The Atrium

"CEDA's not gonna save us. Any ideas?"

- Nick

"Okay, So plan A is to find this car...Plan B is we stay in this mall and die."

- Rochelle

The Atrium is the final chapter to the Dead Center campaign. In gameplay terms, it is a derivative of Scavenge Mode requiring players to collect a set number of Gas Cans depending on game mode (e.g. in Single Player mode the target number is eight cans and AI bots will not help complete the task) and refuel a stock car while under attack from Common and Special Infected―including Tanks.

Finding Liberty Mall completely overrun and abandoned by CEDA, Ellis comes up with the idea of escaping in Jimmy Gibbs Junior's stock car, which fortuitously had been put on public display in the mall just before the Infection hit Savannah. Unfortunately for safety reasons the car has had its gas tank emptied and this requires the Survivors to scurry around the zombie-infested mall atrium retrieving a requisite number of Gas Cans and pour them into the car's gas tank before the car can be started and rammed out of the mall's front doors.

The chapter opens with the Survivors entering the mall atrium and instantly gaining the sickening realization that, yet again, CEDA has failed them and they must fall back on their own wits and resources in order to escape. Ellis' stock car escape plan is quickly conceptualized as they descend to ground level in an elevator and put into effect immediately thereafter. Gas Cans are distributed singly and in pairs in three zones in the mall atrium: the ground floor, up the stairs to the stock car's right-rear, and up the stairs to the car's right front quarter.

An ammo pile and four health packs are in plain sight on the counters of a central atrium service kiosk.

Common Infected spawn as a series of mini-hordes seemingly triggered by players entering a map hot spot. As a general rule, these are not particularly daunting on account of their small group sizes and the long distances they must cover in order to attack players (for example, they are nowhere near as numerous as their counterparts in Dark Carnival's The Barns gauntlet crescendo event). In the normal scheme of things, Tanks appear twice in this finale and follow the usual choreography of appearing after a momentary lull in Common Infected activity. Special Infected do make a sporadic appearance, but again these are somewhat underrepresented.

Campaign
The Survivors start in a hallway with two bathrooms which should be searched as they usually contain helpful items (i.e.; pills, adrenaline, defibrillators and the occasional ammo upgrade pack). The hallways then lead out to an elevator on the top floor of the atrium, which is to be the finale's venue. As they approach an elevator across a sky bridge, game characters will take stock of what they see and express their dismay at, once again, having been left in the lurch by CEDA. Inside the elevator, Ellis will explain his plan of fueling up Jimmy Gibbs Jr.'s stock car and driving it out of the mall to New Orleans. The finale starts when the elevator doors open.

Depending on the game mode, the Survivors will have to get a certain number of gas cans: eight cans in Single Player, 13 in Campaign or Realism (even on a local server with three bots) and 13 in Versus.

Important: Co-op teams must be very careful not to shoot the cans accidently; this will destroy them, creating a giant fire and forcing a wait until they respawn.

Tactics for Gas cans during The Atrium include:
 * Adrenaline cuts pouring times in half, so a good tactic is to pile the required number of cans up next to the car, take an adrenaline shot and start pouring.
 * Throw Gas Cans down from the upper floors and retrieve them later.
 * If time permits, throw down an extra can as this may be easier and faster to retrieve later.
 * If a vital gas can lands on the kiosk roof, it will be necessary to climb at least partway up the stairs and make a jump for it.
 * Have only one Survivor at a time pour gas into the car. Attempting to pour while someone else is doing likewise is impossible and the game will post a caption saying, "Wait! Another Survivor is pouring!"
 * Bringing a Gas Can from the preceding chapter counts towards the final total of cans needed to complete the finale.
 * Do not put gas in the car while being healed as this will cause the game to freeze.
 * AI Spitters cannot destroy gas cans like they do in Versus. Even if they hit a gas can with an acid patch, the can will not be destroyed (though the yellow aura will flicker as it does in Versus or Scavenge).

