Beware: Extremely long read ahead
I've written up a load of tips & tactics from myself, friends and community members.
I probably still missed a lot but that's why you guys are here. to add stuff
If you reply or PM me with your own tips & tactics then please keep it short and to the point. No text walls please.
If you see any errors (typing or wrong info) feel free to let me know (a PM will do. I'll try to check them often)
If I don't reply to your PM soon or don't update this guide, then I'm probably taking a break from the game but I try to be back for every content update.
Last updated on 16/07/10 (irrelevant info in the fast perk leveling section greyed out for now)
INDEX TIPS & TACTICS
*1.1* General tips
*1.2* General tactics
*1.2.1* Camping
*1.2.2* Funneling
*1.2.3* Roaming
*2* Perk tips & tactics
*2.1* Field Medic
*2.2* Support Specialist
*2.3* Sharpshooter
*2.4* Commando
*2.5* Berserker
*2.6* Firebug
*2.7* Demolitions
*3* Specimen tips & tactics
*3.1* Clot
*3.2* Bloat
*3.3* Gorefast
*3.4* Crawler
*3.5* Stalker
*3.6* Husk
*3.7* Siren
*3.8* Scrake
*3.9* Fleshpound
*3.10* Patriarch
*4* Map tips & tactics
*4.1* Biotics Lab
*4.2* Farm
*4.3* Manor
*4.4* Offices
*4.5* West London
*4.6* Foundry
*4.7* Bedlam
*4.8* Wyre
*5* Weapon tips & tactics
*5.1* Knife
*5.2* Machete
*5.3* Axe
*5.4* Chainsaw
*5.5* Katana
*5.6.1* 9mm Tactical
*5.6.2* Dual 9mm Tactical
*5.7.1* Handcannon
*5.7.2* Dual Handcannon
*5.8* Shotgun
*5.9* Hunting Shotgun
*5.10* AA12 Shotgun
*5.11* Bullpup
*5.12* AK47
*5.13* SCARMK17
*5.14* Lever Action Rifle
*5.15* Crossbow
*5.16* M14EBR
*5.17* L.A.W.
*5.18* Flamethrower
*5.19.1* Frag Grenade
*5.19.2* Fire Grenade
*5.20* MP7M Medic Gun
*5.21* M79 Grenade Launcher
*5.22* M32 Grenade Launcher
*5.23* Pipebomb
*6* Perk info
*6.1* Field Medic
*6.2* Support Specialist
*6.3* Sharpshooter
*6.4* Commando
*6.5* Berserker
*6.6* Firebug
*6.7* Demolitions
*7* Fast Perk Leveling info
SOME INFO IS NO LONGER RELEVANT NOW THAT MUTATORS ARE NO LONGER WHITE LISTED
*7.1* Field Medic 1-6 in "a few" to "a lot" of hours
*7.2* Support Specialist 1-6 (no time specified) (3-4 hours for all your weld points)
*7.3* Sharpshooter 1-6 (no time specified)
*7.4* Commando 1-6 in 40-50 hours
*7.5* Berserker 1-6 (no time specified)
*7.6.1* Firebug 1-3 (no time specified)
*7.6.2* Firebug 4-6 (no time specified)
*7.7* Demolitions 1-6 (no time specified)
**************************************
*1.1* General tips
Just put a bunch of random tips here. They aren't in any order.
- Step 1: GET A MIC. Step 2: TALK TO YOUR TEAM. It's cheap, effective and will vastly improve the survivability of the team.
- Go to audio options and tick the option on the right side to lower game sound when using VOIP. This will vastly reduce the game sound whenever you or a team member is actively using ingame voice chat so you can actually hear what they are saying.
- If you do not have any level 5 perk yet (see below) then start wave 1 as Field Medic or Berserker as they are the only perks that give any decent advantages in wave 1.
- Level 5-6 perks spawn with a weapon (except the Field Medic who spawns with body armor at level 5 but also gets a free gun at level 6) (See “*4* Perks” to see which weapon you spawn with)
- Do not underestimate the use of the basic knife and pistol. They are still useful against weak/medium enemies when you run out of ammo for your main weapons.
