The Hunter

"Yeah, you better hide! Sweatshirt wearin' little wuss."

- Francis

"So that's a Hunter, huh? What's he gonna do, go for a jog at me?"

- Nick

The Hunter is an agile Special Infected whose mutation has granted him incredible strength and agility. His role in both Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 is to kill or grievously injure individual Survivors who have become separated from their comrades.

The Hunter is voiced by Mike Patton.

Official Description
Hunters are a mutated breed of zombie—faster, fiercer and far more dangerous than common Infected. Keep your ears perked—a shriek from the darkness means a Hunter is near, and ready to pounce in for the kill.

Appearance
The Hunter appears in a faded blue hooded sweatshirt and dark brown sweatpants. His hood is always pulled down and over his face, which on close inspection, reveals that the skin around his eyes has either been clawed off or has mortified as a result of the Infection.

What remains of his eyes emit the white reflective glow displayed by Common Infected in the dark; although this effect may be light reflecting off the blood leaking from his eye sockets. The limbs of his outfit are battened down with duct tape, in a manner similar to Traceurs, practitioners of parkour, which is done to lessen wind resistance.

Hunters are primarily identified by their distinctive and intimidating growl, or the screams and snarls they emit upon sighting a Survivor or whilst attacking. Hunters are the only Special Infected who do not make any noise while in a passive state.

Extent of Mutations
The Hunter is the least visibly mutated Special Infected and superficially resembles a Common Infected. It has yet to be explained how the Hunter's mutations onset, whether it be genetic, biochemical, or a Hunter-specific strain of the virus, but the mutations seem to be sex-linked as only male Hunters have been observed. The Hunter's reaction to the Infection has granted him a dramatic increase in lower-body strength.

While not creating massive muscle growth like the Tank, this added strength has given the Hunter the ability to repeatedly jump and pounce from long distances and rapidly scale the sides of buildings with ease, as well as toughened his legs in order to withstand the great distances and heights he can achieve. Decreased pain response visible in all sufferers of the Infection also results in the Hunter not suffering from perpetual lactic acid build up from muscle overexertion or impact damage after experiencing a large fall.

At the same time, there seems to be some sort of muscle delay after an initial attack (post-attack recharge) where the Hunter is not able to move as swiftly. One of the most notable physical observations is that the Hunter lacks eyes. Whether this is self-inflicted, a by-product of the Infection, or both, is unknown.

The extent of damage to the Hunter's sight suggests his other senses are far more developed than those of typical Infected, allowing him to hunt with far greater efficiency. It is possible that the screeching noises he makes and the growling are his own echolocation method. He might also use scent to tell the Survivors apart from Infected. As with the other Special Infected, he is not distracted by such high-frequency noises as Pipe bombs or car alarms going off. Hunters also appear to be the only Infected with a self-defense reflex: when shot at a distance and knowing they cannot pounce, the Hunter will sometimes jump away into safety.

Left 4 Dead 2
As with all the original Special Infected (excluding the Witch who kept her original model), the Hunter received a change of appearance in Left 4 Dead 2. Parts of his outfit have been ripped away, revealing his skin heavily disfigured by clusters of boils and scratches, similar to that of the Smoker. His left wrist remains wrapped in tape along with fragments of his sleeves, while his right hand is bare with a visible band of heavily bruised flesh where the duct tape would have been, possibly from muscle growth around the tightly wrapped tape.

He has lost his shoes, and his feet seem to be covered in a mixture of mud and blood. His hoodie now has a zipper, has a wider hood, and much more blood spattered upon it. His face is now entirely obscured in the shadow of his hood, showing only the bottom half of his face. His fingernails have grown in length and thickness, giving his hands a closer resemblance to animal claws.

The Hunter's signifying scream of seeing a Survivor is different, higher in pitch than the previous version; however, both of his original screams are still featured in Left 4 Dead 2. His screams become louder and more high-pitched as he nears.

It seems likely that most of the differences in the Hunter's appearance in Left 4 Dead 2 were caused by the Hunter himself, clawing at his restrictive taping and clothes in an effort to remove them. However, the growth of his nails, his amplified scream, and the increase of deformation upon his skin suggests that the Hunter has mutated further from his manifestation in Left 4 Dead.

A new graphical feature in Left 4 Dead 2s Hunter is that he can be covered in blood due to prolonged pouncing. As it continuously pounces one Survivor on the ground, his body will be covered in blood (see the image in the gallery below).

Abilities
Fitting with his name, the Hunter excels at picking off lone or vulnerable targets due to his pounce ability. With it, he is able to travel large distances to attack his target, and his pounce is able to kill a healthy Survivor the quickest out of any non-boss Special Infected (eg. the Witch or Tank). In Versus, the Hunter gains the ability to deal up to 25 of landing/initial damage based on the distance he travels, which further encourages the player to single out targets.

The Hunter has two attacks: a claw attack, which does 10 damage on Normal and 6 damage on Versus, and a pouncing attack, which pins down a helpless Survivor while the Hunter claws at them dealing damage every 0.5 seconds. The Hunter will not stop until he has killed the Survivor, been killed himself, or shoved off by another Survivor or an explosion.

