Best beginner tips and tricks for Killing Floor 3

Killing Floor 3 is the latest carnival of carnage from developer Tripwire Interactive, throwing players into an unforgiving sci-fi world full of lethal monsters. Brutal new Zeds await you in this horde-based co-op FPS title. As such, knowing how to progress is key, especially for newcomers who haven't experienced the thrill of the franchise before.

With the latest series installment introducing numerous new elements, here are some tips and tricks to help new players get a head start.

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Best tips and tricks to get started with Killing Floor 3

1) Select the right class for the job

Each class has something unique to offer (Image via Tripwire Interactive)

Killing Floor 3 features six unique classes for you to pick from at launch: Engineer, Medic, Ninja, Sharpshooter, Firebug, and Commando.

Each has distinct play styles and access to unique weapon loadouts. For example, while the Ninja excels in close-quarters combat, cutting down waves of Zeds with katanas, the Medic keeps the team alive with their healing bullets.

Diversifying a team with synergetic classes is therefore essential for success in this game.

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2) Melee weapons can be a lifesaver

Katanas and knives are satisfying to use in Killing Floor 3 (Image via Tripwire Interactive)

While the Ninja specializes in melee weapons, every class is equipped with a knife by default. This is significant because there are upsides to putting down a firearm and pulling out a melee weapon in the heat of battle.

Using melee weapons is a great way to conserve ammo during the early game. Moreover, even the default knives are quite powerful and can dispatch normal mobs easily.

Furthermore, equipping melee weapons increases your movement speeds. It allows you to move out of harm's way by giving you a burst of speed when needed to get to safety. This makes even the basic melee knife an invaluable tool in a successful expedition.

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3) Stick together and coordinate at all times

Teamwork makes dreamwork (Image via Tripwire Interactive)

Killing Floor 3 is a horde shooter, similar to Valve's iconic Left 4 Dead series or even the popular Call of Duty Zombies mode. In other words, teamwork is the key to surviving the toughest challenges the game throws at you.

As such, working together is the way to move forward, and that can only be done via proper coordination. The shooter does have a healthy number of features to facilitate this, like a ping system and a guiding trail.

The game's Director AI adjusts dynamically to each team's composition and current status, including spawning enemies from vertical spaces, making it easy for stragglers to become overwhelmed.

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4) Prioritize taking down special enemies

These special enemies can be tough to take down solo (Image via Tripwire Interactive)

Killing Floor 3 is home to several distinct enemies, including a select group of Special foes. These adversaries stand out from the usual trash mobs not just due to their unique designs but also their distinct abilities. This includes the series' mainstay Scrake, a hulking, armor-clad behemoth, and the annoying Siren, who can disorient players.

If left unchecked, these foes can quickly become a problem for the team, so you should always aim to take them down first. Thankfully, each has a distinct weakness, so switching to that element or weapon type can make quick work of them.

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5) The Multi-Tool opens up new ways of survivability

The Multi-Tool can be used to activate traps, turrets, doorways, and more (Image via Tripwire Interactive)

Killing Floor 3 boasts a loadout system, which means players can slot in their favorite weapons, consumables, and more before and between rounds.

The Multi-Tool is one of the most useful consumables in the shooter. Available under the default loadout for the Engineer class, it is a multi-purpose tool that can make life easier in the game.

The Multi-Tool can be used to activate various objects littered around the game world, ranging from chests filled with valuable armor that reinforce player health, traps that help thin out Zed waves, and ziplines for easy transport between areas.

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6) Alt-Fire modes can turn the tide of battle

Weapons like the Dragon's Breath shotgun have alt-fire modes (Image via Tripwire Interactive)

Many weapons in Killing Floor 3 feature Alt-Fire modes. Thanks to them, you can switch between fire modes or dramatically alter how a weapon functions.

For example, the Firebug’s flamethrower doubles as a rocket launcher with the press of a button. Meanwhile, the Engineer’s grenade launcher can switch to a manually detonated sticky grenade, which can act as a mine that can be deactivated to decimate incoming or pursuing foes.

This can open up new ways of tackling combat scenarios, especially when overwhelmed by numbers.

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Killing Floor 3 is now available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S platforms.