Exploring Key Locations in the Zombie-Infested Los Angeles

The zombie apocalypse turned Los Angeles into a wasteland virtually overnight. As one of the few immune survivors, I‘ve managed to stay alive by securing weapons, ammo, medicine, food, and other scarce supplies from key locations across the city. As an expert gamer with over 500 hours clocked scavenging the zombie-infested map, I‘m sharing insider tips on the highest priority spots you should target and how to navigate them safely.

Securing a steady stream of supplies is essential to enduring the horrors that await outside. According to my stats, a single survivor needs a minimum of 2 melee weapons, 1 firearm with 2 boxes of ammo, 5 medkits, 2 weeks worth of food and water, and backup batteries/gas at all times. Failure to secure the essentials will quickly turn you into an extra in the zombie food chain. The key locations below offer a fighting chance to get ahead of the curve.

The Police Station

The Santa Monica PD is one of the most valuable targets, containing guns, ammo, body armor, nightsticks, and other tools to counter zombie threats. However, the once formidable station is still crawling with undead officers who retained their weapons and training.

Here‘s what survivors can expect upon breaching its blood-soaked walls:

• Zombie Density: *** (Heavy, roughly 20 inside)
• Loot Quality: **** (High, armory remains partially stocked)
• Environmental Hazards: * (Minimal, good shelter)
• Reward: Level 3 body armor (+15% damage resistance), tactical shotguns and ammo, nightsticks/batons
• Risk: *** (High chance of being overwhelmed without proper precautions)

Based on dozens of runs, I recommend survivors:

• Approach from the rooftop to avoid street hordes
• Throw firecrackers as distractions before engaging the front lobby
• Use silenced pistols before resorting to shotguns that draw more zombies
• Never enter the basement as its nearly impenetrable once flooded

Here‘s what you can expect upon fighting your way inside:

With grit and the right game plan, the Santa Monica PD offers a jackpot for even novice survivors.

The Hospital

Hospitals may still contain valuable antibiotics and other essential medicine, but they also hosted the first waves of infected patients and aún remain extremely dangerous viral hot zones.

Here are the stats survivors need to consider:

• Zombie Density: ***** (Extreme, 40+ zombies of varying mutations)
• Loot Quality: *** (Decent, much already taken)
• Environmental Hazards: ** (Flooded areas, barely functioning backup generators)
• Reward: Antibiotics, adrenaline shots, bandages, surgical tools
• Risk: ***** (Expect an extremely lethal fight to the death)

As a veteran looter, I strongly advise beginners to avoid hospitals until they unlock more devastating weapons. But for seasoned survivors packing serious firepower, take these additional precautions:

• Cut the power first to disable gates/locking doors that trap you
• Toss firecrackers into main lobby before entering to draw zombies out
• Blackout curtains limit visibility so bring flares/flashlights
• Mutated zombies explode on death releasing deadly viral gas clouds

Here‘s the horrific scene waiting inside:

Hospitals are among the last places I‘d normally recommend hitting early on. But for survivors struggling with mounting injuries, they present a risk/reward scenario worth considering.

The Grocery Store

Partially looted grocery stores litter the city, though few deliver the abundance of food and water you‘d expect. Competition for resources was fierce even before the zombie outbreak. Fortunately canned goods and other non-perishables help offset the missing fresh produce and meat.

Here is what survivors can anticipate:

• Zombie Density: ** (Moderate, 5-10 inside)
• Loot Quality: *** (Decent, focus on non-perishables)
• Environmental Hazards: * (Minimal, safe shelter)
• Reward: Canned food/meats, cereal, pasta, dried fruits, bottled water, plastic utensils
• Risk: * (Fairly straightforward loot run)

As one of the safer locations to scavenge early on, I recommend hitting every grocery store you encounter to stock up on bare essentials. Some additional tips:

• Scope out grocery stores early morning/at night when few zombies patrol perimeters
• Cover rear exits first so you don‘t get surrounded
• Use crowbars to raid vending machines/locked storage closets
• Avoid bakery and meat departments teeming with parasites

Behold the lifesaving gains waiting on the shelves:

With so many grocery stores scattered throughout Los Angeles, these essential supply runs should provide building blocks to advance your zombie survival strategy.

The Metro Station

Metro stations initially served as refugee camps before infections turned them into death traps. However, many useful resources remain strewn about from the survivors and looters seeking shelter here.

Here‘s an overview of key stats:

• Zombie Density: *** (Moderate, roughly 15 inside)
• Loot Quality: *** (Decent, focus on leftover survival gear)
• Environmental Hazards: ** (Poor visibility, tight spaces)
• Reward: Tents, sleeping bags, portable stoves, radios, flashlights, lanterns, bags
• Risk: ** (Exercise caution clearing tents)

I‘ve recovered useful survival equipment from stations across the city by methodically applying these strategies:

• Enter only after sunrise/sunset when visibility improves
• Turn power off first to disable electric barriers trapping you
• Toss firecrackers into the main lobby to divert zombies before engaging
• Scope out debris piles and tents likely containing resources
• Never venture into the unsafe subway tunnels below

Here‘s the chaos that awaits in camps once overflowing with refugees:

Metro stations mainly provide supplemental equipment versus essential weapons/sustenance. But they serve as reliable restock locations when you need backup batteries, tents, or other survival tools.

Comparison Table

To summarize the key locations above at a glance, here is a comparison chart of their zombie threat levels versus loot reward potential:

As depicted above, survivors must weigh risk versus reward in picking their targets. Supply runs should focus on acquiring essential weapons, medicine, food/water first before supplemental equipment.

Final Tips

Securing a steady stream of supplies from Los Angeles‘ now decaying infrastructure offers a fighting chance against the zombie wasteland closing in. Target police stations and grocery stores first to arm yourself and meet basic needs. Hospitals and metro stations provide supplementary loot once you‘ve leveled the playing field.

As one of the few survivors to endure these horrors thus far, here are my last pieces of advice to preserve your life:

• Avoid direct confrontation with zombie mega hordes flooding streets
• Fortify a shelter site first with reinforced walls/doors/windows
• Never traverse loud environments masking zombie threats
• Travel along rooftops and side streets to limit contact
• Head out looting only after stockpiling sufficient food/water at your shelter

Stay vigilant out there and focus efforts only on what keeps you alive day to day. With grit and the right game plan, you too can be the last one standing when Los Angeles finally falls. But failure to secure essential weapons and supplies from key locations will quickly make you the zombies‘ next meal.