If controlled by a player, the Hunter is able to deal damage with the actual pounce itself. Any pounce, regardless of distance traveled, deals a minimum of 1 damage to the pounced survivor. Successful pounces from a great distance can cause up to 25 damage, which makes them the most powerful individual attacks in the game which can be caused by a playable non-Tank Infected. The pounce also causes any nearby survivors to stumble away from the view of the pinned survivor, and long-distance pounces usually cause more severe stumbling to last slightly longer. AI-controlled Hunters can also do pounce damage in a similar way in versus mode, but cannot inflict such damage in campaign mode.

The Hunter can be dead-stopped/blocked by shoving him when he is in the air and is about to hit you. This requires good timing, but can be very useful if the player can get the hang of this. Though, doing this is a bit risky on higher difficulties because AI-controlled Hunters will actively try to claw at you, which might result in more damage taken.


 * The Hunter cannot be dead-stopped in versus mode, but can cause a short period of knock-back upon pinning a survivor.

When a player takes control of the Hunter in Versus mode, the Hunter's pounce ability is measured by meters from where the player crouches down. The time it takes for his jump to charge is 1 second.


 * The knock-back he causes upon Survivors in close proximity to those he has pounced is longer, although Survivors who are knocked back into walls or other obstacles recover faster.
 * The Hunter's roll, a very rare occurrence in Left 4 Dead, has been made more common in Left 4 Dead 2. If the Hunter is shoved off his victim in the left hip (or looking towards the right while pinning a Survivor), he may perform a back roll and be ready to pounce again in about a second. The Hunter can perform this move in any and all game modes. Rolls are performed in parkour to absorb shock and make the practitioner ready for a quick followup movement; in this case, the Hunter uses it to continue his attack.
 * The AI-controlled Hunter can leap out of danger's path. However, player-controlled Hunters can only do this on Single Player, with the help of a special plugin, or console modifications in the original Left 4 Dead.
 * AI-controlled Hunters cannot do this on Versus mode. Instead, they stand up and walk away.
 * This jump can push Survivors off ledges, as seen in this video.

Tactics
Fast and agile, this Special Infected will growl and scream to inform you of his presence. The Hunter is often used as a distraction by both AI and human Infected. Inexperienced players fare especially badly against Hunters since their attack is often much harder to avoid than the tongue of a Smoker or the bile of a Boomer.

Without timely intervention, Hunters can kill very quickly; the only exception is the Witch and The Tank on Expert difficulty. While Hunters are hurt by being on fire and will eventually die, any Survivor pounced on by a flaming Hunter will suffer much more damage from the attack (as of an update, only dynamic fire sources such as those created by the Molotov and gas cans add to the damage bonus). However, in Left 4 Dead 2, this hidden effect is removed.

Players can train their Survivor skills against Hunters in the Mutation "Hunting Party", as the only Special Infected the Director can spawn are Hunters (apart from the occasional Tank and Witch). You can train your skills against them in other modes, but expect less Hunters to train on because of this.

Survivors



 * Unlike other AI, which can be significantly harder to detect, when an AI Hunter reaches a specific range from a Survivor, he will crouch, growl and begin to prowl around. Whenever you hear growling, be prepared to fight the Hunter. Hunters move significantly slower while prowling, so don't rush too quickly or you will be pinned or clawed by him.
 * Don't rely on this all the time, as while standing upright, a Hunter does not make any noise. Human players can use this to create instant ambushes as the Survivors will be unable to find the Hunter easily, so you should look around similar to finding a Smoker when it occurs.
 * If a Hunter gives off a warning sound, it means they have spotted a player and can pounce them.
 * If a Hunter is at a fair distance, don't be afraid to shoot at them. When an AI Hunter is hit enough, they will do a large leap backwards and run back up for a pounce attack. In fairly large and open areas, this results in certain death for the Hunter.
 * While a Hunter is growling, crouch down to be level with the Hunter's head. This allows for easy headshots to kill the Hunter.
 * Hunters can be "dead pounced". To accomplish this, the player must be within pouncing range and sight of a Hunter. Just as a Hunter grabs on to you, there is a one-second frame to shove him off you before you are pinned. This is very easy to perform; you can follow up with more melee shoves, but do not attempt it on Advanced or Expert difficulties as the Hunter can deal 20/40 damage respectively with a claw attack.
 * If you do not plan to dead pounce, run in zigzags. The Hunter is unable to change directions while leaping. He is able to rotate himself while leaping to prepare for the next pounce, so be ready to move again after the Hunter has landed. You may be able to shoot down the Hunter before he pounces you. Don't get too distracted by the Hunter though, as nearby Common Infected can slow you down as you are moving.
 * AI Hunters on Expert are more likely to melee and blend in with a Horde attack, so bring out your melee weapon to dispatch the Infected with ease, as a swing will instantly kill the Common Infected and the Hunter if he decides to melee you.
 * Never go too far from your teammates when a Hunter is present, especially on harder difficulties. On Expert, it only takes 9 seconds to incapacitate a Survivor from full health (3 if the Survivor is clawed at). While incapacitated, if you are being pounced on, the Hunter's attacks deal four times as much damage as it would normally do. This means an incapacitated Survivor will be killed in 2.5 seconds on Expert by a Hunter alone.
 * Be wary of going around corners and doorways whenever a Hunter is present. If you are not wary enough, they can easily pounce or claw you for some damage.
 * Once a Survivor is pounced on, you'll be notified. Shoot the Hunter or hit them with a melee weapon. Do not shove on higher difficulties or they may be able to claw you or the victim for damage, as well as perform a back roll to instantly pounce again.
 * On Versus and Survival modes, the Hunter's pounce will generate knockback to nearby Survivors if it manages to pin someone. Try to stay away from each other, just to the point where the Hunter won't knockback nearby Survivors if he grabs someone. This will help greatly in high areas, where the resulting knockback can send a player dangling on a ledge.

