Surviving an outbreak is more complex than running from safe house to safe house in search of rescue.
You must defend yourself against the growing population of the undead, and doing so requires a firm understanding of firearms and the specialized tactics associated with each type.
In this chapter we take an in-depth look at each weapon, providing stats and vital employment tips, helping you make each shot count.
During your trek you'll also encounter a variety of supples and pickups your group of survivors can use to their advantage. These items and all health supplies are also discussed, so pay close attention.
These basic weapons are available at the start of every movie. They can also be found in early-stage safe houses.
Although they lack some of the advanced features of the weapon upgrades, they’re still formidable weapons capable of dealing with any threat the director throws at your team of survivors. But choose your weapons wisely.
Always start with a mix of SMGs and pump shotguns to balance out your team’s capabilities.
PISTOL
Damage: Low
Penetration: Low
Accuracy: Moderate
Range: Short–Intermediate
Rate of Fire: Moderate
Reload Time: Fast
Fire Mode: Semi-automatic
Magazine Capacity: 15 (30 for Dual Pistols)
Ammo Count: Unlimited
Description
Based on a popular design dating back nearly a century, this semi-automatic handgun is a formidable backup weapon. Its widespread use among police departments, the military, and civilians ensures it’s easy to find during any outbreak.
Although it’s not the most powerful firearm available, it’s quite accurate and can fire multiple rounds in a short span of time.
Furthermore, a spent magazine can be ejected and a fresh magazine loaded within a few seconds. Since the weapon can be operated with one hand, a shooter can carry and fire two pistols simultaneously.
Field Notes
The pistol suffers from low damage output and penetration. For best results, aim for the head for instant kills against common infected—all it takes is one shot. Otherwise it may take two or three rounds to the chest to guarantee a kill.
Pistol rounds cannot sever limbs or decapitate, no matter how many shots are fired.
Two pistols are always better than one. Look for pistols lying around and pick one up so you can wield dual pistols.
This essentially doubles the pistol’s magazine capacity, rate of fire, and damage output. There is no downside. Once a second pistol is acquired, it cannot be dropped unless you’re killed.
The pistol has an unlimited supply of ammo, so use it as frequently as possible to conserve ammo for your primary weapon. Equip it when engaging isolated threats in low-density areas.
Then switch to your primary weapon when dealing with larger groups or infected bosses.
When armed with a shotgun, use the pistol to engage threats at intermediate to long range. It’s far more effective at these distances than either shotgun.
If you’re incapacitated and lying on your back, the pistol is the only weapon at your disposal. While the situation is desperate, it’s not completely hopeless. Continue firing on nearby threats while waiting for a teammate to revive you.
Pistol Achievements
Name: Akimbo Assassin
Description: Survive an entire campaign using only pistols.
Gamerpoints: 30
Tips: This is tough and is best attempted at the easier difficulties or when playing with a competent team willing to cover you for an entire campaign. Avoid picking up any other weapons while attempting this achievement.
Name: Ground Cover
Description: Save another survivor from a special infected while on the ground.
Gamerpoints: 30
Tips: While incapacitated and lying on your back, look around and open fire on a Hunter, Smoker, Tank, or Witch that is attacking a teammate. You must kill the attacker with your pistol(s) to get the achievement—it’s easiest when targeting a Hunter or Smoker that has pinned or ensnared a teammate.
Pump Shotgun
Damage: High
Penetration: High
Accuracy: Low
Range: Short–Intermediate
Rate of Fire: Slow
Reload Time: Slow
Fire Mode: Pump-Action
Magazine Capacity: 8
Total Ammo Count: 128 + 8
Description
This is a standard 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, popular with law enforcement and civilians alike. It fires a lethal spray of lead shot in a wide spread pattern, ideal for engaging large groups of infected at close range.
After each shot, the spent shell must be manually ejected and a new shell loaded by working the pump-action handle, giving it a comparatively slower rate of fire than all the other weapons.
