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COMBAT / ENEMY TACTICS

Fight the Hunger.

A practical approach to each of the six infected archetypes. Plan your space, choose an opening and leave yourself a way out.

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Choose an enemy · 6 fight plans

Fight plans below are editorial recommendations based on developer-described attacks and existing community combat data. They are not tested kill combos or guaranteed safe timings.

Bloat full body in the official trailer, unobstructed by the player weapon
Bloat · gameplay portrait

HOW TO FIGHT / Bloat

Bloat

  1. Keep room to retreat before attacking. Its poison explosion makes close-range finishing dangerous.
  2. Use a ranged finish when practical, then move away from the corpse and toxic area.
  3. Wait for the hazard to clear before approaching its trophy.

Avoid: Rushing to loot immediately after the kill.

Stats, variants & loot →
Brute original concept art: complete front and back views
Brute · original concept art

HOW TO FIGHT / Brute

Brute

  1. Choose open ground and a clear retreat route before engaging this heavy hitter.
  2. Let an attack finish before committing your next strike; take short openings rather than trading blows.
  3. Keep a teammate or escape lane available while reloading. Treat Pitchskin as a separate, tougher fight.

Avoid: Committing to a long reload while it can reach you.

Stats, variants & loot →
Zombie-like infected approaching inside a barn
Dreg · trailer appearance match

HOW TO FIGHT / Dreg

Dreg

  1. Separate the nearest infected from the group when the terrain allows.
  2. Watch both the enemy in front and the route behind you; do not let several crowd your recovery.
  3. Use controlled attacks, preserve melee Energy for defence and keep movement Stamina to disengage.

Avoid: Chasing one target into more infected.

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Drooler crawling towards the player in a wooden camp
Drooler · player-identified gameplay screenshot

HOW TO FIGHT / Drooler

Drooler

  1. Watch for the tongue projectile attack and use solid cover between attacks.
  2. Reposition after an attack rather than repeatedly exposing yourself from the same spot.
  3. Carry enough supplies for a sustained fight; the Pale Lady elite needs a separate plan.

Avoid: Assuming distance alone protects you from its projectiles.

Stats, variants & loot →
Armoured infected with an enlarged hand pierced by nails
Shambler · trailer appearance match

HOW TO FIGHT / Shambler

Shambler

  1. Watch the enlarged, nail-studded hand and leave room to move out of its swing.
  2. Attack during recovery, then reset your spacing. Avoid a stationary exchange.
  3. Use distance to reload safely instead of relying on its walking pace.

Avoid: Treating its slow approach as harmless once it reaches you.

Stats, variants & loot →
Infected crawler moving on all fours through a doorway
Waif · trailer behaviour match

HOW TO FIGHT / Waif

Waif

  1. Check the ground around you; its low posture makes it easy to miss while looking ahead.
  2. Keep the crawler visible and aim deliberately at its low position.
  3. Move into clear ground before fighting so vegetation and debris do not hide it.

Avoid: Losing sight of it at your feet while aiming at standing enemies.

Stats, variants & loot →