Back 4 Blood is a first-person squad-based shooter with deck-building mechanics. It’s also a spiritual successor of Left 4 Dead, with which it shares atmosphere, zombies, and team-of-four playstyle. What’s diffrent is the skills system, which is based on cards that you collect. Cards give you offensive and defensive buffs and skills that can change the tide of the battle.

You can take 15 cards into the fight, so creating the best build in Back 4 Blood is imperative. Before the June 2022 Update, you couldn’t use all cards at the start of the battle; they were played gradually. But with the Full Deck Draw feature, creating card builds in Back 4 Blood makes more sense, as you now have all the bonuses from the beginning.

Best Back 4 Blood Deck Builds

Creating builds can be very complex, as you’re not alone in the field. You can’t do it all by yourself, so some synergy with other players is very welcome. To avoid unnecessary complications, try to maximize your character’s traits. For example, if you’re a tank, make sure to have a lot of resistance and health bonuses.

Remember that card bonuses differentiate based on whether you play Campaign or Swarm (player-vs-player) mode. Bonuses are generally more significant in Swarm mode, as you fight against Ridden Mutations (zombie “heroes”). Also, some cards are available just in Campaign mode. Builds below are created with Campaign mode in mind, but with some modifications, they can be used in Swarm.

Best Meele Deck Build in Back 4 Blood

  • Adrenaline Fueled—When you kill an enemy, gain 5 Stamina instantly and an additional 7 Stamina over seven seconds, stacking up to five times.Battle Lust—Gives 1/2 points of health back for one melee kill.Batter Up—Gain 40% Melee Damage and 5 Health.Berserker—Gain 5% Melee Damage, 5% Melee Speed, and 5% Move Speed for each Melee kill in the last three seconds.Brazen—Gain 15% Melee Stamina Efficiency and 20% Melee Attack SpeedBody Armor—Gain 20% Trauma Resistance.Cross Trainers—Gain 20% Stamina, 20% Stamina Regen, 3% Move Speed, and 5 Health.Ignore The Pain—Gain 20% Melee Damage against Mutations. When you deal Melee damage to a Mutation, gain 1 Health and recover 3 Stamina.Heavy Attack—Heavy attacks deal 100% increased damage and expend 50% more Stamina.Meth Head—Every Melee swing grants 5% Melee Attack Speed and 5% Melee Stamina Efficiency for six seconds, stacking up to 10 times.Rhythmic Breathing—Gain 40% Stamina.Spiky Bits—Gain 20 Melee Damage, 20% Damage Resistance while using a Melee Weapon, and -15% Ammo Capacity.Superior Cardio—Gain 20% Stamina, 20% Sprint Efficiency, and 5 HealthSlugger—Gain 5 Health, 10% Melee Efficiency, and 20% Melee Attack Speed.Vanguard—Melee kills grant 1 Health to yourself and teammates within 10 meters.

Best Sniper Card Build in Back 4 Blood

  • Ammo Pouch—25% Ammo Capacity and 2.5% Bullet Damage.Combat Training—Gain 5% Bullet Damage, 1 Bullet Stumble Damage, and 5 Melee Stumble Damage.Confident Killer—When you or your team kills a Mutation, gain 1% damage (up to 15%) until the end of the level.Ridden Slayer—Gain +20% Weakspot Damage.Reload Drills—Gain +20% Reload Speed.Tunnel Vision—Every 0.75 seconds Aim Down Sights gives 5% Weakspot Damage (up to three stacks), 50% Aim Speed, and 5% Damage Resistance.Sadistic—Gain 5% Weakspot Damage for each Precision Kill in the last 10 seconds.Inspiring Sacrifice—When you or a teammate becomes incapacitated, all teammates heal for 20 health over 15 seconds.Widemouth Magwell—Gain +30% Reload Speed, -5% Damage Resistance.Reckless Strategy—Gain +30% Weakspot Damage, -5% Damage Resistance.Hi VIS Sights—Gain +30% Aim Speed.Guns Out—Gain +50% Weapon Swap Speed, -5% Damage Resistance.Optics Enthusiast—Gain +30% Accuracy.Large Caliber Rounds—7.5% Bullet Damage, 200% Bullet Penetration.Front Sight Focus—Gain +20% Accuracy, 10% Weakspot Damage, and 15% Aim Speed.

Best Support Card Build in Back 4 Blood

  • Fanny Pack—Get +1 Support Inventory, 15% Trauma ResistanceShoulder Bag—Get +2 Support Inventory, -5% Damage dealt.Copper Scavenger—You can sense nearby Copper. More Copper piles spawn.Compound Interest—Each Cleaner gains 5% of their total Copper in each Saferoom.Lucky Pennies—Whenever you or your team loots Copper, you have a 35% chance of finding additional Copper.Grenade Pouch—Get +1 Offensive Inventory, +25% Swap SpeedSecond Chance—Get +1 Extra Life, +5 Health.Offensive Scavenger—You can sense nearby Offensive Accessories, and more Offensive Accessories spawn.Confident Killer—When you or your team kills a Mutation gain 1% damage (up to 15%) until the end of the level.Ammo for All—Get +10% Team Ammo Capacity, +2.5% Team DamageInspiring Sacrifice—When you or a teammate becomes incapacitated, all teammates heal for 20 health over 15 seconds.Charitable Soul—Healing a teammate also heals you for 50% of the amount recovered.Multitool—Get +75% Use Speed, -5% Damage Resistance.Ammo Pouch—Get +25% Ammo Capacity, 2.5% Bullet DamageStimulants—Pain Meds you apply also grant 20% Stamina Regen, 15% Reload Speed, and 15% Weapon Swap Speed for 60 seconds.

For more information on Back 4 Blood, check out guides like Best Back 4 Blood Walker Build, Back 4 Blood vs. Left 4 Dead: Differences and Similarities, and Best Weapons and Attachments in Back 4 Blood on Pro Game Guides.