left 4 dead

Cheat Codes

At the main menu, select "Options", then choose the "Keyboard/Mouse" selection. Enable the "Allow Developers Console" option. While playing the game, press ~ to display the console window. Type "Sv_Cheats 1" and press [Enter] to enable cheat mode for everyone on your hosted server. Then, type one of the following codes at the console window and press [Enter] to activate the corresponding cheat function:

Result	Cheat Code
Toggle invincibility	god [0 or 1]
Full health for your character	give health
Receive damage, but will cannot die	buddha
All weapons and ammunition	impulse 10
Toggle infinite ammunition	sv_infinite_ammo [0 or 1]
Toggle no clipping mode	noclip
Spawn indicated item	give [item name]
Spawn indicated item for NPCs	ent_create weapon_[item name]
Spawn indicated NPC type	z_spawn [NPC name]
Spawn active pipebomb under you	boom
Spawn lit Molotov cocktail under you	fire
Remove a teammate; repeat for more	ent_remove
Infected cannot see you	nb_blind 1
Teleports all survivors to your position	warp_all_survivors_here
Teleports all survivors to the nearest checkpoint	warp_all_survivors_to_checkpoint
Teleports all survivors to the finale	warp_all_survivors_to_finale
Teleport yourself to the next chapter	warp_to_start_area
Quick change map	changelevel [map name]
Be spectator	ent_fire !self setteam 1
Be survivor	ent_fire !self setteam 2
Be infected	ent_fire !self setteam 3
Set number of normal zombies	z_common_limit [number]
Set number of panic zombies	z_mega_mob_size [number]
Set zombie health	z_health [number]
Set zombie speed	z_speed [number]
Set maximum range of Smoker's tongue attack; default is 750	tongue_range [number]
Set time before a burning Witch dies from fire	z_witch_burn_time
Set amount of damage Witch's attack does	z_witch_damage [number]
Toggle allowing witch to change targets instead	z_witch_allow_change_victim [0 or 1]
Set maximum health of Tank	z_tank_health [number]
Set number of seconds until the player loses control of Tank from not attacking survivors	z_frustration_lifetime [number]
Toggle if bots can do friendly fire damage	sb_friendlyfire [0 or 1]
Disable all wanderers, mobs, specials, and Bosses	director_stop
Force a panic	director_force_panic_infinite 1
Force a panic event	director_force_panic
Toggle never ending panics	director_panic_forever [0 or 1]
Toggle mob rushes	director_no_mobs [0 or 1]
Toggle controllable Boss Infected	director_no_human_zombies [0 or 1]
Set camera behind the shoulder in third person view	thirdpersonshoulder
Toggle set fixed camera in third person or third person shoulder view	thirdperson_mayamode
Third person view	thirdperson
Return to first person view	firstperson
Enable Internet LAN; enable while in "Campaign Lobby" screen	sv_lan 0
Start LAN server; enable while in "Campaign Lobby" screen	map [map name]
Display available servers	openserverbrowser
Restart game with cheats active; allows achievements to be earned with cheats	retry
Commit suicide	kill
Quit game	quit

Item names

Use one of the following values with the "give [item name]" code:

ammo
autoshotgun
first_aid_kit
gascan
hunting_rifle
moltov
oxygen_tank
pain_pills
pipe_bomb
pistol
propane_tank
pumpshotgun
rifle
smg

NPC names

Use one of the following values with the "z_spawn [NPC name]" code:

mob
witch
tank
boomer
smoker
hunter
zombie

Map names

Use one of the following values with the "changelevel [map name]" or "map [map name]" code:

Level	Code
Campaign mode
No Mercy: The Apartments	changelevel l4d_hospital01_apartment
No Mercy: The Subway	changelevel l4d_hospital02_subway
No Mercy: The Sewer	changelevel l4d_hospital03_sewers
No Mercy: The Hospital	changelevel l4d_hospital04_interior
No Mercy: Rooftop Finale	changelevel l4d_hospital05_rooftop
Death Toll: The Turnpike	changelevel l4d_smalltown01_caves
Death Toll: The Drains	changelevel l4d_smalltown02_drainage
Death Toll: The Church	changelevel l4d_smalltown03_ranchhouse
Death Toll: The Town	changelevel l4d_smalltown04_mainstreet
Death Toll: Boathouse Finale	changelevel l4d_smalltown05_houseboat
Dead Air: The Greenhouse	changelevel l4d_airport01_greenhouse
Dead Air: The Crane	changelevel l4d_airport02_offices
Dead Air: The Construction Site	changelevel l4d_airport03_garage
Dead Air: The Terminal	changelevel l4d_airport04_terminal
Dead Air: Runway Finale	changelevel l4d_airport05_runway
Blood Harvest: The Woods	changelevel l4d_farm01_hilltop
Blood Harvest: The Tunnel	changelevel l4d_farm02_traintunnel
Blood Harvest: The Bridge	changelevel l4d_farm03_bridge
Blood Harvest: The Train Station	changelevel l4d_farm04_barn
Blood Harvest: Farmhouse Finale	changelevel l4d_farm05_cornfield
Versus mode
No Mercy: The Apartments	changelevel l4d_vs_hospital01_apartment
No Mercy: The Subway	changelevel l4d_vs_hospital02_subway
No Mercy: The Sewer	changelevel l4d_vs_hospital03_sewers
No Mercy: The Hospital	changelevel l4d_vs_hospital04_interior
No Mercy: Rooftop Finale	changelevel l4d_vs_hospital05_rooftop
Blood Harvest: The Woods	changelevel l4d_vs_farm01_hilltop
Blood Harvest: The Tunnel	changelevel l4d_vs_farm02_traintunnel
Blood Harvest: The Bridge	changelevel l4d_vs_farm03_bridge
Blood Harvest: The Train Station	changelevel l4d_vs_farm04_barn
Blood Harvest: Farmhouse Finale	changelevel l4d_vs_farm05_cornfield

Play as infected

Enable the "ent_fire !self setteam 3" code. After spawning and dying, press [Jump] until the camera changes into Free Roam mode. Then, enable one of the following "z_spawn" codes to play as that type of infected:

z_spawn smoker
z_spawn tank
z_spawn boomer
z_spawn hunter

Split-screen mode

Note: This procedure involves editing a game file; create a backup copy of the file before proceeding. Insert an Xbox 360 controller. Use a text editor to edit the "360controller.cfg" file in the "\left4dead\cfg folder" directory. Replace its content with the following:

unbindall  // Prevent mouse/keyboard control when gamepad is in use (to prevent autoaim exploit)

joystick 1
joy_advanced "1" // use advanced joystick options (allows for multiple axes)

joy_name "L4D Xbox360 Joystick Configuration"
joy_advaxisx 3  // x-axis controls GAME_AXIS_SIDE (strafing left and right)
joy_advaxisy 1  // y-axis controls GAME_AXIS_FORWARD (move forward and back)
joy_advaxisz 0  // z-axis is treated like a button
joy_advaxisr 2  // r-axis controls GAME_AXIS_PITCH (look up and down)
joy_advaxisu 4  // u-axis controls GAME_AXIS_YAW (look left and right)
joy_advaxisv 0  // v-axis is unused
joy_forwardsensitivity -1.0 // movement sensitivity
joy_sidesensitivity 1.0
joy_forwardthreshold 0.1    // movement dead zone settings
joy_sidethreshold 0.1
joy_pitchsensitivity 1.0    // look sensitivity
joy_yawsensitivity -1.5
joy_pitchthreshold 0.1      // look dead zone settings
joy_yawthreshold 0.0

joy_variable_frametime 1
joy_autoaimdampenrange 0.85
joy_autoaimdampen 0.5
joy_lowend 0.65
joy_lowmap 0.15
joy_accelscale 3.0
joy_accelmax 4.0
joy_response_move 5
joy_response_look 1
joy_autoaimdampen 0.3
joy_autoaimdampenrange 0.85
joyadvancedupdate           // advanced joystick update allows for analog control of move and look