- If you play on normal difficulty or higher it is advisable that your team has at least 1 dedicated Field Medic. (Especially on hard and suicide this will be very helpful)
- You can get hits to the head with melee weapons. You just have to aim high enough. It will feel weird at first but you’ll get used to it. You can easily practice on clots. Their head will come off if you kill them with a melee "headshot" just like with any ranged headshot.
- Let your field medic do the healing if he is not level 6 yet. He will really appreciate being able to level his perk. Except in an emergency off course
- You can only switch perks once every wave. So think twice before switching perks.
- The knife is a pretty solid weapon. All classes except the Berserker should avoid the other melee weapons though. There are more useful things you can do with your weight limit.
- Do not run in front of people using a flamer, grenades, LAW, M79 or M32. They will set themselves on fire or blow themselves up if you block their shot.
- If you want to use the LAW, make sure there is nobody even near you before you fire. If there are people near you, they will often run (accidenatlly) in front of you when you fire and you will just blow yourself up. (This isn't as much of a problem with the M79 and M32 because you have a much better field of view compared to the LAW, even when aiming down the sights)
- You can advance and level up any perk, no matter which perk you currently have active. So if you play a Field Medic and use a shotgun then all the shotgun damage you do will count for the advancement of your Support Specialist perk.
- You do however only get the bonusses from your current active perk so pick a perk each wave depending on which bonusses you want to receive for that wave.
- Ducking down does not increase your accuracy so only duck if there are teammates standing behind you. Otherwise just stand up. Especially with penetrating weapons like handcannons, the crossbow and the shotguns so you shoot in a more horizontal line towards groups of specimens and get more damage/kills out of your shots when they penetrate the first specimen. If you duck and shoot at a specimen at close range, most of the penetrating shots will fly up in the air hitting nothing behind the original target.
- On higher difficulties, less random items spawn on the map.
*1.2* General tactics
*1.2.1* Camping
When camping, you and your team will stay in 1 location that has more than 1-2 entry points.
An example would be camping outside the church, outside the police station or in one of the tunnels on WestLondon.
When camping, your team has to rely on sheer stopping power to prevent the specimens from overrunning your position, but it's quite possible up to Hard difficulty when using high level perks (5-6)
Camping becomes less useful on Suicidal difficulty or if people don't have high level perks yet.
Note that a Fleshpound that is noticed too late can completely mess up your camp and wipe your team (usually the team wipes after they kill the Fleshpound and get overrun by other specimens while reloading)
*1.2.2* Funneling
When funneling, you and your team will pick a location with either only 1 natural entry point or with multiple entry points but enough weldable doors so you end up with only 1 open entry point. It is best to funnel in areas with only 1 or maximum 2 entry points so you only ever have to worry about keeping 1 door welded.
An example of this is the entire team camping in the U shaped room with the 2 double doors in Biotics Lab.
The door next to the trader gets welded and the team camps in the other room, leaving the second door open. Most of the time the specimens don't even attack the welded door so you effectively created a funnel spot with 1 entry point where speciment run head first into 6 blazing guns.
Ideally you want to funnel in a location where you can see the enemy coming from at 30+ feet (10+m) away. More if possible.
Note that, when funneling in an area with 2 entry points, where you weld 1 door, it is now a very good idea to bring some of those shiny new pipebombs. Place one outside the door, weld the door and place one inside the door.
keep the door welded, the outside pipebomb will not blow up until enough weak specimens or 1 strong specimen comes near. The pipebomb explosion will NOT damage the welded door.
Should they break through eventually, there will be a second pipebomb waiting for them. (have a Demolitions place the pipebombs and someone else welding so the welder doesn't blow himself up when the door breaches)
*1.2.3* Roaming
When roaming, you and your team will move around the map a lot while killing specimens. This can be done solo or in group. The less open the map is, the more dangerous it is to roam, especially on your own.
Farm is a perfect roaming map but just camping in an open spot can work pretty well too.
I would personally advise against roaming on any core map except Farm.
