Gasbag

Gasbag
Gender	Male
Abilities	Releases some toxic gas around himself when damaged enough Releases a large toxic gas cloud when killed by anything other than headshots Gas can obstruct survivors' vision if they stay in it long enough
Attacks	Gas Swipe
Other names	Hazmat, Hazmat Suit, Hazmat Zeke

"Gasbag's gone, but the stink lingers on..." ― Angel Flores

The Gasbag is a special zombie in World War Z.

The Gasbag stores deadly gas within his suit that can harm anyone if they linger in it for even a second.

Physical Appearance

The Gasbag is a zeke wearing a bright yellow hazmat suit with a green streak across the left side, light blue protective gloves, and chemical-resistant work boots. The Biohazardous Infectious Materials symbol appears to the left of the suit's chest area. There is a regulation valve with a broken blue connection hose to the middle right of the suit.

The zeke wearing the hazmat suit is bald.

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, 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." ― Tutorial Tips

The Gasbag has a focus on area denial using the gas cloud that appears when he is killed. With it, he can force players to stay in place and wait for the cloud to dissipate, or force them to run through it and take damage should he manage to corner them in a tight spot. Killing him from a distance greatly reduces his influence, but taking him out with a clean headshot can entirely negate his abilities, rendering him nothing more but another zeke.

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 against other zekes as it 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, especially in higher difficulties.
• 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 sometimes 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.
• 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

• Aim for the head. The large gas cloud the Gasbag releases on death lasts for about 15-16 seconds. However, killing him with a headshot will result in him releasing no gas at all. 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. You may also hear an audible shattering sound if he is closeby. However, you will still prevent him from leaking gas if you shot the sides, top, or back of his head as well.
  • At farther distances, shooting him anywhere is okay as long as he is killed. Even if you do not manage to headshot a Gasbag, so long as the gas cloud he releases on death is 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 few shots to the body. If you accidentally hit the Gasbag anywhere besides his head, it can still be 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. You still have to deal with the gas cloud afterward.

• The Gasbag will only leak gas on the spot he was killed. Even though the Gasbag's brightly-suited corpse may move a bit after being killed, the gas will not follow. His gas cloud is stationary, so once it appears, it will remain on the exact spot where the Gasbag died until it clears up on its own.

• Explosions will cause the Gasbag to leak gas from his suit. Unlike bullets that can be used to headshot a Gasbag, explosives are guaranteed to cause him to release the gas from his suit. Be careful if you use an explosive weapon or equipment to kill him.
  • It should be noted that explosive ammo from a Supply Bag does not apply in this situation since the ammunition only increases damage. Landing a headshot on a Gasbag with a primary weapon loaded with explosive ammo from a Supply Bag will not cause him to leak gas. Of course, landing body shots will cause him to do so.
• 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 stunned 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.
• 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 your melee, either by accident or desperation, 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 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.

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. With the Stim Pistol, you can quickly get a fallen teammate back on their feet with a temporary health boost that can absorb whatever damage the gas cloud causes after getting back up.

Fixer

• The Fixer starts with a core perk called Mule. This perk starts you off with the Supply Bag. The explosive ammo 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 that survives 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 Molotovs 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

• 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.

Achievements

Icon & Name	Description	Gamerscore	Trophy (PS)
Toxicomaniac	Walk into toxic cloud 100 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. It is possible that the suit is actually sealed below the neck, which could be the reason why a headshot does not release gas.
• Due to the Gasbag's suit, a squeaking sound is produced whenever he attacks.
• 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, explaining why they are the only ones not affected by it.
• 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 speaking, 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.
  • A possible explanation for this discrepancy is that any Gasbags that have been ultimately killed by the abovementioned methods just did not have a lot of gas stored in their suits to begin with, hence why shooting the suit after killing them results in only very little wisps of gas escaping out.

Gallery

A Gasbag in an underground Moscow lab

A Gasbag can be seen standing against the sealed lab door

Ditto but with three Gasbags

A Gasbag's distinct silhouette can be seen in the gas-filled lab room