// Alternate control 1
bind "0" "slot10"
bind "1" "slot1"

bind "2" "slot2"
bind "3" "slot3"
bind "4" "slot4"
bind "5" "slot5"

bind "6" "slot6"
bind "7" "slot7"
bind "8" "slot8"
bind "9" "slot9"

bind "a" "+moveleft"
bind "c" "+voicerecord"
bind "d" "+moveright"
bind "e" "+use"

bind "f" "impulse 100"
bind "h" "motd"
bind "m" "chooseteam"
bind "q" "lastinv"

bind "r" "+reload"
bind "s" "+back"
bind "t" "impulse 201"
bind "u" "messagemode2"

bind "w" "+forward"
bind "x" "+mouse_menu QA"
bind "y" "messagemode"
bind "z" "+mouse_menu Orders"

bind "`" "toggleconsole"
bind "SPACE" "+jump"
bind "TAB" "+showscores"
bind "ESCAPE" "cancelselect"

bind "SHIFT" "+speed"
bind "CTRL" "+duck"
bind "F1" "Vote Yes"
bind "F2" "Vote No"

bind "F5" "jpeg"
bind "MOUSE1" "+attack"
bind "MOUSE2" "+attack2"
bind "MOUSE3" "+zoom"

bind "MWHEELUP" "invprev"
bind "MWHEELDOWN" "invnext"

// controller2 bindings
cmd2 +jlook       // enable joystick look
cmd2 bind "A_BUTTON" "+jump;+menuAccept"   // (A) button - Jump -menuAccpt allows us to make selections on hud menus
cmd2 bind "B_BUTTON" "+reload"    // (B) button - Reload
cmd2 bind "X_BUTTON" "+use"     // (X) Use
cmd2 bind "Y_BUTTON" "lastinv"    // (Y) button - swap pistol/rifle or z_abort -used to respawn as a ghost.
cmd2 bind "R_TRIGGER" "+attack"    // RT - Main weapon - Primary trigger
cmd2 bind "L_TRIGGER" "+attack2"    // LT - Melee
cmd2 bind "R_SHOULDER" "+lookspin"    // RB - Fast 180 spin
cmd2 bind "L_SHOULDER" "toggle_duck"    // LB - Duck - is also used to give objects to people.
cmd2 bind "STICK1" "vocalize smartlook"   // LS - vocalize
cmd2 bind "STICK2" "+zoom"     // RS click - Rifle Zoom

// Fixed bindings, do not change these across joystick presets
cmd2 bind "BACK" "togglescores"    // (back) button - scores
cmd2 bind "START" "pause"     // (start) button - pause
cmd2 bind "S1_UP" "+menuUp"     // Hud menu Up
cmd2 bind "S1_DOWN" "+menuDown"    // Hud menu Down
cmd2 bind "UP" "impulse 100"     // DPad Up - Toggle flashlight
cmd2 bind "LEFT" "slot3"       // DPad Left - grenade
cmd2 bind "RIGHT" "slot4"     // DPad Right - health
cmd2 bind "DOWN" "slot5"       // DPad Down - Pills

At the main menu, select "Options", then choose the "Keyboard/Mouse" selection. Enable the "Allow Developers Console" option. While playing the game, press ~ to display the console window. Type "Exec 360controller.cfg" and press [Enter], then set your split screen mode with the following console codes: "ss_splitmode 1" ("Horizontal-Cut" for standard monitors) or "ss_splitmode 2" ("Vertical-Cut" for widescreen monitors). Connect to a server. Join the server with the "connect [IP address] 2" console code. You must now set the Xbox 360 controller to player two (with the light on the Xbox logo pointing to "2"). To do this, quickly unplug and reinsert the Xbox 360 controller while the game is running. You can now play in Co-op mode in split-screen.

Invincibility while reloading

Press [Reload], then hold [Melee] to knock back attacking zombies while reloading your gun. -From: Ryan Helgeson

Fast melee

Rapidly tap [Melee], [Weapon Switch] repeatedly. This will double your melee speed. This helps to complete the game on the Expert difficulty from hordes of attacking zombies.

