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Dead-island-zombies

The common zombies of Dead Island

Zombies are the reanimated corpses of deceased humans infected with Pathogen HK. During the zombification process, the pathogen reverts any infected individual to a primitive, cannibalistic state, driven by a hunger for flesh, making them extremely hostile towards non-infected survivors. They can easily identify non-infected persons and will attempt to infect or incapacitate (and eventually consume) them. Showing low brain functionality and little hints of intelligence, they attack mainly with their arms or basic handheld melee weapons. Therefore, Cutting / breaking a zombie's arm or knocking them down will prevent any usage of weaponry - whether a handheld object or their open fist - as they tend to become stunned or drop their current weapon.

Dead Island[]

Common Zombies[]

Walker[]

Wiki walker

Walker

Walkers make up the majority of the undead across Banoi Island and Palanai Island and are visually distinguished by their partly eaten and decayed bodies. They are most dangerous in groups, where their slow speed is less of a disadvantage. Walkers are also fairly quiet at a distance and can be difficult to spot in darker areas. Often, they can be found lying on the ground or sitting up motionless, waiting for an unsuspecting survivor to come within range.

Their speed ranges from a slow shambling movement to a fast paced jog and they may also attempt a last moment lunge attack. A special defense against Walkers is when the Hero is grabbed by one, requiring a quick combo to throw it off without damage (the Walker takes slight damage from a punch to the face). This is an automatic defense and isn't controllable (other than keeping Walkers at a distance). In some areas, this mechanic is actually used as a trap.

Walkers occasionally spawn with melee weapons they will use against the player, which slightly increases their reach and damage dealt to the player. Walkers will often throw their weapons at the player when they get the chance, which can be deadly, especially if the zombie is carrying an edged weapon.

A Walker will die if both their arms, one of their legs or their heads are removed. This is easy to accomplish with a weapon or the "curbstomp" attack. When knocked down, they may also break a limb or even their neck (the latter is rare but kills the Walker instantly). Jump kicks in particular are likely to cause a limb loss and will always knock one down. Even bare fists can break a Walker's arm (easy to do when they are knocked down).

Infected[]

Wiki infected

Infected about to run at the player

The Infected appear to be early-stage zombies which are still undergoing the zombification process, leading them to lose their higher brain functions to the point of mindless instinctual rage. They are much faster than their Walker counterparts, but are also significantly weaker, making them weaker in fights. These zombies are easy to deal with when fighting off one or two, but are extremely dangerous in groups, and should be engaged with caution. Their approach is often preceded by a pose where they spread their arms and lean backwards, accompanied by a notable high-pitched screech. They are fast, agile, vicious, and, because of their speed, are hard to keep track of during close combat. Also worth noting is that in Act IV, Infected tend to carry weapons and use them quite effectively. They can also climb low walls and other stationary objects to get to the player. This is especially a threat in the Quarantine Zone area of Moresby, where the Infected can climb scaffoldings and other platforms to reach the player. The Infected are distinguishable by their clean, almost fully human appearance since their bodies haven't yet succumbed to the effects of decomposition.

It is speculated that the Infected aren't actually dead, but rather are insanely deranged living humans in the late stages of infection. This is reinforced by their lack of physical damage or decay. Notably, if one listens closely to an Infected, they may occasionally hear a strangled "Help me!". Other zombies such as the Suicider can also be heard saying this.

Infected are first encountered in the hotel when the player wakes up, but are instructed to run as they are unarmed and unprepared to fight them. The first Infected the player encounters which must be killed are in the quest Exodus, after the Hero leaves the surf shop.

Infected will die if any limb is severed or disabled. This usually requires a weapon to accomplish (or the special "headstomp" attack).

Special Infected[]

Thug[]

Wiki thug electrocuted

Thug being electrocuted

Thugs are the first special infected the Hero comes into contact with. They are physically much larger and broader than ordinary zombies and deal great damage with every hit. Most of the time, the Hero will be knocked down if a Thug lands a hit on them. They are frequently accompanied by several Walkers. Thugs have an unmistakable roar and can be heard from far away.

