"I think I just lost ten years of my life breathing that shit in." ― Arnetta
The Gasbag is a special zombie in World War Z.
The Gasbag's suit is full of deadly gas that, when released, can harm anyone if they linger in it for even a second.
Physical Appearance[]
The Gasbag is a zeke wearing a bright yellow air-fed chemical protective suit with a green line on the left side going up from the waist to the side of the head, light blue protective gloves, and black rubber boots.
The Biohazard symbol appears to the left of the suit's chest area. To the middle right of the suit, there is a regulating valve with a broken blue connection hose hanging off.
Abilities & Behavior[]
Compared to the rest of the special zombies, the Gasbag does not really display any sort of unusual zeke behavior that would set him apart from the rest. All around, the Gasbag behaves exactly like a normal zeke. However, he does have his own distinct groan.
The Gasbag has the ability to release a dangerous green gas from his hazmat suit. However, he does not release it on his own, usually only letting it out after getting shot. After taking enough damage, his suit will start to leak gas around himself, slowly damaging anyone who stands close to it for even a second. Upon death, all of the gas in the suit will escape, creating a large stink cloud of noxious gas.
The Gasbag's gas is not only harmful, but it is also capable of disorienting the survivors' senses. The gas will cause nearby survivors to cough frequently. Despite this, survivors will still be able to communicate and make appropriate call-outs for the most part. However, sounds heard will trail on slightly at the end while in or near the gas, suggesting it can audibly distort survivors to a slight degree. Standing around the gas will cause the players' screen to turn green and slightly distort their environment in a manner similar to psychedelics. When in the gas' lethal zone, all of the above will occur as well as green liquid trickling down the players' screen, obstructing their view. Stepping out of the gas' lethal area of effect will instantly clear up their vision. As stated by numerous survivors, the stench of the Gasbag's gas is horrendous, but this does not have any actual effect during gameplay.
Strategy & Tactics[]
"Gasbags create a poisonous cloud when killed. Take them out with a headshot for a cleaner kill."
"Stay away from toxic clouds. The poisonous gas will do serious damage over time." ― Tutorial Tips
Role[]
The Gasbag focuses on area denial. Capable of creating a gas cloud that appears when killed too hastily, he can prevent survivors from moving forward until the cloud dissipates or force them to run through it and take damage if he manages to corner them in an unfavorable location.
General[]
- Keep your distance. The Gasbag is usually seen as the least threatening out of all the special zombies, but it will not make him any less of a threat. His poisonous gas gives him an edge compared to normal zekes as he can continue to deal additional damage long after being killed. If you find yourself near the Gasbag when he is killed and his suit starts to hiss and spray gas, run away as quickly as possible. The gas is damage that can easily be avoided by simply staying away. While it can be negligible in lower difficulties, you will want to avoid taking any sort of unnecessary damage as it will quickly stack up, and in higher difficulties, the damage is far more severe.
- Listen carefully. Due to the Gasbag's hazmat suit, his groans stand out in a crowd as well. The Gasbag produces slightly mechanical, muffled roars. This can be used to single out his presence as he usually makes these sounds whenever he arrives.
- Always mark your targets. As with all special zombies, marking lets players know where a particular threatening zeke is and/or where it is about to go. The red outline can be seen through obstacles and is hard to miss, so press the key that marks them and make their appearance even less of a surprise. Even though the Gasbag is very easy to spot from any distance, you should still mark him unless a more dangerous special zombie to prioritize is around.
- Be aware of alternate routes. Most special zombies prefer to arrive through paths and areas that are less commonly used than the ones where many zekes congregate towards. Be mindful of your surroundings, watch your back, and keep note of any uncommon spots where special zombies may appear from.
- Bots are immune to the gas. Do not worry about them if they happen to be near the Gasbag's gas since they will not take any damage from it, unlike player-controlled survivors.
Against[]
- Stay out of the Gasbag's gas. Your first warning sign will be survivors frequently coughing. The next sign will be your screen slowly tinting green. The amount that the screen turns green is affected by your distance from the gas. Staying in range of the toxic gas for about a second will begin causing damage and obstructing your screen. The effects of the gas will make it difficult to see anything clearly so run out of it as soon as possible. Keep in mind that the effects and the damage over time will persist for a brief moment after exiting the gas.
- Aim for the head. The Gasbag releases a large gas cloud on death that lasts for 12 seconds. However, killing him with a headshot will result in him releasing no gas at all, rendering him nothing more than a slightly tougher-than-normal zeke. He only leaks the gas from his suit when killed with a body shot, so always strive to aim for the Gasbag's head. While it may seem easy to headshot the Gasbag from up close, you always run the risk of accidentally hitting his suit and releasing the gas anyways or letting him get close enough to swipe.
