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⚠️ Friendly Fire 101

Spoiler-light guide for new WWZ: Aftermath players. How FF works, what alters it, and simple habits to avoid team damage.

At a Glance

Core Rules

  • Friendly fire is always on in PvE and scales with difficulty
  • Melee is FF-safe - you won't hurt teammates with swings
  • Explosives & fire can down allies - treat heavies and grenades as "callout only"

Good Habits

  • When stacked shoulder-to-shoulder: call "melee only" until spacing improves
  • Count down big blasts: "RPG in 3…2…1" - Clear the cone first
  • Ping specials before shooting past teammates

Difficulty Scaling (Rule of Thumb)

Difficulty FF Severity Notes
Easy Very Low Explosives still dangerous
Normal Low Bullet chips noticeable; avoid threading past allies
Hard Moderate Stray shots and splash can down a teammate
Insane High Explosives are extremely risky; discipline required
Extreme Very High Misplaced heavy or GL can wipe the run

Exact multipliers aren't shown in-game; treat this as practical guidance.

Class Tools That Reduce Friendly Fire

🏥 Medic - Lv21 "Forgive and Forget"

Team takes less FF damage (passive cushion)

⚔️ Slasher - "Bullet-dodger"

While mid-swing, immune to bullet FF

🤖 Dronemaster - "Not On My Watch"

Teammate followed by your drone doesn't take FF

🛡️ Vanguard - Shield Active

Shield blocks damage and lets allies fire safely around you

Names/levels may vary by patch wording; effects are the intended outcomes.

Mutators That Change Friendly Fire

See Mutators Guide for the full list.

Blast Cones & Safe Lanes (Visual Guide)

You Ally Ally Bad: RPG through team Good: Fire past/around allies Horde
Avoid firing heavy weapons through allies. Establish lanes before you pull the trigger.

Communication & Safety Checklist

  1. Stacked? Melee only. Use V / RS/R3 until lanes open
  2. Count blasts. "Frag out" / "RPG in 3…2…1"
  3. Ping specials before threading shots past teammates
  4. Use class cover: Drone on heavy-user, Medic Lv21, Vanguard shield for pushes
  5. Reset if tilted. A calm squad makes fewer FF mistakes

Advanced Tips

Weapon-Specific FF Notes

  • Shotguns: Wide spread = higher FF risk at close range
  • Crossbow: Explosive bolts have splash damage
  • Heavy Weapons: All have significant FF potential
  • Mortars: Team-wide danger during setup

Situational Awareness

  • Doorways: Never shoot through teammates in chokes
  • Pyramids: Wait for clear shot angles
  • Swarm Defense: Establish firing lanes early
  • Retreat: Cover fire from sides, not through team

Quick Reference - FF Damage by Source

⚠️ Always Dangerous (All Difficulties):

  • RPG / Grenade Launcher direct hits
  • Claymore explosions
  • C4 blasts
  • Mortar strikes
  • Fire damage (Molotov, Flamethrower)

✅ Always Safe:

  • All melee attacks
  • Stun gun
  • Drone attacks (Dronemaster)
  • Turret fire (unless Angry Turrets mutator)