Infected
In Left 4 Deads Versus, you will spend more time as a Hunter than any other Infected. Coincidentally, the Hunter is also the hardest Special Infected to master, so the extra time spent pouncing pays off. In Left 4 Dead 2, you have more Special Infected to be assigned to, so it's less likely to get a Hunter in that game.


 * In Left 4 Dead 2, the Hunter recovers his special attack very quickly, so a good thing to do when near Survivors is to hold the crouch key and press the shoot button so you keep pouncing all the time. It helps sometimes when you're against players via LAN or online.
 * Try to disguise yourself as part of the Horde. Then you can hit the Survivors with your melee attack, which is second only to the Tank and Charger's attack. They will think you are part of the Horde and so will their teammates, not just focusing on you but the other Infected as well, unless they either pay attention to the slashing noise from your claws or the player taking damage notices that they're taking more damage than a Common Infected would normally deal.
 * Never attack the Survivor's group as a whole; always attack the "lone wolf" players who wander off from the others or those who are lagging behind.
 * The exception to the above strategy is during a Tank/Horde/Boomer event/other means of distraction for the Survivors where it would be difficult for them to rescue your victim.
 * Camping is always a viable option, especially in dark areas where the Survivors have no idea what they are getting into. Remember that this takes some patience.
 * As the Horde attacks the Survivors, creep around behind them and jump for the back; you can usually take more time to aim that way when crouched and the other Survivors are often too busy fighting off the Common Infected to help immediately.
 * Preparation is key, master wall-jumps quickly, and enjoy catching the Survivors off guard even in areas with many corners.
 * Open areas are not the hunting ground, while alleyways are the perfect place to pounce (even if it is not a lonely Survivor, it will cause enough confusion in less experienced teams).
 * Go for high areas, like the top of buildings. In that way, you'll have the total overview of where Survivors are located and if they are together as a team. You can easily see the loneliest Survivor, the unhealthiest, the closest to hazards like Witches, and other attributes and choose your victim accordingly.
 * Watch out for Survivors with Hunting/Sniper Rifles and Assault Rifles! While crouching, you'll probably be shot in the head and killed instantly. Even a perfect shot with a Magnum can kill you, so it's best to find some area of cover before attacking.

