Simple Survival Rules for Killing Floor 2: 9 Team Tips

This community guide collects simple rules the author found by observation and experience. They may seem obvious, but not everyone follows them, and they help in hard situations, especially on Hell on Earth. For more depth see Hell on Earth strategies and the beginner basics.

1. Movement and distance

Look around, do not stand still when threatened and let nothing get close. Unless you hold a position with a well-coordinated team, running in circles and picking off Zeds gradually will save your life.

Keep moving and keep enemies at a distance.

2. Supplies

Watch your ammo and health. People often die because they did not reload in time to finish an enemy, or did not heal to survive a hail of hits.

Keep an eye on ammo and health.

3. Economy

Kill weak Zeds with simple weapons or in melee and use powerful weapons only on strong ones. This matters most on Hell on Earth, where ammo is scarce: players who do not conserve end up running around empty, trying to fight with knives.

Do not waste strong ammo on weak Zeds.

4. Butt strike

Push first, shoot second. If mutants get close, hit them with the weapon butt and shoot only afterwards. Players often start firing, hoping to drop the attacker, and end up taking extra damage and wasting ammo.

Shove the enemy with the butt, then shoot.

5. Target priority

Strong Zeds deserve more attention than weak ones. Quickly remove those closest to you who block your view, and leave bigger ones for later, once the pesky trash is gone. Do not anger all the Scrakes and Fleshpounds at once: remove them one by one or it turns into chaos.

Closest trash first, then large Zeds one at a time.

6. Retreating

Assess the situation: if you cannot fight back, break away and run. Most survivors realize in time that it is time to leave rather than stand to the death.

Retreating in time beats standing to the death.

7. Stay with the group

Surviving alone is hard, especially on the last waves. With even one player nearby you will probably be covered. But do not rely on others too much: nobody will protect you all the time.

Stay close to your team.

8. Heal each other

Using the syringe on a teammate is more effective than on yourself: more health is restored and you earn money for it. This rule does not apply if there is a Medic.

Heal your teammate with the syringe.

9. Solidarity

If you have to leave the game, sell your weapons and give all your money to teammates, who need it more. Throw the dosh at players, not on the floor: often there is no time to shop with the trader, and even less to pick up scattered dosh.

A farewell gift to the team: your dosh.

A bit about classes

There are two kinds of classes: those good at clearing crowds of trash (Commando, SWAT, Support) and those better at large mutants (Gunslinger, Sharpshooter).

The most "troublesome" classes, which get in everyone's way and can set people up, are the Demolitionist, the Firebug and the Berserker constantly running in front of you. They usually anger all the Scrakes and Fleshpounds at once and create a circus.

The Medic "owes": if you pick Field Medic, do not expect to shoot much, you are by default obliged to heal everyone.

In the author's opinion Gunslinger and Sharpshooter are nearly useless against bosses.

A bit about behavior

Step into someone else's job only when it is clear they are not coping. For example, as a Commando do not try to kill a Scrake while a Sharpshooter meant for that is nearby and can do it cleanly. Let everyone do their own task. Do not run in front of others and block their view: bullets do not pass through you, so you only shield the enemies with your body.

Do not block the view or interfere with others.

Zed Time

Zed Time slows time and triggers randomly after a kill, letting you plan your attacks. The Commando is best at triggering and extending it, which makes large and dangerous mutants easier to kill. Important: near a Commando, do not kill weak mutants during the slow motion, or Zed Time resets and everyone loses the advantage. If you stand far from the Commando you can kill anything without the risk of breaking it.

Do not break Zed Time near the Commando.

Conclusion

The author hopes these simple rules help you survive the waves of mutants and win.

Good luck.