Hunter

These guys are tasked with roaming the station for prey and collecting X number of skulls as trophies. While predators used to show up briefly on Mushroom Station and were part of the then-new mixed game mode, they currently don't appear in any game mode and are one of the least common antagonists.

Your gear

You spawn well-equipped to go hunting. A mask with built-in thermal vision and a cloaking device are helpful to spot and approach targets without being detected. As far as weaponry goes, you can then engage them with an advanced laser gun at long range or take them down with your hunting spear. The spear is a potent melee weapon and causes bleeding, and it can be thrown for an instant stun.

There's also a trophy belt for storing the skulls of your victims. A microbomb implant ensures that you won't have to endure the dishonour of being captured alive by mere prey.

Abilities

• You run faster than humans and cyborgs, ideal for hit-and-run attacks.
• Handcuffs are not a problem, since you can rip them apart instantly.
• Almost every door can be pried open, breaking it permanently as if emagged.
  • Wearing an ID card overrides this ability if you could open the door in question normally.
• Predators can mimic voices. Since they "snarl" every sentence, it's generally not a very useful skill, however.
• To add a skull to your collection, use the Take Trophy verb on a corpse. This will gib the target and drop all of their items (along with the skull) on the ground.

Things to know

• You don't have any special melee attacks or stun resistance, and you're just as vulnerable to injuries, toxins and diseases as everybody else.
• Combined with the lack of health regeneration, you will probably want to avoid close combat unless you have the upper hand.
• The mask isn't compatible with internals, even through you aren't immune to suffocation.
• Wear the trophy belt around the waist, you'll probably fail the objective if you don't.
• By default, predators count as non-human for the AI and guardbuddies can see through disguises.

Tips

• While it may seem trivial, predators start without a headset or shoes. Stepping on a random shard can stun you just long enough to ruin your day.
• The trophy belt works like any other and can hold tiny and small items, not just skulls. Unlike them, however, this includes normal-sized items (e.g. guns) as well!
• The advanced laser gun recharges automatically, so you aren't dependent on rechargers.
• Keep the restrictions of the cloaking device in mind. Interactions with adjacent tiles (firing your gun, trying to pry open a door, etc.) will decloak you.
  • Throwing stuff (e.g. the spear) or pulling people around doesn't disrupt the cloak.
  • If you are on the same tile, you can pick up items or attack somebody without decloaking. Be careful not to stab yourself!
• Disguises are worthwhile, but not exactly very honourable.

Conclusion

Ultimately, predators are extremely conspicuous, hated by everybody (and the AI in particular) and have no special melee attacks to speak of. You may want to play them like a traitor with fancy starting gear. Stick to the maintenance tunnels, pry open doors to various areas to gain access and prevent the AI from bolting you in. Pick off the crew one by one. The mask improves your vision in the dark, use this to your advantage to spot new prey or evade pursuers. Don't be afraid to retreat when the situation calls for it, it's better to face the enemy later under favourable circumstances than to immediately lose your spear to an assistant and then die horribly to the first passing crew member with thermals. If you're confident in your fighting abilities, a less stealthy approach may also do the trick for you.