Why is killing enemies so hard?

[Gotgo]

I'm doing one of the first side missions were you have to kill the bandits at the pharmacy/clinic and I just can't seem to kill them.

I hit the leader 17, maybe 20 times with a lead pipe and wrench and he is still coming at me.

Am I supposed to wait to do this mission or something?

[ImHelping]

As a fellow "I finally got around to buying this dueing the last sale" newcomer, I can confirm it gets easier but it does start pretty rough. And you'll always need damage in the hundreds to quickly kill even basic zombies via weapons alone without trick shots or special skills.

The catch 22 that the only way to make killing stuff easier (outside of progress so the loot tables change) is to stop and fight stuff while you suck at it. Just hitting things will still give a little bit of points, as unimpressive as 10 or 15 exp for bashing a skull with whatever is handy is.

I know a lot of people cry like babies over "Game too EZ now that I have actuall progression!", but I find the tangible growth more satisfying than just being saddled with a sterotypical frali survival game hobo all game. Makes me appretiate what I have, after going through the motions of breaking several hammers and pipe wrenches just to slowly kill the weakest of enemies at first.

But then, some people can't be satisfied unless they will fail to kill the weakest of zombies after hitting them in the back of the head with a hammer 5+ times, forever. And then claim smashing the weakest enemy in the head with an electrified burning machette actuall killing them "Unrealistic". (Because realism only counts if it prevents QoL, not improves it, I guess?)

The Stomp skill is a huge leap in power for dealing with trash zombies, like oh my god. As such being able to just curbstomp zombies to death (particularly after you drop them with another skill like dropkick or such... Because of course, a Medium Impact upgrade baseball bat to the back of the head means a generic biter won't fall down! duh...) means more chances to easily pick off lone zombies, means more regular experience.

I also feel you on humans being silly durable when you're not using the top shelf toys. Honestly their ability to tank hits swing, is far more dangerous than their abiliy to dodge (outside of being shot). About 80% of the damage I take from melee humans is the fact smashing them in the face with a nailbat or whatever, which will interrupt the average zombie, just has them continue their swing and trade hit with me...

If you've got shuriken or some other throwing weapon that isn't loud, throwing a shuriken right as a human attacks will interrupt them, but they have such good reaction time that unless you are using the fastest melee they will often still just dodge if you try to follow up with a melee swing despite taking a throwing knife to the eyeball.

As a heads up the slide kick is very useful (it will even one shot kill Virals, the fast runners...if they don't psychic dodge that is) but also super awkward to use playing KB+M instead of a controller.

So I hardly use the thing personally. Just from having to turn my left hand into a pretzle if I want to use it quickly in a fight.

It's also why I don't get much/good use out of grapple, which is another thing that' designed around a controller but awkward to properly control via KB+M even if you can suddenly slam the ALT key with your pinky with the right timing. (No, no. throw them INTO the spikes, not next to them!). The grapple skill itself is very strong, but don't force yourself if you pick up any given skill and don't have a smooth time with them.

If you are using a controller though, Slide Kick and grapple are a much bigger deal (I mainly stick with KB+M in this game because it's easier for me to steer my platforming antics that way. And not botching a jump between rooftops is more important to me).

[WASP]

Another option, no one else has suggested, try co-op with someone and share kills

[Vince ✟]

I used the stairs on the bandit pharmacist. One at a time picked them off. Always use terrain to your advantage always.

[Shark[]=]

Gotgo I am having the same problem. The game is interesting but is so tough. Even I am getting more level the game is standing more difficult. I have 21 hours of game and I don't have a pistol at least. I see enemies wearing adapted clothes and strong zombies. I just have tubes, small hammers, sticks, etc. The best weapon I have is the molotov.

[7@UP]

I always use my crossbow,or sometimes 1 resistance booster and kill them all with my machete

[Tar Soul]

Also, I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but if you just kind of want to semi-cheat your way through the first quarter of the game, you can find the Korek machete, which is really easy to craft and does an absurd amount of damage in the early game.
It's found on top of a hotel somewhere, but looking up Korek machete online will probably get you a guide for it.

[Cracky McWestside]

Publicado originalmente por Gotgo:

I'm doing one of the first side missions were you have to kill the bandits at the pharmacy/clinic and I just can't seem to kill them.

I hit the leader 17, maybe 20 times with a lead pipe and wrench and he is still coming at me.

Am I supposed to wait to do this mission or something?

You cant kill the 3 guys. As soon you reach them you get the next checkpoint where you have to go. Just leave them be. Did the same mistake twice before i remembered that you are not really supposed to kill them.

[ImHelping]

Publicado originalmente por Cracky:

Publicado originalmente por Gotgo:

I'm doing one of the first side missions were you have to kill the bandits at the pharmacy/clinic and I just can't seem to kill them.

I hit the leader 17, maybe 20 times with a lead pipe and wrench and he is still coming at me.

Am I supposed to wait to do this mission or something?

You cant kill the 3 guys. As soon you reach them you get the next checkpoint where you have to go. Just leave them be. Did the same mistake twice before i remembered that you are not really supposed to kill them.

You can totally kill them, but it takes some doing at that point of the game.

I thank my stubbornness, not any particular "Skill". Because "I hit them in the head with a pipe wrench over a dozen times" is hardly an understatement at that tier. I blew through all of my looted shuriken to ease up my time there, I think.

If you can complete what is needed to clear the mission and run, that is certainly the smarter thing to do, though. Which is part of why I hate the introduction of the exploding zombies, they are basically designed to screw over "Zip in, do objective, leave".

Not because of damage (They've winged me once, but didn't kill me). But because they are basically trolling you by summoning virals (Or Voliatiles at night). If they realize they will never catch you they self destruct, and then while you're already a city block away the spawned enemies will bee line towards you in the oppisite direction of the explosion, and track you down into the middle of a house a city block via psychic powers (because they never once saw you).

"Okay, I'll zip in. Kill the spitter, and turn the gas valve/close the gate/use the fuse box/etc and leave. Easy-whoops. Exploding zombie spawned in a enclosed space off camera through spawn magic. Well he just immediatly blew up without being anywhere near me. Fiiiiine I'll kill with the Virals who would punch me in the back of the head while I try to use the interactable. jesus christ what a drag."

I've never been a fan of kamikaze enemies in games, they are always such a lazy crutch difficulty people love to fellate as "But suddenly dying if you get hit once is hardcore!" regardless of quality and call you a casual for disliking them even if they never kill you. Because dislike = Casual even if you're pro MLGing your way past them yourself.

These ones have an added twist on being incredibly annoying even when you do chump them. "Oh no. more virals. Yes this is entirely 'hardcore challenge', really. *stomps their heads as they climb up a shack* yup. Sooooooo hardcore."

[Blade Master]

Publicado originalmente por Cracky:

Publicado originalmente por Gotgo:

I'm doing one of the first side missions were you have to kill the bandits at the pharmacy/clinic and I just can't seem to kill them.

I hit the leader 17, maybe 20 times with a lead pipe and wrench and he is still coming at me.

Am I supposed to wait to do this mission or something?

You cant kill the 3 guys. As soon you reach them you get the next checkpoint where you have to go. Just leave them be. Did the same mistake twice before i remembered that you are not really supposed to kill them.

You can either kill them or avoid them. However, fighting them is totally optional and yes you can kill them, also there's no time limit and you're not forced to hurry for the next air drop. I've killed them using trash weapons, can't remember what level I was although I remember I was taking it really slow and not trying to rush the missions. Hit & dodge tactics ftw, although I had to use 3-4 medkits IIRC.