I've written up a load of tips & tactics from myself, friends and community members.
I probably still missed a lot but that's why you guys are here. to add stuff
If you reply or PM me with your own tips & tactics then please keep it short and to the point. No text walls please.
If you see any errors (typing or wrong info) feel free to let me know (a PM will do. I'll try to check them often)
If I don't reply to your PM soon or don't update this guide, then I'm probably taking a break from the game but I try to be back for every content update.
Last updated on 16/07/10 (irrelevant info in the fast perk leveling section greyed out for now)
INDEX TIPS & TACTICS
*1.1* General tips
*1.2* General tactics
*1.2.1* Camping
*1.2.2* Funneling
*1.2.3* Roaming
*2* Perk tips & tactics
*2.1* Field Medic
*2.2* Support Specialist
*2.3* Sharpshooter
*2.4* Commando
*2.5* Berserker
*2.6* Firebug
*2.7* Demolitions
*3* Specimen tips & tactics
*3.1* Clot
*3.2* Bloat
*3.3* Gorefast
*3.4* Crawler
*3.5* Stalker
*3.6* Husk
*3.7* Siren
*3.8* Scrake
*3.9* Fleshpound
*3.10* Patriarch
*4* Map tips & tactics
*4.1* Biotics Lab
*4.2* Farm
*4.3* Manor
*4.4* Offices
*4.5* West London
*4.6* Foundry
*4.7* Bedlam
*4.8* Wyre
*5* Weapon tips & tactics
*5.1* Knife
*5.2* Machete
*5.3* Axe
*5.4* Chainsaw
*5.5* Katana
*5.6.1* 9mm Tactical
*5.6.2* Dual 9mm Tactical
*5.7.1* Handcannon
*5.7.2* Dual Handcannon
*5.8* Shotgun
*5.9* Hunting Shotgun
*5.10* AA12 Shotgun
*5.11* Bullpup
*5.12* AK47
*5.13* SCARMK17
*5.14* Lever Action Rifle
*5.15* Crossbow
*5.16* M14EBR
*5.17* L.A.W.
*5.18* Flamethrower
*5.19.1* Frag Grenade
*5.19.2* Fire Grenade
*5.20* MP7M Medic Gun
*5.21* M79 Grenade Launcher
*5.22* M32 Grenade Launcher
*5.23* Pipebomb
*6* Perk info
*6.1* Field Medic
*6.2* Support Specialist
*6.3* Sharpshooter
*6.4* Commando
*6.5* Berserker
*6.6* Firebug
*6.7* Demolitions
*7* Fast Perk Leveling info
SOME INFO IS NO LONGER RELEVANT NOW THAT MUTATORS ARE NO LONGER WHITE LISTED
*7.1* Field Medic 1-6 in "a few" to "a lot" of hours
*7.2* Support Specialist 1-6 (no time specified) (3-4 hours for all your weld points)
*7.3* Sharpshooter 1-6 (no time specified)
*7.4* Commando 1-6 in 40-50 hours
*7.5* Berserker 1-6 (no time specified)
*7.6.1* Firebug 1-3 (no time specified)
*7.6.2* Firebug 4-6 (no time specified)
*7.7* Demolitions 1-6 (no time specified)
**************************************
*1.1* General tips
Just put a bunch of random tips here. They aren't in any order.
- Step 1: GET A MIC. Step 2: TALK TO YOUR TEAM. It's cheap, effective and will vastly improve the survivability of the team.
- Go to audio options and tick the option on the right side to lower game sound when using VOIP. This will vastly reduce the game sound whenever you or a team member is actively using ingame voice chat so you can actually hear what they are saying.
- If you do not have any level 5 perk yet (see below) then start wave 1 as Field Medic or Berserker as they are the only perks that give any decent advantages in wave 1.
- Level 5-6 perks spawn with a weapon (except the Field Medic who spawns with body armor at level 5 but also gets a free gun at level 6) (See “*4* Perks” to see which weapon you spawn with)
- Do not underestimate the use of the basic knife and pistol. They are still useful against weak/medium enemies when you run out of ammo for your main weapons.