In melee combat, the best and easiest way to kill a Thug is to aim for its arms first with a blunt or sharp weapon. If one aims for their head or chest, they will be able to attack the survivor with their undamaged arms. Breaking or cutting off a Thug's arms will force it to attack with a short-range headbutt / bite. Breaking its neck, as well as disabling its arms, will eliminate all of its attacks and will cause the Thug to simply follow the Hero. Attacking them from a distance is safer but slower than hit-and-run attempts (powerful throwables like grenades, deo bombs, and molotov cocktails are really effective). Occasionally a Thug will fall down due to collision with a terrain object, which makes it very vulnerable to the special "headstomp" attack. If killed by a "headstomp" the XP received is the same as for a Walker.

Thugs will roar after every second successful attack from the player, creating a window of opportunity for more attacks. However, landing melee hits on a Thug while his roaring animation is playing will sometimes interrupt the animation. In that case, the Thug will be quick to respond with a punch towards the player, so caution is necessary.

In Dead Island, Thugs are first encountered in the Lifeguard Tower during Act I, when the player clears out the Lifeguard Tower during Exodus. However, they can be met at the quest Waterdance before this.

In Dead Island: Riptide, Thugs are first encountered near the end of the Prologue after the Hero meets up with the BIDF Soldiers.

Suicider[]

Wiki suicider

Suicider in Moresby

Suiciders are the second special infected the Hero will encounter. Suiciders are zombies with disfigured, bloated bodies which are pulsing from unknown reactions caused by the virus. They retain a semblance of awareness, their instincts driving them to seek help from the uninfected survivors. When they get close, they will violently erupt in a self-destructive explosion. It is advised to listen for their distinctive distorted screech - which can sometimes include a cry for help ("Help me!") - to avoid being ambushed by them.

If too close to a Suicider when it detonates, death is guaranteed to be instantaneous for zombies and humans alike. Even being inside a vehicle will not shield the Hero from the blast if they are close enough. The best way to kill them is to attack from a distance or walk close until they're about to erupt, then run away. Killing a Suicider by throwing a melee weapon at him will definitely decrease the durability of the weapon, and if it's weak enough, may even destroy it. A Suicider's explosion will also cause nearby objects like propane tanks, explosive barrels or wall-mounted fire extinguishers to explode.

Suiciders are easy to kill with ranged attacks, having even less health than an Infected. They are also very unstable and easily knocked down. If they fall down, their inability to get back up causes them to self-destruct. Any thrown object that hits a Suicider (crate, brick etc.) will cause it to fall down.

In Dead Island, Suiciders are first encountered during the quest Black Hawk Down in Act I. In Dead Island: Riptide, Suiciders are encountered along with Thugs when the Hero meets up with the BIDF Soldiers in the Prologue.

Ram[]

Wiki ram

Ram in the Slums

Rams are extremely tough, tall, strong and determined. These undead were either already crazy before the outbreak or were restrained after being infected in an attempt to prevent them from infecting others. Now, they single-mindedly pursue any survivors in sight and attack them by charging at full-force. If a survivor is spotted by the Ram, it will charge in a straight line towards them while giving off a loud, wild roar. If a survivor gets close enough to them, they resort to a powerful kick attack. Their weak spot is a small patch of exposed skin on their back, as well as their exposed head. They take an extremely small amount of damage - usually less than 20 - anywhere else. An easier way to kill Rams is to drive over them in any vehicle, usually resulting in instant death. However, this is almost impossible in Moresby, where most Rams are encountered, due to the streets being littered with crashed and abandoned vehicles. Rams are especially dangerous in high-threat regions of Moresby, such as Shanty Town, because they will usually spawn together with multiple Walkers, Infected and/or Suiciders, potentially overwhelming players. It is also noted that Sam B is able to knock one down with his Tackle skill, although this is not possible when the Ram still has high health.

Modded weapons are quite effective against Rams. Fire, electricity, poison and bleeding all have full effect on them. Throwables like molotov cocktails and grenades, world objects like propane tanks, and attribute-bearing melee weapons are all great ways to attack a Ram.

Noted, firearms don't affect the ram as much as melee weapons do. You will want to get up close and personal.

