by Roger Ma
ZCM: Do you ever feel that you’re in denial?
MR: Denial about what?
ZCM: About the reality of what’s happened.
MR: . . . and where did you get your psychiatry degree?
ZCM: I just mean . . .
MR: Whose reality are you talking about? The reality that, after everything that’s happened, I should go back to slogging through a regular workweek and paying alimony to my bloodsucking ex who took my kids away from me? That was my reality for a long time, and you know what? It sucked. I’m happier now that I’ve ever been in my life, and if it took the dead to rise and start eating the living for it to happen, I sure as hell ain’t complaining. We’re done here.
Without another word, Randesh begins running up the path toward the blazing afternoon sun. His group, seeing that he’s back on the move, dart off and follow. Within minutes, they are dots against the hillside, slowly drawing out of sight.
MULTIPLE ATTACKERS
During a zombie outbreak, it is almost certain that you will face multiple undead assailants at the same time. Do not interpret this to mean that zombies exhibit any semblance of a hive or pack mentality. Every ghoul is its own singular entity—it does not follow leaders, give orders, or form alliances with other undead creatures. The reason why hordes of walking dead are often seen clustering themselves together is simple—that’s typically where the food is. Zombies have been known to recognize the moan of another ghoul as a signal that food is nearby and turn to follow the direction of said moan, eventually ending up in a packed swarm of walking corpses.
Just as we’ve detailed strategies for handling a single zombie, you can use specific tactics when facing multiples of undead. Battling a group of walking dead with a hand weapon is a tiresome and dangerous venture to undertake. Depending on your strength and skill, it is recommended that you engage only with groups of ten or fewer ghouls. For numbers greater than this, evasive maneuvering is always a better option, as the tactics described herein may be difficult to execute against larger clusters of undead. Evasion is also the preferred choice if you notice more zombies in the distance closing in. By the time you have eliminated one group, you may then have to engage with another sizable force, only this time in a fatigued state.
If escape is not possible and the only way to survive is to eliminate every zombie in the surrounding vicinity, follow these strategies to make your engagement smooth, efficient, and as short as possible.
Patience Is a Virtue
Fighting one zombie at close range is stressful enough. Having to engage five, six, or ten at a time may drive you to the brink of madness. Seeing so many undead figures eagerly lunging for your flesh will most likely cause your stress levels to increase, possibly throwing you into a panic and tempting you to simply begin battering away at the group. Doing so is a sure way to end up joining their ranks. Maintain your composure. Stopping multiple zombies can be as simple as stopping one, the key difference being the time required to complete the act. Remember that the group will not use their greater numbers to strategically overwhelm you. Use your intelligence, outwit them just as you would a single opponent, and take your time to make each of your blows count.
Gain the High Ground
When the odds are stacked against you, you must exploit every advantage at your disposal, including terrain. If you can lead the fight to even a slight elevation where you stand above your attackers, it will be much easier to dispatch your opponents. Additionally, a zombie’s lack of coordination means that the mob you originally faced will most likely stumble, fall, and disperse slightly, making them easier to pick off individually.
Outflank and Attack
A common strategic error individuals make when engaging multiple zombies is to dive straight into the center of the pack on your initial approach. Striking the zombie in the middle of a group provides an opportunity for the others to close the distance around you, flanking you on either side, while you are preoccupied with that one opponent. Without a means of egress, there is a high probability that you will then be pulled apart by the mob.
Use what you already know about the undead to your advantage. Recall that ghouls move at a slow, consistent pace, even during pursuit of prey. Use this weakness to flank the group, and attack the zombie closest to the tail end. Once you eliminate that opponent, circle the mob again until you see another opportunity to strike a vulnerable ghoul. Continue this flanking maneuver until all zombies have been eliminated. If this technique sounds similar to a maneuver you have heard before, it is. You are basically applying the StraCirs technique and adapting it for use against a mob of undead opponents.
Culling the Herd
In a combat situation in which you face a solitary undead opponent, executing any strike that does not immediately end the engagement is a waste of energy. If you have the strength to shatter a ghoul’s kneecap, then you should have the strength to destroy its brain. When facing simultaneous attackers, however, it may be advantageous to administer bone-shattering blows to the vulnerable areas of a zombie’s lower extremities—the knees, shins, and feet—so that the attackers cannot pursue you as a collective horde.
In these situations, thinning their undead ranks may make it easier to battle the entire cluster. Move from ghoul to ghoul, pinpointing the tertiary targets in the legs described earlier in the section on vulnerabilities. As you continue to hobble their numbers, the shambling mob that once posed a grave collective threat can be reduced until one upright zombie remains, with a parade of crippled ghouls following in its wake. You can then choose to dispatch the crippled zombies or make your escape.
