Left4Dead Console Commands and Cheats
While I will never advocate cheating in any game for the purpose of gaining an advantage over other players, the Left4Dead console commands can be quite fun and educational if used while alone or with friends to play around.
In order to use them, one must enable the developers console. To do this, you must go into Options and into the Keyboard and Mouse settings.
In order to enable the console in game you press the ` (ASCII Code 96) key.
Alright, now let us get to the codes...
Useful Non-Cheating Codes
sv_alltalk 1 will change the server to all talk mode.
bind "
- bind "0" "slot10"
- bind "1" "slot1"
- bind "2" "slot2"
- bind "3" "slot3"
- bind "4" "slot4"
- bind "5" "slot5"
- bind "6" "slot6"
- bind "7" "slot7"
- bind "8" "slot8"
- bind "9" "slot9"
- bind "a" "+moveleft"
- bind "c" "+voicerecord"
- bind "d" "+moveright"
- bind "e" "+use"
- bind "f" "impulse 100"
- bind "h" "motd"
- bind "m" "chooseteam"
- bind "q" "lastinv"
- bind "r" "+reload"
- bind "s" "+back"
- bind "t" "impulse 201"
- bind "u" "messagemode2"
- bind "w" "+forward"
- bind "x" "+mouse_menu QA"
- bind "y" "messagemode"
- bind "z" "+mouse_menu Orders"
- bind "`" "toggleconsole"
- bind "SPACE" "+jump"
- bind "TAB" "+showscores"
- bind "ESCAPE" "cancelselect"
- bind "SHIFT" "+speed"
- bind "CTRL" "+duck"
- bind "F1" "Vote Yes"
- bind "F2" "Vote No"
- bind "F5" "jpeg"
- bind "MOUSE1" "+attack"
- bind "MOUSE2" "+attack2"
- bind "MOUSE3" "+zoom"
- bind "MWHEELUP" "invprev"
- bind "MWHEELDOWN" "invnext"
Now in order to create a new binding, first choose a key which is unused. Lets make a quick kill switch which is sometimes useful when your group leaves you behind and is not coming back for you.
bind "\" "kill" will work. I try to keep it far away from my other keys for obvious reasons. :)
Now lets say you want to be annoying with vocalize commands. Here are some of the vocalize commands I know of.
- vocalize PlayerAlertGiveItem
- vocalize PlayerAreaClear
- vocalize PlayerAskReady
- vocalize PlayerChoke
- vocalize PlayerCoverMe
- vocalize PlayerDeath
- vocalize PlayerFollowMe
- vocalize PlayerFriendlyFire
- vocalize PlayerHealing
- vocalize PlayerHealingOther
- vocalize PlayerHelp
- vocalize PlayerHurrah
- vocalize PlayerHurryUp
- vocalize PlayerImWithYou
- vocalize PlayerIncapacitated
- vocalize PlayerIncoming
- vocalize PlayerKillThatLight
- vocalize PlayerLaugh
- vocalize PlayerLeadOn
- vocalize PlayerLedgeHangEnd
- vocalize PlayerLedgeHangMiddle
- vocalize PlayerLedgeHangStart
- vocalize PlayerLedgeSave
- vocalize PlayerLedgeSaveCritical
- vocalize PlayerLookOut
- vocalize PlayerMoveOn
- vocalize PlayerNegative
- vocalize PlayerNiceJob
- vocalize PlayerNiceShot
- vocalize PlayerNo
- vocalize PlayerReviveFriend
- vocalize PlayerSorry
- vocalize PlayerSpotAmmo
- vocalize PlayerSpotFirstAid
- vocalize PlayerSpotGrenade
- vocalize PlayerSpotPill
- vocalize PlayerStayTogether
- vocalize PlayerTaunt
- vocalize PlayerThanks
- vocalize PlayerVomitInFace
- vocalize PlayerWaitHere
- vocalize PlayerWarnBoomer
- vocalize PlayerWarnCareful
- vocalize PlayerWarnHunter
- vocalize PlayerWarnSmoker
- vocalize PlayerWarnTank
- vocalize PlayerWarnWitch
- vocalize PlayerWatchOutBehind
- vocalize PlayerYes
- vocalize PlayerYouAreWelcome
- vocalize smartlook
Lets say you wanted to laugh like a maniac while you are shooting. To do this, you type the following bind command:
bind MOUSE1 "+attack; vocalize PlayerLaugh"
You can also just bind the vocalize commands to other keys. For example if you want to freak out your team...
bind "[" "vocalize PlayerWarnTank" will usually get someones attention.
To display a list of recent Speech used by the survivors, type listRecentNPCSpeech. This will show your the file names of the sound clips, and you can then use that in a vocalize statement to play them back at will.
Moving on from the keybindings and vocalization codes now...
spectate will switch you to spectator mode.
openserverbrowser will display a list of available servers. It will also let you change your server searching options. This is handy if you constantly have to wait to find dedicated servers. Try playing with your search filter and maybe you will find more.
go_away_from_keyboard makes your character go idle so a bot will take over.
sv_lan 1 will enable the game to run locally as a LAN server.
changelevel will change the current level to the new map.
- l4d_airport01_greenhouse
- l4d_airport02_offices
- l4d_airport03_garage
- l4d_airport04_terminal
- l4d_airport05_runway
- l4d_farm01_hilltop
- l4d_farm02_traintunnel
- l4d_farm03_bridge
- l4d_farm04_barn
- l4d_farm05_cornfield
- l4d_hospital01_apartment
- l4d_hospital02_subway
- l4d_hospital03_sewers
- l4d_hospital04_interior
- l4d_hospital05_rooftop
- l4d_smalltown01_caves
- l4d_smalltown02_drainage
- l4d_smalltown03_ranchhouse
- l4d_smalltown04_mainstreet
- l4d_smalltown05_houseboat
- in versus, just add vs to the map name. i.e. "l4d_vs_hospital01_apartment"
cl_drawhud 0 turns off the HUD for your character. cl_drawhud 1 restores it.
