"They're running! holy *ing sh*t they're fast!": Dealing with fast zombies

[Faran Brigo]

It ocurred to me that since fast and slow zombies are so different, and they seem to be all the rage, it would be a good idea to figure out tactics specifically to fight that kind. So, fire away

[mattifikation]

Well, with fast zombie encounters your first and primary goal would be to slow them down. The basic "shoot them in the head, or run away" strategy won't be useful until you've accomplished that task.

So I'll throw out a few ideas for putting these fast zombies in their place.

I have an idea for defending a base. Put razorwire around the perimeter, in concentric circles, at waist level. A fast running zombie would run right into it, and keep pushing through it until it was hopelessly tangled or sliced into pieces.

Fast zombies might be a situation where a shotgun really is useful. Buckshot fired into the legs, hips, or torso might damage the zombie's body structurally to the point where it falls over. With any luck, it won't be able to get back up - but either way, once it's on the ground the head is a much easier target. Basically, you're giving yourself a larger target with the first round, and a slower target for the second round.

Deep mud, scattered vehicles, lots of fences, and basically any obstacle that makes you slower will also make them slower. Use such things to your advantage, but more importantly, don't get caught in them yourself! The last thing you need is for something to slow YOU down.

[detpat]

I think a balanced fire team approach would be effective, a couple of high cap semi auto rifles capable of accurate ranged fire, maybe a couple of weapons capable of high volume or FA fire and several saiga shotguns for close range thumps.

[Victor Clark]

Well, if you're dealing with fast zombies, you'll need a lot more than a good pair of running shoes and a baseball bat to get through the whole pandemic without infection. One of the most helpful tools I would reccomend is a vehicle that can outrun them, like a car, a motorized bike, a bicycle, or at least some rollerskates. You might end up with more severe injuries if you crashed in a car than you would if you fell down, but at least you have a better chance of not being caught in the clutches of the undead. Another thing I would suggest is distractions. Anything that would get their attention off of you is good attention, and can be seen in greater detail in our decoys thread. But most of all, the best weapons you can use to be safe among fast zombies are guns, which can kill them at a greater distance than any melee weapon; and silence, which can help you dearly if you have no form of protection or knowledge of killing them.

[Augustus Desius]

Traveling with very little weight would be a high priority if the zeds could run. This would mean in order to survive a long time you would need a central base or a very abundant source of clean food and water that is fairly safe to hunt or gather in.

As for combating them, it's virtually impossibe if they aren't reliant on a cirulatory system as it's simply too hard to hit anything but the torso on somone who's moving quickly and erraticly. I think we would have to rely on traps and such in order to kill or at least slow them down.

Question: Can these things climb effectively?

[Faran Brigo]

No. They're fast but they still lack dexterity. And intelligence. Also, fast zombies only run when they detect pray, otherwise they just loiter around at a slow lurch like their slow brethren.

I agree the shotguns here would really shine. Claymores would be great for the same reasons, and to a lesser extent improvised explosives. Even crude traps like punji pits would slow them down. Hell, if you laid out some tense rope at irregular intervals I doubt they would have the dexterity or intelligence to jump over it or avoid it.

Speaking of rope, perhaps ensaring the zombies would be useful. By the time they get loose, you've had plenty of time to make headshots.

[Dave Of The Dead]

If a zombie was capable of running, it would rely on its muscles, tendons, and bones more than a slow zombie. With would make them easier to disable or slow down. Plus, if zombies can't repair themselves, then the fast zombies would wear out their muscles so fast that they would just become slow zombies or incapable of movement in a matter of months.

[Faran Brigo]

That would depend a lot on the time they spend "idling" so to speak. By the by, anyone recognize where the quote came from?

[Augustus Desius]

No clue, I didn't even know you quoted something, so I'm quite oblivious to it source.

As for traps, I'd like a combination of combined methods here, luring zombies into a trap of razor wire, pits, and well placed ropes or nets, and then finishing them with firearms or melee wepons if they are truely trapped or incapacitated.

[Hitman]

fast zombies is where the dispersal or rounds from short controlled burst of automatic fire will be a big help. think of it like a shotgun blast when you need it and like a rifle when you dont. one flip of the selector switch and putting rounds on a moving target becomes much easier. a couple of sceens in DOTD'04 come to mind . when they first get to the mall , several zeds spot them while walking . once spotted they break into a very fast run. I'd say 2 persons armed with M4's or decent subguns would stand a heck of alot better chance than 2 or 3 guys armed with pistols and shotguns . good semi-auto rifles may do OK against that small of a group .

the garrage is one where its a larger # of zeds but they have room to run then a place to go. pelvic shots to slow them down would probly be a better shot to take than headshots. I could see improvised explosives working well in that area as well (toss it at the fallen comrade while he draws the zombies) . fire also seemed to work pretty well.