In Dead Island, the first encounter is in Act II, where a Ram is attempting to break down the door to Saint Christopher's Church. Note that this Ram will not exit the bounds of the Church's yard to attack the player. In Dead Island: Riptide, a Ram is first encountered much later in the game, at Henderson's cinema while the survivors are looking for a new safe zone.

Floater[]

Wiki floater

Floater in the laboratory

Floaters are zombies that have been submerged in water for an extended period of time. They can often be found in the sewers as well as at several ponds and lakes in the Jungle and in a small number of areas in the Prison. A Floater's bloated, partially decomposed body produces a corrosive slime capable of hurting, blinding or disorienting enemies from a distance. Melee attacks often work better on Floaters than ranged ones, but it is recommended to be careful of their projectile slime when approaching from a distance. Floaters are impervious to incendiary and poison attacks, but are extremely vulnerable to any electricity-modded weapons. It is unknown if the corrosive slime is infectious.

Floaters have a single melee attack, performed randomly when the players are up close. They also have two separate ranged attacks. Other than being able to fire projectile slime over medium distances, they can also douse anything close to them with a full 180-degree sprayed stream. This attack can be devastating to players attempting to engage Floaters from the front with a melee weapon.

The first encounter with Floaters in Dead Island is during the Let the Waters Flow quest in Act II. In Dead Island: Riptide, Floaters are first encountered when looking for a boat around Palanai.

Butcher[]

Wiki butcher

Butcher chasing the player

Butchers are highly aggressive, much tougher versions of the Infected that slice and tear through survivors with their sharpened radial bones - the only remains of their forearms. Their leaping attacks and lightning-fast reactions make them rather dangerous and difficult to fight with melee attacks as they are quite adept at dodging them. They are vulnerable to two-handed weapon attacks, as well as firepower. Beware that, if below a certain amount of health, Butchers will perform photosynthesis, that will replenish all of their health. This happens mostly when the player fights Butchers for extended periods of time.

In Dead Island, they are not found until Act III when the player enters the Ghost Town in the Jungle. After reaching the middle point of the ghost town, a cutscene will play introducing the Butcher where it brutally attacks a survivor, then heads towards the Hero.

In Dead Island: Riptide, a Butcher named Ogre is first encountered when trying to find Marcus. It is found attacking the gates with multiple Walkers, as well as a Thug. Another Butcher can be found before this in a cave. Just like the Ram, they are not that common in the wild areas of Palanai and even more rare to find in Henderson.

Infected Orangutan[]

Infected Orangutan is a Infected Zombie never seen in the actual game but is mentioned by Roger Howard in Tape 8.

Dead Island: Riptide[]

Dead Island: Riptide features all of the same zombies from the original game and introduces several new zombies.

Common Zombies[]

Mutated Scientist[]

Mut 5f08f30177 b

Mutated Scientists are a type of zombie introduced in Dead Island: Riptide. They only appear inside the laboratory dome and act as normal Walkers. They will attempt to grab or hit a survivor as they walk past and they are easily identified by their clothing and gurgling roars. They are similar in appearance to Grenadiers, but wear white hazmat suits and have no ranged attack. However, like the Grenadier, the oxygen tank on their back can be punctured and detonated.

Drowner[]

Dead-island-riptide-drowners1

Drowners in Palanai

Drowners are a type of common zombie introduced in Dead Island: Riptide. They appear in heavily flooded areas and try to kill the player by grabbing them and pulling them underwater. They resemble a Walker or Floater due to their decomposition, as well as green discoloration on their remaining flesh. Drowners are classified as Very Fast in Dr. Kessler's Casebook and attack in a flurry just like the Infected. They are drawn by the sounds of survivors (running, explosives, gunshots) and they also tend to surprise their prey by leaping from the water and relentlessly attacking them. However, most tend to stay close to water and some will even retreat from land back into the water itself, though they will not play dead, instead mindlessly roaming until the player enters their immediate area once again.

Special Infected[]

Grenadier[]

Grenadier

Grenadier about to attack the player

Grenadiers are a type of special zombie introduced in Dead Island: Riptide. These zombies are infected scientists in hazmat suits that toss exploding, toxic pieces of their own flesh at the Heroes. In Dr. Kessler's Casebook they are classified as slow in movement. Their weak spot is the oxygen tank carried upon their backs. This will explode and kill them if punctured.

