Here’s the scenario. All of your friends have been telling you how much fun Friday The 13th: The Game is, and you’re ready to give it a shot. You buy it, boot it up, and decide to play a quick game with random people while waiting for your friends to join up. That counselor looks cool, so you pick them, spawn on the counselor side, and before you know it, you’re getting choked out by Jason! Um, what just happened? If you want to stay out of the clutches of skilled Jasons, follow these five tips and you’ll be sure to impress your friends (or leave them behind while Jason brutally murders them)!
1. Choose the Right Counselor
In excitement to play a new game, most people skip the instructions. I get it. Reading is boring and playing is fun. However, some knowledge before you start can go a long way to successful escapes and more fun. All of the counselors are not created equally. You should know the strengths and weaknesses of who you’re picking. Are you synergized with your friends to go for a car escape strategy? Maybe you pick a nerdier counselor like Deborah Kim or Eric “J.R.” LaChappa to help with repairs to the car. A more solo-minded strategy might see you selecting a well-rounded counselor or fast counselor, like Kenny Riedell or Vanessa Jones, respectively. If you do some research ahead of time, you may just make it out alive.
2. Think Defensively in the Beginning
Let’s say you did the research. You know your strategy, but the Jason you’re up against is good. Really good. Sometimes, the best defense is a great offense. Knowing which items in the game can get you out of a bind can spell the difference between waiting a few more minutes for the cops to arrive or having your back broken by Jason. In the early game, while you’re searching for resources in the cabins, I recommend playing more defensively, which means closing doors and reinforcing them, as well as knowing where your closest window escape is. You may even take the time to set a Bear Trap. As you pick up Firecrackers, First Aid Sprays, and Pocket Knives, you can begin to be a little braver in seeking objectives, since an appearance by Jason won’t automatically require you to run away perfectly. This general strategy works whether you’re coordinating with your teammates or you’re on your own, but if you’re particularly team-minded, make sure to prioritize getting a Walkie-Talkie for improved communication. You never know when a fellow counselor could save your life.
3. There Is No “I” In Team
Speaking of Walkie-Talkies, let’s talk about team synergy. Oftentimes, you’re going to queue for games with friends, so you’ll develop a certain sense for how everyone likes to play. You’ll have that one friend that wants to have Jason find them so that they can go toe-to-toe and keep him occupied. You’ll have other friends that love the stealth approach and don’t want to ever be seen. Whatever your composition, make sure it’s well-balanced. Don’t be afraid to communicate strategies both before the game starts and during. You should be able to adapt to different levels of Jasons and know which abilities are available to him at certain points in the game. Oftentimes, coordinated groups will seek car escapes because they can get multiple counselors out at the same time. However, cars are risky because they’re stationary until they work, and Jason will eventually know where they are. You’ll also need a Plan B if your Jason is a great Morpher and cuts off your exit route once the car is rolling. Be ready for different maps. Maybe you’re on Camp Crystal Lake and now a boat escape is in play. Simply put, communicate! Your silence could be the last words you speak.
4. You Can Escape Alone, Too
Sometimes, your friends aren’t around to provide their skills (or lack thereof), and you may only be concerned about your own escape. In instances like these, you might lean towards a faster escape strategy. There are less steps to calling the authorities and getting them on site. In this situation, think about going with a counselor that has good statistics in composure and strength, like Adam Palomino. You want to be able to maneuver around the map, get the fuse to repair the phone box, and then survive until the authorities arrive. This basically means that the rest of your teammates are distractions for Jason while you hopefully escape. They likely will not come to your aid if Jason sets his sights on you. That’s why having an actual weapon like a Baseball Bat or Flare Gun might help you stun Jason and get back to your waiting strategy. It’s survival of the fittest, so run hard, zig and then zag, and leave Jason in your dust!
5. Or You Can Just Kill Jason Instead
As you can probably tell, whether you’re a new player or a seasoned veteran, there are many ways to survive the powers of Jason… and just as many ways to fail. However, instead of playing back all of those horrific death animations in your head from when you DO get caught, what if I told you that escaping was not your only option? Fight fire with fire. Kill Jason! This is by far one of the most difficult strategies to pull off, so you’ll likely want to attempt it in a highly coordinated group scenario. In order to do this, you must get Jason’s mother’s sweater, which is located in the shack he originally spawns in. A female counselor will then equip the sweater, which will come in handy shortly. While this is happening, one of your fellow counselors unfortunately needs to die and then respawn as Tommy Jarvis. While Tommy’s shotgun is great for stunning Jason, we won’t be using it in this strategy. You need to have a machete and use it with Tommy against Jason until his mask falls off. At this point, the female counselor with the sweater will then use that item on Jason, and Tommy will finally be able to deliver a lethal blow that puts Jason down once and for all. Are you tired of running away? Good. Turn the tables on Jason. I promise you’ll like it if you don’t die in the process.
Stephen Stewart
Stephen is a content creator for Diablo Fans and a Hardcore Crusader for life. You can likely catch him streaming high Leaderboard/Conquest rank attempts unless he’s out taking photographs or discovering new music.