Co-op Team Tactics: In an all-human co-op team, work in pairs instead of as a group when throwing the cans down to spread out the horde and make the process quicker. This plays to the fact that the horde is programed to pursue the center of mass of the Survivor group. Pairing up confuses their logic and forces them to spawn the horde farther away and in fewer numbers.

When operating as a two-person team, have one person act as cover protection against Special Infected (i.e. Hunters, Smokers, and the like) while their buddy grabs the cans. In this regard, the above-mentioned tactic of throwing the cans down to the ground floor regularly frees both players to operate in run-and-gun mode as they move to and from stock car gas can locations.

Have one or two players camp near the car and ready to fill up the gas, and the rest look for gas cans is a good tactic.

When playing solo, the Survivor bots will follow the human player around as they cannot collect gas cans. Again, the can throwing tactic mentioned above is well suited to this mode of play.

Speed is of the essence as a Tank will spawn after a set number of waves of Infected. The bottom floor of the atrium is very open, so his rock-throwing ability can be very deadly if cover is not found quickly. Fighting the Tank on the upper levels can also prove deadly, as he can potentially punch a player off and down into a fatal plunge to the ground floor. Molotovs and Bile bombs can be found all throughout the level, so they should be used liberally on the Tank.

In truly dire straits, a player can shoot one of the fuel cans to set a Tank on fire. Naturally this is tactic of last resort since it may be necessary to wait until the gas can respawns.

When the requisite number of gas cans have been poured into the stock car it is simply necessary for all Survivors to stand on the car's podium to signal success and play the cut scene.

Important: When the last can is ready to be poured, ensure all Survivors are on (or very close to) the podium because a never-ending horde and Tank are triggered the moment the last can goes in. This means that if one player is a long way away when the last can goes in they stand a real risk of being isolated and incapped - and even worse, holding the finale's conclusion in suspension until they have either died or have been resuscitated and brought to the podium. Failure to observe the "everyone on the podium, the last can's going in" principle has been the cause of many disappointing ends to otherwise highly satisfying episodes of game play.

The Survivors
The Survivors can use nearly the same tactics as in campaign mode. The only major difference is that human-controlled Spitters will purposefully try to destroy gas cans dropped from higher floors.

Half and half

This method requires two players to cover each other at the car, while the other two go around collecting gas cans and throwing them down to the two players on the ground. One person can pour the gas while the other person covers them. This is risky when doing Scavenge or Versus, as a pair of Infected such as the Hunter, Jockey, Charger, or Smoker may ambush the two stationary Survivors before they get the chance to save the other.

All for one and one for all

This method has all Survivors travel together to collect gas. Two players will grab gas cans, while the other two take care of swarms. Once you collect a pair of cans, DO NOT throw them down! Walk down and pour them both in, then go collect two more. This is a good strategy for Versus or Scavenge games since it prevents the Spitter from igniting cans that have been tossed down.

Risky Procedures

This method has (like All for one and one for all) all four Survivors traveling together. However, instead of simply going downstairs and pouring each gas can in, the Survivors toss several gas cans down, fairly separated from one another, and once a few have accumulated (usually every can on a given floor) the Survivors go down and pour them into the car. This is exceptionally useful if the players know that they can defend themselves well. However, it is also extremely risky, as Spitters will become your worst nightmare. Be sure to have at least one skilled sniper in the group to deal with the acidic fiend. Another method requires everyone to go alone, collect gas cans, and toss them down. This is the riskiest proceedure to attempt because multiple things could happen to each of the Survivors.

The Infected
Boomers: When playing as The Boomer cause as much havoc as possible. Vomiting on those with gas cans could cause them to panic and drop their can. This could also lead to shooting the can. A popular strategy in this level is spawning and waiting either behind the car (or in the upper floor levels right behind it), waiting for Survivors to start pouring, and puking on them. If you happen to explode next to a dropped (yellow) can, your explosion will send the can flying away.