General Strategy

 * Hunters have few hit points, so never attack a group of two or more Survivors on your own (unless they are distracted, such as by a Horde of Common Infected). Lone wolves are the bread-and-butter of the Hunter; pounce them first. If you hold off on attacking players, they may become more spread out and placid, possibly enough to pounce and do more damage before their friends can assist.
 * Usually, one of the players will rush through the map (as the further the Survivor(s) go, the more points they get). By doing this, they may trigger Crescendo Events and/or Tank fights without the assistance of the rest of their team. Go for the loner if no one else is planning to intercept the rusher, and especially if they are carrying a Molotov as it will allow them to dodge the Tank easier. Otherwise, try to delay the rest of the team from arriving as best as you can.
 * This rule also applies to players that take their time or get lost. Also keep an eye out for Survivors who backtrack to get a first-aid kit or another useful item back at either a weapon cache or the safe room. Teach them the hard lesson of why going solo is not a bright idea.
 * A Hunter's pounce in Versus mode will knock back nearby Survivors, thus breaking up their formation. This can also push Survivors off of ledges and leave them helpless. Choose where you will pin your victim wisely to utilize this!
 * If you need to escape quickly (e.g., after being knocked off a victim and you are lucky enough to have done a roll), the Hunter can "wall jump" by leaping at a wall. When they reach the wall, they must quickly turn around to face the other direction and leap again. Repeat this and you can leap as long as you can keep it up, or until you hit the skybox. This can also be useful when attacking, or getting to a place from which to attack.
 * In both games, a Hunter cannot wall pounce if he is on fire. This is most likely an attempt by Valve to encourage you to attack in what time you have left, especially since a burning Hunter does more damage per second than a regular Hunter in Left 4 Dead.
 * Hunters only make noise when crouched, and let out a shriek when making eye contact with a Survivor. So if you are near Survivors and don't want to be shot, stand up and stay well hidden and you will be silent. You also move faster when standing. Instead of pouncing, try to do a hit-and-run tactic. Simply run up to a Survivor's back, claw, and run away. This is especially effective when a Survivor is low on health or in the middle of a Horde. If a Survivor has gone down twice, a simple claw attack will kill them instantly. It's best to save pounces for when you are on high ledges to try and gain the extra pounce damage.
 * The Hunter bonus pounce damage is based on the distance between your launch point and the point where you hit the Survivor; therefore, launching straight up or down is not the most effective pounce. Instead, perch on the highest place you can get to, such as the top of a roof, a vent, water tower, or a fire escape. Be sure the Survivors cannot see you and then propel yourself up and forward at a 45-degree angle. You have some limited control in the air and can somewhat guide yourself to your target once airborne. Twenty-plus damage pounces are not as hard as they seem once you become better acquainted with the pounce mechanic. 25 extra damage is the maximum. This is a good way to "incapacitate on pounce" a Survivor instantly who has less health than the damage dealt, even before you begin your ripping attack.
 * When performing this technique, try to start as far away from the Survivors as you can while still able to hit them, as upon hearing your scream, many Survivors will immediately begin scanning the air for your arrival.
 * Practice the wall jump technique, as it can be used properly for quick escapes and high-damage pounces, which are plentiful on The Apartments in No Mercy and some spots in Dead Air. Here are a few videos to help with this: video to teach you the basics of wall jumping, then once you mastered the wall jump, you can perform several tricks to use against your Survivor foes.
 * Target Survivors outlined in red, indicating that their health is low. Instead of pouncing on a weak Survivor, try clawing them. Once they're down, pounce on another Survivor to be even more effective.
 * It is not uncommon on Versus to see Hunters pouncing on the victim of a Smoker or Jockey in an attempt to steal a kill. While this is typically frowned upon for good reason, it can actually be very beneficial on occasion. The Hunter can deal much more damage at a faster rate, and leaving it to the Hunter can allow the Smoker or Jockey to escape and let their abilities recharge (especially for a Jockey, which has less of a recharge time if they do not incapacitate the Survivor), which can have very nasty results. If you attempt to do this, communicate with your team, and tell them that this is what you're doing.
 * "Hiding" behind or standing in front of cars with alarms and Witches is as malicious as it is effective at tricking the other players to shoot both you and the hazard. When it comes to the Witch, Survivors will either not notice her or they will think they can pull off shooting you alone, but once they've fired one shot, the Witch will stand up and incapacitate the Survivor who shot you, and you can pounce on whoever is still standing. Another tactic is to wait for the Witch to notice the Survivors. Scratch her and her rage will be at its peak, so the very moment they cross her path, they're in a mountain of trouble.
 * As most average Survivor groups end up splitting into pairs; always try to team up with the other Hunter player to pin two Survivors at once. There will normally be distance between those pinned and the other Survivors, who may be distracted by something else, giving the Hunters a few more seconds to deal damage.
 * As long as you are crouching, you can pounce continuously, though you obviously need to make sure you are hitting a surface.
 * Continuously pouncing is a great way to distract the enemy team if you're waiting for your teammates to spawn. Simply pounce randomly and let them waste their time trying to shoot you. This works best in large areas where the Survivors are likely to miss.
 * On levels with miniguns, you can quickly teach the Survivors the down sides of manning the minigun, especially if they are alone.
 * After getting knocked off your victim, immediately run for cover. If the Survivors are too busy with other infected, you'll get away in one piece, gaining another valuable opportunity to attack as the Hunter. However, if you feel death is imminent, attempt to scratch the Survivors and swipe off a few more precious chunks of their life, it will matter in the long run.
 * Use the Survivors' attacks against them. If one of them throws a Molotov either your way or at a teammate, show them the error of their ways. Light yourself on fire and land on one of them. Though the damage dealt was reduced in the March 11 update, you still do more damage that a regular pounce.
 * Note: This only works in Left 4 Dead with fires the Survivors started, not static flames, like those in oil drums or in rubble of The Subway.
 * When the Survivors have to climb a ladder, try to pounce the last one to go up or down. This will force the other Survivors either to jump down and possibly take damage, or take the time to climb back up/down. This will delay them for a few seconds, allowing your teammates to spawn and set up an attack.
 * Running after a Horde and clawing Survivors is a great way to take off tons of hit points, as it does 6 damage per hit.
 * The Hunter, while pinning a Survivor, deals 5 damage every 0.6 seconds and can kill a Survivor very fast with the assistance of only a handful of Common Infected.
 * The Charger and the Hunter make a deadly pair, with the Charger pounding the Survivor and the Hunter pouncing and clawing the Survivors and generally causing chaos. Working like this, a Charger and Hunter pair can quickly deal a lot of damage to the Survivors. If two Survivors remain, or a pair has split off from the other two, this technique works twice as well, with each of you taking a Survivor. They will be helpless to resist, and if your team is well-coordinated, you can incapacitate the other two Survivors, resulting in victory.
 * Hunters are the only Infected that look very similar to the Common Infected. This can make it harder to differentiate a Hunter from a Common Infected, especially at a distance. Unless you are facing a team of snipers, or the enemy team is exceptionally trigger-happy, you can easily slip past them undetected to set up an ambush position during a panic event, a Crescendo Event, or Boomer bile events.
 * If you use the Hunter's ability to wall jump, you can easily surprise Survivors from any angle (even directly in front of them). The frightening movement speed and the fact that the Hunter literally "appeared" in front of them, may often surprise a Survivor and leave them open for a few seconds before they can respond. This is especially effective if they are in a doorway or there is plenty of cover to pop up out of nowhere. Plus the screams of a Hunter jumping around can set the Survivors on edge.
 * Hunters also have their own distinct sound when clawing doors or furniture. Keep this in mind if you plan on busting down doors for your allies near the Survivors. They may take note of your presence and pack tightly enough that it will be hard for you to get a shot in.
 * If there are a lot of ledges around, such as the third part of No Mercy or The Hotel in Dead Center, you can take out several Survivors at once if you time your pounce right. If the Survivors are clumped together, just aim for the middle one and watch as the others stagger back and become incapacitated on the ledge. Even if you don't knock off all the Survivors, you can at least damage and slow them down long enough for your allies to form an effective counterattack later on.
 * Don't try to attack a Survivor with the other three Survivors right beside them. You will be killed in about two seconds if they aren't covered in bile or distracted. However, if you can pounce and deal 25 damage instantly, it can really hurt the Survivor or even incapacitate them.

