A class overview and some tips

So after 100+ hours into the game I decided to write down this simple overview for anyone who just picked up the game or feeling this insane mode is so hard to beat. Please note that this guide contains some tips and I will mainly talk about each class and their role in the squad. I write this guide according to my experiences so feel free to add anything helpful, any questions or correct me if I’m wrong in the comments below.

First thing I’d like to thank Saber for bringing us a solid, enjoyable zombie game with no microtransactions. This game still has lots of room for improvements and fortunately I haven’t encountered any game breaking bugs, just bad teammates therefore I have fun playing so far.

Enough rambling, let’s jump into class overview first. Each class’s perks has 30 levels, I will separate it into 3 stages, you will advance through the next stage after learning the Essential perk of that class.

• Gunslinger: the name said it all, this class is very easy and straightforward. You have increased accuracy, some trusty grenades, special zeke auto highlight (stage 2), its power roughly the same through 3 stages, just some extra gun damage. This class has low utility compared to other classes, played solely to your skill. In insane and extreme difficulty not many use gunslinger but those who want to fast leveling. Offensive role.
• Hellraiser: this name fits for those maniac who wants to blow shit up, master of explosives. Best kill ratio, power improves through stages. On higher difficulty most of them carry Here kitty C4 because it can stop a charging Bull and really save you in many tough situations. High utility, start with heavy nade launcher with no help of perk, C4 attracts zekes at early stage 1, explosive kill ratio increase for the whole team in stage 2, more killing power in stage 3 due to more heavy weapon ammo, health shield after 15 kills for increased survivability and options to go with secondary nade launcher or improved heavy nade launcher. One of my favorites, one of the best offensive role. Just be careful not to blow up your teammates too.
• Medic: the squad’s babysitter, on insane and extreme difficulty at least one medic is required, you’re not the strongest in killing but you’re kind of a guardian angel of the team. A good medic can keep the whole squad in top shape making the game easier. Very high utility, reach full potential at stage 3 because the stim revive is the most powerful tool of medic, for beginners, stim pistol are medic’s equipment which gives you health shield to tank hits, how many hits depend on the difficulty. There are many ways in perk build with this class with each of its own strength: fast revive, many perks to improve stim effectiveness, healing power, masking effect, chances for a free medkit, you name it. Best support role. I’m kinda medic main myself so here are some tips: just chill, let your teammates rush ahead, keep them in your sight and your stim range when progressing through the game and try to position yourself in the middle of the squad for protection during horde, let your bois do the killing, you mainly keep an eye on their health, with good teammates you keep them killing and you will win the game in no time. With bad teammates who recklessly give up their life just do your best then find another game.
• Fixer: their masking nades are still op in many tough situations. Fixers can play both offensive and support role depending on what equipment you’re using. They have masking grenades which hide you and your team from zeke for a period of time or you can bring Supply bags with explosive ammo and yes, explosive ammo with silenced guns are considered ‘not loud’ by Saber. High utility, their perks revolve around team buffs, the higher level the stronger team, you can even get a free Breaching charge early in stage 1 compared to Hellraiser in stage 3, the Essential perks of stage 2 can save the whole team in many win-lose situations imo. In insane and higher most Fixers use Masking grenade.
• Slasher: when I first pick up the game this class seems to be a bad idea to me, slasher looks like a suicidal moron who ran towards tons of zeke with no fear whatsoever but in higher difficulty many players still pick this class. Unique playstyle, medium utility, perks revolve around how you can press ‘F’ better, Slasher team buff perk can stack, power grows through stages, strong crowd control stun gun which stops anything in its range. There are two types of guys who prefer Slasher: those who like the fun butchering zekes with their hands and those who are not good at aiming. Team vanguard, very aggressive, offensive role.
• Exterminator: I think this class needs buffs or rework, Idk, at this state Exterminator looks like a better Gunslinger to me. His kits are mediocre, good molotov, meh claymore, he has team buffs, damage increase, heavy weapon ammo, a little bit of this and little bit of that. He’s not that strong like the game describes, his unique perk which gives 20% to use defense kit for free is not enough. However as I mentioned Exterminator is better than Gunslinger so he has better pick rate in higher difficulty. Offensive role.

General tips for higher difficulty:

• Not everyone likes to voice chat, that’s why you need to form a habit of highlighting loots with ‘T’, it helps a lot in teamwork.
• Shoot high penetration guns at the base of zeke pyramids, and low penetration guns at the top
• 99% of insane games I played my teammates will go loud, some squads can handle it, some just get overwhelmed. If you are the latter, don’t bother to blame, finish it if you want or find another game, arguing with bad players doesn’t benefit you.
• Learn to dodge bulls, once you get used to it the game gets easier, the basics are running in a circle if you’re next to the bull or take a sharp turn when he charges, wrong timing and you’re dead especially on insane and extreme.
• Check every corner for creeper, sometimes you will run into them before hearing them wheezing or your character talk mostly because you’re rushing ahead and they just got spawned.
• ‘Killing 15 zombies in rapid succession…’ perk is good, get them.
• Aware of your surroundings, do a 360 cam check, playing with a headphone, this game has lots of audio cues.
• Shoot boomer, bomber or whatever in the leg, if he gets too close, don’t panic, have your teammates shoot his legs for you while you run or do it yourself while retreating, he can keep up with you if you don’t cripple him.
• A leaked and alive gasbags is bad, prioritize them.
• If you can, leave the medkits for medic depending on how good your medic is.
• Voice chatting and good teamwork is needed for beating extreme.
• If you join a lobby with all low level class players on insane, I suggest you to find another room because they are likely to get wrecked.
• “People who move survived and those who didn’t…” - Brad Pitt. Learn to properly kite the zeke, always move, don’t be an auto turret.
• Try not to run into your teammates’ line of fire, run behind them or crouching.
• Stay close to your squad, don’t stray, even the most skillful player can get fucked up sometimes.
• Flare gun’s damage is not high, but can ease the pressure, stop bulls, gasbags, boomers, lure the zeke away creating a focus zone for killing. Get it wherever you can if you want an easier game.
• RPGs line of fire is really ridiculous, shoot them when zekes are close will hurt you.
• As I mentioned above, silence guns with explosive ammo are not loud.
• You can cancel a horde at its beginning by triggering another horde event (start battle, pushing button, give card, stomp fence, etc…)
• Stay away from teammates who have a crossbow but don’t know how to use it.
• You can get close to the side of a mine to disarm it, some people just like to shoot it up which make the bridge part of NY4 harder. Yeah about that, mind your steps especially in NY4, Jerusalem 2 & 3, Moscow 2 and Tokyo 1 & 2.
• Some cars explode when you shoot it, it is considered a loud trigger and its explosion is lethal, stay away, those cars appear in Moscow 2 and NY4.
• Medic can tank an auto turret with stim if you can’t find a way around it. Masking grenade doesn’t hide you from it.
• You can cancel long reloading animation by slashing or landing, Idk if Saber wants to fix it.
• Very personal tips: avoid staring at Kimiko/Dina ass for increased survivability.