L4D Strategy and Tips

[Adabiviak]

I've only played this game a handful of times, and would like to know some strategies or tips that you use. This game seems like it'd be quite fun, but I just haven't seen it yet.

The small squad size means that the odds that you'll get stuck with idiots for a team is higher (than say TF2, where on a team of 24, you may have a couple of aces). Also, given the small squad size, the problems associated with having idiot team mates are magnified. I need to play Left 4 Dead at least once with a good squad so I know what it's capable of.

Smokers - can you shoot their tongue if they've grabbed someone? Are they unable to lasso survivors after that?

Tank - what's the best way to dodge/kill one? Do headshots count as more damage?

Witch - if she's startled, does she go after the startler or whoever is closest to her (usually the same, but not always)?

I notice a lot of people don't heal themselves even though they're at or below, say, 25% of their health (and I know they're all rolling with health packs, because I can see them). Is there a reason for that?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the pipe bomb can be used to 'distract' a zombie rush, as they'll be attracted to the beeping, away from the players?

What is the difference between the submachine gun and the assault rifle? The only comment I heard online was that 'the submachine gun sucks - grab something else'.

With a team of good players, how do you stick together to keep zombies off your back and avoid friendly fire? Two watch the front, two watch the back? Each watches their favorite cardinal direction? Stay away from each other?

 

[ríomhaire]

Smokers have infinite amount of tongues but there is a long recharge time between grabs.

For killing tanks: Always set them on fire with molotovs or the red petrol canistors. Get to open ground if possible and do not split up.

I think the witch will persue whoever startled her until he's dead, ignoring the other survivors. Not possitive though.

Pipe bombs can be used like that.

I think the SMG is less accurate and less powerful than the AR.

Crouching to let allies shoot over you is a good idea. Don't forget your melee, it's very powerful against groups of zombies.

 

[Slime]

EDIT: Basically what riomhaire said, but with style!

Smokers - can you shoot their tongue if they've grabbed someone? Are they unable to lasso survivors after that?

Yes, but the tongue can still be used after a "reload" time.

Witch - if she's startled, does she go after the startler or whoever is closest to her (usually the same, but not always)?

She goes after the startler, but may change targets if someone gets in her way

I notice a lot of people don't heal themselves even though they're at or below, say, 25% of their health (and I know they're all rolling with health packs, because I can see them). Is there a reason for that?

Well, on expert I do this because medkits are very rare, but pills can often be found in nice quantities. If I get hurt bad I usually try to keep up a pill addiction to the end of the map where I can fully heal up and get an extra medkit for the next part. Also, you don't lose speed if your health is above 40, which is another good reason not to heal too early.

This applies partly to versus too ("fine-tuning" the health bonus), but medkits can be plenty on some of the longer maps and at least I don't feel the need to hang on to my medkit if in the red zone.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the pipe bomb can be used to 'distract' a zombie rush, as they'll be attracted to the beeping, away from the players?

Yes, negating a rush is pretty much their best use.

What is the difference between the submachine gun and the assault rifle? The only comment I heard online was that 'the submachine gun sucks - grab something else'.

The assault rifle is basically an upgrade to the SMG - better accuracy(?) and firepower. The comment you refer to was probably a shotgun vs SMG opinion. IMO, they are equal when used by people who know how to handle them, and from personal experience having at least one rapid-fire long range gun in the team doesn't hurt.

Tank - what's the best way to dodge/kill one? Do headshots count as more damage?

On higher difficulties and with "Tier 1" weapons (SMG, pump shotgun) setting the tank on fire and avoiding until it dies is always a good option, and shooting it to slow it down at the same time doesn't hurt either. If no fire, there's always the run & shoot option, where three people shoot and one runs for their life. Either way, always try to keep obstacles between you and the tank (unless they can be thrown by him!). Height differences work best;, forcing the tank to climb up and down repeatedly is a good way to buy some time.

With a team of good players, how do you stick together to keep zombies off your back and avoid friendly fire? Two watch the front, two watch the back? Each watches their favorite cardinal direction? Stay away from each other?

