be released."

Learn about the different types of Infected in Left 4 Dead, including The Infected, The Horde, Boomers, Hunters, and Smokers. Understand their attacks and how to defeat them.

These creatures aren't the slow-moving entities commonly seen on old-school zombie flicks. Fans of the more recent horror films may recognize these types of monsters: incredibly agile with very keen senses. If one spots you, they will not hesitate to run towards you in an instant. They are also somewhat smarter than your average... I don't really know. But they aren't always just sitting ducks.

Keep in mind that these things are not zombies, they are infected human beings. As a result, they will not try to eat your brains. As a result, you do not need to pull off a headshot for the win. Shooting an Infected anywhere will damage them and ultimately cause death. Of course, like most video games, aiming for the head is always the best idea.

The Infected are the easiest enemies in the game to take down. One headshot or a few bullets anywhere else will take them down. Use pistols or melee attacks on solo Infected, but use your secondary weapons when attacking groups.

The Horde

The Horde aren't really separate enemies, but they should be categorized by themselves. The Horde is a seemingly limitless amount of Infected that storm through areas in smaller, more manageable groups. There are four main ways of attracting the Horde.

1. Boomers. If a Boomer explodes or vomits on you, the nasty green goo will attract the Horde to your location.
2. Car alarms. The game will usually notify you if there is a car with an active alarm nearby. If the alarm is set off by being touched, it will go off in a noisy fashion and blow your cover.
3. Staying in an area too long. Simple as that. If you stay in an area for several minutes, the Horde will automatically appear to spice things up.
4. Sometimes you cannot help it. If you are stuck and need various mechanisms to proceed, such as opening a door or lowering a bridge, the Horde will show up to keep you distracted while your path opens up.

There is really no defense against the Horde. They usually come from all angles in an attempt to surround you. Try to hide in a corner or a small room to protect yourself. If you manage to find an area where the Horde is coming from: a hole, an alley, or a fence, stay near that location and blast them as they appear.

Boomer

Primary Attack: Vomit
Secondary Attack: Claw

Boomers are obese, slow Infected that usually make their presence through their strange bodily noises and gurgling. Plus, they are flat-out huge, so it is not too difficult to spot one of these guys. The Boomer's bile can attract the Horde to your location, so it is your goal to stay far away from these bloated freaks.

If you round a corner to find one right in your face, shove it away, then back up and kill it before it vomits on you. Stay far enough away, because the bile can still coat you as the Boomer explodes. Boomers are more bloated than fat, so a few shots are all that's needed to pop this big balloon.

If you are coated with the green stuff, your vision will be blurred for a few moments. It will be hard to see, but try to find closure in a closet or another secluded area. If another survivor is coated with Boomer bile, they will attract the Horde. You can either go to their aid or stay far away and let them deal with the mess.

Hunter

Primary Attack: Pounce
Secondary Attack: Claw

Hunters can easily be mistaken for Spider-Man who somehow found his way into a gray hoodie. Seriously, these Infected can somehow leap great distances and seemingly glide through the air like a flying squirrel. Hunters can leap onto sides of walls and can crawl at incredible speeds. Definitely stay on your toes and look at all angles when you hear the Hunter's distinct cries.

Hunters are almost always crouching or crawling on the ground. This makes them easily distinguished from other Infected. When you see a Hunter in a group of other enemies, make the choice of running away or taking out the Hunter first.

Hunters attack by pouncing on players. Once they have you in sight, they can jump on top of you from virtually any distance, slashing your face with their razor-sharp claws. You can do nothing but defend yourself as one of your teammates tries to rescue you. If you see a Hunter attacking your friend, either shove the Hunter off or shoot them with your weapon repeatedly.

Smoker

Primary Attack: Tongue Snare
Secondary Attack: Claw

I think several different names could accurately describe a Smoker, since they are so unique. Smokers have very long tongues that can be whipped around at incredible speeds, similar to a chameleon (good thing Smokers cannot change their color too). Smokers are identified by their coughing and high pitched, raspy voice, leaving one to assume that their name may be derived from possible bad habits in their previous human form.

Smokers attack by lashing their long tongue out at the survivors. Once you