Hunters are probably my favourite enemy in Generation Zero. Here’s some tips I’ve gathered from killing them.
Hunters have exceptional detecting abilities, and depending on the type can be equipped with sophisticated weaponry and optics, which can target you from afar and even see through walls.
They all have a distinct, telltale “roar” that they give off if they’ve spotted you. If you get discovered in the open and choose to run, be prepared for a sprint. They will not stop chasing you for a long time, and you risk running into other problems on the way. They often carry different weapons, all of which are described below.
Prototype Hunter
Coloured orange. Usually patrols the starter islands in single units, and in groups in the Farmlands Region.
Loadout:
12,7mm x99 Machinegun
Tear Gas Launcher
Bayonet
Weak spots include the fuel canister on it’s back, the attached weapons and the two vents in the front, beside the head. The head itself is also a good target, but can be difficult to hit. The Prototype Hunter is lightly armoured and can be taken down with a few well-placed shots of the .243 hunting rifle, or justabout any primary weapon. Even the pistols can take him down if necessary.
I recommend shooting the Machinegun off, to rid it of it’s primary weapon. The more weapons disabled, the more hitpoints they lose. Once they lose their ranged weapons, Hunters will often charge and do a deadly leap attack. They make a distinct sound when they do this, so watch out.
Military Hunter
Loadout:
12,7mm x99 Machinegun
Tear Gas Launcher
Concussion Rifle
Tick Canister (Military Ticks, armored)
Bayonet
Green camouflage. Very rarely found by themselves, they tend to travel in packs of 3-6-9 at a time. The larger packs appear foremost in the northern parts of the island, but Military Hunters can be found pretty much everywhere, even accompanying other Hunter types.
Weak spots include the fuel canister on it’s back, the attached weapon(s), possibly a Tick Canister and the two vents in the front, beside the head. These guys are armored war machines, have additional armour around the head and will take more punishment to take down. Armor-Piercing Ammo recommended against these guys.
Same tactics as before, disable it’s weapons and focus on weak spots. Due to their increased arsenal, they can deploy ranged ballistics such a sniping you (watch out for the laser sight), so keep on the move. Being in cover does not make you safe, as the impact of the Concussion Rifle deals small splash damage. They will also use their Tear Gas Launchers to flush you from cover. Use the environment against them whenever possible.
If you’re overwhelmed, try to improvise, tip the battle in your favour.
FNIX Hunter
Loadout:
Flechette Cannon
Concussion Rifle
Tick Pod (Military Ticks, armored)
Bayonet
Black, with red cables. The FNIX Class doesn’t mess around. I’ve seen these guys roam in large packs of 4-8-12 at a time, most notably in the northern areas of the island. But you can run into these guys just about anywhere on the main island, if you’re unlucky.
They employ the same weaponry as the previous classes, but their armour is tougher. Even .50 BMG rounds will bounce off these guys, unless you go for the weak spots which are thankfully the same. The FNIX Hunter is like the Duracell battery, it just keeps going… And going… And going… Until you kill it.
Add to that, the Flechette Cannon that’s unique to this type of Hunter, basically a huge shotgun that fires red glowing projectiles that attach to a target and explode. Pay attention to the cocking sound they make before firing, to anticipate their shots. A group of FNIX Hunters with the right weapon loadouts can be a nightmare to encounter.
Apocalypse Hunter
Loadout:
Cluster Grenade Launcher
Flamethrower
Tick Pod (Apoc Ticks, armored, deals damage over time)
Irradiated Bayonet
Grayish green, with yellow cables and green glowing vents. These Hunters are specifically designed to kill humans, quell rebellions, oppress humanity, that sort. Their detection roar is unique, and they give off a constant droning sound effect to indicate that they are nearby. Mostly found on Himfjäll, but can also be encountered on the main island either alone, or in groups.
Their primary weapon is the shoulder-mounted Cluster Grenade Launcher, which is exactly what it sounds like. An airburst weapon that is launched in an arc, and covers a large area with explosives. This requires you to be constantly on the move, as one direct hit can often be enough to take away 80% of your health, if not instantly downing you.
If you get too close, it’ll burn you with it’s Flamethrower, a weapon with surprising range and spread, that’ll give you damage over time, that can fortunately be healed with a medkit.
It’ll also deploy Apocalypse Ticks that also do damage over time.
Probably the worst encounter you can have, out of all the Hunter classes, especially in larger groups.
The moment another Hunter gets added, I’ll update this again