Wrestler[]

Riptide-wayne-mutated

Wayne turning into a Wrestler

Wrestlers are a type of special zombie introduced in Dead Island: Riptide. These zombies have a large, mutated arm that acts as a club to knock down the Heroes; either by swinging it or smashing into the ground. The Wrestler bears immense strength and is able to kill a survivor with 1-2 hits (the damage from a slow overhead strike is roughly half a health bar). It is classified as Very Slow, yet is stronger than a Thug if it lands a hit upon it's victim.

The first Wrestler encountered is when Wayne mutates into one after making your way through the sewers. He tells Purna (who notices something is wrong with him) that someone 'pushed' him. Harlow Jordan informs the group that she pushed him so that she could see what exactly the mutagen would do to someone who was infected with the virus. This means Harlow knew he was infected (she also states such). This seems to be corroborated by a cutscene prior to this boss fight, where Wayne is nearly bitten (or possibly is as he falls, which is also where Harlow may have 'pushed’ him near the boat on Palanai) which can lead to the speculation that he is infected.

Screamer[]

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First Screamer encounter

Screamers are type of special zombie introduced in Dead Island: Riptide. These zombies have the ability to emit a loud, piercing scream that can blur the vision of the player and disorient the Heroes. Their deafening scream will draw Infected and Walkers to the unfortunate survivor, whom is unable to react unless they move away from the wide range of the Screamer's scream. Oddly, the Screamer bears the voice of a female Infected, but appears as a male zombie (being that the Screamer is topless). In Dr. Kessler's Casebook, the Screamer holds a very fast movement pattern as they travel faster than the Infected. Interesting as well is that the Screamer appears to have been a test subject of some kind due to its appearance: Its brain is exposed and their heads bear an instrument which is used to restrain their neck movement and keep their eyes open. Additionally, the Screamers bear stitches on their shoulders and stomach.

The Screamer also has an alternate form. In Dr. Kessler's Casebook, the Screamer appears to wear a green dress which is torn, bloody and reveals "her" exposed internal organs as well as her knees (bones) and legs. The alternate appearance to the Screamer is topless and wearing green pants. This is speculated to be the male version, although it still uses the female infected voice. The version where it wears pants also shows "its" areola are missing, which appear to have been surgically removed from its body as opposed to being eaten. A small series of dash lines can clearly be seen on parts of its body as an indicator of future surgical plans.

Escape Dead Island[]

Shambler[]

EDI Snapshot 6

Shamblers are your basic zombie enemies. Like the Walkers from the main games, Shamblers are slow, dumb and easy to deal with. They're infected people who have undergone the full zombie process and are typical of stereotypical zombies. They die to most weapons Cliff can get a hold of and are only really dangerous when in large groups. Unfortunately, it's pretty rare to find one alone, as there's usually another one within earshot.

Spitter[]

EDI Snapshot 10

Spitters are another type of ranged zombie, they keep at range and spit toxic substances from their mouths. However, the Spitter is far more agile than the Floater, as well as being far thinner due to how they were created. Spitters also act as a sort of 'lookout' for nearby zombies, as Spitters are often encountered on higher vantage points overlooking wide areas, so they they can both spot targets easier and also run away safer than if they were on low ground.

Bouncer[]

EDI Snapshot 9

Bouncers are tough, unique zombies encountered on Narapela. They're fast like Infected and have a unique attack style. They can jump long distances and appear smarter than the average zombie, as they keep hidden and out of range before they attack, leaping in, attacking a few times before running off again.

Siren[]

EDI Snapshot 12

Sirens are very much a support style Zombie, one which assists fellow, more common and weaker zombies rather than one that works alone or as a fighter. While other zombies like Shamblers distract the survivor as fodder, a Siren sits behind them and disorientates the survivor with loud, piercing screams to distract them and put them off-balance to a point where the other zombies can get in a bite or slash to infect them. The Siren itself can still attack, and is far quicker than the common Shambler, but they will only do so after the survivor has been either disorientated by the scream or distracted by other zombies.