Working with teammates

 * Go for Survivors covered in bile. The Hunter will pin them down and leave them helpless for the Horde. The Horde also serves as a meat shield in this case (don't count on them too much, however, as most weapon fire penetrates multiple targets if they are lined up). If three Survivors have been covered in bile, it is better to pounce the clean Survivor, as bile obscures vision and the Horde will prevent them from getting to you. The Boomer's victims are unable to see the aura surrounding their teammates while they're covered, so they won't be able to see the pounced victim until the initial blindness wears off. But if more than one person is covered in bile, go for the clean one. Inflict some damage to them while the others are blind.
 * Don't melee people who are being strangled by a Smoker, as your claws will damage (and may break) the tongue. Since an update on Left 4 Dead 2 clawing a Survivor being attacked by a Smoker will no longer break the Smoker's tongue.
 * Try not to steal any kills from Smokers (pouncing on a grabbed Survivor). Protect the Smoker by pouncing would-be rescuers. However, at the same time, you could sacrifice yourself by taking the Survivor, giving the Smoker a chance to flee to safety.
 * If your team has microphones, there is a spot where a Hunter and Smoker can instant kill on Dead Air. On The Greenhouse, when the Survivors exit the greenhouse, have a Smoker hide on the roof across the plank, then have them snag a Survivor, pulling the victim over the edge. If the Hunter then pounces that Survivor, it will cause the Survivor to fall through the gap and die.
 * Another way is to have the Smoker hide in the alley below the plank between the two buildings, and have them attempt to pull a Survivor as they crosses. Have another Hunter as backup if anyone attempts to rescue the constricted Survivor. If a Hunter manages to pounce the Survivor currently smoked over the long-fall gap, the Survivor will die upon contact with the ground. This is because there is no place for the Survivor to climb back up to their teammates.
 * Most importantly, you are part of a team. Ask for backup from your fellow Infected. This will often allow you to do massive damage while the Survivors are preoccupied with your teammates. Even Survivors with full or almost full health will die extremely fast if the Infected team work together in focused attacks. In Left 4 Dead 2, you can pounce a Jockey's victim, buying the Jockey recharge time.
 * Tip: It is smart only to do the Smoker/Jockey "rescue" tricks if Survivors are right around the corner, seeing as the player will be angry once they realize you stole some of their "damage" points.
 * When the Jockey has grabbed a Survivor, pounce on the would-be rescuers just like a Hunter would do to a would-be rescuer of an entangled Survivor by a Smoker.

Good Ambush Spots
Generally, any high location such as the roof of a building, a fire escape, or a lamp post will do significant damage to a Survivor if pounced on. Here are some level-specific areas that will decide a Survivor's fate.

No Mercy
The Apartments The Subway The Sewer The Hospital Rooftop Finale
 * Hide on the huge vents to the opposite side of where the helicopter exits, and once the Survivors exit the door at the end of the apartment building, pounce, and it will be worth 25 damage points.
 * During the Crescendo Event, you can pounce on the Survivor at the minigun by going down below and jumping up through the hole behind them. The Survivor won't be able to see you.
 * After passing the gas station and climbing up to the roof, go inside and wait behind the boxes in the next room. Pounce the last Survivor before they drop down the hole into the next room. The backtracking that the Survivors will have to do to save the victim will be at least 20-30 seconds, enough to easily incapacitate your victim. Be warned though: experienced players might be able to shoot you through the floor.
 * It is possible to vertically wall-jump to the top of Mercy Hospital. If a Survivor is pounced, it does 25 damage and if you missed, you will experience a vibration and shaking screen due to the height of the jump.
 * Try pouncing on any Survivors coming up the ladder in front of the Hospital. If you aim it right, you can do one of two things: You could cause the Survivor to fall to the ground, further damaging them. You could also block the hole, forcing the other Survivors to shoot at you from below.
 * After the elevator, pouncing in on a close group could cause Survivors close to the edge to fall off or hang on for their life.
 * In Left 4 Dead, ride the elevator down to the floor where the Survivors are, and right before the doors open, jump in and pounce as soon as the door opens. Doing this with your teammates will increase your chance of success.
 * Note: In the ported version of No Mercy in Left 4 Dead 2, the hole in the elevator is closed, making this tactic useless.
 * When the Survivors reach the elevator shaft, near the big hole, go up on a small ladder you will find to go to another ladder, (which is longer) beside the big hole — there is another small hole that you can climb up to hide in a place that is close to the elevator shafts. Wait up there for the last Survivor to go up the other ladder (which is longer), then pounce on them, which will cause them to fall down back to the ground, which deals a lot more damage.
 * Wait for the opportunity to do that, like waiting for the last Survivor to go up that ladder.
 * Wait for them to go up nearly to the top so that you can deal more damage.
 * Pounce on the Survivors coming up the ladder.

