Back 4 Blood tips - 9 things to know before you start

Back 4 Blood
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

You might want to arm yourself with these Back 4 Blood tips, along with a fire axe, if you're diving into Back 4 Blood anytime soon. It's not easy surviving this zombie apocalypse and a lot of mistakes can be learned the hard way if you dive in unprepared. So here are 9 Black 4 Blood tips and things to watch out for when you're playing this brand new co-op zombie shooter that just so happens to be a spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead. 

ack 4 Blood tips  | How to unlock Back 4 Blood characters | Back 4 Blood split screen options explained | Best Back 4 Blood weapons  | Best Back 4 Blood characters  | Best Back 4 Blood cards | Back 4 Blood drop attachments option 

1. Avoid startling the birds

back 4 blood tips

(Image credit: Activision)

Dislodging a flock of birds in Back 4 Blood is almost as big a mistake as showing a seagull your sandwich. Doing anything to disturb them from their dinner will cause the horde to descend on you. So creep past, don't shoot them, and you'll save your squad plenty of bullets.

2. Watch out for alarmed doors and cars

back 4 blood tips

(Image credit: Activision)

It's not just birds that will raise the horde though, because there are alarms everywhere in the world of Back 4 Blood. Watch out for doors with big security alarm warnings on them. Don't open them, but shoot or melee them to shards instead. And generally try and avoid shooting vehicles too - the last thing you need is a car alarm cutting through the silence. 

3. Listen out for the sounds of Retch

back 4 blood tips

(Image credit: Activision)

You can use audio cues as much as the Ridden though - aka the in-game zombies. There's one particular undead beast that alerts you to his presence with the sound of dry-retching. Handily named the Retch, this Ridden will vomit acid all over you to cause serious damage. Shoot him so he blows up before he can blow chunks on you. 

4. Don't disturb the Sleeper pods

back 4 blood tips

(Image credit: Activision)

If you can hear the sound of cute sleeping noises, be extra on edge because there's a Sleeper nearby. These tiny Ridden sleep in jaw-like sack pods on walls and other surfaces, and the moment they spot you, they'll pin you down. Horror movie scenes, folks. 

5. Make sure someone's stockpiling Tool Kits

back 4 blood tips

(Image credit: Activision)

When you're restocking at the Safe Room store, make sure someone on your squad has at least one Tool Kit. These funny little items are actually the things you'll need to open up locked doors or caches, which always contain good ammo stocks and other useful items to help you through each Act. 

6. Communicate always and stay together

back 4 blood tips

(Image credit: Activision)

It should go without saying but always stay together if you want to succeed in Back 4 Blood. Like the OG Left 4 Dead series, if you get downed or otherwise incapacitated miles from your squad, you're a goner. Stick together, communicate, talk through card selections and other purchases… it might just save your Cleaner bacon. 

7. Don't forget to invest your supply points

back 4 blood tips

(Image credit: Activision)

For completing various tasks and working your way through the campaign acts, you'll earn supply points. When you head back to Fort Hope, head over to the picnic table to spend them on new cards. Collected in Supply Lines, these cards will offer up a range of items - not just cards to add to your deck, although they are the main draw. There are gun skins, new customization options for your characters, and more to obtain. Get spending!

8. Play your cards right

Back 4 Blood

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

A lot of the fun with Back 4 Blood is about building a custom deck that matches the character you've decided to invest your time with. So once you've started collecting a good selection of cards, you'll want to build your own custom deck. If you like melee attacks for example, make sure you have the card that gives you two health points for every melee kill, and the one that turns your punch into a knife for additional slashing options. But you can dial into these specialisms further, like with cards that increase your stamina but limit the amount of ammo you can carry - again, good for those wielding a bat rather than an AK-47. Play around with the cards and find the ones that work best for you. 

9 .Look out for optional objectives

Back 4 Blood

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Some of the enemy-played cards will actually be optional objectives that you can complete for additional supply points. That might be anything from ensuring all your Cleaners survive the act to finding some supplies and carrying them all the way through to the next safe house with you. Whatever they are, they can be pretty lucrative if you're card collecting.

Sam Loveridge
Brand Director, 12DOVE

Sam Loveridge is the Brand Director and former Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar. She joined the team in August 2017. Sam came to GamesRadar after working at TrustedReviews, Digital Spy, and Fandom, following the completion of an MA in Journalism. In her time, she's also had appearances on The Guardian, BBC, and more. Her experience has seen her cover console and PC games, along with gaming hardware, for a decade, and for GamesRadar, she's in charge of the site's overall direction, managing the team, and making sure it's the best it can be. Her gaming passions lie with weird simulation games, big open-world RPGs, and beautifully crafted indies. She plays across all platforms, and specializes in titles like Pokemon, Assassin's Creed, The Sims, and more. Basically, she loves all games that aren't sports or fighting titles! In her spare time, Sam likes to live like Stardew Valley by cooking and baking, growing vegetables, and enjoying life in the countryside.

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