The Jockey

Primary Attack: Leap (short range)

Secondary Attack: Claw (short range)

Strengths: Flexible and chaotic attack, with the ability to ride a foe off higher ground, or into a dark hiding place.

Weaknesses: Ineffective at range; very weak and easily killed

Audible Clues: A cackling laugh

Description: Small and fast, Jockeys are excellent leapers and they know how to hang on. Once a Jockey has locked onto the head of an unsuspecting Survivor, it can steer the human away from teammates and into danger or behind obstructions. Survivors have limited control over where the Jockey is directing them.

The best antidote to a Jockey attack is a Melee Shove from a teammate. The Jockey wants to attack players that are separated from the others or near an environmental area that will enhance their attack.

You can steer Survivors off a ledge to either make them hang or take fall damage. Ideally, you can run them into fire, or into the Spitter’s acid.

Tactics For Survivors

• Like some crazed chimpanzee, the Jockey bounds toward you before making a leap that is as powerful, but not quite as long as a Hunter’s. The leap is amazingly quick, however. After that, the lock on is achieved, the Jockey may eventually release his grip once you’re incapacitated, but he usually steers you into danger.
• The danger in question is usually well away from your friends (so other foes can easily attack you, or the Jockey can continue to swipe and steer you), into an obstacle (such as an alarmed car to summon a Horde, or through fire to burn you), or off a ledge (which results in death for both of you if you fall too far).
• You’re not quite as helpless with a Jockey on your head as you might think. You can’t fire, but you can augment your yells for help with countersteering. Move in the opposite direction the Jockey is moving to slow it down. You can’t completely resist this kidnapping, but you can add precious seconds to a steering, which should allow your team to launch a counterattack.
• The counterattack in question involves the spraying of bullets or hacking of Melee Weapons on a Jockey, but a Melee Shove is the most effective. The victim should help, too, fighting the Jockey by steering into an open area, or closer to the team.

Tactics For Infected

• Examples of problem areas where Jockeys can be a real nuisance include streets (where cars are alarmed), the mall (those glass fences are easily shattered and steered through), and the bridge (where a plunge into the river can be the end for both of you).
• You can stop a steering by leaping off the victim if you wish, but this usually results in your being shot as you try and scamper away. However, if you’ve done your job (steered a victim into Spitter acid, another Special Infected’s attack, or you’re about to fall off a bridge), you can leap to live longer.
• Good communication between Special Infected brethren is key to maximizing the Jockey’s potential. Move your victim into a pool of acid that a Spitter has just vomited, heightening the damage you are causing your victim.
• Utilize some of the same techniques as the Hunter when prepping for a Jockey leap. Move to a location that isn’t particularly noticeable but offers good possibilities to connect with a victim, such as a balcony above a thoroughfare, and hope the Survivors don’t spot you. Hiding around corners or on rooftops is another plan.