Crash Course
The Alleys The Truck Depot Finale
 * There are a few buildings that you can jump off of onto a Survivor.
 * Witches like to spawn here. Crouch and hide behind her — the Survivors will try to shoot you, which will startle the Witch.
 * This also applies to alarmed cars.
 * The finale is where you're going to do the most damage. Pounce on the Survivor that goes and restarts the generator. Team up with a Smoker for even more damage.
 * Pounce on the Survivor on the minigun through the window behind them.

Death Toll
The Turnpike The Drains The Church The Town Boathouse Finale
 * At the beginning, the top of the ledge to the right of the spawn point provides ample opportunity for 25-point pounces, and runs along a good portion of the map.
 * Pouncing from the overpass onto the Survivors below (or climbing the ladder) will cause some nice damage from the pounce alone, and if you get them when they're on the ladder, there's a very high chance for fall damage too.
 * Pounce from the warehouse at the end of the level.
 * Jump off the water tower right a the beginning.
 * The steeple is also a good spot for a high damage pounce; however, you're completely exposed to sniper fire.
 * Use the above tactic here at the beginning of the chapter.
 * Hang out on the roof with the Smoker. This provides you with tactical opportunities, such as when a Tank shows up and the Survivors are distracted.
 * Also, if the Survivors camp in the water, you can pounce on them from the roof, getting good damage.

Dead Air
The Greenhouse The Crane The Construction Site The Terminal Runway Finale
 * Get on top of the water tower to the left — it's an easy place for 20-25 damage pounces.
 * Being on the top of the actual crane is a good spot.
 * Pounce on a Survivor using the surrounding scaffolding.
 * Above the baggage claim area (with the van) there's a ledge that runs around the whole lobby, which gives you a nice vantage point for 10-plus damage pounces.
 * Teamwork is a key for this one. If the Survivors are holding near the minigun, have a Boomer come from behind and puke on them, then a Smoker should pull a Survivor into the fire. Then, as the Hunter pounces the Survivor that is in the fire, combined with the fire damage bonus to the Hunter, the Survivor will die quickly.
 * There is a lamp leaning behind the plane. You cannot run up it; however you can pounce your way to the top which is just high enough to do a good amount of damage. However, like the steeple, you are completely noticeable up here, so don't hang out here too much or you'll be dead before you get the chance to attack.

Blood Harvest
The Woods The Tunnel The Bridge The Train Station Farmhouse Finale
 * Pounce from the rock formation near the beginning or the tops of any trees.
 * Pounce on any lone Survivors that might have stayed in the rooms above the scaffolds. It will take the Survivors a while to get to you and free their comrade.
 * Pounce from the top of the bridge.
 * Pounce from the barn.
 * Pounce at the house.
 * Pounce the last Survivor before they go into the cornfield.
 * Pounce on the Survivors when they're in the cornfield.
 * You can wall jump up the grain silos near the Farmhouse. To perform the vertical jump, get your back to a "pipe" leading up to the top of the silo and aim your reticule for the top of the opposite pipe. Make sure you are on the side that is closest to the shack. If you get up to the top and have the Hunter mechanics down, you can get an easy 25 damage pounce. Beware of Survivors with sniper rifles though. They'll snipe you off your spot and you'll have to set up again, but by that time the Survivors will most likely be in the Farmhouse.

Dead Center
The Hotel The Streets The Mall Atrium Finale
 * When the Survivors are out on the ledge, the knock-back from your pounce can knock teammates off the edge.
 * Go on top of Whitaker's gun shop and go for a high damage pounce.
 * Go up an escalator to a floor above the Survivors and pounce on a Survivor on the floor below you.
 * Pounce a Survivor pouring gas into the car from the top floor. If done correctly, you can get a 25 damage pounce.
 * Any Survivor trying to get a gas can by themselves is an easy pounce. Wait in one of the side rooms for a Survivor to come alone for a gas can, then pounce them once you get the opportunity.

The Passing
The Riverbank The Underground The Port Finale
 * There are a few high buildings around here that you can use to pounce on a Survivor.
 * The Bride Witch is one of your greatest assets here. Sneak up behind her and stay there — the Survivors will shoot you on instinct, which will startle the Witch.
 * The Survivors may hide in the tents with the footlockers. Pounce on the one that comes out.
 * There are a lot of high buildings that you can use to your advantage.
 * Pounce on the loner.
 * At the Crescendo Event, pounce on the furthest Survivor — you'll be hidden by the water.
 * Beware of the AI Survivors on the ledge of the house. Zoey and Francis drop weapons and items, while Louis controls the Heavy Machine Gun.
 * Pounce on the Survivor that's pouring in the gas.

Dark Carnival
The Highway The Fairgrounds The Coaster The Barns Concert Finale
 * Pounce from the tops of the road bridges on the way down from the traffic jam. Pouncing down on a Survivor from the top of the hill (about 75% of the chapter) to the bottom can also do quite a bit of pounce damage.
 * This is one of the longest chapters in the game, so you should have plenty of time to deal some damage.
 * Take advantage of the Tank and Witch spawns.
 * Pounce on the last Survivor that goes down the slide.
 * There's a drop off point right after the slide. Pounce on the last Survivor.
 * Pounce on the last Survivor during the Crescendo Event — the Survivors will have to backtrack through a Horde to get to you.
 * A lone wolf will sometimes try and be a hero at the Crescendo Event. Teach them a lesson about why this is not a good idea, especially in Versus.
 * There is also a point on The Coaster to where you can get a 25 damage pounce, from jumping off the roof above the event's starting point down to the ground area of the coaster track.
 * When the Survivors drop down the hole near the end of the Tunnel of Love, pounce the last one after the others drop down. They will be unable to shoot you should be able to kill the Survivor.
 * At The Barns, pounce from on top of the actual barns.
 * If someone tries to make a run into the stands for supplies, jump them.
 * Pounce from the top of the plywood tower on the right at Survivors on the stage. This will do 15-20 damage.
 * Pouncing from the top of the concert itself is a near-certain 20-plus damage pounce.