Non-Console Hints and Tips.
- Defended Reload: Press R to reload then melee to knock off any attackers, your gun will continue to reload while you swing.
- Closet Camp: When hordes of zombies appear, get into a room which has few exits and melee at the doors, or get into a corner and melee. If this method is used you will likely never take damage.
- Down in front!: If you are ahead of your team, ensure that you crouch to avoid friendly fire. Also, if you are shooting over a team mates head, be sure to use a weapon which will you are sure will not hit your team mate. i.e. do not use a shotgun when shooting over your friends head. use pistols if you have to.
- Unbreakable Doors: There are some rooms in which the doors are unbreakable. There are walk in freezers in the game which you will find are completely unbreakable, even for the tank. Also, bathroom stalls are unbreakable as well.
- Tank Killer: This works best in Expert. Simply Molotov the tank so it is on fire, then run. Everyone should stay together and turn back and shoot when its far enough away. In versus the best technique is usually to stay together as a team with auto shotguns, crouch in a corner and just auto shotgun the team to death at close range. If this is done, the worst that will likely happen is you may have one team mate go down, but its better then spreading out in versus.
- Road Block: As an infected, look for objects you can move infront of the path the survivors need to take. This will slow them down or completely block them sometimes (if you are a tank and are able to throw cars, or other objects in the survivors path to block their progress).
- Talk less: The key to being stealthy is to remain quiet. Both in Versus and in Campaign you have an Aura. This Aura represents how stealthy or unstealthy you are. All zombies can see this aura. When moving around while standing your aura is always visible. However while crouching or slow walking (pressing Shift while you walk), your aura is not visible, even if you are moving. This is true if you are using the flashlight as well. Contrary to popular belief having the flashlight on will not increase your aura. However, if your character talks, shoots, or melees, your aura will appear again for a few seconds. Also, in game voice chat will make your aura appear as well. So if you are talking to your team while being stealthy, the zombies can still see you.
Cheat Commands
Common Cheat codes are as such:
- sv_cheats 1 will enable cheats on the server. This also disables any achievement progress. This can only be used if you are the server admin.
- god 1 will enable god mode. Survivors are unable to take damage. god 0 turns it off.
- noclip makes you semi-unhurtable, but its main objective is to let you navigate around the map. Typing noclip again will toggle it off.
- director_stop will turn off the AI director for the zombies.
- director_start will resume the AI director for the zombies.
- director_force_panic_event will start a panic event.
- director_force_tank will start a tank.
- director_finale_infinite will make the rescue mission infinite, and the rescue vehicle will never come.
- give autoshotgun will give your player a Auto Shotgun. If you already have one, it will instead fall to the ground infront of you, so others can pick it up.
- give pistol will give your player a Handgun. If you already have one, it will instead fall to the ground infront of you, so others can pick it up.
- give pain_pills will give your player Pills. If you already have one, it will instead fall to the ground infront of you, so others can pick it up.
- give first_aid_kit will give your player a Med Pack. If you already have one, it will instead fall to the ground infront of you, so others can pick it up.
- give molotov will give your player a Molotov. If you already have one, it will instead fall to the ground infront of you, so others can pick it up.
- give pipe_bomb will give your player a Pipe Bomb. If you already have one, it will instead fall to the ground infront of you, so others can pick it up.
- give rifle will give your player an M16. If you already have one, it will instead fall to the ground infront of you, so others can pick it up.
- give shotgun will give your player a Shotgun. If you already have one, it will instead fall to the ground infront of you, so others can pick it up.
- give hunting_rifle will give your player a Sniper Rifle. If you already have one, it will instead fall to the ground infront of you, so others can pick it up.
- give smg will give your player an UZI. If you already have one, it will instead fall to the ground infront of you, so others can pick it up.
- give propanetank will give your player a Propane Tank. If you already have one, it will instead fall to the ground infront of you, so others can pick it up.
- give oxygentank will give your player an Oxygen Tank. If you already have one, it will instead fall to the ground infront of you, so others can pick it up.
- give gascan will give your player a Gas Can. If you already have one, it will instead fall to the ground infront of you, so others can pick it up.
- boom will drop a armed Pipe Bomb below you.
- fire will drop a lit molotov below you.
- z_spawn will spawn a single common zombie wherever your crosshair is pointed.
- z_spawn hunter will spawn a hunter wherever your crosshair is pointed.
- z_spawn smoker will spawn a smoker wherever your crosshair is pointed.
- z_spawn boomer will spawn a boomer wherever your crosshair is pointed.
- z_spawn tank will spawn a tank wherever your crosshair is pointed.
- z_spawn witch will spawn a witch wherever your crosshair is pointed.
- z_background_limit 20 will limit background zombies on the map to 20 (the default). As far as I know Background zombies are zombies which spawn ahead of the player.
- z_common_limit 30 will limit the overall common infected spawn size at any given time to 30 (default). You can change this number for larger hordes.
- z_mob_spawn_max_size 30 sets the maximum spawn size.
- z_mob_spawn_min_size 10 sets the minimum zombie spawn size.
- sv_infinite_ammo 1 will give the players infinite ammo for their guns and molotov/pipe bombs.
- nb_blind 1 makes zombies unable to see you.
- nb_delete_all clears all zombie spawns and survivors.
- maxplayers 4 changes the maximum number of players to 4. You can change this to 8 if you want to do a versus.
- director_no_human_zombies 1 disables human players from being on the zombie team. Switch this to 0 if you want to play versus style.