The Predator is a new medium sized mech, joining the ever expanding repertoire of death dealing machines at the Hawken pilots disposal in the upcoming update, known as Invasion. The Predator, much like it’s namesake, is an ambush hunter. It can use it’s Stalker ability to cloak itself from prying eyes, making it almost completely invisible. It is also equipped with the iconic Predator heat vision, allowing it to track enemy mechs through walls. using these tools, the Predator can sneak up on it’s foes undetected and deleiver a killing blow before it’s prey even realises it’s under attack. For my fellow Hawken nerds out there, here is a little back-story for this latest addition to the Hawken Universe:

The Predator’s Patrick model was originally created to be a successor to the Infiltrator’s Boot chassis. Building upon the core systems of the Infiltrator, its engineers found that with the additional load-bearing capabilities of the Class-B frame, they were able to vastly improve the technologies required for full-frame camouflage. These advanced stealth capabilities, coupled with state-of-the-art infra-red visor modifications, have led the Predator to become a favorite amongst pilots for high-profile recon and ambush missions.

“Those Sentium big-wigs tell us we’re expendable assets, and then reprimand us whenever we waste one of their expensive vehicles. What they can’t seem to understand is that Prosk has some new technologies that we’ve just never encountered before. Every time we go out there on a reconnaissance mission, it’s like the whole jungle is alive, crawling with those scumbags.”

-C. S. Vince.

OK enough chatter, lets dive right in and take a look at what the Predator has under the hood.

Mech Overview:
o Description: Ambush vehicle, specialized in tracking and deadly ambushes.
o Weight: Class-B Medium
o Body Model: Patrick

Ability:
Name: Stalker
Description: When Stalker mode is activated, the Predator will become permanently invisible and gain the ability to see through walls. However, overall vision range is greatly reduced. Using any action that generates heat or consumes fuel while in Stalker mode will trigger a Break Cooldown that will cause the ability to deactivate for a short period of time. At the end of the Break Cooldown, the ability will automatically reactivate. Taking damage or manually deactivating Stalker Mode will trigger the longer, standard cooldown.

Ability Statistics

• Break Cooldown: 3.5 seconds
• Standard Cooldown: 20 seconds

Ability Upgrades

• Rank 1 – Decrease Standard Cooldown by 1 Second
• Rank 2 – Increase Stalker vision range by 5 Meters
• Rank 3 – Decrease Standard Cooldown by 3 Seconds
• Rank 4 – Increase Stalker vision range by 10 Meters
• Rank 5 – Decrease Break Cooldown by 0.5 Seconds

Primary Weapon
Name: Breacher
Function: A chargeable, multi-function cannon.

• Tapping the fire button fires a FLAK SHOT.
• Holding down the fire button charges a penetrating RAIL SHOT.

Weapon Statistics
Flak Shot:

• Damage per Shot: 27
• Heat per Shot: 18
• Traces per Shot: 6
• Rate of Fire: 2.0

Rail Shot

• Damage per Shot: 100
• Heat per Shot: 12
• Rate of Fire: 1.25

Secondary Weapon
Name: EOC Predator
Function: Proximity mine trap layer.

• Fires one mine at a time as opposed to the burst of mines fired by the EOC Repeater.
• Up to 10 mines can be active at once.
• Detonate active mines using the middle mouse button.

Weapon Statistics

• Damage per Mine: 65
• Damage per Mine (Direct Hit): 70
• Heat per Shot: 12
• Mines per Shot: 1
• Rate of Fire: 0.94

Alternate Primary Weapon
Name: T32-Bolt

• Function: A versatile, quick-loading trinity shotgun. Hold down the fire button to charge.

Prestige Weapon
Name: EOC Repeater
Function: Chain fires explosive pucks that stick to surfaces. Hold down the fire button to charge.

Tuning Modifications Available

• Weapons Loader
• Heatsinks
• Armor
• Boost Thrusters
• Generator
• Hydraulics
• Radar

Starting Item
Name: ISM Disruptor MK-I
Function: A large, top-like projectile that explodes, sending out disruptive radio waves that impair vision. The closer a mech is to the shockwave, the longer the effect lasts.

Item Statistics:

MK-I

• Cooldown: 45 seconds
• Max Duration: 3 seconds
• Min Duration: 1.5 seconds

MK-II

• Cooldown: 45 seconds
• Max Duration: 4 seconds
• Min Duration: 2.25 seconds

MK-III

• Cooldown: 45 seconds
• Max Duration: 5 seconds
• Min Duration: 2.8 seconds

Well there we have it. The Predator certianly has some nasty tricks up it’s sleeves, though it remains to be seen how it will compete with the more established mechs on the battlefield. The ISM Disruptor MK-I could be a real line breaker by the looks of it, with a Predator moving in behind a well defended position to drop this bad boy, allowing the rest of the team to charge the position and clean house. The heat vision could also be a real game changer, allowing pilots to both stalk and evade other mechs to a much greater degree than before.

What do you think of the Predator? Does it live up to it’s namesake? Or should it be skinned and strung up in the jungle? Let us know what you think in the comments below.