Zeke, otherwise known as the Infected, Freaks, Swarm, or simply Zombies are the primary antagonist of the game World War Z.
Overview[]
Zeke are a type of highly aggressive and very fast version of the undead, which, like most, are infected with a virus. It's unknown as to if this virus is in fact the same virus from the novel, known as Solanum, however it is highly possible. While relatively weak by themselves, their primary strength is to attack targets in a considerable volume, particularly in groups or massive swarms. Like most other zombies, any loud noises will attract them to potential victims and will stop at nothing to achieve that goal, even going as far as to climb up one another in the form of a pyramid. If taken down swiftly and silently, they will not alert others and headshots are easily the best way to dispatch normal zeke. When idle, zeke, both normal and special, will typically either walk about their environment, bump into walls or even play dead amongst bodies already littering the ground as a way of catching unsuspecting survivors off guard.
Specials[]
Aside from the standard zeke in the game, there is a handful of zeke that possess their own unique abilities that make things more problematic for survivors.
Lurkers[]
Lurkers are a variant of zeke, which has the distinction of being an ambush foes. These zeke are topless and always male, with charred skin, riddled with tears in its flesh. It wears a pair of worn track pants, with a pair of sneakers. They are very stealthy, always appearing somewhere near survivors and often hidden before pouncing on their potential prey. Once they have pounced, they will pummel on their prey, who are relatively helpless once they're grounded and need aid from their teammates. It's possible to kill them before they pounce, however, it's necessary to take them out the moment one is seen. They can be detected early via the wheezing sound they produce, however this changes as they become more stealthy. They can be snuck up on if one is careful and easily dispatched with well placed headshots if caught early.
Screamers[]
Screamers are a variant of zeke, which are those who like to call out reinforcements. These zeke don safety gear, including a vest, a hard hat and even a portable megaphone that's attached to their uniform. While typically avoiding direct confrontation, these zeke let out a loud scream over their megaphones in order to alert nearby zeke to the presence of survivors. This is, however, only happens when they are alerted. Much like typical zeke, they can be found in small groups and easily dispatched if stealth is utilized. Despite this, they can also be up high and in areas that can be problematic for survivors to kill. So long as they are about, zeke will constantly be called in to deal with survivors, so it's ideal to kill them before more zeke are alerted. If survivors get too close to these zeke, screamers can disorient them with their scream.
Infectors[]
A zeke with a long range attack, the Infector is considered among the many dangers among specials. Infectors typically are female, donning straitjackets and torn blue jeans with cathedars and cathedar dressings, as well as needles and syringes sticking out of the spine at the top of their backs. These zeke are capable of a long range attack, spewing a large amount of infectious saliva, which can turn other survivors if not dealt with immediately before the virus takes hold on them. These zeke can also regenerate to full health if not immediately eliminated and it might take at least a couple of hits to finally kill them.
Bombers[]
A zeke with an explosive surprise, bombers are among the many dangers in the zeke's arsenal. Bombers done military-grade uniforms, with tan tactical armor and head covering. They have nightvision goggles on their helmets and act like typical zeke, but beeping from their equipment and a mechanical groan can be heard. Bombers are strapped with claymore mines, as well as sticks of dynamite, which will detonate at close range in a suicidal attack, typically taking out anything in it's proximity. As dangerous as their explosive attack is, it can also be a blessing in disguise, allowing survivors to take out bombers by hitting the explosives at long ranges and take out other zeke around them.