Swamp Fever
Plank Country The Swamp The Shantytown The Plantation Finale
 * Practice your damage pounces from rooftops.
 * Supplies spawn often in this chapter. If someone goes off by themselves in search of them, get the drop on them!
 * Wall jump vertically on a tree near the engine the Survivors will have to start. Once it's started, pounce the nearest Survivor during the fight and it will be a good 25 damage pounce depending on their distance from you. Just remember not to crouch until they start it, or else they will notice you!
 * At the Crescendo Event, some players are so preoccupied with the swarm of Infected running at them that they forget to watch their backs.
 * The Crescendo Event at the crashed plane also yields some high damage pounce areas; for instance, if you pounce up to one of the trees, you can get quite a pounce on a Survivor! But be warned, you are quite visible up here, so either make it quick or hope the Survivors don't look up.
 * Likewise, some people will have a rear guard to watch their backs. If they're alone, pounce them. By the time they realize you're on them, it may be too late.
 * At the beginning of the level the water is very deep — pouncing a Survivor in that water will leave only your head visible. This spot is mostly effective in Realism Versus.
 * Survivors can leave the pack to look for items. If you can find a Survivor who's taking a moment alone in a shed to grab that health kit, take advantage of it!
 * When Survivors make ammo/health runs, get them!
 * Pouncing a Survivor from the roof of the Plantation House will do some good pounce damage when they go to start the rescue.
 * Since there are quite a few tall trees in Swamp Fever, it is possible to wall jump up onto a tree top for a good 20-25 damage pounce.

Hard Rain
The Milltown The Sugar Mill Mill Escape Return to Town Town Escape Finale
 * If you can get a Survivor pinned behind the Burger Tank, a rescuer coming to kill you can be an easy target for a death charge.
 * There are houses all over this map — use this for some high-damage pounces, especially when the Survivors are forced to walk between two-story ones.
 * The broken-down buildings offer some high vantage points. There are also catwalks and vats lining the Survivors' path which serve as excellent launch points, as well as the 3-story mill itself.
 * If the enemy team is camping in the safe house fooling around, it can give you enough time to wall jump all the way up to the top of the big Silo. It will give you a good 20-25 damage pounce. Once they come out, teach them a lesson why it isn't good to let the Infected prepare themselves!
 * There are pipes lining the very top of some walls leading up to the sugar mill. These look like they're only there to add realism to the game, but it is possible to leap up and land on them. These are at least twice as high as the vats and catwalks, making higher point pounces easier.
 * Pouncing Survivors in the cane field should only be done as if there aren't any sugar canes to begin with (except in Realism Versus). The Survivors might not be able to see well, but your aura upon pouncing someone is more than enough for them to snipe you with just an assault rifle. Instead, wait for a Boomer shower, because this disables their ability to see the auras around their teammates, which makes you effectively invisible within the sugar cane. If there is no Boomer, then pounce from the top of the sugar mill, for this is one of the best places to achieve 25-point pounces. It's an extremely high vantage point, with limited vision for the Survivors (so they can't snipe you), and they start running from directly beneath your vantage point.
 * Survivors with Auto Shotguns are often very cocky and overconfident. They fear no Witches. Pounce on them near Witches and show either them or their would-be rescuers that it's never a good idea to tangle with a Witch.
 * By the trailer with weapons, there is a small building with 2 really tall Silos. You can wall jump them and pounce on the Survivors, which is an instant 25 damage pounce.
 * The tactics in The Sugar Mill apply here as well, the only differences being the storm (blinding the Survivors and causing a Horde) and less Witches.
 * The tactics in The Milltown apply here as well, with the only difference being the storm (blinding the Survivors and causing a Horde).
 * Team up with Smokers — "kill steal" a pinned Survivor so the Smoker can go snag another Survivor.

The Parish
The Waterfront The Park The Cemetery The Quarter The Bridge Finale
 * There are a lot of high buildings here that you can jump off of.
 * Hide behind the alarmed car at the end of the level and pounce anyone who comes near.
 * Hide in the bushes. Wait until a Survivor is separated from the rest of the group while you stand in the bushes, hidden, and then pounce on them. You can deal a lot of damage before the other Survivors can save the player, and if you get someone who is low on health, you may even be able to kill them, or at the very least put them on their last down. This tactic works extremely well if the Boomer and the Hunter work in unison, with the Boomer vomiting on the pounced Survivor, effectively creating a shield of Common Infected.
 * Pouncing from the tower with the alarm is a nice spot for 10-plus damage pounces.
 * Pounce on the last Survivor running to shut off the alarm — it'll slow the team down trying to save your victim.
 * Pounce on a Survivor in the sewers — it's dark and vast under there, and you'll be covered by the water.
 * The alarmed car area is the Survivors' worst nightmare. Hiding behind one of the cars and pouncing a Survivor as they come near is a good tactic here.
 * Pounce on the last Survivor right before the drop-off point into the cemetery.
 * This is a confusing chapter, with a lot of high buildings that you can pounce off of. Use this to your advantage.
 * The Crescendo Event is a great place to cause some chaos.
 * Pouncing from the second level of the bridge is a nice way to surprise the Survivors.
 * Pounce on the last Survivor. With luck, you'll pin them behind a car where the other Survivors can't see you.
 * Hiding in the helicopter is useful, especially when there is only one Survivor alive, or when they try to give support fire from the helicopter.