Chargers: DO NOT attempt to charge from a height, because you will fail. Attacking groups or loners, The Charger is always the best shot. There are a lot of straight hallways that the Survivors must travel through to get cans. Also, a Charger can break through the glass railings on the upper floors while he's charging. If he manages to charge a Survivor off these ledges, it can cause incapacitation or death. Charging a Survivor while he/she is pouring makes an easy target for a charge, seeing as they can't move for a few seconds while pouring. The Survivor also drops the can, and can potentially be very far from the rest of the Survivors. At the top floor of the far staircase (by the car) a good Charger can pull off the '''Instant kill. '''As long as at least two survivors reach the base of the top floor section of the stairs you can charge one and send the other crashing to their death on the atrium floor below!

Hunters: Aim for those with gas cans—they will drop them directly next to you, and any savior with a shotgun is sure to hit it. If a Smoker has somebody, pounce someone else, preferably the ensnared Survivor's rescuer. Also, if you stand on the fourth story ledge, just above the car, and you wait until a Survivor tries to pour a gas can inside, they are helpless for a 25+ point pounce. Another spot for this devestating 25+ pounce is on the top floor to the right of the lift shaft when looking at the car. Crouch on the glass ledge and aim directly above the car enlined with the hight of the third floor walkway oposite. If lined up correctly you will be able to knock off 25 health from the unsuspecting Survivor. If you go to the 3rd floor and go to the cans on the right of the staircase, a Hunter can hide in the hole above it. There is also a closed door in the hole that doesn't lead anywhere.

Jockeys: Aim for Survivors on their own—these can be easily dragged into the many closets where hordes spawn. When attacking groups, aim for Spitter goo or attack in a pair, one Survivor will take massive damage. Try to get Survivors that are pouring cans into the car (they are usually by themselves), plus there is a chance they might panic and drop the can, which a Spitter can easily destroy.

There is a spot on the third floor, between the stairs from the ground floor and the pillar next to it, that does not have a railing and never has any glass. It is easy to steer a Survivor off this ledge, forcing them to hang from it until someone comes to help.

Smokers: Go to a high vantage point in the atrium and cause plenty of damage. Remember, you need to be able to run away and recharge after an attack. Alert a Hunter to pounce your prey's rescuer and wait patiently. Smoking Survivors that are pouring is a great way to buy more time, separate the Survivors, and expose a can to be destroyed.

Spitters: Spitters are very valuable in this level, as they can hide in the upper levels (specifically the 4th that only Infected can access) and constantly spit on the car or any other high-value target on the lower floors. Spitter goo can ignite dropped gas cans (the ones with orange highlights). This is an invaluable ability when Survivors are throwing down cans from upper levels, as this will greatly delay the time it takes them to recover more cans. There is a spot right above the car which can be used on Scavenge and Versus. Simply wait here and spit at those trying to fill the car; you do not need to aim much.

Tanks: Remember to use concrete for those pesky, fast Survivors. If on the second floor, whack your opponent over the edges. Note: Tanks don't spawn in Scavenge mode.

Scavenge
In this level you can use nearly the same tactics used in Campaign mode. Keep in mind that:
 * Unlike campaign mode, the amount, location, and types of supplies always stay the same. Gas cans are always in the same location, as well.
 * There are now 16 possible cans to collect. 3 are on the 1st floor, 7 are on the 2nd floor, and 6 are on the 3rd floor.
 * No Tanks spawn in Scavenge mode
 * All Survivors automatically start with a medkit and pills
 * There are 3 adrenaline shots on one of the kiosks in the safe area. These can prove to be valuable (as you run faster and can't be slowed down while carrying the cans), can revive teammates quicker, and can fuel the car quicker.
 * There are usually multiple items laying around the can locations (i.e. Pills, Molotovs, and even Tier 2 weapons)

Easter Eggs

 * The stock car and its driver are likely references Dale Earnhardt Jr., a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver who drives the 88 car and Richard Petty who drove a Dodge Daytona and a Plymouth Superbird in 1969-70, respectively, in NASCAR with the characteristically huge spoiler and blue paint. He would get his name from 5-time NASCAR champion owner Joe Gibbs.
 * The Uncommon Infected is Jimmy Gibbs Jr. himself. He is said to have 1000 health and will spawn, though only once and very rarely. He is immune to fire and covers your screen with motor oil like a Mudman with mud. The Survivors also have special lines when seeing his zombie.