Types of enemies in World War Z World War Z guide, tips
Last update: 08 May 2019
In this chapter of the World War Z Guide, we will be discussing about all the enemy types currently available in the game, what are their weaknesses and how to effectively deal with them without taking unnecessary damage. At the moment there are 4 special types of enemies in the game, regular zombies and huge groups of zombies called Swarms.
Regular zombies and Swarms
Regular zombies are enemies you will be facing most of the time - typical undead foes that will be inactive unless provoked and will charge at you when they detect the team or hear any noise. They generally pose no threat - they can be dealt with a single bullet to the head or a melee attack and their damage is marginal. Zombie Swarms are basically huge hordes of basic zombies that will move in very large groups. Their goal is simple - to overrun the party. Swarms consist of hundreds zombies and are mostly encountered during mission checkpoints and at the locations where the team needs to hold position or wait for a mechanism to initiate.
In order to deal with zombie Swarms, you need to be aware of the following:
- Setting up defenses. In most scenarios in which a Swarm appears, you will be tasked to defend a specific location. This will allow you to use various defense systems - barbed vires, mortars, turrets (described in a separate chapter of this guide) and more - to quickly eliminate large groups of foes or to simply hinder their movements. Always make use of defense systems.
- Swarms will most likely try to climb to a specific location, forming a zombie tower. The easiest way to deal with that is to shoot at the base of the said tower - it will cause it to collapse, giving you precious time to take out enemies. Once zombies start to form a tower again, repeat the process by eliminating zombies used as a base.
- Using explosives. Molotov Cocktails, grenades, mortars, C4 and claymores - all of the explosives in the game will allow you to take out multiple enemies at the same time, making them extremely effective at dealing with a Swarm. What is more, explosives can be used to destroy the base of the Swarm tower, causing it to collapse.
Hazmat
The Hazmat zombie is the first from the special zombies and probably the one you will be dealing with the most, as it is the most common special enemy in the game. Hazmat zombies wear distinctive yellow hazmat suits, making them easy to spot. Those enemies will release a cloud of toxic gas whenever they are killed by a player - the gas will then deal damage over time to all of the players standing in it. In order to deal with those enemies, you need to be aware of the following:
- Killing a Hazmat with a headshot will prevent the enemy from releasing the poisonous cloud. Killing it in a different manner - melee attack, explosives, hitting other body parts - will always release the gas cloud.
- The gas cloud only damages the players, dealing damage as long as the players are inside the toxic area.
- Hazmat are best dealt with from a safe distance - that way you will not have to worry about hitting the head of the enemy, as the gas cloud has a relatively small area of effect.
- Killing a Hazmat inside an enclosed space (tight corridor, interior) can be deadly, as you will not be able to effectively hide from its poisonous gas. If you cannot lure the enemy out to a more open space, be sure to kill the Hazmat by hitting its head.
Screamer
The Screamer is another special zombie present in World War Z. This is a peculiar foe, as he will not be dealing any damage to the party. Instead, the enemy will scream, alarming zombies in the area of your presence and directing their attention at your team. The enemies will be storming your position for as long as the Screamer is alive. Once that enemy appears on the battlefield, it should be your top priority to take him out to prevent the foe from attracting unwanted attention.
Bull
The Bull is the third special zombie type in World War Z. The Bull is simply a tank - a zombie wearing riot police gear, capable of withstanding an absurd amount of bullets from the players. The Bull will charge at the nearest player, tackle him/her and continuously smash to the ground, dealing damage for as long as the Bull or the player remains alive. In order to deal with the Bull, you need to be aware of the following:
- The enemy will charge at the nearest player. There is almost no chance to dodge his charge in an open area, but you can block the enemy's movements with any obstacle - containers, cars, wreckage, rendering the foe useless.
- The enemy's body is almost entirely armored and protected from fire - shooting at random body parts will get you nowhere. Instead, you need to fire at his exposed back or at the visor of his helmet - this will bring the foe down in seconds.
- Once a player is caught by the Bull, he/she will need assistance of a teammate, as there is no way to break free of the enemy's grasp. This is why you should never travel alone in World War Z.
Lurker
The Lurker is the fourth special zombie available in World War Z. The enemy can often be found in narrow spaces or around the corner, waiting for a player to come close to attack. The Creepers attack by jumping on the players, tackling them to the ground and dealing continuous damage until either the Creeper or the player dies. In order to deal with the Lurker, you need to be aware of the following:
- Lurkers are often found in secluded areas, in narrow spaces or lurking around the corner to surprise the player. Being cautious in such places will significantly increase your chances against those foes.
- Lurkers do not wear any armor, making them extremely vulnerable to any damage - they can die from a single headshot.
- Similarly to Bulls, once a player is caught by the Lurkers, he/she will need assistance of a teammate, as there is no way to break free of the enemy's grasp. This is even more of a reason why you should never travel alone in World War Z.