I’ve been playing a lot of the PC game Killing Floor lately, and here’s my tips for noobs and players new to the game. These aren’t that big a deal at Beginner/Normal difficulty, but as you join harder games they become very important.
1. Choosing a starting Perk. At Perk level 5 each class starts with a perk weapon – for instance a level 5 Firebug spawns with a Flamethrower. At Perk levels 1-4 you only start with a pistol and a knife regardless of class. Therefore the best Perk to start with if less than level 5 is either a Sharpshooter (for the pistol and headshot bonuses) or the Berserker (for the melee weapon bonuses). If you pick anything else, you’re only gimping yourself and the team. After a wave or two you should have enough money to swap Perks and buy an appropriate weapon.
2. Stick with the group. If you’re new to the game stay close to your teammates for supporting fire. Those off by themselves can easily be surrounded and overwhelmed. Wait until you’re much more experienced before going all Lone Wolf.
3. Healing. Very important. You can heal yourself some by pressing ‘q’ or heal teammates more by pressing ‘5’ for the medical syringe then clicking near a teammate. The field medic also has medical guns that heal by shooting medical darts (with the middle mouse button) at teammates. Field medics also have medical grenades that give off a green gas that heals players and hurts specimens. Don’t worry, in this game, the green gas is a good thing.
4. Friendly fire. On most servers this is turned off, but you CAN still hurt yourself with your own explosives. Not anyone else though. Weird, right? Don’t get too close to your own grenades, pipe bombs, etc.
5. Joining late games. There are 10 waves + the Patriarch boss fight in a Long game. If you join towards the end you better know wtf you’re doing as you missed all the previous waves to get dosh and weapons. Each new player on the team adds to the total number and the strength of the Killing Floor specimens. If you can’t pull your weight you’re hurting the team.
6. Head to the Trader. Only 32 specimens spawn on the map at any one time. Once the count during a wave is below 32 you know zeds won’t be spawning so it’s safe(r) to move about the map. When the count gets towards the single digits start heading towards the trader to maximize the time you have in the shop and getting back into position. It also gives you time to look around for more ammo or weapon spawns.
7. Trainers. There are workshop training or ‘test’ maps used for practicing strategies vs specimens. They also count towards leveling up your Perks. However people who max out at Perk level 6 from just grinding a trainer generally suck at the game – they don’t know the maps, general tactics or strategies to take out the harder specimens. They can’t pull their weight and hurt the team. Don’t be that guy. Start from the bottom and learn to play. This game is tough and if you want to succeed at the harder difficulties you’ll just need to practice.
8. Killing Floor specimens. The biggest noob mistake is just blasting away at every zed you see. This generally works on the weaker specimens but there are a few that are extra important. Note these tips are for noobs and more experienced players have more options.
- Sirens – These are the screaming banshees. Far away they are harmless but if they get close they are devastating to anyone nearby. Target them first. Their screams also destroy any thrown grenades or rockets.
- Bloats – The big fat specimens that will vomit bile on you if too close and obscure your vision. The weakspot is the head so shoot that! When killed they explode more bile so don’t don’t let them get close, ever.
- Stalkers – Cloaked ladies of damage. They move very fast but once spotted, they fall easily.
- Husks – Fire based meanies that shoot rockets and a huge pain in the ass. They tend to shoot towards your feet so get used to jumping when you hear/see a rocket launch from this guy.
- Scrakes – The big guy with a chain saw. When he loses partial health he will RAGE and sprint attack for massive damage. Therefore high-alpha Perks are best when dealing with Scrakes, such as the Sharpshooter, Support Specialist or Berserker. Other Perks should HOLD FIRE when possible if or until the Scrake rages, then focus fire him down. Sharpshooters can do massive headshot damage and are great for Scrakes.
- Flesh Pounds – The big guy with spiked fists. The Flesh Pound rages when he takes a lot of damage within a couple seconds OR his target is in view for more than 10 seconds. He can be kited by a skilled player, but usually the strategy is a lot like the Scrake. The high-alpha damage players should handle the Flesh Pounds, with everyone else joining in if or when the Flesh Pound rages. After the FP hits someone, his rage subsides. Sharpshooters can do massive headshot damage and are great for Flesh Pounds.
- The Patriarch – Big Boss. Head honcho. Wave 11. This guy has rockets, a chain gun and a powerful melee attack. He is no joke. There are a number of strategies for the Patriarch so all I’ll say here is try not to be his target. Use line of sight to get flanking fire on him and if he comes towards you, run! Don’t let him get close.