Left 4 Dead: Tips and Tricks

 

I haven't played L4D in a while and I really miss it. Me, my best friend Nikka, my cousin JP, and Ymer are experts at kicking zombie butt (well, at least in our standards lol). Anyways, here are some useful tips and tricks you can use to survive the zombie apocalypse. This only applies when you're playing the campaign, not when you're playing one of the zombies. We played the PC version, but these are applicable to any platform.

• Turn on the captions in the options menu. This tells you what you're going up against (eg. Boomer gurgle, Witch moan). However, if you want a challenge, turn it off.
• It is of vital importance that all characters are controlled by humans. If you want to play for fun and alone, it's okay. But if you want a real gaming experience and set the difficulty higher, it is better to play with no bots. The bots do crazy stuff sometimes (eg. If Zoe is controlled by a bot, she will pick up the sniper everytime which is completely useless against hordes.)
• Two people should be carrying shotguns while the other two automatic weapons. This balances your team. Those who carry rifles can shoot farther and with more accuracy while those with shotguns are a great help when hordes are incoming and the zombies are right at your face, due to their ability to blow zombies away especially at close range.
• SHARE. You and your team need to decide who need the medkit the most or if you need the medkit you're carrying. You will resupply at the checkpoint, but in the midst of trying to get to the next one there are times you need to heal your fellow teammate. Luckily, the AI, the Director, sometimes supplies the players with the medkit. The team needs to decide who needs it the most (the person with the lowest healt or the person who has already used their medkit).
• Team formation: shotguns at front, rifles at back. Shotgunners should always kneel when battling an incoming horde. This is to avoid friendly fire. 
• Team formation while on the move: One takes point (front). The whole team follows whoever is at the point. Another scans the left, another the right. The last takes the rear. This is important since one of your teammates can suddenly be taken by a Smoker.
• If one of your teammates is near death and your team has exhausted its medkits, the rest of the team need to surround the player and protect him/her. The character will start limping once their health is low. If a checkpoint is near, you can choose to tell the player to run fro the checkpoint. Mind you, there are still zombies to be encountered.
• AVOID CARS! When shooting, do not shoot cars since this will cause the alarm and OMG, here comes the horde.
• Dual pistols are crucial. When you run out of ammo in your shotgun/rifle, the pistols are your best friend. It is best to have two and not just one. For the shotgunners, this is the weapon to use when targeting far away zombies. 
• It is best to make a run for the checkpoint when you're near it! Unless you want to keep shooting zombies. Sometimes however, a horde and Tank will be pitted against you so it's best to run to the safehouse. Make sure, however, that all of your team is inside. The level won't be over unless everybody is in the safehouse. Plus, you don't want a teammate left outside fending off the Tank himself, right? Okay, maybe you do, but that's just mean. 
• When going up against a Boomer, be careful if it vomits on you. If it does, a horde will attack automatically. You should melee a Boomer first, run back, then shoot to avoid when it explodes. If the exploding slime reaches you, a horde will also attack.
• Pipebombs should be saved for incoming hordes. Also, do not just throw them when you hear the music cue for the horde. Wait for the horde to be visible and of great number, then throw the pipebomb. Don't just waste it on a handful of zombies.
• Molotovs should be reserved for Tanks. They're big and hard to bring down. The Molotovs help to lessen their health dramatically. Just make sure you throw it from a safe distance. And if you miss, c'mon! These guys are huge! Molotovs can also be used for hordes, but be careful. These things are unstable. Plus, a zombie on fire will still keep running at you.
• LISTEN. Each monster has a music cue (Boomers, Smokers, Hunters), even the hordes. Listen carefully and prepare yourself!
• When a teammate is brought down by a Hunter, DO NOT SHOOT. Instead, use your melee attack to knock the Hunter off, THEN SHOOT. Same goes when a teammate is caught by a Smoker. Melee then shoot.
• When fighting a Tank, run backwards and keep shooting. Usually, it will go after the player that attacked on it first, so one player can be bait. While this player runs and shoots, the rest should run after it and shoot like there's no tomorrow!
• A Witch could be heard from far away. If you hear the Witch moan, turn off your flashlights and kneel. If you see the Witch, DO NOT ATTACK. It is best to sneak your way around her than attack her since she does a great deal of damage. If you do startle her, it is likely that player that startled her will get beat down by the Witch. Unlike the Hunter and Smoker, LET HER EAT LEAD. Shoot her straight away! The more time she is on the player, the more damage she deals.
• If you do want to defeat the Witch and get that achievement, you should do this: Turn off your flashlight, kneel and approach her slowly. THIS ONLY WORKS IF YOU HAVE AN AUTOMATIC SHOTGUN. Once you are near her, stand, run, aim at her face, and let her eat lead! This should kill her with one shot. However, it doesn't work sometimes, so be warned.
• When you are at the last part and you are getting rescued, it is crucial you position your team. For example, in the Dead Air scenario, one of your teammates can man the machine gun while another guards this teammate. If you are in a house, like Blood Harvest, it is best to take the high ground and fend off the hordes. If a player needs to reload, one player should accompany that player downstairs then run back up. Do be reminded NOT to reload when there's an incoming horde. Reload inbetween horde attacks.
• Always be on the lookout for your rescue. You can be too busy fighting hordes and not realize your rescue's already there. Plus, once your rescue comes, the BIGGEST HORDE will arrive and there is NO WAY of defeating them. You need to ESCAPE.
• When running to the rescue (chopper, boat, etc.), make sure YOU DO NOT FALL. You might get beaten down by a Hunter or taken by a Smoker. If you do, don't expect to get away. You are already dead. If this happens to your teammate, they're as good as dead. You can either head for the rescue and save yourself or you can retry the level again to try all of you being saved.

It think this is all the tips and tricks I have. I'll add some more if I remember. Hope this helps surviving the zombie attack. Have fun!