HAWKEN: Using Predator Mech

This is a basic guide on how to get started with the Predator mech in Hawken. Just a few tips and thoughts that will give you an idea of Predator's possibilities and skill sets.

Predator - Class Overview

Since there aren't that many predators around, I thought I'd share my thoughts about the Predator mech. It's been my favorite mech for a while now and I think it offers the most variety gameplaywise. It's not the "toughest" mech and won't always guarantee the MVP (Most Valuable Player) title in scores, but a good Predator pilot is a valuable asset in your team.

This guide's purpose is to just offer some tips and tricks I've noticed working well for myself and which might make your life easier while playing with it.

Stats

Weapons and usage

Your stock Predator comes with two weapons: main gun Breacher and secondary EOC Predator.

Breacher
Breacher is a main gun with dual usage. You can tap the mouse button for flak shots (shoots 6 shotgun like pellets or darts) and charge the weapon by holding the mouse button for a more powerful slug shot. The current damage as I'm writing this for Breacher is 24 points per dart while shooting flak - and the charged slug shot is 100 points (one of the most hard hitting shots in game right after Sharpshooter's Sabot Rifle 110 points).

Most of the time I just use the charged shot+mine for the maximum surprise effect. It's usually enough to cause the "Oh Sh*t!" bells to ring in the enemy's cockpit or just instantly destroy it. The flak shot has quite a spread and the projectiles rarely hit the enemy unless you are hugging each others.


EOC Predator
The secondary weapon, EOC Predator shoots proximity mines. The mines stick on terrain, walls, structures and you can deploy max. 10 at a time. Mines detonate from proximity or you can manually trigger them with middle mouse button. Single mine deals 55 points of damage so it's obvious that a well placed group of ten can easily shred light and medium mechs or any wounded mech into pieces. Even heavys are an easy pop after a direct hit.

I don't usually deploy traps or minefields that often since it's a bit time consuming, though in some situations it's easier to take care of the enemy with a well placed field of boom! Once a minefield is deployed, you can just pop couple shots into enemy mech then act all "spooked" and retreat, luring that sucker into your mines.

Placing mines

When placing mines it's important to keep in mind that they are quite easily spotted in flat, "clean" terrain. I've noticed that best places are right around a corner or in that first spot of level terrain after a ramp or pathway leading up. Ground is always easier so you don't have to babysit if the explosion is going to happen or not. If you really want to hide those explosive babies, you can pin them on walls or ceiling, but since there isn't a direct hit from enemy mech (unlike walking over amine) it often requires you to manually blow up the mines when the enemy is close. (Can be done while cloaked and detonation won't break the cloak momentarily like shooting does) The explosion radius for single mine is 12-16 meters.

Mines work well in the jump pad's landing areas too, if you want to camp a spot or cover your back.

Advanced pilots can also unlock different main guns for Predator. There's a shotgun styled T32-Bolt and another proximity mine launcher called EOC Repeater.

T32-Bolt

The T32-Bolt is also a dual usage weapon. It works like a shotgun and shoot 5 bolts with a normal mouse click. Each bolt deals 12,38 points of damage and you can charge the shot by holding mouse button to shoot out 9 bolts. It's a fair gun and fully charged deals more damage (111.42 points) than the Breacher's slug, though has a limited range.




EOC Repeater

EOC Repeater is a main weapon that shoots more proximity mines, though it's quite different than the secondary weapon, EOC Predator. EOC Repeater shoots normal shots and charged shots. Normal shot spits out 3 proximity mines that stick on surfaces too, though they don't last as long as EOC Predator's mines. When charged, it's shoots up to 6 mines in a chain and each mine deals 24 points of damage. A fully charged set of 6 can deal 144 points of damage, though hitting them all in single target can be bit tricky due to their slow flight speed.

Mech Skill: Stalker (Cloaking)

If you are familiar with Infiltrators cloak, you shouldn't mix it with Predators cloaking ability. Predator's cloak won't burn any fuel and lasts until you turn it off manually or get shot. When you open fire your cloak breaks for a moment and automatically turns back on in 3 seconds after you stop shooting. Dropping fully out of cloak requires 16 seconds for you to be able to use it again.

Also notice this, "running" / using your thrusters and jumping leaves you from cloak momentarily. "Sliding" sideways, dodging or strafing with thrusters won't break cloak, which you should keep in mind while trying to quickly change position.

Since the Predator is pretty much limited in walk speed while cloaked, sliding sideways with thrusters is best way to maneuver while trying cross an open area quickly or when you try to catch those flaming runners who are seeking for a safe spot to repair. This has been "fixed" in recent patch and no longer works.

