Days Gone enemies

Anarchists

The Anarchists are a bandit crew who paint the anarchy A on their faces and carry better guns than most Marauders. They have no open-world camps, so you only fight them in certain jobs, and one of their hideouts sits above a sleeping Horde.

Bear

Bears are big, tough animals that charge, bite and claw for heavy damage. You meet the first one while escorting Lisa in Lots of Sick People. After that they can turn up anywhere, so carry a strong rifle or a throwable.

Bleacher

Bleachers are pale, shirtless Swarmers with about 50% more health and a harder hit. They are a newer mutation you meet later, and the same tactics as Swarmers work if you bring a few extra rounds.

Breaker

Breakers are hulking male Freakers that soak up huge damage and can knock you flat with one swing. Treat each one as a mini-boss: stay at range, lead with explosives and finish with headshots.

Crier

Criers are infected ravens that nest in trees and on power-line transformers in the south. They dive in erratic lines and keep coming from their nests, so destroy the nests before you waste ammo on the birds.

Crows

Crows are ordinary birds found all over the map, and they never attack you. They matter for two reasons: their meat sells at camp kitchens, and a flock overhead often means Freakers or a Horde are close.

Deer

Deer are harmless game animals that run when they notice you. Hunt them for meat to sell at camp kitchens, and Copeland walks you through tracking and gutting one early in the game.

Deschutes County Militia

The Deschutes County Militia is Colonel Garret's army in the south and the best-trained human force you meet. For much of the second half you work for them at Diamond Lake and Wizard Island. Their soldiers are also the toughest humans in the game to kill.

Freakers

Freakers are people and animals turned feral by the Freaker Virus, and they are the main danger on every road in Days Gone. Each type needs a different answer, from a knife for a lone Swarmer to fire for a whole Horde.

Hordes

Hordes are packs of 25 to 500 Swarmers that move, feed and sleep as one, and they are the biggest fights in Days Gone. Each one needs scouting and a plan, but clearing them makes a region safer and pays out in weapons.

Marauders

Marauders are independent bandit gangs that ambush riders on the main roads and hold many of the Ambush Camps. They look like ordinary survivors, so watch for snipers in trees and wires across the road before you ride into a trap.

NERO Soldier

NERO Soldiers guard the government research teams that reappear in the wilderness two years into the outbreak. In the story you shadow and spy on them rather than fight them, so their jobs are about staying out of sight.

Newts

Newts are infected kids who keep their distance while you are healthy and strike when you are hurt. They are weak on their own, but a pack can pick you apart if you walk in with low health.

Rager Bear

Ragers are infected black bears and the toughest animals in the game, with well over twice a normal bear's health. Treat one like a boss fight: keep your distance, set it on fire and pour in shotgun or heavy rifle rounds.

Reachers

Reachers are fast, hairy Freakers that charge, maul you, then back off to set up an ambush. They hit as hard as a Breaker with about half its health, so steady aim matters more than raw firepower.

Rippers

The Rippers are a Freaker-worshipping cult that shaves, scars and drugs its members and hunts anyone who will not join. They hit the northern regions hardest, and with no body armor they go down fast if you hold a choke point.

Runner

Runners are infected wolves that can outrun your bike and try to drag you off it. On the road, a well-timed pistol shot makes them back off, and on foot a shotgun is the cleanest answer.

Screamers

Screamers are gaunt female Freakers whose shriek stuns you and calls every Freaker nearby, Hordes included. Kill her first and kill her quietly, because one scream can turn an easy fight into a disaster.

Swarmer

Swarmers are infected adults and the Freaker you meet most often. One is easy to kill, but noise brings more running, and the Horde variety behaves differently enough to catch you out.

Wolf

Wolves roam in packs and usually keep clear of you. A pack that commits will bite as you swing and grab your arms or legs. Shoot them, or stun the pack with a smoke bomb and finish them up close.