Predator Stalker

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• Predator Strain

Predator Stalker
Faction	Terminids
Size	Moderately Large

The Predator Stalker is a unique, evolved strain, created from the Terminids' prolonged exposure to The Gloom, causing a Stalker to convert into a monster that will not stop until its target is long dead. Rushing straight at any threat, few weapons succeed in slowing it before it rips its prey to shreds.

In the Stalker's case, The Gloom removed its ability to cloak. It also lost access to its ranged tongue attack, and has a weaker constitution. However, this appears to have simplified its spawning sequence: it is no longer reliant on a Stalker Lair to be birthed. The Gloom has also heightened its aggression, and it will no longer flee from combat upon taking damage. Overall, this evolution has changed the Stalker from an opportunistic hunter to a rabid berserker that will rush head-long into danger, with little regard for caution or strategy.

Multiple camouflage patterns have been reported, some of a black-white striped body, with green undertones, and others of a dark-blue carapace with red markings like blood spread throughout its body.

One is able to tell if Predator Stalkers are in the area by listening for their idle growls and clicking, which it appears to have maintained from its original incarnation.

Behavior

• Predator Stalkers are essentially Stalkers without the numbers cap or territorial nature. They spawn in far greater numbers and are found all over the map as they spawn with patrols, inside bug nests, and from bug breaches, rather than just near Stalker Lairs. One is essentially fighting mobs of uncloaked Stalkers, rather than small kill-teams.
• They are relentless pursuers. Once they spot prey, there is very little hope of evasion as they will pursue spotted targets over vast distances. In most cases, the only way to escape them is to fight to the last. Hard-hitting weaponry is heavily recommended.
• They are savage as they are relentless. Once the distance is closed, they will claw at their prey in quick order. As they no longer cloak, they will no longer retreat upon taking damage.
• They also still attack in packs. In this case, numbers greater than the usual 4. There can be as many as 12 chasing a Helldiver at once on higher difficulties.

Tactics

• Predator Stalkers are very lightly armored and will take damage from practically any source. They also have slightly less health than regular Stalkers, which makes putting them down marginally quicker than usual.
• Concussive and Stun weapons are very useful against them, as it staggers their advance. The SMG-72 Pummeler and SG-20 Halt are prime candidates if you want to use a Concussive or a Stun weapon. The SG-8 Punisher and its derivatives are also decent alternatives, as it will always push back and stagger on-hit, making it very useful for keeping them at a distance.
• Weapons with a high magazine capacity and RoF are also great alternatives. The M-105 Stalwart and MG-43 Machine Gun come to mind, specifically.
• Gas Grenades and the TX-41 Sterilizer helps in maintaining a perimeter against Predator Stalker swarms, as they will not only be stopped upon being gassed, but will also regress into infighting.
• Stabbing at them with the CQC-19 Stun Lance, then quickly switching to a more powerful weapon to finish one off at a time, allows one to slowly but surely whittle down isolated Stalker swarms. The Stun Lance provides enough stun time to kill one Stalker, then repeat the process against the rest, until they're all dead.
  • Having a Dog Breath Drone with you makes the process easier, and it will typically target Stalkers that you may have missed.
• Luring them into a choke point, then deploying a well-timed Orbital EMS Strike or Orbital Gas Strike will stop most Stalker charges in its tracks.
• Tesla Towers and the Anti-Personnel Minefield/Incendiary Mines are particularly handy in slowing down Predator Stalkers swarms.
  • Other sentries should be placed in vantage points as they can quickly rush one down and destroy them before they can do any significant damage.
• Much like regular Stalkers, Predator Stalkers can still close into melee distance with frighteningly quick speed. Their loss of the cloaking ability means that they will claw at their enemies with no respite, save for being staggered, stunned, or killed.
• Outrunning swarms of them is a very difficult affair. They are capable of chasing their prey half-way across the map with no signs of stopping, even while in a vehicle. That said, this does make them somewhat predictable in order to isolate them from the rest of their group.
• Aim high, the fastest way to put down a Stalker is with a headshot. Their reddish carapace and black head color makes it much easier to notice in a fight.