The events of The Last of Us Part 1 take place in a post-apocalyptic world after the Cordyceps Brain Infection (CBI) broke out in the year 2013. This parasitic fungal infection takes over the host’s brain and depending on how far along the Infection Cycle an individual is will determine the tactics players must use to get by them safely.
Newly Infected are known as Runners, who tend to attack in hordes, whereas those Infected for up to a year develop into Stalkers who will hide before ambushing their prey. The most notable of each Infection stage is the Clicker; occurring after a couple of years and named after their distinctive clicking sounds that they croak out in order to take in their surroundings. As menacing as a Clicker can be, it is the final stage of Infection that is most dangerous, and players will need to remain vigilant when confronting them.
The first Bloater that players will encounter in The Last of Us Part 1 is in the high school gym during the chapter Bill’s Town. Although they’re not as souped up as the Bloaters in The Last of Us Part 2, they will still take a while to bring down due to the heavy fungal plating that covers their bodies, which acts as armor. However, a bit of preparation and patience will go a long way.
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There are two things to keep in mind for this fight: maintain distance and keep moving.
Being within melee range of a Bloater is a death sentence as, unlike with other Infected, players cannot get out of the Bloater’s grip after being grabbed. The best thing to do is to utilize the space and continue moving throughout the fight, picking opportune moments to take a shot. The pump shotgun is great for dealing damage if the Bloater gets too close, but otherwise, the hunting rifle is ideal while maintaining distance.
Like other Infected Bloaters are weak to fire, and it is highly advisable to have Molotov cocktails on hand. When directly hit with a Molotov it will cause the Bloater to catch fire, and it will take damage over time as well as flail in place for a brief period, providing players with a golden opportunity to get some shots in. While also dealing damage right out the gate, players will be able to save precious ammunition.
The Bloater has two main attacks: a charge and an exploding projectile. When the Bloater charges, it will run towards the player in a straight line and can be avoided by running out of the way. If players are quick enough, they can attempt to plant a nail bomb in the Bloater’s path as it runs to deal significant damage.
The other is a ranged attack that will see the Bloater throw a projectile that will explode and creates a cloud of spores that lingers for a few seconds. Standing in the spores is a quick way to die, so make sure to keep moving to avoid both the explosion and the cloud it creates. If players destroy the growths on its chest, abdomen, and back, the Bloater will be unable to continue using this attack.
Runners will appear at the start of the fight and players will need to prioritize taking them out quickly. Throw a Molotov at the Bloater to briefly stun it before turning attention to the Runners, using whatever means necessary to deal with them quickly before the Bloater refocuses on Joel. Keep moving around the arena, collecting any resources lying around if needed, and continue whittling down the Bloater’s health.
Once the behemoth Infected has been brought down, players should make sure to check the room that the Bloater first emerged from as there are supplies that can be picked up. With this done, players are free to continue to the end of the chapter, Bill’s Town.
The Last of Us Part 2 is available on PlayStation 5 and a PC version is in development.
