Dealing with Special Infected: The Hunter

**Knee of Justice** · 09-02-11, 06:08 PM

Starting with the hunter, because it's probably one of the most misunderstood infected amongst newer players. I apologize for the... "abstract" imagery, but a visual explanation is the best way to explain deadstopping, and I didn't have a picture of a hunter in-game. Courtesy to Blonde for helping me get the side-view hunter picture. The front-view picture is from google images.

first thing I'm gonna tackle is deadstopping. Use the picture above as a "guide" to know when to start shoving... keep in mind, it is ping dependent. I usually have about 50-70 ping however, which is the average for most TPGers. Next I'll probably make pictures or write out some more ways to deal with hunters.

Feedback would be greatly appreciated

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EDIT: I messed up a little on the hitbox. the red area should not be behind the hunter. I'll fix that now

**rush2049** · 09-02-11, 06:16 PM

The hunter hitbox for pouncing on you depends on connection as you said, but it also depends on what direction they are flying. if they are leaping from really high or far away and are mostly free-falling with little sideways movement (aka falling on your head) the hitbox is more tall than sideways.

If they are pouncing and are traveling more sideways than vertical (middle of pounce arc, or beginning of a pounce) then the hit box looks more like the red area you have up there....

A tip for dead stopping from me is: swing from the time they are 1/2 (top of the parabola) the way to you or less. And spam the melee button if you miss the first one.

But really, dead stopping, while it is nice, doesn't really make or break the game. If you are able to jump/run/bunny hop out of the way so they miss you, I think that is just as good as dead stopping. And it can be applied to chargers/jockeys/tanks as well.

**Savage** · 09-02-11, 06:20 PM

Swing early.

**Knee of Justice** · 09-02-11, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by rush2049

But really, dead stopping, while it is nice, doesn't really make or break the game. If you are able to jump/run/bunny hop out of the way so they miss you, I think that is just as good as dead stopping. And it can be applied to chargers/jockeys/tanks as well.

yeah I know, but people always ask. I'll make that a point later when I get around to writing more about the hunter.. probably later tonight.

**Thorsen** · 09-03-11, 12:27 AM

Originally Posted by Knee of Justice

yeah I know, but people always ask. I'll make that a point later when I get around to writing more about the hunter.. probably later tonight.

Deadstopping is a LOT better if you can nail it. That's because it ends the threat completely. You stop the SI in their tracks and are free to dispose of them. If you simply side-step, you and your team still have an SI capable of capping/distracting/scratching on the loose.

**WinterSays** · 09-03-11, 03:33 AM

Used downed players as shields from hunters jumping from the same z-level as you.

**rush2049** · 09-03-11, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by Thorsen

Deadstopping is a LOT better if you can nail it. That's because it ends the threat completely. You stop the SI in their tracks and are free to dispose of them. If you simply side-step, you and your team still have an SI capable of capping/distracting/scratching on the loose.

Yea, but unless you are super confident in your ability to nail it.... Ok lets just say it is another one of those: "If you are more experienced you will find this the better option, but if you are less experienced work on it, but don't rely on it"

**Morningfrost** · 09-03-11, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by WinterSays

Used downed players as shields from hunters jumping from the same z-level as you.

I use other players that AREN'T downed as meat shields for the hunter. I then promptly pick off the hunter while it remains immobile and before it does more than token damage, saving the day and being the hero

**Thorsen** · 09-03-11, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by rush2049

Yea, but unless you are super confident in your ability to nail it.... Ok lets just say it is another one of those: "If you are more experienced you will find this the better option, but if you are less experienced work on it, but don't rely on it"

Quite right. Don't rely on something you aren't confident in your ability to do. Although you should go for it some times just in order to learn.

**rush2049** · 09-03-11, 02:15 PM

I only say comments that could be perceived as negative because I don't like giving unrealistic advice.... some people won't be able to dead stop. That's the truth. Just like some people can't shift fast enough to get a 2 second 0-60 mph time......

Perhaps i should leave disclaimers to my advice: 'Rush's advice is sometimes harsh, but attempts to give easy realistic goals to improve. He'll never yell at you for being worse than someone at the game and likes to play with people that are fun to play with, not always to win.'

Yea that about sums up my game playing strategy. Get better if you can, if you can't oh well, enjoy it anyways.