Boom Barrel Challenge - strategy notes and discussion

JayZ

Even though this is a precharged Hunter week and we have the new exploding barrels, a LOT of these maps are going to be easier with melee teams. This seems like it will be a very easy challenge with high repeat potential... Just be careful to not accidentally break down fences and let walkers get to you until you're ready for it.

Note that the strategies and suggested teams below are up to RSL45. MM strategies will probably be different.

Blow Through: Get to the exit. Easiest to repeat level. There is a threat counter, but there are no initial threats, so you can get through the map without causing any additional walkers to spawn. Kill the walkers slowly while you are protected by the fence. Suggested team: Many options, but some combination of Rick (Spear) to poke at walkers through the fence and break the barrels to not cause additional threat, Winter Bow Shooter to snipe other zombies, and other Shooters on overwatch.

Wrecked Cellar: Kill all walkers. Only one fatty, and some exploding walkers. Only one spawn wave near the bottom. Suggested team: Many options, but some combination of Sasha, other Hunters, Rick, Bruisers, and Assaults work well.

One There: Find the loot. Light beginning spawns (only one fatty), and reasonable spawn waves. Prowl away. Suggested team: threat reduction team (Daryl with Knife, Rick with Spear, and another Scout/Bruiser). * Note be very careful with the fence in this map. It is easy to knock down and seems to function a bit differently than the fence for other maps.

Big Pile: Basically the same as the previous map.

One Down: Lots of initial walkers, but only one boss walker. No initial threat counter, so another map that is best for a melee team. Prowl away. Suggested team: Daryl with Spear, Rick with Spear, and another Scout/Bruiser).

The Locker: Find the loot and get out. Yet ANOTHER map with no initial threat + find the loot. Prowl away. Suggested team: Daryl with Spear, Rick with Spear, and Winter Bow Shooter to snipe zombies behind the fence.

JayZ

MM 39-44 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

JayZ

My initial thought: It's a bit disappointing that a new strategic element for ranged survivors is featured in a challenge that is very favorable to melee survivors.

Billbam

Thanks for all the early info JayZ. Looks like a fairly easy map set, I expect big scores hahaha

Fluxxx

Billbam

Final scores will tell hahahaha....still early!

Stalker20

@Fluxxx no no no, it's very hard, I'm going to struggle to make my guilds minimum 🤥 😬

Billbam

Good catch @Danski_46 hahaha...I have gotten through the first round of MM and it IS very hard now.

WellyLuga

It baffles me that two of the maps have a threat counter that never fills. I feel like every time locker room or blow through comes up as the MM the game should just automatically award us 3* and not make us waste our time

WellyLuga

JayZ said:

My initial thought: It's a bit disappointing that a new strategic element for ranged survivors is featured in a challenge that is very favorable to melee survivors.

I think ranged has their place though, there are many missions easily passable by just shooting the barrells. Also, have you played big pile yet and had the barrell spawn right on the finish behind the fence. If that happens you better pray you took along a spear, I didn't and had to flee as I literally couldn't finish the map as I didn't have ranged to shoot it and couldn't reach with knife or staff

Fluxxx

WellyLuga said:

JayZ said:

My initial thought: It's a bit disappointing that a new strategic element for ranged survivors is featured in a challenge that is very favorable to melee survivors.

I think ranged has their place though, there are many missions easily passable by just shooting the barrells. Also, have you played big pile yet and had the barrell spawn right on the finish behind the fence. If that happens you better pray you took along a spear, I didn't and had to flee as I literally couldn't finish the map as I didn't have ranged to shoot it and couldn't reach with knife or staff

Do you have a screenshot by any chance?

WellyLuga

Fluxxx said:

WellyLuga said:

JayZ said:

My initial thought: It's a bit disappointing that a new strategic element for ranged survivors is featured in a challenge that is very favorable to melee survivors.

I think ranged has their place though, there are many missions easily passable by just shooting the barrells. Also, have you played big pile yet and had the barrell spawn right on the finish behind the fence. If that happens you better pray you took along a spear, I didn't and had to flee as I literally couldn't finish the map as I didn't have ranged to shoot it and couldn't reach with knife or staff

Do you have a screenshot by any chance?

That's annoying, at the time I did think I should screenshot this and report it but it was at around midnight last night and I was tired . The barrells seem to be randomly placed, I just had one instance where instead of it spawning in the row next to the fence it spawned on the row away.

Firekid

@Fluxxx here you go, happened to me too but I had a spear.

WellyLuga

Thanks @Firekid

I'll have 25 gold for the flee then please @Fluxxx

Firekid

Also @Fluxxx is the fence on “one there” meant to fall when the first walker is killed even without hitting the barrel?

