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After a smoker catches you with its tongue, you have a couple of seconds before you enter the constriction phase where you're totally helpless. Is it possible to shoot the tongue/cut it with a melee weapon to free yourself? I recall that someone told me that Valve prevents you from cutting yourself free to encourage teamwork, but I haven't been able to confirm this.

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    I really like this "hot network questions". I first thought you wanted to punish smoking people.
    – Ven
    Commented Apr 25, 2014 at 20:39

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You can't cut the tongue with a melee weapon once you've been ensnared however you can cut the tongue while its coming at you. If you have a melee weapon, it is possible to cut the tongue just before it hits you. This tactic require timing and knowledge of the direction of the tongue. If you have a Chainsaw, timing and direction is usually not needed. If the Chainsaw is in use at the time the tongue hits, the tongue will be unable to constrict you.

When you have been ensared you can for a short period of time :

  • Shoot the tongue
  • Shoot the Smoker
  • If you are close enough try a melee attack to push the smoker back
  • Throw a pipe bomb (preferably). You can try a molotov cocktail but I'd advise against it since you'll die faster if you aim badly
  • If there is a door between you and the smoker, closing it will break the tongue

You can find more information about the smoker and general mechanics on the wiki

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    Actually it also works with weapon melee swing, if you time it correctly.
    – DrFish
    Commented Apr 25, 2014 at 11:36
  • @Bora Thanks, I didn't know that, It might have changed from when I played or maybe I was just unlucky with those hit :D !
    – WizLiz
    Commented Apr 25, 2014 at 15:53
  • You can also drop (not throw) a gas can on the tongue to break it. You do not have to ignite the can.
    – David Harkness
    Commented Jul 12, 2014 at 19:56
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There is an achievement in L4D 1 (it might be in L4D 2 as well) for shooting the smoker before you are fully constricted and freeing yourself. You only have a few seconds to do so but it is possible (with ranged weapons at least). I haven't tried doing it by taking out the tongue but I have killed the smoker a few times.

Once you are fully constricted you are helpless (as you say L4D is designed to encourage teamwork which is why so many special attacks incapacitate a single target) but you do have that small window to free yourself.

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Yes, but you have only a few seconds. The best thing to do is to bash it with your weapon; if you do it fast enough, you'll be free. It also helps if you face the direction of the smoker.

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