- If you play on normal difficulty or higher it is advisable that your team has at least 1 dedicated Field Medic. (Especially on hard and suicide this will be very helpful)
- You can get hits to the head with melee weapons. You just have to aim high enough. It will feel weird at first but you’ll get used to it. You can easily practice on clots. Their head will come off if you kill them with a melee "headshot" just like with any ranged headshot.
- Let your field medic do the healing if he is not level 6 yet. He will really appreciate being able to level his perk. Except in an emergency off course
- You can only switch perks once every wave. So think twice before switching perks.
- The knife is a pretty solid weapon. All classes except the Berserker should avoid the other melee weapons though. There are more useful things you can do with your weight limit.
- Do not run in front of people using a flamer, grenades, LAW, M79 or M32. They will set themselves on fire or blow themselves up if you block their shot.
- If you want to use the LAW, make sure there is nobody even near you before you fire. If there are people near you, they will often run (accidenatlly) in front of you when you fire and you will just blow yourself up. (This isn't as much of a problem with the M79 and M32 because you have a much better field of view compared to the LAW, even when aiming down the sights)
- You can advance and level up any perk, no matter which perk you currently have active. So if you play a Field Medic and use a shotgun then all the shotgun damage you do will count for the advancement of your Support Specialist perk.
- You do however only get the bonusses from your current active perk so pick a perk each wave depending on which bonusses you want to receive for that wave.
- Ducking down does not increase your accuracy so only duck if there are teammates standing behind you. Otherwise just stand up. Especially with penetrating weapons like handcannons, the crossbow and the shotguns so you shoot in a more horizontal line towards groups of specimens and get more damage/kills out of your shots when they penetrate the first specimen. If you duck and shoot at a specimen at close range, most of the penetrating shots will fly up in the air hitting nothing behind the original target.
- On higher difficulties, less random items spawn on the map.
*1.2* General tactics
*1.2.1* Camping
When camping, you and your team will stay in 1 location that has more than 1-2 entry points.
An example would be camping outside the church, outside the police station or in one of the tunnels on WestLondon.
When camping, your team has to rely on sheer stopping power to prevent the specimens from overrunning your position, but it's quite possible up to Hard difficulty when using high level perks (5-6)
Camping becomes less useful on Suicidal difficulty or if people don't have high level perks yet.
Note that a Fleshpound that is noticed too late can completely mess up your camp and wipe your team (usually the team wipes after they kill the Fleshpound and get overrun by other specimens while reloading)
*1.2.2* Funneling
When funneling, you and your team will pick a location with either only 1 natural entry point or with multiple entry points but enough weldable doors so you end up with only 1 open entry point. It is best to funnel in areas with only 1 or maximum 2 entry points so you only ever have to worry about keeping 1 door welded.
An example of this is the entire team camping in the U shaped room with the 2 double doors in Biotics Lab.
The door next to the trader gets welded and the team camps in the other room, leaving the second door open. Most of the time the specimens don't even attack the welded door so you effectively created a funnel spot with 1 entry point where speciment run head first into 6 blazing guns.
Ideally you want to funnel in a location where you can see the enemy coming from at 30+ feet (10+m) away. More if possible.
Note that, when funneling in an area with 2 entry points, where you weld 1 door, it is now a very good idea to bring some of those shiny new pipebombs. Place one outside the door, weld the door and place one inside the door.
keep the door welded, the outside pipebomb will not blow up until enough weak specimens or 1 strong specimen comes near. The pipebomb explosion will NOT damage the welded door.
Should they break through eventually, there will be a second pipebomb waiting for them. (have a Demolitions place the pipebombs and someone else welding so the welder doesn't blow himself up when the door breaches)
*1.2.3* Roaming
When roaming, you and your team will move around the map a lot while killing specimens. This can be done solo or in group. The less open the map is, the more dangerous it is to roam, especially on your own.
Farm is a perfect roaming map but just camping in an open spot can work pretty well too.
I would personally advise against roaming on any core map except Farm.
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