Insanity Zombies[]

EDI Shadow zombie explode

Insanity zombies are unique in the fact that they technically don't exist. They are a construct of Cliff Calo's failing mental state and likely are only visible to him. They only appear as Infected, and show no hallmarks of being fakes until either attacked or they expire after an unspecified time. This makes Insanity zombies difficult to spot, as their unique behaviour only occurs after you go for the attack.

Shadow Zombies[]

EDI Abstract zombies

Shadow zombies are unique in that they technically don't exist. Like Insanity zombies, they are a concept that Cliff made up due to his destabilising mind. However, these are far more crazy because while Insanity zombies look like normal zombies on the outside, Shadow zombies are almost like crystal or electrical forces. They still follow the behaviour of what they're trying to represent, but they look far different.

Dweller[]

20210818170838 1

Dwellers are a strange zombie but one of the deadliest. Out of all the variants, mutations and specialisations across the Banoi Archipelago, the Dweller is for certain the most dangerous. Dwellers are unique in that they have an interesting method of detecting prey. Their eyesight is terrible, which results in their hearing being superb. Complimenting this, they are tougher than Butchers and just as fast as them and Infected while doing more damage than a Butcher. Their one downside is that they have no ranged attack, which prevents them being a true apex predator.

Dead Island: Epidemic[]

Puller[]

Zombie-puller-artwork

The Puller is a new type of zombie featured in Dead Island: Epidemic. It moves on all fours, similar to that of a crab, and has an elongated tongue. Its tongue is used to grab survivors and pull them towards himself.

Looter[]

DIE looter

The looter was a special type zombie in Dead Island: Epidemic. They are similar to Walkers but carry a bag and are stronger.

Veteran[]

Veteran was another special zombie in Epidemic, Like the Looter they're an armoured like version of the walker, and as the name says they're a military soldier veteran.

Dead Island: Retro Revenge[]

Zombie Dog[]

Zombie dog

Zombie Dogs are just that, dogs who have been infected by the virus and are now actively seeking out living like any of the other infected. They're quite fast, perhaps not quite as fast as Hyenas but certainly faster than Walkers. They'll run at Max down one lane but they have no ranged attack and will not switch lane.

Leader[]

Leaders are an interesting zombie as they aren't really leaders. They can appear at the head of a line of zombies that follow it, but this is an exception rather than the norm. Their thin appearance can be deceiving as they are actually rather strong, more so than Walkers, but despite this they retain slow movement and no range attack.

Stomper[]

Stompers are great, hulking zombies that have a commanding presence wherever they are found. With thick, powerful legs and arms that end in claws, Stompers are not something you want to meet and tangle with in the street. Very little compares to them and they're unique with their Shockwave Stomp ability, increasing their danger further than it already is.

Hyena[]

20210909160713 1

Hyenas are just like the Infected found in the Banoi Archipelago, faster versions of regular Walkers. However, these ones are tougher than the Infected in the archipelago. They're fast and can be dangerous, especially when in large numbers. While they can't change lanes themselves, hitting them can cause them to move to one of the adjacent lanes.

Dead Island 2[]

Common Zombies[]

Walker[]

DI2 Walker

Walkers are the most common zombie encountered. They are slow and can be easily maimed with sharp weapons. Walkers will attempt to grab player if they get too close. While they are not much of a threat by themselves, they pose a great danger when in groups. Walkers have various variants that grant themselves different abilities and resistances.

Runner[]

DI2 Runner render

Runners are a type of zombies featured in Dead Island: Epidemic and Dead Island 2. Their behaviour is similar to that of a normal zombie, except they are able to run at increasingly faster rates. Runners replaced Infected from previous games, and like them will relentlessly chase players once alerted. Additionally, Runners can dodge heavy attacks and can push players back to interrupt any attack similar to what Infected also did in Dead Island and Dead Island Riptide.

Shambler[]

DI2 Shambler render

Shamlers are zombies who have entered advanced stages of decomposition. While they are similar to Walkers and are capable of grabbing players, they are much slower and weaker and can be killed easily.

Crawler[]

Crawlers are Walkers, Runners, or Shamblers who have had one or both of their legs severed. They are extremely slow and can only do minimal damage to players.

