Hive Guard

The Hive Guard is a medium-size Terminid sporting medium armor on the front of its body that appears on Easy difficulty and higher. It is a somewhat larger variant of the Warrior, with some believed to an in-between development state before it either metamorphosed into a Brood Commander or a Charger. They are often seen defending bug hole entrances, but can also lead patrols on the map depending on operations difficulties.

A Hive Guard may hunker down when shot at, putting the black armor on the front of its body to use in protection against all light penetration weaponry. This also allows them to function as a shield for smaller Terminids behind them.

Like Warriors, Hive Guards will attack nearby Helldivers with their claws. Unlike the Warrior, though, Hive Guards will not outlive the loss of their head, though certain medium-armor penetrating weapons will not instantly kill them with a headshot, instead causing them to bleed out over the course of about a second.

Tactics

 * It has the ability to "hunker down" when a Helldiver fires upon them. When hunkered, its armor comes together, forming a wall impervious light armor penetrating rounds.
 * When hunkered down, the Hive Guard is completely stationary, and will remain that way as long as something is firing at it. A team of Helldivers can exploit this by flanking its unprotected sides.
 * There are gaps between its armor, even when they are hunkered down. Look for the gap between their head and legs when aiming head-on.
 * Shooting at the Hive Guard's head with medium penetration weapons can efficiently dispatch it.
 * Thrown grenades effectively bypass their defenses
 * If using a grenade launcher, have the shots detonate under or beside them as their armor can deflect grenade rounds.
 * For the unpatriotic, fleeing is also an option, as a hunkering Guard neither attack nor pursue while shielding.
 * It does not have a berserker mode like the Basic Warrior.