[Faran Brigo]

Honestly fast zombies are one of those rare ocassions in which I'd prefer a potent shotgun over a semiauto or automatic assault rifle in low caliber (relatively low, like 5.56. A battle rifle in .308/7.62 NATO would be much better of course).

[Lazerbeak]

One of the great things about being smarter than a zombie is you can plant a spiked pit trap in the middle of a field and then put up a huge sign saying "PIT TRAP AHEAD" and the zombies will still stumble into it while we literate humans can avoid the whole mess.

[Cenobite]

Do people really think that a dead corpse is capable of running? The two cancel each other out. If its dead then it wont run.

If youre thinking more of a 28 days type zombie, which technically isnt a zombie but has characteristics more of a feral animal then they will have all the characteristics of an animal. Fast, agile but not not always smart.

They will be fast but not that intelligent. They will jump over a 3 foot wall without much hesitation but will probably have a 50% chance in avoiding the barbed wire trap like was mentioned earlier.

Worst thing is they are full of adrenalin and if youve witnessed on tv or in real life, even humans when fully raged ignore pain. Making the fast zombies even more dangerous.

Best way is to separate them. Shooting them in the legs is the best bet, they will probably get up if you unload a pistol on them, but will drop like a brick when using a rifle.

When dealing with single advancing zombie using melee weapon, accurately placed blow to the head. If missed but still knocked the zombie out, step back, prepare and try again. If you noticed theyre down and seriously injured, finish them.

[mattifikation]

So... walking zombies are plausible and running zombies aren't?

[Behemoth]

Do people really think that a dead corpse is capable of running? The two cancel each other out. If its dead then it wont run.

If youre thinking more of a 28 days type zombie, which technically isnt a zombie but has characteristics more of a feral animal then they will have all the characteristics of an animal. Fast, agile but not not always smart.

They will be fast but not that intelligent. They will jump over a 3 foot wall without much hesitation but will probably have a 50% chance in avoiding the barbed wire trap like was mentioned earlier.

Worst thing is they are full of adrenalin and if youve witnessed on tv or in real life, even humans when fully raged ignore pain. Making the fast zombies even more dangerous.

Best way is to separate them. Shooting them in the legs is the best bet, they will probably get up if you unload a pistol on them, but will drop like a brick when using a rifle.

When dealing with single advancing zombie using melee weapon, accurately placed blow to the head. If missed but still knocked the zombie out, step back, prepare and try again. If you noticed theyre down and seriously injured, finish them.

Well lets say someone get bitten, they hide away & turn. When the emerge to feed it is if you think about it quite probable that this zombie will move faster than a 3 week old one. So my take on this subject, there would be both, it's just common sense.

[Faran Brigo]

If it's dead, it shouldn't be coming at you and trying to eat your flesh either. I don't think it's likely, but then again I don't think zombies, slow and fast, are likely either.

Best way is to separate them. Shooting them in the legs is the best bet, they will probably get up if you unload a pistol on them, but will drop like a brick when using a rifle.

Not just any rifle, it would have to be a high caliber rifle, and even so it could take several shots. You'd need something like an M1 Garand, or a battle rifle like a CETME or FN FAL. A submachinegun or assault rifle in smaller caliber would also get the job done though, but it would take more shots. I say this based on the reports of Taliban fighters not going down fast enough when shot with M16's in Afghanistan.

[Cenobite]

If it's dead, it shouldn't be coming at you and trying to eat your flesh either. I don't think it's likely, but then again I don't think zombies, slow and fast, are likely either.



Not just any rifle, it would have to be a high caliber rifle, and even so it could take several shots. You'd need something like an M1 Garand, or a battle rifle like a CETME or FN FAL. A submachinegun or assault rifle in smaller caliber would also get the job done though, but it would take more shots. I say this based on the reports of Taliban fighters not going down fast enough when shot with M16's in Afghanistan.

Well if youre lucky and then a couple of shots from any military assault rifle is good enough. AK, M4, AR-15...those things go through bone, no problem.

Shoot them in the shins. Zombie down.

Pistol may probably trip them...but I dont think it can shatter bone from distance, at least it will damage the muscle.

[Behemoth]

Well if youre lucky and then a couple of shots from any military assault rifle is good enough. AK, M4, AR-15...those things go through bone, no problem.

Shoot them in the shins. Zombie down.

Pistol may probably trip them...but I dont think it can shatter bone from distance, at least it will damage the muscle.

http://www.firearmstactical.com/images/Wound%20Profiles/9mm%20US%20M882.jpg
Pistol would work, depends on size of zombie.

[Faran Brigo]

I thought we were talking about body shots with 28 days later type "rage zombies". Body shots are enough to bring them down.

[john154]

Running zombies not too different from compemporary suicide bombers eh? Except instead of one that does a lot of damage you've got a butt load that each do melee damage. No space for lazy survivors in a fast zombie scenario. Stay frosty and check out this link: http://wbrinkman2006.home.comcast.net/~wbrinkman2006/Babbler2/zombie.html