Hunt: Showdown is one of the first successful games to combine the horror genre with Battle Royale PVP. Several games have attempted to add AI PVE elements to Battle Royale, but with mixed results. At its core, Hunt is a horror game that also happens to have player-versus-player combat.
The goal of the game is to survive long enough to kill the boss. However, survival often means killing a few hunters along the way. Fans of horror games will love the graphics and feel of Hunt: Showdown, which is now available on PS, Xbox, and PC. Players new to the game in 2021 will want to apply the basic tips below to get started mastering the game.
Updated on September 8, 2021 by Payton Lott: Hunt: Showdown is unlike any other competitive shooter on the market. Those that are used to popular FPS shooters will have a lot to learn before they can dominate lobbies in Hunt. This updated guide includes a few more Hunt Showdown tips for beginners that are working their way toward rank 11. These include how to defeat the monsters and bosses, as well as how to prevent being killed while extracting. New hunters can read the tips at the end of this guide for info on what guns to use, as well as the basic strategy on each map.
20 How The Modes Work
Bounty Hunt, the most common mode, will match players of all party sizes. This means that as a solo player, there will be hunter squads of three on the map. Solo queue gamers can change the settings so that the largest team they will face is a duo.
Beginners will want to consider playing with a friend or two to have a better chance of survival. Quick play is the only true solo mode, so those that are not prepared for an outnumbered fight should stay in quick play.
19 Use the Knife To Clear Adds
When it comes to taking down all of the grunts on the map, the standard knife (or duster) will do the trick. It's not too shabby against hunters in buildings either. With just one blow, the knife can kill grunts of all shapes and sizes.
Players don't want to waste their precious ammo on adds. Instead, save the ammo for the larger monsters, hunters, and bosses. Using the knife will also be far quieter than any other weapon, concealing the player's position.
18 Spawn Points & Anticipation
All spawn points in the game are on the edges of the map, meaning that an enemy or team of enemies are never too far away. There is a POI near every single spawn point, and many of them are equidistant from a spawn location. Because of how the system works, there is usually a 50/50 chance that other hunters will move to the same POI.
One way to play it safe when moving to a new location is to approach from an unexpected position. For example, a team could enter the Slaughterhouse from the East when they spawned on the West.
17 Dealing With The Swarm
Running from a swarm is never the answer. Instead, hunters must stand their ground and kill the hive. The swarm will chase people pretty far, and getting third partied while running will usually result in death. Getting poisoned generally isn't fun either.
If the hive is killed, the swarm will disappear. By focusing on the hive while moving slightly to avoid the swarm, gamers will have more success against these monsters.
16 Play The Bounty Objective
Beginners often play the game skittishly, hiding and moving as little as possible. However, this is a mistake. The only way to improve is to learn the different AI and get into gunfights with other hunters.
The game's bounties are the best places to find PVP action and practice using the game mechanics. Players that push objectives every match will progress faster than others, so get in there and start grinding.
15 Move Intelligently
Audio recognition is an important aspect of Hunt: Showdown. Being cognizant of the sounds a character makes is equally important. However, sneaking around everywhere will surely get a player killed.
The time for players to sneak is when they spot or hear an enemy player. At these points, gamers can sneak up on opponents. No one should be crouch walking in the open spaces on the map, as any gamer with a ranged weapon will kill a crouch walker immediately.
14 How To Use Clues
Every POI/compound on the map has at least one clue. If found, the clues will block out the parts of the map where the boss will not spawn. Already opened clues have a hole in them, while those that are unopened do not. If an enemy is near and a clue is opened, the clue will glow red. When a nearby enemy opens a clue, it will make a unique sound.
These features are in place to prevent hunters from camping the clues and to encourage movement around the map. Teams will usually funnel to the areas that are potential boss spawns, so a clue can be an effective PVP tool as well.
13 Healers Die Less
Players will need meds if they plan to survive the hunt, so every player should prioritize equipping the first aid kit and vitality shot. Similarly, choosing Doctor when applying traits will help too.
When playing against trios, it is vital to be able to regenerate health. Squad battles are usually longer fights, and nearly every member of a team will sustain some damage. Heals are more important than the other relevant options in a survival game like Hunt, so don't let them fall by the wayside.
12 Different Damage Values
Like most FPS games, Hunt has multiple different damage multipliers: Head, chest, and limb shots have different damage values. Headshots deal a lot more damage than the other body parts, providing a quick kill time.
Another thing to take into account is damage reduction at range. The further a target is from the weapon, the less damage the gun will do. This means that when using a rifle from far away, the only way to get a one shot kill is by hitting the head of an enemy. Pay attention to the weapon descriptions, which define the effective damage/one shot kill range.
11 Bullet Penetration
During fights, keep in mind that bullets penetrate walls in Hunt. Larger caliber rounds will have almost no noticeable damage reduction when shot through surfaces, so hiding behind walls won't always help.
Brick and stone provide more protection from enemy gunfire than sheet metal and wood. Likewise, large trees offer good cover from fire. When behind cover, continuing to move will ensure that an opponent is not gifted an easy kill by spamming bullets at a wall.