- A good indicator that you shot a Gasbag in the head is when his suit's clear visor breaks, which causes an audible shattering sound. Keep in mind that the visor can usually stop a single bullet, and the Gasbag himself is strong enough to survive more than one shot to the head by weaker firearms. Shooting a Gasbag from the sides, top, or back of his head can actually kill him quicker as the visor will not be able to catch a bullet for the Gasbag. Higher damage weaponry and select class perks can usually overcome this issue and truly render the Gasbag as nothing more than another zeke.
- At farther distances, shooting him anywhere is okay as long as he is killed. If you do not manage to headshot a Gasbag, so long as the gas cloud he releases on death is a somewhere a fair distance away and not blocking an important path or area, it should be negligible for the most part.
- The Gasbag can tolerate very little damage to the body. If you accidentally hit the Gasbag anywhere besides his head, it is still possible to headshot him and not let any gas leak from his suit. However, if the Gasbag takes enough damage to the body without being killed, he will form a gaseous aura all around himself that deals extra damage to anyone around him on top of his regular swipe attacks. The gas that envelops him does not go away until he is killed. A very important thing to know is that killing a Gasbag in this state with a headshot will not prevent gas from leaking out of his suit and you still have to deal with the gas cloud afterward.
- The Gasbag tends to appear alongside others of his kind. It is fairly common to see two Gasbags arriving at the same time. Be careful as killing both of them without headshots will allow their gas clouds to cover even more space.
- The harmful effects of two gas clouds will not stack on top of each other. If two gas clouds appear very close together, it will not take any less time for them to start dealing damage and the damage from both will not be combined. However, if you find yourself caught between two gas clouds, be sure to run in a direction that will be the quickest to escape from it.
- The Gasbag can be disabled with leg shots. Similarly to a regular zeke, doing so will slow a Gasbag to a crawl and eventually kill him. Do not shoot too many times or he will create the gaseous aura around himself and trigger his nasty gas cloud on death. However, if you can shoot him down without causing too much damage, you can easily put the remaining one or two bullets to his head or just wait it out until he keels over. This can be an alternative to headshots, but keep in mind that with this method, it is possible to just kill him with leg shots and thus should not be heavily relied on to get the job done if you are trying to avoid creating a gas cloud.
- If Gasbag has created a gaseous aura around himself, shoot him in the legs and you can let him slowly die out instead of killing him. When he dies in this manner, he will have exhausted all the gas out of his suit while crawling, thus not releasing a cloud on death.
- The Gasbag will only leak gas on the spot he was killed. The gas cloud is stationary upon creation. Nothing can be done to move it, so once it appears, it will remain on the exact spot that the Gasbag died until it clears up on its own. This means shooting him in the body while he is falling or climbing something will result in the gas cloud remaining suspended in midair where it will likely not be able to harm anyone.
- The gas cloud can act as a smoke screen. The cloud is the thickest towards the center and it can sometimes be difficult to see enemies behind it until they come out of the other end. Be careful if a special zombie is hiding behind the gas cloud as they might prepare to use their ability while covered. Remember that they can be marked and will show their silhouette.
- In bright and well-luminated areas, it is fairly easy to see through the gas clouds. However, it is much more difficult to see through in darker or more dimly lit areas.
- The gas cloud's smoke screen capabilities is stronger when more than one Gasbag are killed close to each other as the clouds overlap each other and make it even more difficult to see past it. In any case, keep your distance to avoid damage and getting surprised.
- Both the gas from Gasbags and the Masking Gas Grenade can appear very similar while under the masking effect's blue tint. Be careful if both gases get mixed together in the same spot.
- Explosions will cause the Gasbag to leak gas from his suit. Most explosives are guaranteed to cause him to release the gas from his suit no matter where he was shot. Be careful if you use the Grenade Launcher or explosive equipment like Frag Grenades to kill him as he will release his gas cloud afterward.
- Despite being an explosive weapon, the Advanced Combat Weapon can still be used to deliver clean headshots on Gasbags. Its power also means a single bullet is enough to do the job. The Crossbow is also in that same field as a bolt directly to the head will kill him too. However, in higher difficulties, a single crossbow bolt will not kill him even if it lands in his head, thus creating the gas cloud on death anyways. In this case, selecting the perk that gives the weapon classic, nnon-explosive bolts can solve this problem.
- Electricity does not cause the Gasbag to leak gas from his suit. His hazmat suit does not protect him from the current. High Voltage Grids and the Stun Gun are great for stopping him in his track and even finishing him off. Stun Guns are less likely to do the job, so if you stun a Gasbag, create some space before killing him. Since he stays in one place, his head should be an easy target. However, if you miss and ultimately kill him with a body shot, he will leak the gas out.
