Kills vs executions, are they different?

[MythTrip]

So a kill is not a kill? I read a post that said unless you execute an uruk or captain, they keep respawning. Is this correct? If so, what is difference between a kill and an execution?

[Valden21]

A kill is just any attack that kills an enemy. But executions are a special kinds of killmove that can only be used after your hitstreak has reached a certain threshold, or if you've knocked an orc to the ground. Another difference is that kills can be ranged, in stealth, or melee, while executions are melee-only.

[counterintel]

I only have 4 hours played a few months back but am here on the forums reading up because im diving back in tonight.

I thought chiefs and captains could not be 'killed' but HAD to be executed, or something like that?

I remember downing a chief to the ground over and over and over, and having to 'execute' him on the ground multiple times, or his health regen just far outweighed my damage (at least, this is how i remember it)

Just curious.

[Valden21]

Originally posted by counterintel:

I only have 4 hours played a few months back but am here on the forums reading up because im diving back in tonight.

I thought chiefs and captains could not be 'killed' but HAD to be executed, or something like that?

I remember downing a chief to the ground over and over and over, and having to 'execute' him on the ground multiple times, or his health regen just far outweighed my damage (at least, this is how i remember it)

Just curious.

Not quite. AFAIK, most captains and warchiefs can be killed through regular attacks, if they don't have a Strength that protects them from that; some of them have this, but not all of them. Their Strengths/Weaknesses tab will always tell you this if you have intel on them.

The only real times that you need to do an execution is for some specific boss battles, and if you're fighting a captain who has a Strength that allows them to come back if you kill them. There's one specific execution that prevents that, but I think it's done randomly. Once again, this information will appear on the Strength/Weaknesses tab, so gathering and using intel is important.

[Spiral90]

Originally posted by Valden21:

A kill is just any attack that kills an enemy. But executions are a special kinds of killmove that can only be used after your hitstreak has reached a certain threshold, or if you've knocked an orc to the ground. Another difference is that kills can be ranged, in stealth, or melee, while executions are melee-only.

You can kill any captain or warchief with what ever works (sword, bow, dagger, etc.) but any captain (not warchiefs) has a chance of coming back unless you decapitate them. The easiest way to decapitate is with a Combat Execution.

Though there is a bug that can cause decapitated captain to come back.