Safe area

When hordes of Infected appear, try to find a room with a door and no windows. Go inside, and close the door. The Infected may break the door, but when you see a hole in it, shoot the Infected trying to break it down. Your teammates can handle most of the Infected.

Unbreakable door

If you are low on health and need somewhere to hide, find a bathroom stall. Go inside the stall, and close the door. The door never breaks down. This works well if you are trying to heal yourself.

Easy wins as Infected in Blood Harvest: The Tunnel

There is a warehouse-type area immediately after the starting safe room. Quickly run back to the emergency door on the other side of the warehouse. There should be a forklift near the door. Spawn and push this forklift in front of the doorway. Note: You may need to break the white door in front of the emergency door to get the forklift all the way in front of the doorway.

Shortcut in Dead Air: The Construction Site

There is a metal door and a raised fence by the barricade that you burn. Jump on the fence, and follow it until it begins to go downward. At this point, jump on the metal siding door. Note: Some practice may be required.

Shortcut in Dead Air: The Crane

Jump on the fence after climbing on the vent cover. Go across the fence, then jump to the other side of the horizontal fence. Turn left, and go to the end. Jump up and to the right to the air conditioning unit box on the corner of the next building. Once on the next building, go to the left corner. Jump to the top branch of the tree below you. You will lose a lot of health after landing; however, you will be at the next safe room.

Shortcut in No Mercy: The Apartments

As soon as the level starts, look over the edge of the building and down to the street. Notice the box-like object that is partway down. Drop down to it. Although you will take some damage, you will still be alive. You can then drop down to the ground and continue the level.

Easy wins as Infected in No Mercy: The Hospital

Before you spawn, go all the way up to floor 28, where the elevator lets out. Just outside of the elevator is a generator. Move it in front of the elevator door. If the Survivors know what you are doing, they can move it. It requires three survivors to move an object. However, if you have someone else on the Infected side, they can go a little bit further and move the forklift in front of the doorway.

Easy kills as Infected in No Mercy: The Sewer

The Survivors must jump into a sewer hole at a certain point. As an Infected, use this to your advantage. While playing as a Smoker or Hunter, hide behind one of the large canisters in the room. Once one of the Survivors open the hole and are done checking the vicinity, they will jump in. Due to the fact they must jump in one at a time or get stuck, make sure you have a clear view of the last one in line. Once all three are down and the fourth Survivor is still up, pounce or grab him or her. By doing this, he or she will not be able to be saved, unless someone throws a Molotov cocktail or pipe bomb.

Easy wins as Infected in No Mercy: The Sewer

In the warehouse near the end of the level, immediately after the area with the gas station and the lift, there is a forklift which you can use to block the door the Survivors must go through. When the level starts, do not spawn. Instead, quickly go to the warehouse. When you get there, spawn and start pushing the forklift to the door. To push the forklift, keep attacking it. It will move very slowly, but you will have time to push it before the Survivors reach it. The only way the Survivors can move it is by throwing pipe bombs at it repeatedly.

This trick works best as a Hunter. Before you spawn in the No Mercy campaign, Level 3, go all the way to the very end, at the hospital. Once up the ladder, turn to your right, and there should be a dumpster. Move it all the way over to the manhole, and one of two things will happen. It will either fall all the way down, which is bad because the Survivors cannot move it; or it will partially fall in. The survivors cannot move this at all. If you are a Tank, you can move a car over it, which is better than the dumpster. From here, do not puke on them as a Boomer, as it will attract the Horde. The Horde will try to move the object away from the manhole. Then, attack them as Hunters and Smokers. They may shoot you, but every so often, you can hurt them until finally they die.

Minigun launcher

Stand behind any mounted minigun on any level, and melee it. You can do this by yourself or get other people to help. Every time your gun hits the minigun, its launching strength will increase. Once you hit it enough, jump on top of it. This will either make you bounce very high or launch you across the map to your death. Bouncing straight up on it allows you to get to unreachable places such as buildings, airplanes, barriers. etc.

