In the world of Left 4 Dead 2, the smash hit video game for the Xbox 360 and PC, there are " special infected " zombies alongside the "common infected." They can take more of a hit than the everyday zombie, but there are a few handy tips and tricks to help survivors tackle these cretinous fiends.
Killing a Boomer
First, never use a melee weapon on a boomer. He'll blow up and cover you in vomit, instantly attracting the horde. Nor should you shoot him at short range, for the same reasons. Instead, if you're not lucky enough to spot a boomer from a distance, give him a nudge to temporarily disable him, and then get out of the way as far as you can. To kill a boomer, shoot him from a distance and avoid getting attacked by the common infected. You can nudge him two or three times, but then beware--one push too far and he could explode.
Killing a Charger
The charger will speed towards you out of nowhere and pin you, so you'll have to act fast. If you hear the distinct charger sound but can't see him, keep moving, as this minimizes his chances of pinning you. Jump onto a table, car or other object, as he can only pin survivors at his level. If you see him coming, hop out of the way quickly. If you're too late for that, a precisely timed melee weapon to the head can kill him instantly as he charges--but this takes special skill and timing.
Killing a Hunter
Hunters can leap great distances at great speeds, making them tricky to catch. To kill one as he attacks, you'll have to be quick. He can be pushed away as he attacks, and as with other special infected, this temporarily disables him. While he staggers around, shoot him. Two or three shotgun bullets usually takes care of this growling pest.
Killing a Jockey
Jockeys evade bullets by their annoying habit of jiggling and bouncing around. Like the hunters, they can be stopped with a nudge as they leap towards you, but getting the timing right is a challenge. If a jockey is on another survivor, get him off with a nudge and then shoot or smack with a melee weapon such as the axe or baseball bat while he's disoriented. Shooting while he's still on someone is as likely to hurt the survivor as the jockey, unless you have a precision weapon such as the sniper rifle.
Killing a Smoker
The smoker can grab someone from a distance, so he's often lurking in the shadows and difficult to spot. It is possible to push a smoker away if you nudge at almost the same second he grabs you. Otherwise, you're pinned until someone rescues you. To rescue another survivor from a smoker, push them. This loosens the tongue and frees the survivor, but the smoker remains. Take advantage of his temporary disability to shoot him. If he gets away, throwing a Molotov behind you as you move on is a good way to take care of him.
Killing a Spitter
The spitter can cause a lot of damage with her noxious acid. To avoid her cunning attacks, be wary of trapping yourself in a corner, where the spitter can take advantage and do major harm. Like the boomer, the spitter can do damage even after she's killed. If you kill her up close, jump out of the way quickly to avoid the acid spill.
Killing a Tank
The tank is a gargantuan mutation who only appears two or three times during each campaign, and then a few times in the finale. It takes more than a few pistol shots to stop this hulking beast, but if you're in good health, you can outrun him. (If your health is low, an adrenalin shot will speed you up for an easier battle.) During an attack, move constantly to avoid being hit by the tank. Avoid getting backed into a corner--once he has you trapped, he can easily bash you to death.
Two things are your best bets for dispatching the tank: shot guns and Molotovs. A Molotov will slow the tank down and kill him much faster. The shot guns take off several hundred of the tank's several thousand health points with each shot. Melee weapons can do a lot of damage to a tank, but getting close enough is a big risk.
Killing a Witch
The witch can fell you with a single strike, or kill you immediately on Realism mode. If you can get around the witch, do so. But if you have to kill her, your shotgun is the best weapon. Reload completely and aim for the head at close range. Four or five shots should do it. A sniper rifle at a distance is also effective. She hates fire; incendiary ammo and Molotovs will cause her to go after the perpetrator, even if someone else was the first to shoot.
General Special Infected Tips
Use all the weapons in your armory. Don't forget you have Molotovs, boomer bile and pipe bombs to take care of the infected when you're overwhelmed. If a special infected gets away, keep one eye behind you, because he is still at large and--like the brainless dummy he is, at the end of the day--he'll probably come back into plain sight soon enough and present you with an easy opportunity for a kill.
