Dead Island 2 is a semi-open-world zombie game that takes place in the burned-out wreckage of L.A. Players can assume the role of six playable characters, such as Amy or Ryan, who all have varying stats and abilities. It’s a proper RPG character choice system that can help create some dynamic gameplay opportunities, especially for those that take advantage of the co-op multiplayer.
The biggest gameplay thing Dead Island 2 brings to the table though are its mods. Guns and melee weapons can be equipped with various upgrades such as a way to electrocute enemies when hit. Among the many in the game, what are the best mods to equip on gear?
8 Mutilators
Mutilators are like extra blades that players can equip onto weapons. They are most effective on other bladed weapons such as the various swords in the game. Mutilators will boost attack damage overall, but they also weaken zombies.
In this weakened state, zombies can help players restore stamina. Now, stamina will not determine as much as it did in the first Dead Island game, but any way to regain lost stamina is a positive in this sequel. This makes getting around the open world easier.
7 Electrocutors
Electrocutors will also boost the overall damage of a weapon. That’s the least cool effect of these weapon mods though as they add electricity too. This Shock damage is best used on zombies that have been doused in water.
Water cans and barrels are all over Dead Island 2, thankfully. Wet zombies will conduct more electricity and thus go into an Electrified state faster. This will halt zombies in their tracks like a stun but also damage them and others around. It’s a great mod for dealing with the undead in big numbers, which tends to happen a lot in zombie games.
6 Cremators
Cremators are another elemental mod in the game. Players can add fire damage to their attacks as well as boost overall damage. Like water to electricity, fire can be boosted in Dead Island 2 with a few different factors.
Gasoline and oil can be found in the environment which can engulf zombies with fire when covered. Blades, like knives, are fun weapons to add Cremator mods to because players can pretend they have very primitive lightsabers like from Star Wars.
5 Liquidators
Liquidators are the final major elemental modification players should pay attention to in the game. It will add Caustic damage to attacks and boost the overall damage. Caustic damage is Dead Island 2’s way of introducing poison-like damage to enemies like in other RPGs.
The big difference between typical poison damage and Caustic damage is that Caustic damage will cause zombies to start melting. It is a stronger, more acidic elemental attribute that can make even the most horrific zombie look even grosser as they turn into goo.
4 Slaughter
Slaughter is a great modification to put on bladed weapons. It will increase limb damage to enemies. If this is combined with Mutilator mods then players can go absolutely to town on arms and legs like some sort of crack assassin that specializes in limb targeting.
This is not the only plus to the Slayer mod though, as it will also increase durability. Durability is like a weapon’s health and the more durability a weapon has, the less money players will have to spend on repairs.
3 Empowering
Empowering will increase critical hit damage for the overall weapon. It will also increase the damage of a heavy attack once a weapon is charged up. There are a lot of good weapons to place this mod into but blunt objects like maces and bats work best.
Empowering is the type of mod that is great for crowd work when put onto blunt weapons like bats. Simply swing the bat, knock back a few zombies, and either go to town on them or run away. There’s never any shame in running from danger in a zombie game.
2 Damaging
Damaging is one of the most basic mods in the game but it is effective for disposing of zombies. It will increase damage to a great effect more so than some of the other mods like the Electrocutors or Cremators. Damaging appears mostly on guns but it can pop up for melee weapons as well.
All guns are like god-tier weapons in Dead Island 2 as they are in a lot of zombie games because they give players an advantage with distance. Boosting the attack power through Damaging will make guns that much more deadly to the undead.
1 Speedloader
If players are going to rely on guns to take zombies down, then they should equip them with every special possible. Speedloader will increase how fast a gun can be reloaded. Pistols and rifles naturally reload quickly but shotguns are at a disadvantage.
That’s why Speedloader is especially useful with shotguns, although it’s a big plus for all guns. No one wants to get surrounded by the undead and have to deal with reloading. That can end any life quickly in a zombie game.
Dead Island 2 releases on April 21, 2023 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.