It’s safe to say that zombie-based media and entertainment is nowhere near as popular as it was between 2008 and 2013 when, for some reason, the world had a fascination with books, films, and video games featuring the undead creatures. However, the gaming industry has held onto many of the mechanics that were popular inthe zombie genre, such as base building and reward-driven killing reminiscent ofthe arcade era of gaming.Zombie Army 4: Dead Warwas released in 2020 and heavily leaned into the “reward-driven killing” side of the zombie game spectrum.
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One form of rewards available to players inZombie Army4is perks. The perks are similar tothose from theCall of Dutyfranchisein the sense that they offer players supplementary abilities that will give them a significant edge on the battlefield. Like any games with perks, the individual playstyle of players will often determine which are best for them, though the ten on this list will be the mostbeneficial for the majority of players.
Updated on August 18, by Patrick Armstrong:Players looking for a good zombie-killing experience have no shortage of options to choose from, but Zombie Army 4 stands out for its blend of fun mechanics. Its perk system allows players to distinguish themselves from every other battlecry-yelling, undead-blasting soldier on the battlefield, giving them an edge in certain circumstances.
With many perks and perk combinations to choose from, it can be hard to figure out which are the best. These perks make an excellent case for being the strongest in the game.
14Rejuvenation
Rejuvenation increases the max health that the player can regenerate, and though the player doesn’t unlock this perk until they’re quite a few levels into the game (64, to be exact),it’s a lifesaver once it’s available.Aside from the level requirement, unlocking this perk can be a challenge due to the prerequisite for unlocking gold: beating a level without being healed by other means.
With a literal army of the undead chasing the player in the hopes of tearing the flesh from their bones,it’s easy to see why having more health would be a welcome thing.It isn’t flashy or skill-dependent like some other perks, it just keeps the player in the fight a bit longer, and that’s all it needs to do to earn a spot amongst the game’s best perks.
13Tightly Knit
Some players prefer to play solo, tackling challenges without the assistance or input of others.Zombie Army 4can certainly be played that way, but it’s nice when someone’s around to have one’s back if everything goes wrong.
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Tightly Knit is a multiplayer perk built around good teamwork and clear communication,reducing damage when the player is near a teammate.This perk’s buff radius starts off at only 3m, which is too limited to be effective, but the 7m buff radius gives teammates a healthy amount of mobility and strategic wiggle room without shutting down Tightly Knit’s defensive bonus. For players who want a little more security when playing with others, Tightly Knit is the answer.
12Combat Medic
Combat Medic is an all-around healing perk with multiplayer in mind. It provides several healing-oriented buffs, transforming a killing machine into a character who can save lives as effectively asthey end them with their best weapons.
Combat Medic allows players to heal teammates using Divine Ammo, revive downed teammates faster, and increases Medkit usage speeds.Together, these healing buffs allow players to survive even the toughest battles against the dead. The fight might be messy, but as long as a player with Combat Medic is still standing, there’s still hope.
11Hardened
Zombies aren’t the smartest creatures around, so most of them must resort to killing players with their hands and teeth. While it’s nice that the majority of zombies aren’t running around with heavy weapons, being torn to shreds by hand isn’t much better. Hardened directly counters this, reducing melee damage.
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The number of zombies the player will encounter in melee combat throughoutZombie Army 4can be a little overwhelming, sohaving a built-in shield to reduce a chunk of incoming damage from melee attacks is extremely helpful.While it’s generally a good idea to maintain one’s distance and pick zombies apart from afar, the Hardened perk gives players another option, allowing them to play in a much more straightforward and aggressive manner than they otherwise could.
10Bulletproof
Bulletproof only narrowly makes it onto this list, as it was close to being replaced by Hardened. The Hardened perk is handy to have as it reduces damage taken from melee strikes, which is how most zombies in the game will attack.
However, Bulletproof makes it onto this list as although gun-wielding enemies aren’t as frequent, they’re far more difficult to deal with. The Bulletproof perk doesn’t make players immune to gunfire as the name suggests, though it’s still convenient to have equipped.
9Bombardier
On the complete other end of the spectrum to Bulletproof is Bombardier, an offensive perk that allows players to cause devastating amounts of damage with their grenades. The perk is perfectly suited forZombie Army 4as enemies tend to attack in crowded groups, making them prime targets for a well-placed grenade throw.
With the Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers all unlocked, Bombardier can make grenades a precious commodity.
8Sniper Focus
Considering how closely tied theZombie Armyfranchise is with theSniper Eliteseries, it should be of little surprise that long-ranged sniping is a very appealing strategy inDead War.
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The game’s snipers not only provide the devastating damage that one would expect, but they also let players utilize theSniper Eliteseries' Empty Lung mechanic to greatly improve their accuracy, letting them pull off headshots from incredible range.
7Enhanced Vigour
In any game that offers perks, an option to increase maximum health is almost always included, and it’s almost always one of the best options.Zombie Army 4is no different, as the Enhanced Vigour perk can help players survive some tricky situations.
Players won’t notice too much of a difference with the perk at its most basic form, but once Gold has been unlocked, the reduced delay in regeneration and overall increase to maximum health will make players wonder how they ever survived without it.
6Stamina Defence
Another perk that will help players from reaching an untimely death is Stamina Defence. The perk does exactly what it says on the tin, as enemy attacks will potentially reduce players' stamina instead of their health.
Similar to Enhanced Vigour, the perk can feel fairly lackluster when first equipping it, though it’s worth holding onto until Gold is unlocked, as it can make players feel like they have a second health bar.
5Pistol/SMG/Shotgun/Rifle Ammo Pouch
There are four Ammo Pouch perks inZombie Army 4that all provide the same benefits but for different weapons. The perk is worth equipping for players who heavily favor a specific weapon, as ammo can be fairly scarce in the game.
Moreover, having increased ammo won’t only help players prevent being stuck with just hand-to-hand combat as a final measure, it will also give them more confidence to use heavy weaponry and grenades, as they don’t need to worry about holding onto them in case their firearms deplete.
