Back 4 Blood can be quite the challenge for unexpecting players but skill isn't all they need in order to overcome the in-game obstacles. Because Back 4 Blood features a Card system that randomizes levels to some degree, players may need a bit of luck to get the best possible results.
This system has a number of different cards to achieve this layer of randomness but, while some are beneficial to a playthrough, others can be quite tricky to manage. Aside from the worst enemies in Back 4 Blood, players should worry most about the game's Corruption Cards. For those players looking to understand what these Corruption Cards are and what they do, this guide is here to help.
What are Corruption Cards in Back 4 Blood?
Back 4 Blood’s Corruption Cards are unique cards that apply various randomized game parameters to the enemies in the game, known as the Ridden. These are chosen by the game’s AI Director at the outset of each level and can vary from being tricky to an extreme challenge. Corruption Cards can also affect the weather and environment of the game and stack additional levels of difficulty with each passing chapter.
Essentially, these cards act similarly to the Active Cards in Back 4 Blood that add abilities and benefits to players. Corruption Cards are built into the game to make each experience a little different and to increase the challenges ahead for players. As previously mentioned, these are selected by the game's AI Director and are based on the difficulty setting and how the player did in previous levels.
What are the different types of Corruption Cards?
Corruption Cards can be broken down into five major categories and are separated by what they impact:
- Common Infected
- Special Infected
- In-game challenges and rewards
- In-game events
- Finales to missions
Player characters in Back 4 Blood have their own benefits to counter these but, even still, these Corruption Cards can make the game quite difficult.
Corruption Cards For Common Infected
There are over a dozen Corruption Cards just for the Common Infected and these impact the behavior and number of these enemies. This includes cards such as Blighted Ridden (which turns Ridden blood into acid) and Volatile Ridden (headshots to Ridden cause explosions).
Corruption Cards For Special Infected
The mutation Corruption Cards for the Special Infected also impact their frequency and behavior, potentially giving these extra-horrible Ridden in Back 4 Blood boosts to health and speed. These cards can strengthen their attacks like the Congeal card and its ability to make Stinger Spittle capable of blinding players and slowing them. They can also buff these enemies such as with the Blooddrinker card that results in Stalkers healing whenever they deal damage.
Corruption Cards For In-game Challenges And Rewards
There are Corruption Cards that focus on creating in-game challenges and rewards for players who complete a specific task. An example from this category is the Silence is Golden card that requests players complete the level without triggering any birds, Snitches, car alarms, or alarmed doors. If they accomplish this, players will receive 500 Copper.
Corruption Cards For In-game Events
The next type of Corruption Card focuses on changing up the environment in which players find themselves. These cards can add in extra hordes, increase the number of alarms on the level, and change the number of difficult enemies. Because of this, these Corruption Cards can be quite the challenge for those new to Back 4 Blood. One example, The Birds, places large flocks of crows around the map that can be startled and trigger the horde down on players.
Corruption Cards For The Finales To Missions
The last category of Corruption Cards focuses on the final part of a level. These change how a level or an act of Back 4 Blood ends ranging from forcing players into a last stand situation to asking them to escape across a bridge. The Devil's Return card results in an escape across the Evansburgh Bridge toward Finleyville with a horde right on the player's heels.
Back 4 Blood is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.