10 Burn Bodies To Prevent Revives
The only way to ensure a downed players will not be revived is to burn them. Otherwise, downed players are immune from being damaged further. Gamers can throw a lantern at the downed player or set them on fire, which will slowly drain their health until they die.
Although, a teammate can cancel the burn effect if they initiate the revive. Taking the second to throw a lantern is one of the lesser known Hunt Showdown tips every player should incorporate into their gameplay.
9 How Matchmaking Works
At levels 1-10, users are kept in a low level bracket and will not match up against people at levels 11 and above. Once players are at level 11 and higher, they can match against any levels. This means that the game will get a lot more serious at level 11. There is still a slight skill based system that takes kills and deaths into account.
The system ensures that higher skilled players will not encounter many beginners when they play online. However, the system is far less strict than many of the popular games on the market, and provides the right amount of skill sorting to keep the game fun for all players.
8 Recognize Extractions
Opposing players are most vulnerable during extractions because they will be out in the open and a good portion of the lobby will know their general location. Listen for the sound of the boat and the horses, which will be audible if enemies are by the extraction.
The team extracting will have to fight the opposing players for the extraction to complete. As long as there are enemies in the area, the extraction timer will stay paused. Extractions provide an ideal third party scenario, and plenty of PVP for new players.
7 How To Improve Aim
There is no bullet drop in Hunt, but guns have bullet velocity. This means that stationary targets are hitscan, but players need to lead moving targets, especially at longer ranges. Practice with weapons that have similar bullet velocity to get a feel for leading enemy players. Another important Hunt Showdown tip is to aim down sight when going around corners and walking through doorways when enemies are present. Aim the weapon where a character's chest would be. That way, if an opponent appears, all people need to do is move laterally and pull the trigger.
In close quarters fights, gamers need to make sure they are using all of the bullets in the clip. In almost every engagement, there will be obstacles that block visuals, bullets, or both. Firing those extra bullets when visibility is cut off will often be the difference in the fight. The time to kill is fast, so one extra connected shot will make a huge difference with any weapon.
6 Rotating, Flanking, And Pushing
Rotating is a common BR principle that translates well to Hunt. After a gunfight, always relocate to gain a positional advantage on other teams. Someone in the lobby will hear nearby gunshots and move in to look for players. Never get caught in the same position twice. The same principle applies to flanking and pushing.
Because of how loud the audio is, flanks need to be performed at greater distances when enemies are spotted. Take a drawn out approach to catch opponents off guard. Pushing is usually only a good idea if one enemy is down or if the opposing squad is outnumbered.
5 Fighting Bosses
Gamers will want to take on the bosses on each map with a team. It is possible to solo each boss, but that will be difficult with beginner gear. Each boss has a different method through which players can defeat them:
- Assassin: Attack with guns when the boss transforms into a human. Once the swarms despawn, players can lay down fire again.
- Butcher: Damage the boss by hitting the wound on his body and make sure to run while reloading. Both bullets and poison are effective.
- Scrapbreak: Use bullets to kill the boss faster. Be mindful of his explosive attacks, which are thrown in doorways.
- Spider: Either bullets or lanterns should be used to damage the boss. It is vulnerable after it screeches and pounces.
4 How To Extract
Learning to extract is just as important as identifying an extraction. In most matches, there will be a bounty camper sitting at the extraction point waiting to get some free gear. It is crucial that teams looking to extract be extremely careful when approaching the point.
Search the area thoroughly and encourage nearby enemies to show themselves by taking down a few grunts. These sneaky players love to hide in small huts and shrubs near the extraction areas. People with this playstyle are often not the best at combat, so it makes sense to lure them out with gunfire. Get to a good position, and wait for signs of their location.
3 How To Kill Each Monster
Dealing with the PVE enemies in Hunt should not be very challenging. As long as hunters know how to handle each type, their main worry should be other players on the server. Use the tips below to handle each one:
- Grunts: Knives or Dusters will one-hit the weak monsters.
- Immolators: Use a Duster or gun melee attack to kill them.
- Hive: As stated above, stand your ground and use fire, bullets, or throwing knives. Remember, the head is off to the side.
- Meatheads: Use crossbows, or avoid them altogether.
- Armoureds: Three hits with a knife or two with a bayonet will kill them.
- Hellhounds: Heavy knife attacks or a bullet to the head will take them out in one hit.
2 Best Weapons
The proper weapon to use will depend on a couple of factors. The first is playstyle, and the second is strategy. Those that enjoy sniping will prefer the powerful LRR sniper. It has a one shot kill range of 200m+, but only one bullet can be loaded at a time.
For an all around weapon, the Mosin Nagant M1891 is one of the top options. To maximize stealth, the Crossbow is the best choice in the game. Finally, super aggressive players will like the Mosin Nagant Avtomat, which is a two burst kill.
1 How To Play Each Map
Every map in Hunt presents unique challenges. The ultimate goal is to find the clues, kill the boss, and extract. The below tips provide a few useful strategies for how to play each.
- De Salle: Get the high ground when traversing the map for an advantage.
- Lawson Delta: Learn the compounds, they are key to success in PVP.
- Stillwater Bayou: Search nearby POIs first and move in to the center from there. Extractions are on the edges of the map.