Remember, it is not enough that you strike a perceivably “painful” blow to the legs, as such a concept does not exist to an undead combatant. Your blow must be severe enough to completely shatter the patella, destroy the tibia (shin bone), or snap the Achilles tendon; otherwise your opponent will continue its pursuit, along with its undead cohorts.
The Whack-a-Mole
In addition to using the environment to your advantage, you may encounter a structure that you can exploit to effectively dispatch a mass of undead attackers. This strategy requires that you find an object that can elevate you to a height such that the attacking brood has difficulty reaching you, but not so high that you are unable to mount a counteroffensive. Effective structures include natural objects such as boulders and hilltops, or artificial obstacles such as automobiles or shipping containers. Stand atop the structure and wait for the attacking horde to approach. As each ghoul raises its head high enough to be targeted, strike it down. By repeating this process until all ghouls are eliminated, you can dispatch a large gathering of zombies with relative safety. Consider both the weight of the structure you mount and the number of attackers confronting you before committing to this tactic, and choose your structures wisely. A large enough number of zombies may be able to shift or overturn a lightweight obstacle, foiling your strategy.
The Bum’s Rush
This is an advanced technique that should be used only in certain situations by strong, experienced fighters, or as a last resort to escape. When you find yourself attacked by a pack of zombies, grab hold of one by the neck. Using that ghoul as a shield, barrel through the rest of the undead cluster. The zombie shielding you should flatten others in your path like pins in a bowling lane. Once cleared of the pack, you can release the shielding ghoul at arm’s length, or dispatch accordingly. This technique is most effective when you are in a confined space, such as a house or an apartment complex, and have no other means of escape except through an undead mob.
As you can imagine, this is a highly risky maneuver, and should be used only in specific situations in which you have no other viable alternatives. When using the Bum’s Rush, keep the following key points in mind:1. Pick an adequate shield: Choose a shielding zombie that is thinner and lighter than the average adult ghoul, a size that enables you to handle it through the undead throng. Examine all specimens closely, and select one appropriately. Young
and elderly zombies seem to work best. Lighter female zombies may also be an option, but be sure to glance at their fingernails to determine if you need to be wary of its scratching and clawing.
2. Move with speed: There’s fast, and there is the speed you need to execute this technique. You need to move with extreme velocity, force, and aggression through the mob in order to prevent any one of the ghouls from grabbing hold of you, stopping your momentum, and taking an infectious bite. Once initiated, you must fully commit to completing this maneuver, as any hesitation midstride means certain death.
3. Watch your feet: As you batter ghouls out of your path, there is a chance your legs will be vulnerable to attack by any zombies crawling along the ground. Moving with speed and a light step will help prevent this hazard, as will wearing equipment that guards your lower legs.
COMBAT SIMULATIONS
You have conditioned your physique, chosen your weapons, and studied the tactics. The only task that remains is to refine your technique. During a large-scale zombie outbreak, this will not be difficult, as your skills will most likely be honed in actual battle. During peacetime, however, how do you ensure that your fighting abilities are as sharp as your machete? Through effective combat training simulations.
Depending on your situation, you may be training alone, with a single partner, or in a group. Each of these situations has its advantages, but if given the opportunity, you should incorporate all three simulation types into your training regimen. Be careful not to favor one type of training over another. There may be a time when you no longer have a team of individuals with whom to practice, and you will need to be well versed in training by yourself.
Before we delve into the specific drills, two factors must be addressed before beginning a robust combat simulation program.
Realism
A common phrase heard in combat training is “Train hard, fight easy.” The more you are able to create the illusion of combat, the better prepared you will be during an actual zombie attack. When training with family or friends, it is easy to become lackadaisical and casual during your drills. Do not let this happen. The simulations discussed in group and partner training are only as effective as the individuals playing their parts. If you do not take your roles seriously, or do not authentically behave as an undead ghoul would in an actual combat scenario, then you all will suffer in the long run. Inauthentic behavior on any member’s part may cause you to believe that fighting the undead is easier or harder than it actually is. Neither inaccuracy is worth your limited training time.
Safety
Just as realism is an important part of any combat drill, safety is even more so. Many of the drills described next require a great deal of speed, strength, and intensity in order to make the simulation as close to a real-world scenario as possible. It is important to remember that the people you are training with are teammates, not opponents. In an undead world, your true adversary is the one without a pulse. Ensuring safety during all combat exercises is paramount and especially critical during drills in which individuals are barreling full steam into teammates or fending off clutching hands. Always wear protective gear if available, including headgear and chest protection when appropriate. Use padded training tools instead of actual weapons. Always keep the intensity level high, but remember that a hurt or wounded teammate impacts his or her own fighting ability and the combat effectiveness of the entire group.
