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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →For Horde Mode after the October 5, 2026, Waves of Lead update, choose a build around the job your team needs—not a supposed universal meta. Hellraiser and Exterminator are common player picks for clearing crowds; Fixer is a support option. The update adds the tier-three BSG-12 Bullpup Shotgun, but its arrival does not establish it as the best weapon. Treat these as role-based starting points, then adapt to your team, ammunition, and positioning.
What changed in Waves of Lead
Saber Interactive’s October 5, 2026 patch notes state, “Added two new Weapons, each with unique perks:” They list the tier-three BSG-12 Bullpup Shotgun and the Gas Pipe Wrench heavy melee weapon. The update also adds heavy weapon perks: Last exhaust for Chainsaw, Pillbox for Machinegun, Cluster bombs for MGL, Dragon Breath Shells for Heavy Assault Shotgun, Two-layer bullet for Payload Rifle, and White phosphorus for Multi-shot Rocket Launcher. It adds five mutators, including All-in! for Horde Mode.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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World War Z: Aftermath | $22.01 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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World War Z: Aftermath - Xbox One | $18.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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World War Z - PlayStation 4 | $30.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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World War Z PS4 (PS4) | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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These are official additions, not a ranking. The patch notes do not provide weapon-versus-weapon performance results, so the BSG-12 is best understood as a new shotgun option to evaluate in play, not an automatic replacement for your current loadout.
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Choose a class by the job your team needs
World War Z: Aftermath has eight classes, each with its own perks and play style; weapons have separate progression and upgrades. Saber’s official Steam listing describes those class and weapon progression systems, but does not declare a best class.
#1 Best Overall
For clearing large swarms: Hellraiser or Exterminator
Recent player discussion often recommends Hellraiser and Exterminator for horde clearing. Treat that as community advice, not a measured comparison or an official tier list. These are sensible candidates when your priority is area damage and controlling dense groups of ordinary zombies. Their usefulness still depends on how your perks and equipment support that job, how quickly you spend ammunition and equipment, and what the rest of the team can cover.
- Choose a crowd-clearing setup when the team needs help thinning packed waves.
- Watch ammunition and equipment use: a build that handles a crowd well can still leave you short if you spend resources without regard to wave length or resupply.
- Keep special enemies in mind. A build aimed at ordinary swarms does not by itself guarantee strong coverage against every special enemy.
For team support: Fixer
Fixer is a community-suggested support choice when the group benefits more from team utility than another dedicated crowd clearer. Pick it to complement the team’s gaps rather than on the assumption that it deals the most damage. Whether it helps depends on the other classes and how the group is playing.
Rank #2
- Play as both new and returning characters as you take the fight to the undead with a brutal new melee system, decimating zekes with unique moves, perks and dual Wield weapon options like the sickle and cleaver. Fend off new undead monstrosities.
- The Next generation of the zombie Swarm: play in glorious 4k|60 FPS. Endure endless waves of increasingly difficult zombies in the new horde mode XL game mode, featuring hundreds more zombies on screen than ever before possible.
- Deep progression and a new perspective: experience a heart-pounding new perspective with aftermath's immersive new first-person mode option.
- Level up eight unique classes: the gunslinger, hellraiser, Slasher, medic, fixer, exterminator, dronemaster, and all-new Vanguard class; each with their own perks and play styles.
- Customize your weapons to survive any challenge, and conquer new daily missions with special modifiers for bonus rewards.
For survival or a different team gap: consider the other classes
Slasher, Medic, Dronemaster, Vanguard, and Gunslinger are also among the game’s eight classes. The available official descriptions establish distinct class roles and progression, but do not supply comparative data that would justify ranking these classes against one another for Horde Mode. Choose based on the role your team lacks and the perks you have unlocked.
How to choose weapons for Horde Mode
Judge a weapon by the situation it solves, not its novelty or tier label. The BSG-12 is a tier-three shotgun added in the October update; the patch announcement does not establish how it compares with other weapons. Consider these practical axes when choosing:
Rank #3
- Battle swarms of hundreds of zombies - the Swarm Engine seamlessly renders hordes of zombies in incredible firefights. Advanced gore systems offer gruesomely satisfying action.
- Coop story-driven campaigns - survive around the world, as unique groups tell their stories of perseverance.
- Fight other players for survival - several intense Player vs Player vs Zombies game modes complement the coop campaigns.
- Grow stronger - unlock powerful weapon upgrades and level 6 character classes to take on greater challenges.
- Crowd control: Is the weapon suited to the dense groups your team is struggling to contain?
- Special-enemy coverage: Does your overall loadout leave the team able to respond to threats beyond ordinary swarms?
- Range and positioning: Does the weapon suit the distance you can safely maintain and the position you need to defend?
- Ammunition economy: Can you sustain its use across the wave without undermining the team’s supplies?
- Team composition and difficulty: Does the weapon fill a genuine gap, and is its role useful for the challenge you are facing?
For heavy weapons, the October update’s new perks give players additional options for several weapon types. Read the perk text in game before committing to a build: the June 18, 2026 update also added seven weapon perks—Triple Shot, Home Stretch, Dance Till The End, (Un)natural Magnetism, Bullets Cashback, To Your Health, and Delayed Explosion—and changed Horde Mode’s store and scoreboard UI. Perk descriptions and current in-game details are a better basis for a specific setup than assuming a perk works a certain way from its name.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Adapt during preparation waves
Saber’s July 11, 2024 Battle of Arizona announcement says players can change class once during each Horde Mode preparation wave. Use that limited switch deliberately:
Rank #4
- Battle swarms of hundreds of zombies in gruesomely spectacular firefights
- Coop story-driven campaigns
- Fight other survivors in Player vs Player vs Zombies modes
- Level 6 character classes and weapon upgrades to take on greater challenges
- During preparation, check which roles the team already covers and identify the most urgent gap.
- Switch class once if the group needs a different contribution, such as support or additional crowd clearing.
- Coordinate the change with teammates so the group does not accidentally lose a role it still needs.
Preparation is the opportunity to adjust; do not plan on repeatedly swapping classes during the same wave.
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Check mode and platform compatibility
Horde Mode XL support is narrower than standard Horde Mode support. Before buying or choosing a platform, verify that the specific edition and platform support the mode you want. Saber’s official Aftermath FAQ says physical and digital copies are available; edition contents and availability can vary, so check the current listing for your platform.
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