I ultimately feel like Back 4 Blood‘s card system offers it a creative edge over Left 4 Dead and every other Left 4 Dead-inspired game out there, but trying to build a complete deck can feel a little overwhelming. There are just so many possibilities to consider and the game doesn’t offer a ton of guidance in terms of where you should start and where you’re ultimately trying to end up. That being the case, we thought it would be a good idea to at least point you in the right direction and share a few incredible Back 4 Blood deck builds that we’ve found so far that will really showcase the potential of this system. *Note: The cards in this deck are not listed in a specific order unless noted otherwise in the deck’s description. I’m calling this a “basic” build, but it might be more accurate to say that this build emphasizes assault rifles. It just so happens that the versatility of Back 4 Blood‘s assault rifle makes them a great choice for new players. This build boosts the base damage you get from an assault rifle while offering basic bonuses to your mobility and defensive capabilities. It also grants you access to the incredibly valuable Second Chance card, which is basically Back 4 Blood’s best self-revive option. If you’re a converted Left 4 Dead player looking to stick to a simple build that compliments that playstyle, this is a great way to go.
Back 4 Blood: The Best Melee Deck Build
TriumphSluggerBrazenBatter UpBreakoutCopper ScavengerSpiky BitsHeavy HitterIgnore the PainMeth HeadSunderBerserkerCross TrainersWeapon ScavengerTrue Grit While I’m not entirely convinced that melee is the way to go in Back 4 Blood, I will say that it’s a perfectly viable option if you’re playing with a well-coordinated team. It’s also a lot of fun. This build also utilizes Weapon Scavenger and Copper Scavenger as team perks since melee players can sometimes accidentally be a bit selfish. However, you can certainly remove/change those cards based on your companions’ abilities and your personal preferences though.
Back 4 Blood: The Speedy Shotgun Deck Build
Cross TrainersRolling ThunderReload DrillsScattergun SkillsBuckshot BruiserShell CarrierKiller’s InstinctShredderHyper FocusedSilver BulletsMotorcycle HelmetSuperior CardioRun and GunTrue GritVitamins I love Back 4 Blood‘s shotguns, though you’re certainly going to have to unlock the right cards before you can really start to compensate for the inherent weaknesses of the weapon class. This deck comes reasonably close to doing just that by emphasizing mobility and attempting to maximize the damage output of every shot you take. Don’t sacrifice any cards that buff your reload speed/ammo capacity but feel free to play with the rest. Also, please note that this build runs Silver Bullets, which is an incredibly beneficial ability for overall damage output but may require a little cooperation/coordination with your team. You don’t necessarily need a tank in Back 4 Blood, but it’s surprisingly fun to be the durable “leader” of your group. This build almost entirely emphasizes defensive and team buff abilities for that real “pure tank” feeling. The basic idea is that you’re always going to be at the front of your group, and you’re always going to be the one to trigger swarms so that you can buy the rest of your team the time and space they need to do their thing. This particular build also doesn’t emphasize one particular weapon over others, though there is something to be said for going with a shotgun or melee build if you’re interested in focusing on either.
Back 4 Blood: The Scout Deck Build
Adrenaline-FueledAmmo For AllMandatory PTCross TrainersRun and GunEvasive ActionScrewdriverShredderStimulantsSuperior CardioEnergy BarTeam StaminaTeam Quick SlotMarathon RunnerPep in Your Step This deck is admittedly a little gimmicky, but it could easily form the basis of a “scout” build that emphasizes stamina, mobility, and versatility. This build also doesn’t emphasize any particular weapon, but you can certainly play around with your various options based on your preferences. Actually, it might be advisable to play with an SMG-focused build and really hit that “run and gun” feel.
Back 4 Blood: The Copper Gatherer Deck Build
Copper ScavengerCompound InterestMoney GrubbersLucky PenniesBounty HunterLife InsuranceMandatory PTReload DrillsMarked For DeathConfident KillerAmmo for AllSurplus PouchesDown in FrontAvenge the FallenCombat Training This is a fascinating build that basically emphasizes collecting as much currency as possible and buffing your team up whenever possible. You’re obviously going to want to focus on most of the “copper” cards available to you when you’re running this build, but it’s worth experimenting with the rest of the cards in this deck in terms of how you want to best be able to “buff” your team and ultimately provide a money-focused support role. Having said that, it really does feel like you have to go all-in with some of these copper cards in order to get the most out of this archetype. There are a surprising number of cards in Back 4 Blood that benefit both tank and healer roles, so it just makes sense to try to build a deck that combines the best of those worlds. I’d say that this particular build makes you more of a tanky healer than a pure tank with increased healing capabilities, though you can certainly fill the tank role on any team that doesn’t have a better option. That being said, if you want to play more of a pure tank that offers some level of group healing, you can certainly swap out a couple of cards here and there and focus more on your personal defensive capabilities.
Back 4 Blood: The Angel of Death Healer Deck Build
DurableInspiring SacrificeAvenge the FallenSmelling SaltsRousing SpeechCombat MedicWoundedTrue GritRun like HellChemical CourageAmped UpFresh BandageGroup TherapyMedical ProfessionalOffensive Scavenger If you’re looking for an…unusual way to play a medic in Back 4 Blood, then I highly recommend this support build that is basically built around one of your teammates falling at some point. Having said that, be sure to stock up on some more traditional medic cards just so you can be a general asset to your team even when everyone is alive.
Back 4 Blood: Mutation Hunter Deck Build
Marked for DeathReckless StrategyConfident KillerRidden SlayerShredderBounty HunterRun and GunSilver BulletsMotorcycle JacketTactical VestTrue GritTrigger ControlBroadsideIn the ZoneInspiring Sacrifice Back 4 Blood’s mutations are a constant threat, so it just makes sense to have someone on the team that specializes in taking down the game’s most intimidating foes. The basic idea here is that you need to be the one who stays alive longest during mutation encounters and that you need to be the one who either kills or does the most damage to mutations. In fact, this build is designed to emphasize mutation damage over pretty much everything else. That being said, you can certainly play with some of the “supplementary” cards on this list that don’t focus on mutation damage, especially if you can sneak in a few team support cards. I was tempted to end this list on a more “traditional” build, but since that isn’t a lot of fun, here’s a sniper/shotgun deck that is very risky and certainly a lot of fun. This deck is built around Two is One and One is None (which lets you put a primary weapon in your secondary slot) and the fact that snipers and shotguns both benefit from faster swap and reload speeds. As such, most of the cards in this deck are chosen to make you feel like a faster, more effective hunter who can operate from two distinct distances. Still, you may want to remove a couple of the greedier cards in this deck for something that increases your base stats or just helps out your teammates a little more.
