# How to Play as Zombies

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As a <mark style="color:red;">**Zombie**</mark>, you're probably very upset that you died, so you have to make sure those humans don't win without you! Your main goal is to make life as hard as possible for the <mark style="color:blue;">**Human**</mark> team. Be a hard target to shoot by constantly moving, jumping around, spreading out the horde, and taking alternate paths that the humans might not expect you to come from! Plus, you've even got [**Mutations**](/tf2-zombie-escape-guide/general-overview/how-to-play-as-zombies/zombie-mutations-overview.md) to take advantage of or even nifty [**ZM items**](/tf2-zombie-escape-guide/elements-of-zombie-escape/items/common-items.md) that the map might let you play around with.

## **You'll also need a LOT of patience as a Zombie...**

Ideally striking at moments or places where Humans will be slipping up, remember that rounds can go afar as <mark style="color:yellow;">**\[30+]**</mark> **minutes depending on map.** <mark style="color:red;">**Zombie gameplay isn't going to be an instant roll for holding your W key and occasionally pressing E - it'll be "boring" to get launched backwards on repeat**</mark> - but if you've killed *one Human*; that c*an* be the momentum needed to roll the snowball effect into stopping them from winning or progressing to the next stage.&#x20;

~~*Or you just killed one of the many useless backstab farming spies, but hey maybe they'll switch to a good zombie class immediately after dying like an idiot.*~~

## I didn't one shot infect!

This version of TF2 ZE does get a bit more experimental with its overall sandbox of Zombie and Human classes than traditional ZE infect mechanics - so *<mark style="color:red;">**not all**</mark>* *<mark style="color:red;">**Zombies are equally built the same**</mark>* and as a result; will do occasionally do less damage depending vastly on weapon interactions and their base class damages listed in the individual [**Meet the Zombies**](/tf2-zombie-escape-guide/human-zombie-guides-stats-here/meet-the-zombies.md) pages.

* Some zombies such as Zombie Scout cannot one shot a Human and will take several hits to infect due to them being more akin to a support role.
* Some melee weapons equipped as a zombie might have a damage penalty - as weapons are balanced around Humans and typically carry the same stats over when infected.
* The Human being hit might have *extra* health! Most commonly through medic overheal, but sometimes weapons or map items give slightly more base HP.
  * *(Warrior's Spirit, Backscratcher, or Jarate Enzyme into Bushwacka are all good examples of weapons that can counteract higher HP individuals due to their increased damage values.)*

In the follow-up [**overview**](/tf2-zombie-escape-guide/general-overview/how-to-play-as-zombies/zombie-mutations-overview.md) page contains the TLDRs for each class and their **Mutations.** You will be able to utilize each ability after gaining <mark style="color:yellow;">**100 \*Enzyme**</mark>**,** which is only gained upon taking direct damage from humans. This will fade on its own after <mark style="color:yellow;">**\[30] seconds**</mark>, but being damaged will reset that timer - so make sure you watch your enzyme status!

{% hint style="info" %} <mark style="color:yellow;">**Note:**</mark> In-game *(and throughout the guide),* almost everybody refers to Mutations simply as **Enzymes** - a common misnomer.
{% endhint %}


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