas cannister, toss it into the herd and shoot it to take down the nearby brain-eaters.
- If you come across a member of the horde all by himself who hasn't yet taken notice of you, try running past him to conserve ammo.
Special Infected
The Boomer
Boomers are the zombies that look like they've hit up the drive through a few too many times. These lumbering giants are slow, and can be identified by the belches they let loose. However, their bulging bellies house a dangerous bile that summon massive amounts of the horde if it gets on you. There are two ways the bile can get on you: by being vomited on, or standing anywhere close to the Boomer upon their destruction.
- Attack from a distance to avoid bit vomited on, or being covered in bile when they explode.
- Avoid tackling him head-on to avoid his vomit stream.
- If one gets too close for comfort, melee him to knock him back and stun him briefly, giving you a chance to back away!
Left Image: Boomer // Right: Charger
The Charger
Chargers are the big nasty guys with the single huge arm. As their name implies, they charge toward their victims to unleash the pain. These guys are quick, so it's important to keep your distance.
- If a charger is coming your way, strafe to the side to evade their attack!
- Try and lure them into walls, briefly stunning them, giving you a prime opportunity to attack!
The Hunter
Hunters are pretty much the opposite of the Boomer: small and fast. You'll recognize them by the hoodie they wear over their head at all times. They'll attempt to pounce on you from a distance, making them tricky to keep tabs on.
- Keep on the move to avoid being pounced on!
- If you can, melee them mid-pounce, knocking them to the ground for a moment.
- They're incredibly vulnerable after pouncing and pinned a teammate--you can do them in and save your teammate in one fell swoop.
The Smoker
Like many real-life smokers, you'll hear this guy coughing and hacking from a ways away. Their core attack is to grab the survivors from afar with their long tongue, then pull them towards him to inflict even more damage, rendering the victim helpless. If this happens to one of your teammates, either shoot the tongue, or follow it to the smoker itself and do him in before he can inflict further damage. As their final act, this enemy leaves behind a cloud of smoke upon defeat, making it difficult to see.
- Shoot the tongue! If a teammate's incapacitated by it, shooting the tongue itself is the fastest way to save them.
- Although Smokers can launch their tongue from quite a distance and through various openings (such as windows) it requires a clear line-of-sight, so try to avoid needlessly standing in front of doors, windows, or long corridors.
- Keep on the move to avoid being tongue-grabbed! If you're close, circle-strafe him while attacking.
The Tank
You'll know this roided-up baddie's nearby if you notice the screen shaking. As you may have guessed from their appearance, these guys are very strong and very deadly. It's important to keep your distance, as their punch attack not only deals heavy damage, but will also knock you to kingdom come. However, their long-range rock-hurling attack is nothing to be sneezed at either, as it causes a damage to a wide-area near where it lands.
- Stay away! The tank's punch attack can be deadly, so keep your distance and back up while shooting.
- When you see him pick up a large chunk from the ground, run to the side to avoid its landing zone.
- The tank is extremely vulnerable to Molotov Cocktails, so use 'em if you have 'em.
The Witch
If you hear a girl crying (and it's not you), you know a witch is nearby. These girls are actually harmless as long as they remain unaware of your presense. However, if you do catch their attention by making a loud noise, shining your flashlight at them, or shooting them, you'd better get ready to counter! If alerted, the witch will make a mad dash for whoever disturbed them and knock them down repeatedly, inflicting massive damage. While the victim isn't totally incapacitated, the three other survivors should try and take down the witch quickly to minimize damage.
- Avoid them! If you know a witch is nearby (as indicated by the sound of sobbing), turn off your flashlights, and try to sneak past her without making a sound, saving you ammo and a headache!
- Though we recommend sneaking by, witches can also be taken out with a single head shot--if you can get close enough without alerting them.
- If you do need to take on a witch, try and get to high ground first before attacking, increasing the amount of time it'll take for her to get to you.
The Spitter
The spitters are very similar to the boomer, except smaller, weaker, and full of poison instead of bile. The poison, which she spits, as well as releases upon death, harms anyone that comes into contact with it, so wait for is to dissipate first before proceeding.
- Attack from a distance to avoid bit spat, or being covered in poison when they explode.
- Avoid tackling her head-on to avoid the spit stream.
Left Image: Spitter // Right: Jockey
The Jockey
This freaky-looking dude attacks by jumping onto your back and steering you into trouble, all the while pummeling you with his other fist. You do have some very loose control while he's riding you, but it's not much. The only way to get him off is for the other survivors to shoot him off.
- Stay away--seriously. If you see one, back away while gunning for him!
- If he grabs onto a teammate, shoot him off fast! Otherwise he'll continue to ride him until he's dead.
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