Chainsaw

"And if we run out of bullets.... Baby, they gonna wish we hadn't!"

The Chainsaw is a new close combat weapon introduced in Left 4 Dead 2. As seen in the beta version footage, using this weapon against the Infected can bring them the worst injuries, sometimes cutting them in half.

It is stored in the same slot as the pistol, making yet another tactical choice in the game. It has limited uses, meaning that the player must use it wisely, as they will eventually run out of gas and will leave the player with only their primary weapon. Like the other close combat weapons, it can kill every Common Infected in one hit.



The chainsaw is not really meant to be used against most Special Infected; using it on a Boomer would spread bile over the Survivors, using it against a Spitter would leave you right in the middle of the goo, and getting close to a Tank is usually not recommended.

Usage
The chainsaw seems to stick out from the other melee weapons, giving it a unique gameplay experience. When the player first obtains the chainsaw, they must first rev it up. The icon showing the melee weapon will have a fuel meter, that depletes over time. The chainsaw, however, won't spin unless you hold down the mouse or trigger. When you hold the attack button, the chainsaw is pushed forward diagonally, and when near a zombie the chainsaw will turn in an arc of 60 degrees, slicing the target in two. When the meter depletes to nothing, the chainsaw is dropped, leaving your sidearm in place.

Trivia

 * The chainsaw was one of the first close combat weapons to be revealed and one of the last to be shown in a gameplay video.
 * When used, the base of the chainsaw seems to be red, differing from the picture, showing it being yellow (although the red color could also be splattered blood).
 * The chainsaw is the only close combat weapon that has limited uses.
 * The chainsaw, as seen in the Trailer, has "HALE" written on it, this likely being a reference to Valve's other Game Team Fortress 2, where Saxton Hale is the owner of a corporation that provides RED and BLU with weaponry.
 * When dropped, the chainsaw will continue spinning, kicking up dirt and blood as it spins along the ground.