Group Training
If you are lucky enough to have a team of four or more individuals to train alongside, do not let this unique benefit go to waste. Your group sessions should focus on dealing with the more perilous undead combat situations—mob attacks. Undead mobs are often the most difficult to handle, and thus the most difficult to prepare against. Each individual in your group should alternate as the human defender as every other member simulates a zombie attacker, or zuke (pronounced “ZOO-key”). The following are combat simulations you can practice with your group.
Last Ghoul Standing
This basic exercise mimics the scenario of facing a group of zombies in an open area. Using a padded training tool approximate in size and shape to your preferred combat weapon, you should attempt to navigate around the pack and strike simulated blows to each zuke, just as you would in an actual battle scenario. If possible, use practice weapons that replicate each of your long-, melee-, and close-range arms. In advanced sessions, you can improvise the loss of a weapon midexercise to enhance your ability to switch armaments on the fly.
Because you are simulating blows to the heads of your teammates, be careful about the amount of force used in your attacks. Use a quarter to an eighth of your potential power level in your strikes, and if possible, have each zuke wear protective headgear. The purpose of this exercise is to train your agility when facing a pack of zombies, not to improve your delivery of destructive blows. In advanced training, conduct this exercise in a tighter, confined space, making the ability to dodge each zuke more difficult.
Red Rover
A variation on the classic children’s game; the purpose of this exercise is to simulate the situation in which the only thing standing between you and safety is a group of walking dead. The safety point could be an exit, a weapon, or another human whom you are trying to rescue. This simulation should be conducted in a large room or outdoor setting, with the human defender standing on one side and the destination point forty to fifty feet in front of him or her. In between, your group of zukes should assemble in a random pattern. The object is to break through the group and reach the destination point, while the attackers attempt to grab and bite you. The exercise should be repeated several times to test the defender’s ability as fatigue sets in, with the group assembling in a denser, more congested pattern each time. This exercise can also be used to practice the Bum’s Rush maneuver.
The Maul Rat
The purpose of this drill is to become adept at fending off attackers while completely surrounded and to address attacks from unusual angles. In this difficult exercise, the training group should assemble in a circular pattern around the defender. With arms outstretched, the group attempts to grab and maul the defender as he or she tries to keep them at bay while being continually surrounded by the group.
The exercise should be conducted for a full five minutes, or until one of the attackers lands what would be a life-ending blow. The exercise is completed once every member has had the opportunity to play the role of defender. If your group is larger than ten individuals, break the team up into smaller groups to alleviate the monotony of having to portray a zombie for nine other teammates.
Partner Training
Training with a single partner can be quite useful in perfecting many of the combat and escape techniques described throughout this manual, and can help develop the unique feel for defending against a zombie in a one-on-one situation. All of the following drills can also be incorporated into group training, with the larger team splitting into pairs to conduct each exercise.
Ghoul Grappling
This drill trains you to counteract the common occurrence of a zombie grabbing your arms during an attack. With one individual again playing zuke and the other defending, the attacker should grab you on random locations on the arms—the wrists, forearms, or upper arms. With each grab, the defender should use one of the techniques outlined earlier and attempt to break the grip. Each time the defender is successful at dislodging the hold, the zuke should grab another region on either arm. The zuke should not attempt to bite, as the purpose of the exercise is to practice holds and releases. The zuke should, however, be as realistic as possible in clutching the defender as aggressively as possible until he or she is able to break free. Do not be concerned with gripping your partner “too hard.” As strong a grip as you may believe you have, it is nothing compared to that of your standard undead corpse. This grip/release routine should continue unceasingly for at least four minutes, at which time the partners should switch roles.
Diablo’s Mark
In
traditional knife combat drills, partners rub their training blades with chalk, ink, or lipstick to determine the placement and gravity of wounds during dueling exercises. The Diablo’s Mark drill is similar in concept. In this freeform exercise, the person playing zuke places marking balm on his or her lips and fingernails while the other defends against an attack. Any number of scenarios can then be created to simulate a unique zombie attack—unarmed encounter, handicapped defender, attacked while sleeping, and so forth. At the end of the drill, the defender determines how many times he or she was marked by the zuke’s balm-coated lips and nails. Depending on the severity and location of the mark, each blemish can signify a failed zombie confrontation. After experiencing this drill, participants become acutely aware of the lethal nature of engaging the living dead.
Solo Training
At some point you may find yourself completely devoid of training companions, relying only on yourself to keep your skills in peak condition. It is a misconception that a training partner is always necessary to hone your combat abilities. You can perform a great many drills and exercises that require nothing but yourself and some minor training tools.