The Sacrifice
The Docks The Barge Port Finale
 * There are a lot of buildings that you can jump off of.
 * Pounce on the Survivor with the least health when they open the train car. Your teammates can take care of the others.
 * Pounce on the Survivor in the water. You'll be somewhat hidden.
 * Wait until the Survivors get onto the boat before pouncing on them.
 * You can follow the Horde of Common Infected through the ramp leading down to the boat and deal some damage with your melee attack.
 * Pounce on the last Survivor that leaves the safe room.
 * Your best chance is to go for the most isolated Survivor. Use the high buildings to pounce on them from afar or up high.
 * Pounce on the Survivor that goes to sacrifice themselves.

Achievements

 * See Main Article: Achievements

Glitches and Oddities

 * When you are pounced by a Hunter, you are still able to pick up objects if you are close enough to them. For instance, if you are pounced near an ammo cache, you can pick up ammo or when near doors, you can even close or open them.
 * Sometimes when a Hunter pounces a Survivor, the Bots will not help the victim (even if the Survivor is right next to them). The Bots have this problem with the Smoker as well.
 * In some cases, the Bots may go around the Hunter and the Survivor for a matter of seconds before helping their teammate.
 * If you are pounced in the saferoom with the door open after a Horde, the Bots will look at the unclosed door until your health gets below 40/30. Then they will turn to face you, usually stare at you for 10 seconds, and attack the Hunter.
 * The Hunter, in Single Player, can jump out of harm's way when being shot from a distance. This ability does not require him to crouch. In Versus, this ability is not normally available to player Infected. However, through manipulation of console commands (Entering "mp_gamemode versus" then changing to the Infected team and finally resetting mp_gamemode to "coop"), this ability becomes available in Single Player, defaulting to the "Fire" key while standing. The jump appears identical to the Hunter's pounce attack, with different sounds, and results in Survivors being pushed as if hit by a Survivor's melee attack. This becomes an effective tactic in areas of No Mercy in which falling from high places can incapacitate or even kill Survivors.
 * Sometimes, after knocking a Hunter off a Survivor, they will glitch and simply glide across the floor while still acting as if they were attacking the Survivor.
 * A common glitch that can happen in Left 4 Dead is that when a Hunter has been killed after pouncing on a Survivor, you will still hear the sounds of the Hunter's attacks and you'll see blood spurting out from the Survivors even after they have recovered for a few seconds. This is likely because the game still thinks that the Survivors are being attacked by the Hunter.
 * Hunters can be killed instantly when hit by the secondary attack of other Infected players when they are in mid-pounce, or if they were hit right as they land on a Survivor. This is shared with the Jockey.
 * Shoving the Hunter exactly when they land on their victim may result in a "You saved (teammate)" message, but the Hunter will still be on your teammate. Another shove will save them, resulting in two "You saved (teammate)" messages.
 * In very rare occasions, the A.I. Hunter will use his evasive jump to attack the Survivors rather than to pounce them.
 * Ellis has an unique animation for getting up from a Hunter attack, which is actually slower than all other Survivors.
 * In Left 4 Dead 2, if you simply walked off of a high building and directly onto a Survivor, you would start attacking them, but no tearing noises could be heard, and it would be a 25 damage pounce.
 * This was fixed in the Passing patch.
 * Sometimes when you are pounced by a Hunter from behind, it would result in the Hunter facing, and subsequently clawing, the Survivor's lower body.
 * If you face the ground while in front of a door and pounce several times, you may teleport to the other side of the door.
 * However, this was fixed in the Passing patch.
 * AI-controlled Hunters have the ability to leap backwards if attacked while attempting to pounce on a target. Player-controlled Hunters are unable to do this feat.
 * The Hunter can leap without having to crouch, as well as without revealing his location via growling. This is done by jumping while having a wall on the Hunter's back, then pressing the primary fire button.

Behind the Scenes
The Hunter has an unused animation of him hanging upside-down. It is unknown how this was supposed to be done in-game, as no pre-release footage shows the Hunter doing this. A probability was that you were to leap off it and start attacking the Survivors, or you went up there when you went idle and the A.I. took control and would climb a ceiling to stay hidden until you came back to the game.

Originally, when a Hunter pounced a Survivor, there would be no special visual indicators (such as the red light around the Survivor).

The Hunter's ability was originally to become invisible. It did this when backed up against a wall, then the pounce ability could be used. For some reason, it was cut to just leaping, possibly due to that Left 4 Dead tries to keep a realistic theme, and an invisible Infected may have simply been too far-fetched. It also could regenerate, but this was cut along with the invisibility.

During development, you used to be able to jump off Survivors after you pounced them by holding crouch then primary fire again. This was cut, although some modded servers turned it on.

Gallery
See image archive for more images…