- Fire does not cause the Gasbag to leak gas from his suit. His hazmat suit does not protect him from flames. The Flaregun, Molotov Cocktail, Flamethrower, and just about any other sources of fire are capable of burning the Gasbag to death.
- Getting caught in Barbed Wire does not cause the Gasbag to leak gas from his suit. Strangely, yet thankfully, a Gasbag that gets caught in and is killed by Barbed Wire will die without creating a gas cloud.
- Melee attacks will only cause the Gasbag to leak gas from his suit if it kills him. A single melee strike may not immediately kill a Gasbag depending on your perks or difficulty. If the Gasbag manages to approach you, you can take advantage of pushing him away after a single hit then sprinting to a relatively safe distance before finishing him off with your primary or secondary.
- If you do happen to kill a Gasbag with melee or damage him enough to make his suit leak out, begin sprinting in the opposite direction immediately to minimize the damage received from the gas.
- Do not worry if you find yourself or others incapacitated while in the gas. While the gas' usual screen altering effects still apply, it cannot cause any further damage to anyone who is down. In most cases, it will be better to just wait for the cloud to clear up before helping others and vice versa.
- If you do get revived while the gas cloud is still causing harm, get out as soon as you can. You only get a brief window of invulnerability before the gas starts to damage you like normal so do not waste time standing around.
- Being killed by the Gasbag's gas will not cause survivors to return as a zeke. Although you should be worried that a teammate has been killed by a Gasbag's gas, take solace in the fact that you will not have to deal with their corpse turning and coming back to attack you and your remaining teammates.
Class-specific[]
Gunslinger[]
- At level 10, the Gunslinger unlocks a core perk called Seek and Destroy. This perk's utility gives all teammates an advantage on any special zombies that come within range.
- At level 11, the Gunslinger can unlock a perk called Bounty Hunter. This perk's utility expands across every special zombie in the game. While headshots would be preferable, with this perk unlocked you can kill Gasbags a little quicker regardless of where you hit.
Hellraiser[]
- At level 2, the Hellraiser can unlock a perk called Here Kitty. This perk allows you to draw in zekes towards a C4 charge shortly after deployment. Best used for when a large group of zekes is quickly approaching you, throwing a C4 into an open area away from you and your teammates can easily distract a Gasbag and any other zekes around after it is planted. Additionally, with the Gasbag drawn away from your team, detonate the C4 to kill him and release the gas cloud in an area that is far enough away from your team, barely making it a threat.
- At level 11, the Hellraiser can also unlock the perk called Bounty Hunter. Again, you deal increased damage against any special zombies you encounter, Gasbags included.
Medic[]
- At level 20, the Medic unlocks a core perk called Fighting Chance. This perk allows you to easily save anyone currently incapacitated in a gas cloud with the Stim Pistol. In some situations, a quick revive may be necessary no matter the obstacles in the way. With the Stim Pistol, you can quickly get a fallen teammate back on their feet from a distance. This can let you keep your distance from gas clouds while attempting to revive someone. As for players that get revived, they receive a temporary health boost that can absorb whatever damage the gas cloud might cause them after they get back up.
Fixer[]
- The Fixer starts with a core perk called Mule. This perk starts you off with the Supply Bag. The explosive ammo provided should make quick work of any Gasbag you meet.
- The Fixer's level 5 perk called Side Effects does not work against the Gasbag. While highly situational, the Gasbag is immune to the Masking Gas Grenade's now lethal gas. However, it will still kill all other zekes that are in the gas, leaving the Gasbag the sole survivor in the cloud, thus rendering him an easy target to simply shoot dead.
Slasher[]
- The Slasher starts with a core perk called Shock Troops. This perk starts you off with the Stun Gun. You can stop a Gasbag and other nearby zombies dead in their tracks and make some distance. As mentioned earlier, if you manage to electrify a Gasbag and kill him in this manner, gas will not leak out from the suit.
- At level 11, the Slasher can unlock a perk called Trophy Hunter. This perk behaves exactly the same as the Bounty Hunter perk.
Exterminator[]
- The Exterminator starts with a core perk called Firestarter. Aside from the Molotov Cocktails that can be used for controlling crowds of zekes and killing Gasbags with, you deal 25% more damage to all enemies when a swarm is advancing.
Dronemaster[]
- The Dronemaster starts with a core perk called Flying Start. This perk starts you off with a Quadrocopter armed with a Stun Gun. If the Gasbag gets too close, the Quadrocopter will stun him for a slighter higher charge cost than normal. If he is killed by the Quadrocopter's stun, his gas will not be release.
- At level 23, the Dronemaster can unlock a perk called Eye In The Sky. This perk functions similarly to the Gunslinger's Seek and Destroy core perk but with slightly less range and only when the Quadrocopter is out.