Killing two zombies with one bullet

Use a sniper rifle, and zoom in on a group of zombies. When you see a zombie standing behind another one, shoot at the one in the front. The zombie in back will also get shot.

Stronger Hunter

When Hunters are on fire, their pounces and attacks on Survivors do more damage per hit. Use this to your advantage, and deliberately set yourself on fire with fire pits or burning cars, then attack. This allows you to easily down Survivors. Note: This only works for Hunters, not Smokers, Boomers, or Tanks.

Defeating Tanks

To kill a Tank faster, throw a Molotov cocktail, or a gas tank and shoot it. When the Tank is on fire, shoot him with an assault rifle.

Defeating Witches

To kill a Witch faster, throw a Molotov cocktail. When the Witch is on fire, shoot her with an automatic shotgun.

Easy "Akimbo Assassin" achievement

Start a campaign, and shoot a few zombies using only a pistol. Then, select the "Take A Break" option, and allow the NPCs to complete the campaign to get the "Akimbo Assassin" achievement.

Easy "Cr0wnd" achievement

Play on the Easy difficulty. Get a shotgun, and find a Witch. Quickly approach the Witch with your flashlight off. As she rises, quickly shoot her in the head to kill her and get the "Cr0wnd" achievement.

Easy "Dead Stop" achievement

Have a shotgun, and hold [Melee] while running at a Hunter.

Easy "Helping Hand" achievement

While in a safe house, preferably one with a combat shotgun, incapacitate the other three members of your group, then revive them. Doing this counts toward your achievement. It is easier with a combat shotgun because it deals a lot of damage fast. In a single player campaign, make sure all other survivors are in the lower red health area. When you incapacitate one of them, the others will try to revive them. You then need to shoot the others before they revive the incapacitated players or you will not get the points for reviving.

Easy "Man vs. Tank" achievement

Play Dead Air, Runway Finale on the Easy difficulty. Once you have made it to the tanker, refill your ammo, grab a pipe bomb or Molotov cocktail, then answer the radio, and start the gas pump. Once the pump is activated, run around to the right-hand side of the rescue plane, and prepare to fight off the Horde. A benefit of this position is that the Horde cannot come at you from behind. When it is time for the Tank to appear, it will usually spawn on the far side of the plane. Run up to opposite side, then run back and forth without coming around the plane to your side. Your AI teammates will not shoot the Tank when it is on the other side of the plane. By crouching you will be able to easily aim at the lower body from beneath the plane and take it down quickly.

Easy "Unbreakable" achievement

If you have a health pack and are low on health, pause the game, and select the "Take A Break" option. While you are idle, you will be healed. Once you are healed, rejoin the game, and the healing will not count against you. Note: This was done on the Easy difficulty.

Easy "Untouchables" achievement

In No Mercy, Level 5, when you climb to the rooftop, there is a small building with a satellite dish by where the helicopter lands. Climb on top of this building. There is a small staircase on one of the sides leading up to a sealed door (only zombies can open it). Stand above it on the edge, and knock the zombies down as they come up. Eventually one will knock the door down. The Survivors can stand against the back wall in the room, and no infected will come in, including the Tank. Once the helicopter lands, throw a pipe bomb, and quickly run to the helicopter. -From: murderdeathkillr

Steam achievements

Successfully complete the indicated task to unlock the corresponding achievement. To view your achievements and stats in Steam, select "Community", "My profile", "View all my games", then the game and view stats.

