Campaign: The Port

Port Overview

With the thrilling river exhibit finished, there’s the small matter of rendezvousing back with the original Survivors (minus one of their crew) at the opposite side of the bridge. Lowering the bridge takes a generator, and the generator takes gasoline.

Fortunately, there’s a plentiful supply of Fuel Cans. Unfortunately, they’re scattered throughout the clusters of buildings and sloping cobblestone roads nearby. Gather your strength and these cans (you’ll learn the limitations of pushing foes while carrying cans), and fill up the generator so that bridge can lower and you can flee the hated hamlet of Rayford.

+ The original Survivors are your friends, and provide limitless, accurate firepower and the occasional projectile. If you’re overwhelmed, head back to the generator area and let your new friends help take care of business!

+ You’ve had previous experience finding Fuel Cans, so stay clustered together and don’t overreach yourselves grabbing Fuel Cans without defending yourselves. If a teammate needs help, drop everything and help them!

+ Adrenaline is your friend! Just before you grab a Fuel Can, inject yourself so you can sprint back to the generator in record time. And don’t leave Fuel Cans lying around for Spitters to hack up on them!

- If you’re not looking out for each other or close by to provide covering fire, the Special Infected will overwhelm you. They have the gift of climbing walls, so look up as well as out!

- Dropped Fuel Cans can be ignited by Spitter goo, so slay these particular Special Infected before carrying cans back, or face both fire and acid on the ground. Cans are respawned soon afterward.

- Tanks are a hideous problem, especially if you move near cars, which provide little protection and can crush you. Instead, sprint back to the generator area and let your new friends blast these pink monstrosities.

Start, 8A, 8B, and 8C: Out of Gas

START

Gather everything you can from the Safe Room, as you won’t be returning here, and then move out onto the riverside pathway, up the stairs, and to an audience with three new acquaintances. They give you instructions on lowering the bridge, and having already filled up the gas tank of the Blue 22, the plan is instantly familiar to you.

There’s a generator (at Location 8C) that needs to be filled with gas. The number of Fuel Cans required depends on the mode of the game you’re playing; expect to need no less than 10 and no more than 16 cans of gas to provide enough fuel for the generator, which will then lower the bridge, allowing access back to your parked perambulator.

Naturally, while you’re engaged in the refueling process, you’re attacked by Hordes of the filthy, and must face periodic strikes by Special Infected and Tanks. Therefore, it’s a good idea to follow a plan and have all teammates know their roles ahead of time.

Discuss your options as you move to the elevator (8B), wait for everyone to step aboard, and ride it down to the ground and a cobblestone courtyard with a floodlight above the generator itself (8C). The refilling begins now!

Refilling Plans

Try any or all of the following plans to obtain the fuel canisters in the quickest time, with the minimal amount of problems:

Wild Bill’s Last Stand

Alas, one of the original Survivors didn’t make it, and his corpse is slumped in a generator room to the right of the cobblestone courtyard (under 8A). A weapon is on his body, and there are more, along with health and other necessary items, on tables surrounding the generator. Return here if you’re needing additional supplies. Note the ammunition in the pile in the corner.

A Can-Do Attitude

The strange, glowing Fuel Cans you can see are dotted around the Port buildings, and with practice, you’ll be able to remember where each of them is, and shout to your colleagues about which ones you want to make a run for. Note the height of each can, so you can effectively climb steps and reach each can without a wall blocking your way.

A Clockwise Plan

Simply scattering out to grab Fuel Cans from disparate locales isn’t wise. Stick together and try a cohesive, clockwise (or counterclockwise) route, moving to an area where three or four cans are located. Try to bring them back from a single area before moving on to the next. Covering each other, and dropping cans to fight the inevitable Hordes that periodically arrive, are all part of the plan.

Teams of Two

As part of this “clockwise” strategy, you should split into teams of two, with one teammate watching the other’s back as they find and carry a can back if there’s only a single can to be found. Both teammates should carry when multiple cans are available. The other duo should be nearby, though, so they can easily find and rescue the carriers if they’re in distress.

Do Something Different

Especially true when playing in Versus mode, there comes a point when the enemy can predict where you’re going, if you’re constantly grabbing cans in a particular order. Instead, vary where you head (as you’ll need to maneuver around the entire map anyway) to stay one step ahead of the Infected.

Port Tour: 9A

Generator warehouse and side street

The building with the elevator attached to it, and the giant green generator assembly, is a two-floor thoroughfare between the portable fuel generator you’re filling and the main Rayford warehouse (9B). Note the exits onto the street and the balcony between the buildings.

Port Tour: 9B

Rayford shipping warehouse

Easy to get lost in before you understand the layout, this warehouse is the biggest building in the port, and offers alternate access to the upper road area where the parked coach is and quick access back to the generator. Learn to look for landmarks (such as the portable generator and floodlights next to the northern exit) to minimize confusion over where you are.

Port Tour: 9C

Northwest street

Running along the north side of the shipping warehouse is a street with a few parked cars and a coach and access around the shipping building via some grass and stairs, as well as to the road sloping down to the generator. The smaller buildings on the north side of the street hold a few Fuel Cans (and lurking foes), which are usually taken last.

Port Tour: 9D

General Store and L-shaped Road

This main thoroughfare is great for sprinting down or for luring Tanks so the original Survivors can finish them off. The open space means you have good maneuverability for escaping a Horde, and you can leap along the walls and atop cars instead of remaining on the ground, where you’re easier to swipe at. There are fewer dark corners for foes to ambush you, too.

Port Tour: 9E

Port worker housing and parking

Flat to the north and stepped to the south, this is an alternate path between the north and south areas of the map, and although there are few items or Fuel Cans in this area, the white van parked on the lower, south street is a good place to dodge around or hide. Don’t get caught in the dead end below the building deck bridges, though!

Port Tour: 9F

Bar and concrete decks

The southeast part of the map is the safest; here the original survivors are manning the balcony and there are a few Fuel Cans scattered here in close proximity. This is where many teams start their gathering, although the blind corners in the buildings, and around the raised concrete deck and small lower deck in the corner are great for Infected ambushes.

Port Tour: 9G

Dead end street

The dead end with the dumpster in it isn’t the place to lure a Tank to, but the road is wide enough for you to circle around and retreat back to Location 9F. There’s little point standing on the scaffold planks and ladder, so this locale is only entered once to grab any Fuel Cans or items before leaving.

Finish: The Wild Blue 22 Yonder

FINISH

Once the final Fuel Can has filled the generator, the bridge begins to lower automatically. It is now a simple matter of fleeing the scene, moving to the main road behind the mesh fence and sprinting down and across the bridge, passing the One4All boat, and scramble into the Blue 22. Ellis takes the wheel and you depart in a squealing cloud of rubberized dust. Next stop, Dark Carnival!