Harrassing from cloak is also a good way to break a group of mechs. Just shoot a charged slug+mine at someone, slide behind object and wait cloak. Repeat. This usually breaks that guy from group into looking for you - or if it's a light mech, he is beat up and goes to repair. Shoot another salvo to finish him or follow him where he tries to repair and finish there. Benefits from shooting repairing mechs are obvious - they can't shoot back and canceling the repairs takes a second or two before they can react.

While cloaked, your HUD turns into black/greenish wireframe and your vision range is limited into 135 meters. The benefits in this vision mode is the thermal vision that shows other mechs even through walls and other objects. Also note that everything you hear is muffled, so you might not hear that Heavy stomping behind you that easily if you don't pay attention.

Repairing

Personally, I rarely use my drones. My Predator is always slotted with the Advanced Reconstructor, which automatically starts repairing my armor for 25 points per second if I'm hurt and I've been out of combat (not shooting, not getting shot) at least 10 seconds. The benefits are that you can "auto repair" while cloaked and it makes no sound - unlike drones that give away your position easily.

Repair orbs dropped by destroyed mechs work nicely while in cloak too, though the yellow "tail" coming from an orb to your mech while you suck the energy out of it, is a clear indication of a mech being there. Even if cloaked, a smart pilot can spot you easily.

Internals

Here's my suggestion for internals:

Advanced Reconstructor

• Reasons mentioned above in Repair part.

Shock Coil

• Keeps you from taking any fall damage
  
• Since any damage to your mech disables the cloak, this is quite essential tool when trying to be sneaky and avoid detection.
  
• Staying cloaked without this becomes a chore real fast. There's gaps and edges literally everywhere.

Deflectors

• Pretty self explanatory.
  
• You're being shot and need to retreat --> boost away and get -20% less damage.

Items

ISM Disruptor

• Makes a black/white pixel mess out of enemy's HUD.
  
• When attacking: shoot a salvo from both guns, deploy ISM, while enemy can't see clear change position (strafe sideways, fly up, go behind him) and keep blasting.
  
• When retreating: Deploy ISM, while enemy can't see clear change position. Works well if you drop a decoy and jet away. That usually buys you enough seconds to get away and back in cloak.

Hologram

• For confusing enemies while retreating to safety.

Blockade

• If you think hologram won't be enough to stop your pursuer, drop a shield wall. Remember that it only makes sense to drop this in tight corners or corridors. You can use thrusters to speed away, keep looking forward and just drop it. Your speed should be enough to get past the blockade before it jumps up right behind you. Saved my life many times.

Outro

So, here's my take on Predator. As you can see it's a pretty defensive build but works well for me. I love killing, finishing the runaways and popping snipers or techs. Even heavys are doable with enough tricks. Remember, full frontal assault with Predator rarely get's you anywhere due to low armor and poor fire rate.

Dying, that I don't like so much. It's highly ineffective and makes your K/D ratio cry.




Happy stalking fellow Predators!

If you like the guide or find it helpfull, please give a thumbs up and if you have some Predator tips of your own, please share and leave a comment. Would be nice to hear some other Predator pilots' thoughts and tactics too!

[MechWarden]

Test drive just ended yesterday :(

[MechWarden]

Nice guide. I think the development team took notice because the current test drive for this mech is almost loaded out with those exact internal equipment and items. No hologram or blockade for items, but kept the very helpful disruptor (two uses) and put in a scrambler (two uses) to fit theme better. The Adv Reconstructor and shock coils are in it as well, which I've found to be quite helpful. People are test driving this thing almost in it's optimal state, and able to really enjoy the mech.

That said, it isn't a 'win button' mech, especially when not planning ahead and being impatient on when to strike.

It has been a blast test driving it, and would recommend it for people wanting a different change of pace in play style. Best done as a supporting attack mech since the distraction of frontline fighters really helps make this mech shine (figuratively).

[Snapper]

The Primary Weapon is very slow.

[Aurin leh noog]

Just a tip or two here. You can use the predator to scout out areas for your teamates or use his thermal vision to check for ambushes or any unsuspecting enemies for your teamates.

[Hobo Lord]

Thx gud guide couldn't do shit with this guy thought he's the worst mech ever. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[Hecatiel]

this is amazing

[Gambaina]

Another tip: You can use Radar jammers to hide when you are running away and you can allso booby trap a hollogram next to the jammer

[adem.mers1n]

its my favorite :) PrototypeTURK

[Bear]

This is really helpful because before i couldn't do *** with this mech so thank you very much.

[Butters]

Breacher is the only weapon for the pred. Any pred useing EOC or T-bolt is missing out on utilty. EOC also promotes bad players to stay bad