DayZ takes place during a zombie apocalypse, where most of Chernarus’s inhabitants have been turned into the undead. Therefore, you must be cautious, as one wrong move and a fight with a “Zed” can lead to your death. Even as a seasoned player, confronting a horde of infected can still be a significant challenge. Thus, it’s crucial to have all the essential knowledge about this subject from the start to avoid dying in a silly fight with a zombie. Let’s take a closer look at the zombies!
Where to Find the Most Infected in DayZ
You will primarily encounter Zeds in larger cities and residential areas, as most people naturally gathered there before the apocalypse. However, the risk is high, as is the potential reward. Cities offer the most loot, but you must navigate past the zombies. The deeper you venture into the wilderness, the fewer infected you will encounter. Occasionally, you might find some undead near campsites, but in the forest, you'll be mostly free from infected. However, there is also little to be gained there, except perhaps wild animals.Different Types of Zombies in DayZ
Depending on their spawning location, there are various types of zombies that not only behave differently but also drop different loot. If an undead is carrying something, such as food, clothing, weapons, or other tools, you can recognize them by the plus symbol.
These are the types of zombies:
Civilians: The majority of zombies you will encounter are likely to be regular civilians. These are further divided into normal and weak infected. You should be able to defeat them without much trouble. You can recognize them by their everyday clothing.
Special Occupations: There are also special undead for professions like police officers, firefighters, or paramedics. They are always tied to specific locations and drop loot related to their profession. They can deal more damage.
Military: Military bases house the former personnel of such bases, making confrontations more challenging. Soldiers have more health and are stronger. There are also soldiers with bulletproof clothing and officers with a lot of health.
Runners: Very rare are the so-called “Runners.” They are extremely fast and cannot be shaken off, no matter how far you run.
Screamer: “Screamers” can attract many zombies by screaming loudly. They look like soldiers.
Recognizing and Responding to Zombie Behavior
The undead in DayZ exhibit three fundamental behavior patterns. Normally, they roam slowly or stand still intermittently without becoming aggressive. If they notice you or another player, they enter their search mode, actively looking for movement.
If a zombie spots you, it switches to its aggressive mode. It runs directly at you, grumbling or screaming. They cannot chase you forever but will follow you for a considerable distance. You can shake them off by moving far enough away and then lying down or crouching. Of course, you can also choose to fight!
Combat Techniques in DayZ Against Infected
Once you become familiar with the combat system in DayZ, encounters with the undead should no longer be a problem. We already have a complete guide on melee techniques that should definitely help you out (The Ultimate Melee Guide for DayZ: Techniques and Weapons) .
Your primary tactic should be to block and move backward. This way, you take no damage and can keep a handful of zombies at bay. Most zombies attack with two strikes and then pause for a few seconds. That’s your moment to strike! Even better are powerful blows that make them stagger. Pay attention to your stamina.
Establish a good rhythm, and you can kill regular zombies in about four hits. Always aim for the head, maybe even a bit higher, as the hitbox in DayZ isn’t entirely accurate. This deals the most damage!
Avoid these things when fighting zombies:
Using firearms against infected: Melee combat is simpler, makes less noise, and doesn’t attract more zombies or players.
Climbing on cars: You become a target for other survivors.
Avoid taking damage: Injuries can lead to infections. Heal quickly after a fight.
Don’t fight too many zombies: They can overwhelm you faster than you’d like.
Locking Zombies in Houses
An additional tactic against the undead is to lock them in houses. This gives you peace from them. Zombies aren’t very smart, so use that to your advantage.
Find a location with only one exit. Run in circles to gather Zeds within your radius. Block to avoid taking damage, then enter the building. Lure the zombies inside and close the door. Know beforehand where the doorknob is located.
Conclusion
Even though the infected in DayZ may seem threatening, they can still harm even experienced players. It’s essential to handle them correctly. Decide whether to confront them or avoid them. Rent your DayZ server and compete with friends against hordes of zombies. A PvE server with more aggressive undead could be exciting!