Unless you know there's a boomer right behind a corner, sticking together is important. To be honest most of the good players I've played with just naturally cover each other by taking a direction that no one else is covering but still adapting to the situation (covering an empty corner during a horde rush doesn't pay off). A key ingredient is using melee and crouching as much as possible in friendly fire-volatile situations: If you see another survivor about to be overrun by infected, push them off before trying to not to fill the victim with lead. If not running for their life the front players should learn to crouch to avoid being hit by allies. If this happens at long range, something has gone wrong.

 

[Jintor]

Witches will pursue whoever startled them, but if a player model is pushed by her char model for more than a certain amount of seconds she'll start laying into them instead.

 

[Adabiviak]

Do you step up to the witch when you're playing? They're like the Big Daddies in Bioshock - random mini boss battles that you can engage at will. Get one guy with the hunting rifle at a distance to 'wake' her with a nasty shot or two, then have the other survivors give her the gauntlet as she runs towards him (or Zoey)? If she's alone, she seems to go down somewhat easily if everyone's coordinated.

 

[chahyunun]

Or someone with autoshotty can easily run up to "hug" the witch and kill her instantly. Cr0wning works fine w/ pump shotgun too.

 

[Jintor]

You can't hug the witch anymore, was patched out a while ago. It's easier just to wake her up and fill her full of holes.

Ideally you want to be behind her so that if you don't crown her instantly, you have the extra half-second of turning around time.

 

[chahyunun]

Actually, what I meant was to get close to her (literally standing next to her) and shoot once (or more) with autoshotty to her body, which will kill her 100%

 

[Great Grizzly]

Smokers have infinite amount of tongues but there is a long recharge time between grabs.

For killing tanks: Always set them on fire with molotovs or the red petrol canistors. Get to open ground if possible and do not split up.

I think the witch will persue whoever startled her until he's dead, ignoring the other survivors. Not possitive though.

Pipe bombs can be used like that.

I think the SMG is less accurate and less powerful than the AR.

Crouching to let allies shoot over you is a good idea. Don't forget your melee, it's very powerful against groups of zombies.

I would have to disagree with the way of dealing with tanks. I found it more beneficial to go into a small place with autoshotguns. If your out in the open the other infected will be able to pick you off easily.

The witch will sometimes attack other players if they get in her way. If they are blocking a door way and she has to push them far, she will incap them, then keep running towards her original target. Otherwise she will just push the player out of the way much like how a player reacts when next to a boomer that blows up.

 

[Jintor]

Actually, what I meant was to get close to her (literally standing next to her) and shoot once (or more) with autoshotty to her body, which will kill her 100%

Ah, hugging used to mean 'stand exactly behind the witch as she rises', which would glitch her out and allow you to kill her very easily.

 

[the cow says moo]

When a big horde is coming, your team should stick together and backup into a corner, into a closet, or against a non-breakable wall. One or two people should crouch down in front and melee, while everyone else is behind shooting in a direction that no survivors are near. Shotguns have great stopping power and is great against a horde.

 

[Sledgehammer]

A single person with the autoshotgun can take down large hordes with very little trouble (assuming they're in a small enclosed environment, such as some of the sewers in DT2).

 

[knut]

Speaking of hordes, listen carefully for the change and variation in music. It's got the point now that whenever the music slightly changes, everyone is already scrambling for a fire zone because they know a horde is about to start rushing from one or sometimes two directions. These 'small' hordes are usually triggered randomly to keep the game from going stale, though I don't advise you to linger too long in an area as the director will start sending them every few minutes to get you moving again. Grab whatever supplies there are after a fight, heal up, load up and press on quick time.

 

[Sheepo]

Saving your health pack for black and white is a very good idea in Versus or on expert.

 

[mchammer75040]

I don't have much experience in l4d and most probably already know this but:
Don't spend a lot of time in the spawn area at the beginning, it gives the infected too much time to coordinate themselves for an early strike. Catch them off guard by grabbing your shit and rushing out, if you don't and you're fighting a good team consider yourself screwed. Many games are lost, for example, by people waiting too long at the BH finale to allow the boomer on top of the train,...etc.

 

[CyberPitz]

Saving your health pack for black and white is a very good idea in Versus or on expert.

Agreed.