The Automatons have deployed a new heavy unit: the Factory Strider. Previously deployed in very limited quantities, likely prototypes, this massive abomination is a walking Automaton fabricator. It is heavily armed and armored, and should be engaged with coordinated firepower and unhesitating aggression.
— Super Earth Dispatch
The Factory Strider is a massive Automaton vehicle that deploys four Devastators. Its armaments include a twin set of Fusion Gatling Guns and a heavily modified weapon known as the Fusion Repeater Cannon that is capable of unloading a burst of 3 explosive projectiles.
The secondary objective Intercept Convoy spawns five Factory Striders, patrolling from one end of the map to the other. One of them uniquely carries a Stratagem Scrambler that resembles a miniature Stratagem Jammer.
Behavior
Upon being alerted to a Helldiver's presence, the Factory Strider will audibly roar, and the Factory Strider's armaments will fire independently at the Helldiver as long as they are in the Factory Strider's line of sight. As its Carronade can rotate 360° and independently from the Factory Strider, it will often be the first to fire. It can fire up to three rounds as long as a Helldiver is in its line of sight and not too close to the Factory Strider. Its Fusion Gatling Guns have a limited rotation, mainly tied to the Factory Strider's head, but fires at a deadly 1200 RPM. The Factory Strider can also knock down and damage Helldivers as it walks.
The Factory Strider, pertaining to its name, will also spawn four Devastators every 50-55 seconds, and makes a sound akin to a mechanical door opening when it is doing so.
Upon taking a lethal blow, it will let out a shriek before violently exploding. As it is dying, its body can crush Helldivers near it.
* Parts with their HP listed as "Main" do not have their own individual health. All damage dealt to these parts is transferred to the enemy's Main health pool.
** Refer to armor values and enemy durability as defined in Damage.
*** The percentage of damage that is applied to the enemy's Main health pool. At 0 HP, the enemy dies. Unless the enemy has constitution, then it will bleedout and die.
**** ExDR means explosive damage resistance, this is a percentage between 0 and 100. If this value is 100%, the part is explosive immune, meaning explosives cannot damage it.
Explosions will only directly damage Main health if it is internal.
* Parts with their HP listed as "Main" do not have their own individual health. All damage dealt to these parts is transferred to the enemy's Main health pool.
** Refer to armor values and enemy durability as defined in Damage.
*** The percentage of damage that is applied to the enemy's Main health pool. At 0 HP, the enemy dies. Unless the enemy has constitution, then it will bleedout and die.
**** ExDR means explosive damage resistance, this is a percentage between 0 and 100. If this value is 100%, the part is explosive immune, meaning explosives cannot damage it.
Explosions will only directly damage Main health if it is internal.
Weapons Loadout
Fusion Repeater Cannon
A heavily-modified Battle Cannon. The Fusion Repeater Cannon takes advantage of massive generators upon the Factory Strider to cycle up to 3 devastating shots in a single salvo. Only the hardiest of fortifications can hope to withstand such firepower.
Stat
Value
Damage
1500 Impact Damage 1500 Durable Damage
AOE
Damage
100 Blast
Inner
1.2m
Outer
6m
Shockwave
12m
AP
3/2/3
AP
6/5/4/0
Fire Rate
60RPM (3 Round Salvo) 6s (Reload Cycle)
Spread (Mrad)
↔[20.00] ↕[20.00]
Demo Force
50 (Impact + Blast)
Stagger Force
60 (Impact), 50 (Blast) (Both Ragdoll)
Push Force
30 (Impact), 70 (Blast)
Fusion Gatling Guns
Whilst lacking the stopping power or accuracy of the larger Heavy Fusion Repeater. The Fusion Gatling Gun simply makes up for this through sheer volume of fire, proving especially effective against lightly armoured infantry and providing suppressive fire.
The fusion generators powering the Factory Strider dwarf even the Heavy Tank, required to power its locomotion, armament and manufactory parts. It is such that a meltdown of said reactor can be described as nothing more than "truly cataclysmic".
Helldivers can stim themselves to survive its fusion gatling guns, unless it manages to hit their head.
Oddly, the Factory Strider's fusion gatling guns do not fire at Exosuits. However, its carronade will still fire at them.
The Factory Strider's "eye" is a fatal zone, requiring Heavy armor penetrating weaponry. It is vital for Helldivers to take out its fusion gatling guns first as the exposed part of the head is small and requires precise aim.
The Factory Strider's undercarriage is another weak spot. Destroying it only requires Medium armor penetrating weaponry, and has slightly lower health than its eye, note the bleedout hp has 0 decay therefore it behaves as hp for a total of 2,400 effective health. However, this requires the Helldiver to be under or near the Factory Strider, and may leave the Helldiver open to its newly-deployed Devastators. Similar to its eye, it is also important for Helldivers to destroy its fusion gatling guns first before going for its undercarriage.
Helldivers should aim at an individual undercarriage door as they have separate health pools.
When using machine guns for this method, it is recommended to set their fire rate to its highest.
The Factory Strider's feet are also a weak spot, note the bleedout hp has 0 decay therefore it behaves as hp for a total of 3,500 effective health. It can be destroyed in 2 shots from the E/AT-12 Anti-Tank Emplacement, EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank, or LAS-99 Quasar Cannon.
Despite their size, Factory Striders will die immediately if the Dropship carrying them is shot down by destroying the fuselage before the deployment window.
If a SEAF SAM Site is active, it will attempt to engage the Dropship carrying it. However, if the missile approaches at an improper angle (like from underneath), it may destroy the Factory Strider directly instead of the Dropship carrying it.
The E/AT-12 Anti-Tank Emplacement, EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank, and LAS-99 Quasar Cannon can quickly kill a Factory Strider in 2 shots to the exposed head or 1 shot from the GR-8 Recoilless Rifle.
Brave Helldivers can use the B-100 Portable Hellbomb to destroy Factory Striders within range.
Heavy
Unarmored I
Tank I
Medium