Apex Variants[]

Crusher[]

DI2 crusher render

Crushers are large zombies with incredible muscle and the result of larger, muscular people becoming zombies like their Thug ancestors. Their punches deal high damage and they are able to create shockwaves by pounding their fists into the ground. Breaking or cutting of their arms disables their ability to throw strong punches.

Slobber[]

DI2 Slobber render

The Slobber like Floaters from previous games, are able to vomit projectile acid inflicting caustic damage to players.

Screamer[]

DI2 Screamer

Screamers are capable of performing loud shrieks that push players back and slows their movement. This also makes nearby zombies more aggressive and places them in a frenzy.

Butcher[]

DI2 Butcher

Butchers are similar to their counterparts from previous games only difference being they are more of a superior stage 2 of a Butcher. They are highly aggressive and use the blades growing out of their hands to inflict heavy damage.

Mutator[]

DI2 Mutator

Mutators are the strongest Apex Variants, sporting a high amount of health and inflicting heavy damage. They are first encountered at Ocean Avenue during the main quest The Search for Truth, and are then encountered in certain hot spots across Los Angeles.

Zombie Challenge[]

Name Challenge Description Reward
ZOMBIE HUNTER
ZOMBIE HUNTER 1 Complete 1 zombie challenge $1000
DAMAGE+
ZOMBIE HUNTER 2
ZOMBIE HUNTER 3
Name Challenge Description Reward
CLEANING HOUSE
CLEANING HOUSE 1 Slay 50 zombies while playing the game as any slayer $250
ALL DAMAGE+ = +0.5% damage
CLEANING HOUSE 2 Slay 100 zombies while playing the game as any slayer $500
ALL DAMAGE++
CLEANING HOUSE 3

Zombie Leveling[]

The level of enemies are based on the character level of the player, meaning that the levels of anyone else won't matter. This only applies to both the original Dead Island and Riptide, as they are the only games to feature co-op, while Epidemic just went off the highest player's level in the match.

Enemy Health
# Players Enemy Health Multiplier
1 x1.0
2 x1.25
3 x1.75
4 x2.25
Enemy Damage
# Players Enemy Damage Multiplier
1 x1.0
2 x1.1
3 x1.2
4 x1.3

Notable Zombies[]

Boss Zombies[]

Boss zombies are new, special zombies present in Dead Island: Riptide. Each boss zombie has different abilities. The majority are found in specific Dead Zones throughout the game. There are a total of 13 to be found.

Trivia[]

  • The game was not released in Germany due to the amount of violence. Dead Island was sold in some German online stores such as Amazon Germany for a limited time. It was indexed in November 2011[1].
  • Sam B and Angel are the only characters in the game to call zombies by their actual names.
  • While zombies sometimes carry usable weapons, this does not appear to affect the amount of damage they do, although it may slightly increase their reach. When zombies throw their weapons at the player, it should be noted that they will not detonate propane tanks.
  • Despite the Infected being able to climb objects, they cannot climb on top of cars or onto roofs of buildings, and they appear to be unable to use ladders.
  • Zombies are never shown to eat the flesh of any live, moving victims (outside of the game's trailer). They either wait until their victim is incapacitated or dead before consuming them.
  • Also, if the Hero is knocked down, zombies will not attack. They will patiently wait for the player to get up.
  • In the Tape Recording #08, it is mentioned that the car hit an infected orangutan. However, infected animals are never encountered in game.
  • There are no infected children in the game because rating systems like the ESRB disallow depictions of violence against children. Still, there are three examples of undead children mentioned, though they aren't seen in game: the Daughter from the trailer, the ten-year-old boy Andrew Meisner had to kill in Ryder White's Campaign DLC and a six-year-old girl mentioned in Tape Recording #06.
  • Zombies are susceptible to drowning. If a zombie's head is submerged it will take damage over time, but will often not die unless heavily damaged. Fortunately, drowned zombies do not become Floaters or Drowners.
  • Zombies will almost always die when set aflame (apart from Floaters, who are fireproof). Even if the fire doesn’t kill them, they will be left with such little health that one hit from most weapons will finish them off.
  • Though officially unknown, it is speculated that the special infected came to be through existing genetic mutations interacting with their infection or as a result of the locations they were in at the time they were infected.

References[]

Gallery[]

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