Zombie


 * See also: Ghost Zombie.

The  is considered to be a human mutant which appears in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Lost Alpha standalone mod.

"The Brain Scorcher strips its victim of mind and reason, leaving only an empty, mindless shell. The brainless bodies then turn into zombies, following only the most basic instincts, wandering aimlessly around the Zone without weapons or clothing. Zombies are little more than sluggish walking corpses, caring only about food and sleep. They eat and drink just about anything they can get their claws on, hence they are virtually soaked in radiation and toxic waste. Usually they roam the Zone without any apparent purpose or just lie corpse-like in abandoned buildings. However, as soon as they sense the presence of a human being, they attack immediately. Experienced stalkers have learned to avoid them if they can."

- encyclopedia description

Overview
The Brain Scorcher strips its victim of mind and reason, leaving only an empty, mindless shell. The brainless bodies then turn into zombies, following only the most basic instincts, wandering aimlessly around the Zone without weapons or clothing. Zombies are little more than sluggish walking corpses, caring only about food and sleep. They eat and drink just about anything they can get their claws on, hence they are virtually soaked in radiation and toxic waste. Usually they roam the Zone without any apparent purpose or just lie corpse-like in abandoned buildings. However, as soon as they sense the presence of a human being, they attack immediately. Experienced stalkers have learned to avoid them if they can.

Biology

 * At least four varieties are counted in the player's statistics log, all mentioned as different varieties of 'civilian' zombie.
 * Zombies exist in several levels of decomposition, ranging from human looking to eyeless, blood-covered, and corpse-like creatures
 * Zombies also wear the same clothing as the cutscene scientists do, which points at their origin.
 * Immune to the depredations of Radiation.

Uses

 * Zombies are an excellent, although variable, source of body parts that prove useful when used in conjunction with an Artifact Merger.
 * They may also be used to manipulate Artifact Spawns in two important locations where Springboard anomalies are present (Trade Route Tunnel and Music Village) If the player can arrange not to have them all run into anomalies at once (by making staged saves, coupled with distracting the objectives); then a fairly hefty spawning of Spring and Cake (and/or Shell from v1.4007) artifacts may be "encouraged". Obviously the player reloads unproductive or less successful saves. Only applies to game versions subsequent to v1.3003.

Gameplay

 * Zombies inflict rupture damage.
 * They should never be confused with the Zombified Stalkers (who inflict firearms damage)
 * They do not carry any form of armour other than tattered clothing.
 * Zombies are unarmed and slow-moving.
 * In true zombie-style strategy, aim for the head.
 * They can be confused into a more rapid 'search mode' where they trot around with an extended arm and circle around looking for the enemy within its territory. This is more likely to be encountered at the boundaries of their 'gulag' areas.
 * They are very weak versus Anomalies (except Radiation) and luring them through such areas may prove to be the player's most efficient option.
 * Note that in v1.4007 they are unrealistically resistant to Burner anomalies.
 * If useful anomalies are unavailable in the vicinity, they will not stray very far from their specified areas, although if the player hopes to shoot them from such a vantage they will present a more mobile target as a result of their entering 'search mode'.
 * Zombies take an inordinate quantity of small arms fire before falling to ground.
 * Even then, they have the ability to 'reanimate' and get up for a second bout.
 * Shotguns serve well, and a Chaser 13 with an expanded shell capacity is ideal if used with buckshot.
 * One useful ploy is to drop the opponent with a pistol head shot, then move in quickly with a knife blow or two to the head. If ammo and rupture protection is low, this can prove to be an efficient strategy.
 * Avoid close combat with groups at all costs (unless rupture protection levels are high)
 * Due to their slow moving nature and tendency to cluster when following you around, you can save ammunition by using grenades on them. Note that they are still able to reanimate after an initial volley.
 * If one is in possession of a pump-action shotgun such as a Chaser 13 with extended mag, loading #4 buckshot and waiting till they are about 2-3 meters away is a very effective choice as one well-placed head shot will permanently down a zombie without animation, with VERY reliable results. It is possible to do this with a double-barrel shotgun, but beware of the reload and 2-shell capacity. (Will see if using #00 buckshot or slug rounds will yield similar results. )

Trivia

 * Early in the game, the player has the opportunity to clear the Vehicle Graveyard for Seriy. Since the player is unlikely to have decent armour or weaponry at this stage, this is a useful task that can use up plenty of accumulated 9x18 mm rounds. Depending on game difficulty, bring 300 rounds.
 * Alternatively, learn to become handy with a knife.