101 Cremations: Set 101 Infected on fire.
Akimbo Assassin: Survive a campaign firing no guns other than pistols.
All 4 Dead: Kill all four Survivors on one life as a Tank.
Back 2 Help: Leave a safe room to save an incapped teammate and bring them back
Barf Bagged: Cover four Survivors with Boomer bile at once.
Big Drag: Drag a Survivor x distance with your tongue.
Blind Luck: You or another Survivor take no damage after being vomited on by a Boomer.
Brain Salad: Make 100 headshot kills.
Bronze Mettle: Earn a Bronze medal in Survival mode on any official level.
Burn the Witch: Light a Witch with a Molotov.
Chain Smoker: Constrict two Survivors on one life as a Smoker.
Clean Kill: Shove a Boomer and then kill him without him splashing on anyone.
Cr0wnd: Kill a Witch with a single headshot.
Dead Baron: Survive the Dead Air campaign.
Dead Giveaway: Heal a fellow Survivor when your own health is below 10.
Dead Stop: Punch a Hunter as he is pouncing.
Dead Wreckening: Dole out 5000 total Survivor damage as a Special Infected.
Distinguished Survivor: Earn at least a Bronze medal on every official Survival level.
Do Not Disturb: Sneak past all Witches in a campaign without disturbing one.
Double Jump: Pounce two different Survivors on one life as a Hunter.
Drag and Drop: Rescue a Survivor from a Smoker's tongue before he takes damage.
Field Medic: Heal 25 Survivors with a first aid kit.
Grim Reaper: Survive the Blood Harvest campaign.
Ground Cover: Save another Survivor from a Special Infected while on the ground.
Helping Hand: Revive 50 incapacitated Survivors.
Hero Closet: Rescue a Survivor trapped in a closet.
Heroic Survivor: Earn at least a Silver medal on every official Survival level.
Hunter Punter: Shove a Hunter off of a pinned and helpless Survivor.
Jump Shot: Headshot a Hunter while he's leaping.
Lamb 2 Slaughter: Incapacitate a Survivor after he has entered and exited a safe room.
Last Stan: Complete one round of Survival on The Last Stand.
Legendary Survivor: Earn a Gold medal on every official Survival level.
Man vs Tank: Single-handedly kill a Tank.
Mercy Killer: Survive the No Mercy campaign.
My Bodyguard: Protect any Survivor from an attacking Infected 50 times.
No Smoking Section: Kill 10 Smokers as they are pulling helpless Survivors.
No-One Left Behind: Beat a campaign with all 4 Survivors.
Nothing Special: Survive a campaign with no Survivors taking damage from Specials.
Pharm-assist: Give pain pills to 10 Survivors.
Pyrotechnician: Blow up 20 Infected in a single explosion.
Red Mist: Kill 1000 Infected with a mounted machine gun.
Safety First: Play through a campaign with no Survivors taking friendly fire damage.
Silver Bullets: Earn a Silver medal in Survival mode on any official level.
Spinal Tap: Kill an Infected with a single blow from behind.
Stand Tall: Survive a campaign without being incapacitated.
Stomach Upset: All Survivors complete a campaign without being vomited on.
Tankbusters: Kill a Tank without it dealing any damage to a Survivor.
Toll Collector: Survive the Death Toll campaign.
Tongue Twister: Kill a Smoker who has grabbed you with his tongue.
Towering Inferno: Light a Tank with a Molotov.
Unbreakable: Beat a campaign without ever using a first aid kit on yourself.
Untouchables: No Survivors take damage after contacting the rescue vehicle.
Violence Is Golden: Earn a Gold medal in Survival mode on any official level.
What Are You Trying To Prove?: Survive all campaigns on Impossible.
Witch Hunter: Kill a Witch without any Survivor taking damage from her.
Zombicidal Maniac: Survive any campaign on Impossible.
Zombie Genocidest: Kill 53,595 Infected.

The following achievements require the "Crash Course" bonus downloadable content:

20 Car Pile-Up: As A Tank hit 20 Survivors with a car in the Crash Course campaign.
Crash-Proof: Survive the Crash Course Campaign.
Jumpin' Jack Smash: Pounce a Survivor for 25 points of damage in the Crash Course campaign.
Quick Power: Restart the generator within 30 seconds of it shutting off.
Slippery Pull: Smoker pull a bile-covered Survivor until you hold him during Crash Course.
Smash Hit: Win a Versus campaign of Crash Course.
Tank Stumble: Stun a Tank with an explosion in the Crash Course campaign.
The Littlest Genocide: Kill 5,359 Infected in the Crash Course campaign.
Truck Stop: Your team wipes all Survivors after the escape vehicle has opened in Crash Course.
Wipefest: Your team incapacitates three Survivors within five seconds.