Loading time is also a concern, as the weapon must be loaded one shell at a time. But the awesome damage output more than makes up for these deficiencies.
Field Notes
This shotgun is an absolute meat-grinder at close range, capable of blowing off zombie limbs and heads with one shot.
Accuracy isn’t a big issue either—just point and shoot. Severing a zombie’s arms or legs is just as lethal as exploding its head or peppering its torso, so don’t worry about fine-tuning your aim.
The weapon’s shot is capable of penetrating multiple targets, so it’s great during swarm attacks. For best results, aim at a doorway or another bottleneck to kill multiple zombies with a single shot.
The pump shotgun is the heavy hitter of the standard weapons and should always be equipped by at least one member of your team.
It’s perfect for close-combat situations in buildings and other cramped spaces. While clearing interiors have teammates equipped with this weapon take the lead.
Make a habit of loading fresh shells into the weapon after each engagement. If the weapon runs completely dry, it will take several seconds to completely reload it, leaving you vulnerable to attack.
Like all weapons, the pump shotgun can be used as a melee weapon. This is critical and should become second nature, particularly when reloading or when confronting a Boomer at point-blank range.
The weapon’s damage output is a double-edged sword, particularly when playing at the harder difficulties. One misplaced shot could seriously injure or incapacitate a teammate. So be extremely careful when firing around teammates.
If in doubt, use melee attacks until you can get a clear shot. This is critical when trying to knock away Hunters or Smokers, because attacking them directly could hurt a pinned or ensnared teammate.
The auto shotgun is better than the pump shotgun in all categories. So look for the opportunity to upgrade—and never downgrade.
Submachine Gun (SMG)
Damage: Low
Penetration: Low
Accuracy: Moderate
Range: Short–Intermediate
Rate of Fire: Very High
Reload Time: Fast
Fire Mode: Automatic
Magazine Capacity: 50
Total Ammo Count: 480 + 50
Description
Although illegal in most jurisdictions, automatic submachine guns like this are prized possessions of rural hunters and urban street gangs, making them relatively easy to find, regardless of setting.
What it lacks in stopping power, the SMG more than makes up for with its blazing rate of fire; it can empty its 50-round magazine in a few short seconds. As a result, ammo consumption is a serious concern, requiring great discipline from the shooter.
The high rate of fire also results in excessive recoil and muzzle climb. To conserve ammo and keep the weapon on target, fire in short three- to four-round bursts.
Field Notes
Bullet for bullet, the SMG inflicts less damage than the pistol. Therefore, it may take up to five rounds to neutralize a single zombie. When time allows for precise aiming, go for headshots for the quick takedown. Scoring headshots helps conserve ammo, too.
The SMG’s small, low-velocity rounds don’t have the power to penetrate multiple targets. Nor can they sever limbs or cause heads to explode.
Consider equipping the pistol when confronting individual targets or clearing low-density areas. This helps save your SMG’s ammo for true emergencies.
Operating the SMG requires a cool head and a steady hand. Even during swarm attacks, avoid holding the trigger down for a long time.
This simply wastes ammo as your weapon pulls off target or pumps round after round into an already-neutralized zombie. And never swing the weapon left or right while firing—this is a good way to hit teammates. Lay off the trigger, aim, and then shoot.
At point-blank range, push zombies back before engaging them. If firing at such extreme close range, it’s difficult to aim, and often bullets fly off target, over a zombie’s shoulder.
After the melee attack, recenter your aim and perform a headshot as the zombie stumbles backward.
The SMG’s low damage output and lack of penetration can work in your favor when engaging Hunters or Smokers attacking your teammates.
If you’re not within melee range, simply shoot the attackers until they’re no longer a threat. Even if you hit your teammate, it won’t do too much damage.
The assault rifle has a lower rate of fire than the SMG, but in all other aspects, the assault rifle is a far superior automatic weapon. Upgrade as soon as possible.