Just had my first encounter with a Zombie Grenadier.
I promptly noped right out of there, on the conclusion that grenade-throwing zombies are bad news… then did a search for info. Automated suicide bombs sounded like bad news, but this one was sort of blocking my exploration of town, and I figured I’d give it a shot. I armoured up, and came prepared to duel it with a pistol, only to find that it’d attracted the attention of a wolf since I’d left. I watched the ensuing fight from a safe distance for about half an hour, during which time the grenadier did nothing but stagger around randomly, while the wolf accomplished nothing but to make enough noise to attract a couple more zombies… one of which got stuck in a nearby car, the other of which the wolf promptly killed before returning its attentions to the grenadier.
Concluding that the situation wasn’t about to change, I decided to intervene… but I decided to make a quick check of the abandoned vehicles between me and the fight, just in case. Success; the first vehicle this run which is drivable (I’ve had uncommonly bad luck with vehicles so far; can’t complain, since my starting shelter was on the same map screen as a nicely-isolated farm), and it’s a nice big flatbed truck, fully-intact but for the security system. Almost no gas, but it shouldn’t take much for what I have in mind.
As always, vehicles are the best weapon. The grenadier led with a flashbang, which exploded just as I started ramming it, blinding me to the ensuing carnage; I just kept right on driving. Several explosions later, the truck was stuck in some trees off to the side of the road, and there was a freshly-dead grenadier well behind me.
I don’t bother bringing the truck back home to the farm, since right about the corner is a more-or-less intact SWAT Truck with a decent amount of diesel in the tank and a bunch of tasty ammo in the back; a much worthier vehicle, especially once I get a chance to fix it up a bit.
