Knowledge is power
Jumping head-first into a new game, especially one that's multiplayer-centric, is really exciting. Everyone is learning the ins and outs together while devising (and revising) their strategies. However, it can also be a pain when you're saddled with a teammate who keeps making those rookie mistakes. Evolve - the asymmetrical shooter from the creators of Left 4 Dead - is rife with such pitfalls.
With all the different Hunters, Monsters, and game modes, there's a lot for new players to take in up front. Instead of just jumping in blind - and possibly torpedoing your team - take a moment to educate yourself and increase your side's chances for victory. At the very least, you'll look like you know what you're doing.
Hunters will run off by themselves
Don't ever do this. Team Hunter only works if team Hunter sticks together. If one player decides to split from the pack, not only does it weaken the whole group but it also puts that lone Hunter on easy mode for the Monster. No one class or character can survive for long in a one-on-one tussle against the beast. You need each other to survive.
What you should do instead: Step one: stay with the team. Step two: stay with the team! Even if you think the Monster is "ALMOST DEAD YOU GUYS!!," don't be that teammate who charges off into the wilderness for fame and glory, only to end up waiting for the next respawn.
Monster will evolve out in the open
This one really stings. When you start a game as the Monster you're actually pretty weak, however you can grow stronger by consuming wild animals and evolving. The evolution process takes only a few seconds, but during that time you are completely helpless. If the Hunters happen to roll up on you during this private moment they will drop you in no time flat, and that's game over.
What you should do instead: Don't start evolving unless you know the location of the Hunters. It's much easier for you to track them than vice versa, and if you know where the Hunters are then you'll know where it's safe to hide. On that note, evolving in a tight space, such as a cave, is never a good idea because you're basically trapping yourself should the Hunters find you.
Hunters will waste bullets on wild animals
In Evolve, the Monster isn't the only creature you have to worry about. There are plenty of other lifeforms on each map, some of which will try and eat your face if you get too close. If you have to put of them down, so be it, but don't just go around blasting Mother Nature whenever the mood strikes you. All you're doing is leaving behind free food for the Monster; food which it converts into body armor.
What you should do instead: The Monster feeds off dead animals, so don't serve it a free lunch. However, if you're really sneaky, you could try killing a bunch of beasts in one spot and set up a little honey trap. You could keep an eye on the corpse pile remotely using Bucket's drone and track the Monster after it feeds.
Monster will think it's invincible
In Evolve, you may get to play as a giant, fire-spewing Monster that looks like a cross between King Kong and Godzilla, but that doesn't mean you're indestructible. Instead, you have health and armor. In a fight, your armor gets worn down first but can be regenerated. Health loss is just gone.
What you should do instead: Use hit and run tactics. The Hunters actually favor a sustained fight since they have access to all sorts of shields and healing abilities, while the Monster just has its armor. And once that armor is gone you soak up damage pretty fast, so always keep an eye on your health and don't be afraid to back off and armor up.
Hunters will ignore the tutorial video
There are a lot of different characters to choose from among the four different Hunter classes, each with his or her own unique set of weapons and abilities. Sure, Caira and Lazarus are both medics, but one is a long-range sniper and the other uses a freaking grenade launcher. When you pick a character for the first time, a short video will play explaining each of that character's abilities. Don't roll your eyes and blow this off, or the Monster will end up blowing your team away.
What you should do instead: Actually paying attention to the video is a good first step, but there are other ways to supplement your expertise, such as advanced tutorials that will also be available for each character within the game. Look them up.
Monster will scare all the birds
Birds are real jerks in this game. You will see packs of them just chilling around the map, and if you get anywhere near their personal space they'll freak out and take to the skies. This apparently pushes a big fat Google Alert to every Hunter's smartphone, pointing them in the direction of the spooked birds - and to you.
What you should do instead: Well, for one thing, watch out for those birds, and try using a little stealth from time to time. The Monster leaves behind a trail as it moves around the map, unless it's traveling through water. You can also enter a stealth mode to reduce the amount of noise the Monster generates.
Hunters will focus on the monster too much
What? Isn't the whole point of the game to kill the Monster, how can I focus on it too much? As it turns out, there are certain game modes in Evolve where killing the Monster is a secondary concern. For example, one mission type has you leading survivors, while another has you destroying eggs. The Monster will likely ambush you while you're doing this, but don't let it distract you from your primary objective.
What you should do instead: Stay focused on the task at hand. This can be difficult when the Monster limps away into the jungle and you really, really want to give chase. But you must fight these urges. Every moment you waste chasing the Monster brings it one step closer to victory.
Monster will not understand who does what
You may not be playing as team Hunter, but you still need a basic understanding of its weapons and abilities. Once the fighting starts and there are grappling hooks and shields and turrets and all sorts of other nuisances flying around the map it's easy to get overwhelmed. You may find the grappling hooks most annoying, but unless you know which Hunter deploys them you won't be able to do much about it.
What you should do instead: Educate yourself. Play all the different modes and all the different characters so that you have a more complete knowledge of the game. You may love playing Monster, but you'll be an even better Monster if you're also a good Hunter. After all, knowing is half the battle.
Go forth and conquer
Evolve is a complex game, and it's easy to shoot yourself in the foot if you're not careful. Hopefully, these tips will help you make the most of your first few matches, and let you get on to the fun parts like expertly tracking giant beasts or striking terror in the other team as you pick them off one by one.
For more on Evolve, here's everything we know so far as well as 6 things you didn't know about Evolve's Goliath.
