3. Identifying The Threats While Holding Out

I will discuss several threats from Special rats while holding out as a group.1. PackmasterIt is advisable that groups in a hold-out situation should not stand too close to door-ways or corners. The reason for this is the Packmaster - as generally known - can hook players up from around corners and wall. It will be a lot more difficult to save a player who's hooked by a Packmaster from around a corner, then being able to see it coming from a linear distance. Consider the amount of horde that is already in place while doing the hold out. The situation will be more manageable if the Packmaster can be sighted earlier before trying its' hook to one of our allies. Wall corners and door frames stop allies from having a direct line of sight to rescue the captured team mate. Standing a bit further (back) away from corners or doorways while holding out is advisable.2. Gas RatOne gas attack can wipe the entire team.In a Temporary hold-out spot along the map, Gas Rats are eithera. to be quickly eliminated.b. to be completely avoidedPlayers are not advised to 'chase' a Gas Rat unless they can move so in with the group, or either that they can eliminate it quickly and return back to the group core as soon as possible.In finales, the amount of hold out time is longer and there are more number of hordes. It is preferable if Gas Rats can be taken out as quick as possible throughout the hold-out period. The author suggest - that if holding out in a gas vulnerable area, to have one to two players assigned to scout and kill Gas Rats.3. Rattling GunsThis is easier to take down than Gas Rats for gun users. Primarily, a quick one shot from the Dwarf or Soldier would be preferred over other class' weapon to take it down as soon as possible.4. AssassinsTake extra care when holding out near a ledge. When the Assassin lands on a player, it may knock back players around it, otherwise, this isn't much of a threat as compared to the Gas Rat. A quick tip for Assassins is to 'punt' it to get it off a player (hold right click, then left click). It will get the Assassin off the attacked player and will save the player more HP. After punting, you should then quickly aim to kill it before it runs off.A unique example of a situation is when holding out at the top of a ledge in Enemy Below, just before the finale. Imagine a situation where hordes are attacking the players near the ledge, from behind (the tunnel where the player came out from into the opening) and also from below (rats climbing up to the ledge). One attack from the Assassins to a player will knock others around it. This happened to an organised team I was playing with in Cataclysm. We had both grims and three tomes. The Assassin attacked the mage who had the grim, two of the players around the attacked players got knocked down from the ledge, unable to save the mage any further with hordes around them waiting at the bottom of the ledge. There was only one remaining player on top of the ledge struggled to save the mage from the Assassin with hordes coming from behind. The mage died resulting in the team losing one grim to make it through the map.5. StormverminsIndividual Stormvermin don't usually move around. You are not advised to choose a Temporary Hold-out Spot where a group of Stormvermin patrol is heading towards.