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Back 4 Blood card system guide: How it works, all cards and effects

Here's the ultimate guide to the Back 4 Blood game's intricate Card System, including how it works, all Corruption and Active cards and their effects
Back 4 Blood card system guide: How it works, all cards and effects

Back 4 Blood is a brand new zombie co-op game from Turtle Rock Studios who created the classic co-op horror Left 4 Dead franchise. The game officially launches on 12th October 2021 but has already garnered favourable attention ahead of its Early Access and Open Beta launches. In this guide, we will take a closer look at the Back 4 Blood intricate Card System, detailing how it works, the cards available and their effects.

What is the Back 4 Blood Card System?

The Back 4 Blood "roguelike" card system is a gameplay feature in the game. The card system enhances the gameplay experience for players by creating unique experiences each and every time.

This is accomplished by giving players the ability to craft custom decks, roll different builds and undertake more demanding fights in the game.

The game also utilizes a system of advanced AI known as the Game Director, which will play a selection of cards in response to player actions, health and choices.

back 4 blood card system corruption active cards game director
Back 4 Blood (Picture: Turtle Rock Studios)

There are corruption cards chosen by the Director and active cards that offer the player an opportunity to pick some useful special perks, which we have detailed in the sections to follow.

All Back 4 Blood Corruption cards and effects

Corruption cards are unique cards part of the "roguelike" card system. These cards are drawn by the Game Director AI at the outset of every level and apply randomized game parameters related to the game.

 back 4 blood card system corruption active cards game director
Back 4 Blood Card System (Picture: Turtle Rock Studios)

These could include changes to the Ridden, the weather or stack additional dangers for players as they progress through the levels and are intended to enhance the replayability experience.

After the Director picks their cards, players will draw three cards, of which one can be a Corruption card. The other cards must be Active cards (learn more about this in the next section).

back 4 blood card system corruption active cards game director
Back 4 Blood (Picture: Turtle Rock Studios)

There are a total of 10 Corruption cards available to the Game Director. We've indicated all of the Corruption cards below and their effects, per the Back 4 Blood Fandom Wiki.

Title Description
Shambling Ridden Swarm What remains of the living, aim for the head to put them down quickly.
Ridden What remains of the living, aim for the head to put them down quickly.
Runners What remains of the living, aim for the head to put them down quickly.
Sprinters What remains of the living, aim for the head to put them down quickly.
Jogger Swarm What remains of the living, aim for the head to put them down quickly.
Bruisers Stay away from Bruisers, especially when they go into a Frenzy.
Retches Acidic spew leaves dangerous bile pools.
Hockers Melee teammates to free them from Hocker pins.
Ogre Weakspots are the only way to take down this horrible amalgamation of flesh and bone.
Gloom An unnatural fog has settled on this area.

All Back 4 Blood Active cards and effects

Active cards basically allow players to acquire special perks and can be used to counter Corruption cards picked by the Game Director, thus allowing players a greater chance to win.

back 4 blood card system corruption active cards game director
Back 4 Blood character (Picture: Turtle Rock Studios)

They are categorized into four types, which can also be associated by colour:

  • Reflex cards (Blue)
  • Discipline cards (Red)
  • Brawn cards (Green)
  • Fortune cards (Yellow)

At the start of each campaign, players begin with 1 loadout card and then select an additional 4 cards by the time they leave the safe house

 back 4 blood card system corruption active cards game director
Back 4 Blood exiting Safe House (Picture: Turtle Rock Studios)

Players can also find other Active cards scattered across the levels but will need to purchase these using Copper (the in-game currency).

 back 4 blood card system corruption active cards game director
Back 4 Blood (Picture: Turtle Rock Studios)

In total, there are currently 61 Active cards available to players in Back 4 Blood. We've indicated all of the Active cards below and their effects, per the Back 4 Blood Fandom Wiki.