ATLAS-Z

Yeah that seems weird...

Deadheads

I've noticed that too... do fences go down only when destroying the barrel or when you attack a walker (not even kill it) with melee also?

Firekid

in all other maps you have to hit the barrel to knock the fence down.

SPC_TORRES

Firekid said:

@Fluxxx here you go, happened to me too but I had a spear.

they are wandering

Superhero

Firekid said:

Also @Fluxxx is the fence on “one there” meant to fall when the first walker is killed even without hitting the barrel?

I killed one walker with Rick, fence was fine. Made to other moves, fence was fine, then suddenly, without touching the fence or the walkers behind, fence felt down

Gman74

Yup I just got screwed on that one myself. Apparently it’s a loose hinge

Superhero

Big pile is a big pile of s***.

Every other map, except One there (2**) I get 3***, but I´m not able to beat Big pile anymore. I´m too stupid to use the Daryl tactics. No chance at all on this map. I´m so desperated that I used the barrels to get my one star to complete the round, but that won´t run for long.

mack22

Superhero said:

Firekid said:

Also @Fluxxx is the fence on “one there” meant to fall when the first walker is killed even without hitting the barrel?

I killed one walker with Rick, fence was fine. Made to other moves, fence was fine, then suddenly, without touching the fence or the walkers behind, fence felt down

We are in the zombie apocalypse, shit doesn't get maintained anymore.

Stalker20

@Superhero, look for these channels on YouTube, they have great challenge videos which will help you with missions you're struggling with.

JayZ

Yall think I was kidding when I said this was an infinite challenge?



3 stars, every single mission, at RSL50...

ATLAS-Z

> @JayZ said:
> Yall think I was kidding when I said this was an infinite challenge?
>
>
>
> 3 stars, every single mission, at RSL50...

Bro I knew it would be infinite for you.

That's why I posted for the whales to throw in the towel early, grab a cold Brew and kick back.

I know they won't, but maybe they should?

I'm still having fun.

vshield50

> @ATLAS-Z said:
> > @JayZ said:
> > Yall think I was kidding when I said this was an infinite challenge?
> >
> >
> >
> > 3 stars, every single mission, at RSL50...
>
> Bro I knew it would be infinite for you.
>
> That's why I posted for the whales to throw in the towel early, grab a cold Brew and kick back.
>
> I know they won't, but maybe they should?
>
> I'm still having fun.

Most of these challenges are now endless if you are willing to spend the goal. I really hated this when NG made MM 50's all beatable instead of having a stopping point (and there were threads about this) but it seemed at the time that most everyone wanted that and I have come around to accepting it.

Now I just play for the rewards I want and if I have to start spending gold I stop. No replays. Game is much easier for me now but I miss the days of pushing where strategy (and yes a booster too) was the biggest factor for ranking high on the leaderboard. Before there was a point where no amount of gold could get your further but now it is just about spending gold and the time you are willing/able to play.

I hope this changes at some point but I am adjusting accordingly. The comeradery with friends keeps me going.

Superhero

Danski_46 said:

@Superhero, look for these channels on YouTube, they have great challenge videos which will help you with missions you're struggling with.

Thx, I didn´t know all of them, but will take a look.

The point was, that I´m really struggeling to use the Daryl tactic.

But it looks like, there is a use of the barrels too. Will use the reduced healing times to try some different strategies.

And thx @JayZ for the videos!

Superhero

Big pile is still big s***, even with JayZs video

Three trys...all garbage.

WellyLuga

Superhero said:

Big pile is still big s***, even with JayZs video

Three trys...all garbage.

Just keep plugging away, it is heavily spawn dependent, luck with the boxes and praying that the walkers wander kindly but if you clear that map it's smooth sailing for the next 5 rounds until it comes up again.

WellyLuga

vshield50 said:

> @ATLAS-Z said:

> > @JayZ said:


Most of these challenges are now endless if you are willing to spend the goal. I really hated this when NG made MM 50's all beatable instead of having a stopping point (and there were threads about this) but it seemed at the time that most everyone wanted that and I have come around to accepting it.



Now I just play for the rewards I want and if I have to start spending gold I stop. No replays. Game is much easier for me now but I miss the days of pushing where strategy (and yes a booster too) was the biggest factor for ranking high on the leaderboard. Before there was a point where no amount of gold could get your further but now it is just about spending gold and the time you are willing/able to play.



I hope this changes at some point but I am adjusting accordingly. The comeradery with friends keeps me going.

I understand what you're saying but you take the MM out of the equation and challenge sets like this are still virtually endless. All 6 missions are beatable at RSL 50, whether you can play 1 to clear them all or have to play all 6.