Vanguard[]
Creation[]
Nickname[]
The nickname "Gasbag" could be drawn from the very basic description of what the Gasbag is: a bag full of gas. The word Gasbag means a container holding gas for a balloon or airship. Some survivors do use the nickname in the context of the Gasbag being like a balloon in the sense that he needs to be popped immediately. Given his appearance, it is very common for most survivors to refer to him by his work attire rather than his established nickname.
Origin[]
The Gasbag was likely a worker handling with dangerous chemicals and hazardous materials in equally dangerous environments before becoming infected. It is possible that he was working in a contaminated area that called for his services in handling unsafe substances in high-risk areas when the zombies first began attacking and would later succumbed to infection once these areas were overrun with zekes. The Gasbag's fully encapsulating suit has a regulating valve and a broken hose, meaning that the wearer of the suit was supplied with breathable air directly into it as opposed to carrying a SCBA pack around.
It is proven that his suit is fully sealed as he is shown in very few occasions to survive exposure to deadly gases that would normally kill a zeke. There are no visible signs of damage on the suit or punctures of any sort, and only his head can be seen, preventing close inspection of any possible bite areas or injuries caused by zekes to explain how and where he could have gotten infected. Given how quickly the zombie virus acts when introduced into a healthy host, it would seem extremely unlikely that the Gasbag would have had been able to put on a hazmat suit in time as he was turning, leaving the Gasbag a bit of a mystery as to how he came to be.
Sounds[]
As with all special zombies, the Gasbag produces unique sounds to differentiate himself from regular zekes. Due to his sealed hazmat suit, the groans he makes end up sounding muffled and muted in comparison. The suit also produces a unique rubber-squeaking sound whenever he attacks and when shot at, produces an air hissing sound.
Intelligence & Physical Abilities[]
Compared to most special zombies, the Gasbag does not display any sort of outstanding traits, lining him up more closely with regular zekes in terms of overall behavior. However, he proves to be slightly more aggressive as he never shows any hints of self-preservation. Regular zekes sometimes react to the survivors pointing their weapons at them and will purposefully dodge out of the way in an attempt to avoid bullets. In contrast, the Gasbag will always run headfirst into the survivors, ensuring that if they shoot his body, he will release his toxic fumes all around where he stands instead of off to the side.
The harmful gas is likely the result of both the trapped air inside the Gasbag's suit and the effects of his decomposing body. The vivid dark green that the gas is colored likely happened over time as the air remained trapped with the smell of decomposition. Although the gas cannot turn survivors into a zeke, it is still deadly enough to choke them out and even suffocate them to death. Despite its potency, the gas can only linger for a short period of time and will harmlessly dissipate into the air afterward.
Related Achievements[]
There are two achievements related to the Gasbag that can be earned.
| Icon & Name | Description | Gamerscore (XB) | Trophy (PS) |
|---|---|---|---|
Toxicomaniac |
Walk into toxic cloud 100 times | 20 | Bronze |
Effective communication |
Mark special zombies 50 times | 20 | Bronze |
Notes[]
- Close inspection towards the inside of the Gasbag's suit through the visor helmet shows something black that covers around the undead wearer's neck. The suit may be sealed below the neck, explaining why a headshot does not release any gas.
- In Moscow, during the third chapter, Gasbags can be trapped in the sealed room where the nerve agent's potency against the zekes is first demonstrated to the survivors. In the fourth chapter, Gasbags can be found wandering in the sealed labs filled with the nerve agent. While all other zekes would collapse, the Gasbags remain protected from the nerve gas. The same situation also applies to the Fixer's Masking Gas Grenades if they have the Side Effects perk active.
- However, if the Gasbag's face visor has been broken, the Gasbag will still be immune to these gases. This is likely an oversight.
- Shooting anywhere on the Gasbag's dead body will cause a harmless amount of gas to escape. Strangely, if said Gasbag was killed with a clean headshot, fire, or electricity, the same will also occur. Realistically, shooting the dead Gasbag's suit after he has been killed by any of the methods mentioned should consequently result in a large amount of gas being released. However, this can be chalked up to gameplay since shooting at corpses, especially those belonging to special zombies, does not really do anything. The small wisps created by the Gasbag is only a cosmetic effect.
- If a Gasbag is killed without breaking his suit's visor, players can still shoot at it to break it.
Trivia[]
- In the Moscow chapters, the Gasbag takes on a slightly different appearance, with his hazmat suit, boots, and gloves being covered in a little bit of snow.
- The Gasbag is currently the only special zombie with an appearance change depending on the location.
Gallery[]
| Zombies/Enemies | |
|---|---|
| Zeke • Lurker • Gasbag • Bull • Screamer • Infector • Bomber • Rat Packs • Booster | |