The fun thing about zombie stories that are centered around viral outbreaks is that, much like real viruses, zombie viruses have the ability to shift and mutate. Obviously, real viruses don’t mutate that quickly, but that’s part of what gives zombie viruses their unique flavor of terror. The virus in Dying Light 2 has mutated like nobody’s business, giving rise to a cornucopia of different mutant monsters. Here are all the zombie types in Dying Light 2.
All Zombie Types in Dying Light 2
- Virals
- Biters
- Howlers
- Bolters
- Banshees
- Spitters
- Bombers
- Chargers
- Goons
- Demolishers
- Volatiles
- Revenants
Virals
When a basic infection crosses the critical threshold and a human succumbs to the virus, that’s when they stop being human and start being a Viral. As a fresh convert, the rot and rigor of the virus hasn’t set in yet, leaving them with most of their motor functions intact. They can run about as fast as a typical human adult and have the ability to climb flat walls. Virals are best fought at medium range, as they’ll attempt to pummel you instead of grappling you for a bite.
Biters
As the virus ravages a Viral’s body, it begins to shut down, impairing their movement and solidifying their limbs. Biters are more akin to the typical “slow” zombies in that they can’t move very fast or climb things, but they do tend to congregate. A couple are easily dealt with, but a whole crowd can become a bit of an obstruction. Biters also come in a couple of sub-varieties, those being Degenerates, which have almost completely rotted through and are even slower than regular Biters, and Hazmats, infected cleanup crews that wear fireproof suits and combustible gas tanks.
Howlers
Zombies, for whatever reason, have a tendency to stick together, perhaps as a remnant of their long-lost social compulsions. When one spots food, they’re quick to alert others. Howlers won’t antagonize you directly, but will instead let loose a piercing shriek that immediately alerts all other infected to your presence. The best course of actions for these guys is either a long-distance weapon or stealthy avoidance.
Bolters
When you’re dealing with myriad mutations, sometimes infected can start exhibiting strange behaviors. Case in point, the glowing green Bolters want absolutely nothing to do with you. If they see you coming, they’ll take off like a rocket. Of course, Bolters often carry highly valuable loot, so it may be worth your while to chase them down.
Banshees
The only thing worse than a zombie that can climb is one that can jump. Banshees have manifested potent acrobatic abilities, leaping high into the air and soaring long distances. When they jump at you, they’ll begin clawing at you with their long, sharp claws. Some will even use other zombies as springboards. However, after they land, they’re wide open for a few moments while they prepare to jump again.
Spitters
The Spitters have something stuck in their throat, and they would very much like to share it with you. Unfortunately, that something is caustic acid. Spitters will attempt to lob their burning loogies at you from a distance, but if you close in on them, they won’t know how to fight back.
Bombers
Another infected with a special present just for you, the virus has caused Bombers to sprout highly volatile pustules all over their bodies. The moment those pustules are disturbed, they’ll explode violently, taking a major chunk of your health if you’re too close. If you spot a Bomber, get as far away as possible and snipe from a safe distance.
Chargers
Similarly to Bombers, Chargers have developed strange growths all over their upper bodies. The difference is that these growths are as hard as solid stone, which is why the Chargers like to run at you and shoulder-check you. Of course, they can only run in a straight line, so if they miss, they’ll leave themselves exposed for quite a while.
Goons
The most unfortunate of the infected begin to have their bodily mass rapidly increase, boosting their size exponentially. This leads to the creation of a Goon, a comparatively gigantic infected that drags around an equally massive rebar club. Goons have difficulty supporting their own size, so while their swings are powerful, they’re very slow. Don’t get complacent, though; as you wear Goons down, they’ll become more aggressive, increasing in speed.
Demolishers
Demolishers are the next-worst thing to Goons, roughly equivalent in size and strength, but faster, more clever, and more resilient. While Demolishers can be handled with roughly the same tactics as a Goon, a fight with them will likely take longer and require you to be a bit more attentive of your surroundings.
Volatiles
If there was a zombie Olympics, the Volatiles would take home the gold every time. Rather than decomposing like normal infected, the virus has amplified the Volatiles’ muscular structure, turning them into peak physical specimens. They can run, climb, and chase just as well as you can, and a single hit from one will either kill you or mostly-kill you. Volatiles only come out at night or in dark areas, and are best avoided entirely.
Revenants
While not as physically strong as a Volatile, Revenants are highly dangerous for a different reason: their bizarre “wings” shed a toxic mist that both weakens you and empowers nearby infected. Not only that, but they can summon other infected to their side in a similar vein to the Howlers. To attempt to fight a single Revenant is to attempt to fight an entire horde of infected all at once. Thankfully, they only show up at GRE Anomaly Sites.
There you have it. Those are all the zombie types in Dying Light 2. For more related content and guides, you can check out our website’s Dying Light 2 section.
