Grenade Launcher

"Man, it's gonna be raining zombie pieces!"

- Coach

"Time to make some zombie soup!"

- Nick

The Grenade Launcher made its debut in Left 4 Dead 2. It is a primary weapon, and when fired, it launches one explosive shell that kills Common Infected and weaker Special Infected with direct hits, and stumbles/deals light damage to infected within its splash damage radius. Due to its low capacity, the grenade launcher must reload after every round dispensed. Hitting a Witch with the Grenade Launcher will stun it before it gets startled, although hitting a Tank with the Grenade Launcher will only damage it.

The Grenade Launcher is unique in that it isn't found along with Tier 1 or Tier 2 weaponry, but instead is found somewhat rarely in side passageways and rooms, typically where the Chainsaw can also be found. The Grenade Launcher can't refill its ammunition reserve with a normal Ammo pile, meaning that the only way to get more grenades is to find another Grenade Launcher or use an Ammunition Upgrade.

Achievements
This achievement can be hard to do in normal circumstances, but it can be easily done during a horde attack:
 * Firing at Infected climbing fences or walls.
 * Firing at Infected attracted by a Bile bomb or Pipe bomb.

Tactics

 * Friendly Fire damage on the Grenade Launcher isn't too high on lower difficulties, but it definitely stacks up and gets higher with difficulty. Watch for your teammates whenever possible to avoid hurting them.
 * Due to the fact that the Grenade Launcher can't refill ammunition, it's best that you wait until you find a bunched up group of around four or more Infected, and use your secondary on smaller groups.
 * The Grenade Launcher pushes back Special Infected that are pinning your teammates if it doesn't kill them. Take advantage of this when your teammate is pinned and you can't shoot or melee the Special Infected off.
 * The Laser Sight makes the Grenade Launcher more potent at distance shots and taking out Special Infected when moving, although you can't transfer it to a new Grenade Launcher.
 * The Grenade Launcher works best with the Magnum or Dual Pistols, as a melee weapon forces you to give up the range you need to use the Grenade Launcher best.
 * Incendiary ammo with the Grenade Launcher is redundant unless fighting a Tank, although Explosive Ammo will give you a slightly more potent blast. Keep in mind, however, that both piles will give you an extra Grenade.
 * A tactic you can use with the Grenade Launcher is to continually switch between your primary weapon and the Grenade Launcher as you travel so that you always have one or the other. This is impractical over long distances where it's better to just go with one or the other, but in areas like Finales, it can be helpful.
 * The Grenade Launcher can be used to detonate static explosives such as the Propane tank and Gas can. This can make it useful when setting up for a Finale, although it makes the Grenade Launcher a hazard in Scavenge Mode and the finale to Dead Center.
 * The Bile bomb works well with the Grenade Launcher, as it makes it easy to bunch up large groups of Infected and get them at a safe distance to avoid friendly fire damage.

Trivia

 * It is modeled after the M79 grenade launcher.
 * While the Grenade Launcher can kill most Special Infected in one hit, it will only push off a Jockey.
 * The grenade launcher can be used to blast open walls that otherwise only a Tank can break open.
 * When being killed or hit by the grenade launcher, the Special Infected players' ears will ring.
 * The ammo's model states that it is a PWN 40MM HE NADE.
 * Its very odd such a weapon can be found in random places throughout the levels, since it is VERY uncommon to find the weapon anywhere in the real world. It could have been a military weapon that was left behind. This is fairly possible as of it being common in Dead Center, where the military and the police are taken by surprise so it would be easy to marauder the dead users of Grenade Launcher. Though this is also extremely common in Swamp Fever where it is not clear how the swamp people got so many Grenade Launchers. This is similar to the explanation of how the Katana got into random places.
 * The grenade launcher is the only gun not found in Whitaker's store.

Videos

 * Swamp Fever Grenade Launcher Gameplay
 * PAX Dark Carnival Grenade Launcher Gameplay