KF2: Surviving Hell on Earth at Level 0, Perk by Perk (Humor Guide)
This is a joke-heavy guide originally written in Russian by a player who often plays Hell on Earth with a level 0 perk. It is aimed at average players but may help beginners and veterans alike. The advice is serious in places and humorous in others, using "how the perk sees itself" versus "reality" memes for each class. The author's overall message: you need to be a very good player to attempt level 0 on Hell on Earth, otherwise your keyboard will suffer.
The "level 0 in Hell" icon from the guide.
Part 1: a warning
Playing Hell on Earth at level 0 is a bad idea, though the author does it often. To pull it off you must already be good at the game. To save your keyboard from the beating, he jokes, play on a gamepad (then he takes it back).
Part 2: the role groups
The author sorts perks into groups. Perks in the same group have similar tactics at low level:
- Firebug and Support
- Demolitionist, Sharpshooter and Medic
- Gunslinger, SWAT and Berserker
- The Commando is a free role.
- The Survivalist is left out because he has no tactics of his own and is "multi-purpose".
The author also names the specializations: free, defensive, support and assault.
The role-group meme from the guide.
Commando
How a level 0 Commando sees himself.
The reality.
The Commando has no special niche: he can shoot from behind teammates or rush, but at level 0 rushing is out. Sitting behind teammates is not good either, because you will never level up that way. Best advice: stay with your team and kill as much as you can. Always keep with your team without hiding behind their backs.
Firebug and Support
How the Firebug sees himself.
Firebug in reality.
How the Support sees himself.
Support in reality.
These two are the main holding force. The Firebug can stop crowds of weak ZEDs from breaking through; Support holds the crowd with his shotgun and can also rush. But at level 0 it is hard: the Firebug in close combat is likelier to burn himself alive than to kill anything bigger than a Clot, and the Support's shotgun is not very effective at level 0, although it is perfect for the first three waves (assuming a 10-wave game). The tactic for both: do not charge in. Sit back and shoot until you can run around and kill everything.
Medic, Sharpshooter and Demolitionist
How the Medic sees himself.
Medic in reality.
The Medic is not a combat class but a support class, especially at level 0, and always. He should sit somewhere, shoot mutants a little and heal allies with darts.
The Sharpshooter.
The Sharpshooter should sit somewhere far away and shoot the biggest mutants with a rail gun.
How the Demolitionist sees himself.
Demolitionist in reality.
At level 25 the Demolitionist runs around blowing things up; at level 0 he will blow up himself. His job is to stay behind his teammates and throw "gifts" from there. Note that all these classes support the team; only the Medic supports by actually healing, and if he does it right his teammates will treat him well.
Berserker, Gunslinger and SWAT
How the Berserker sees himself.
Berserker at level 0.
At level 0 the Berserker is still a killing machine that can mow down crowds, but the crowds are more likely to mow him down. He should still run around and look for weak ZEDs, until he reaches level 15 and can go cut up the fat crowds.
How the Gunslinger sees himself.
Gunslinger at level 0.
The Gunslinger is not cool at level 0. He should stay in the first position with his teammates, and only occasionally, when there are few ZEDs ahead, go ahead and play the hero. If there is a Scrake, he becomes a steak.
How SWAT sees himself.
SWAT at level 0.
SWAT should run around and chop up crowds of weak ZEDs with the P90, but at level 0 stay with your teammates and shoot heads of weak ZEDs.
Conclusion
If you read this, you will survive Hell on Earth at level 0 if you are lucky. The author finishes with a request to like and comment, and a link to his earlier guide about the in-game economy.
For a more practical look at the perk roles on Hell on Earth see HoE perk roles.
FAQ
- Should you play Hell on Earth at level 0?
- The author calls it a bad idea that he does himself often, and says it only works if you are already a very good player.
- What is the general rule at level 0?
- Stay close to your teammates without hiding behind them. Hide too much and you will never level up; rush ahead and you will die.
- Which perks should not rush in at level 0?
- Firebug and Support. Firebug tends to burn itself more than ZEDs larger than a Clot, and the Support shotgun is only good for the first three waves of a 10-wave game.
