Spiky Runner

Overview

The Spiky Runner is a variant of the Runner found all across Los Angeles. Spiky Runners are zombies who have had their bodies covered in sharp objects such as glass and razor wire by running into them. Unlike the Spiky Walker, whose embedding of sharp objects appears more incidental, the Spiky Runner’s combination of speed and jagged protrusions makes them one of the most punishing common enemies to engage in melee.

They look like regular Runners, except that they wear torn clothes and are covered in sharp objects, broken glass shards stuck into their bodies or barbed wire wrapped around them. The sharp objects have caused severe cuts, gashes, and bleeding throughout the Runner’s body. Two visual variants exist: one covered in broken glass shards and one wrapped in coiled razor wire, both equally dangerous to touch.

In combat Spiky Runners behave identically to normal Runners, highly aggressive and fast, capable of easily cornering players. They can dodge heavy attacks and push players back to interrupt attacks. What sets them decisively apart is their contact bleed mechanic. Like Spiky Walkers and Vicious Butchers, Spiky Runners inflict bleed damage whenever a player makes contact with them. This occurs any time they attack, as well as when a kick or sliding attack is performed on them. Bleed damage is also inflicted whenever the Drop Kick or Flying Kick skills are used. This effectively makes the player’s fastest and most reflexive counters against runners – kicks and slides – actively dangerous when used on this variant. The combination of Runner-speed, dodge capability, and punishing contact damage makes them among the most threatening common zombies in the game.

Explosives and thrown curveballs are the safest approach, they deal damage without requiring physical contact. Firearms are reliable for the same reason. Maiming their legs reduces them to Crawlers and eliminates their speed advantage, after which they can be dispatched safely. Blunt weapons with no elemental mods are also viable for keeping distance with heavy swings, provided the player avoids kick counters. Blocking their leap attack rather than dodging into them is recommended.

Notable Spiky Runners

Space Fox Prop Master – spawns on the west side of studio 7. If you’re looking at the map its spawns behind the little gate right by the RISE OF THE GOD SPIDER speech bubble. Unsure of exact spawn requirement, may need to have reached Venice so you get to the canonical first location of spikey zombies but could also require completing The Giant Slayer story quest.

Sterling Hotel Guest – spawns in the alley way of the OSK store after doing the Search for the Truth. 

Luigi JR – spawns under the pier in the area that you emerge after doing the Fish Bucket part of the Message in the bottle quest. Requires you to clear that quest first.

Where to Find Them

The first guaranteed encounter is during the Final Gauntlet survival sequence. For farming, the most reliable spawn point is on The Pier, behind the Fast Travel building. They may also appear in the parking lot of the Halperin Hotel.

Zompedia

Zombie Challenges