Blue Colour Cards
Cross trainers +10% Stamina
Rhythmic breathing +30% Stamina
-20% Slow Resistance
Reload drills +10% Reload Speed
Mag coupler +30% Reload Speed
Disables: Aim Down Sights
Meth head +60% Melee Attack Speed
+60% Melee Stamina Efficiency
-30% Trauma Resistance
Ridden slayer +10% Weakspot Damage
Reckless strategy +20% Weakspot Damage
-5% Damage Resistance
Shooting gloves +10% Weapon Swap Speed
Smelling salts +25% Revive Speed
Dash +5% Move Speed
Superior cardio +15% Sprint Efficiency
Breakout Automatically break out of a grab 1 time per level.
Combat knife Turns your Bash into a Knife that counts as a melee weapon.
Dance all day +10% Movement Speed
No Movement Penalty for strafe and backpedal.
Disables: Sprint
Team stamina +10% Team Stamina
This card applies to you and your teammates.
Uzi Grants you an Uzi starting weapon.
Pep in your step Precision kills grant you 10% Movement Speed for 4 seconds.
Utility scavenger You can sense nearby Utility Accessories.
More Utility Accessories spawn.
Red Colour Cards
Ammo pouch +10% Ammo Capacity
Front sight focus +10% Accuracy
Quick kill +30% Accuracy
Disables: Aim Down Sights
Antibiotic ointment +15% Healing Efficiency
EMT bag +30% Healing Efficiency
-10% Stamina Efficiency
Blood donor When you or your teammate becomes incapacitated, all teammates heal for 45 health over 10 seconds.
This card applies to you and your teammates.
Caretaker Healing a teammate also heals you for 100% of the amount healed.
Hunker down While crouching, gain 20% Damage Resistance and 12.5% Accuracy.
Martyr When you or your teammate becomes incapacitated, all teammates gain 100% Damage, 20% Reload Speed, and Unlimited Ammo for 10 seconds.
This card applies to you and your teammates.
Team ammo +10% Team Ammo Capacity
This card applies to you and your teammates.
AK47 Grants you an AK47 starting weapon.
TAC14 Grants you a TAC14 starting weapon.
Down in front! While crouching, gain 10% Damage Resistance and 100% Friendly Fire Resistance.
M1A Grants you an M1A starting weapon.
Ammo scavenger You can sense nearby Ammo.
More Ammo spawns
Weapon scavenger You can sense nearby Weapons
More Weapons spawn.
Support scavenger You can sense nearby Support Accessories
More Support Accessories spawn.
Green Colour Cards
Vitamins +10% Health
Canned goods +30% Health
-10% Stamina
Batter up +25% Melee Damage
+25% Melee Cleave Power
Mean drunk +75% Melee Damage
+75% Melee Cleave Power
-50% Gun Accuracy
Berserker Gain 10% Melee Damage, 10% Melee Speed, and 5% Movement Speed for each Melee kill in the last 4 seconds.
Pyro +75% Fire Resistance
Kills with fire grant you 3 Temporary Health.
Sapper +100% Explosive Damage
+50% Explosive Resistance
Triumph Kills with a melee weapons heal 2 Health.
Team health +10% Team Health
This card applies to you and your teammates.
Heavy attack Charge: Hold LMB with melee weapons to burst forward.
Charge attacks deal 100% increased damage.
Sunder Melee hits cause the target to take 20% increased damage 5 seconds.
Arsenal You can equip a Primary weapon in your Secondary slot.
Offensive scavenger You can sense nearby Offensive Accessories.
More Offensive Accessories spawn.
Yellow Colour Cards
Grenade pouch +1 Offensive Inventory
Fanny pack +1 Support Inventory
Finders keepers Pistol kills have a 2% chance to spawn ammo.
Gunslinger When you stow your weapon, it reloads.
Trophy Hunter When you kill a Mutation, gain 10 Copper (up to 300 per level).
This card applies to you and your teammates.
Resourceful Your secondary weapons have unlimited ammo.
Insurance policy +1 Extra Life
Lose 50 Copper at each Saferoom
Living on a prayer Kills while at critical health recover 1 health.
Lucky duck Whenever your team loots Copper, you have a 35% chance to find 35% additional Copper.
Wake of death You can shoot while sprinting.
Overheal Healing that exceeds your maximum Health will grant Temporary Health.
Copper scavenger You can sense nearby Copper.
More Copper Piles spawn.
Saferoom recovery Your team heals 5 Trauma Damage and refills 10% Ammo in each Saferoom.
This card applies to you and your teammates.

Back 4 Blood is expected to be a hit amongst Left 4 Dead fans and will officially release on the 12th of October 2021 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X /S and on Microsoft Windows PC platforms.

Looking for early access? Then learn how to join the Back 4 Blood Open Beta in our previous article!

Don't forget to check out our general video games section for industry news, guides, leaks and much more.

Header image via Turtle Rock Studios.