Factory Strider
“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, heavily armored, four-legged Automaton vehicle. Its armaments include two laser rotary guns below its cockpit and a large cannon atop its main body. It sports a dark gray body, with Automaton insignias on its legs, body, and main cabin. They can be deployed by dropships and their spawn rate increases the higher the difficulty.
Two MG turrets, each with laser targeting modules, are mounted at the front of the Strider, acting independently of it. A single turret is capable of martyrizing a Helldiver in less than a second, and it's very accurate as well. [1]
In the Eliminate Automaton Factory Strider Mission, Helldivers have an opportunity to destroy these Striders.
They were quietly introduced to the game on April 1st, 2024 in addition to the Gunship during the Operation Swift Disassembly, Phase III major order.
Tactical Information
- Helldivers are advised to not engage Factory Striders from the front, else they will meet a swift end of un-Democratic nature.
- A stimmed Helldiver can survive the fire, unless it manages to hit the head. [1]
- The Turrets can be easily avoided by not standing at the front of the Strider [1]
- They will not target exo suit [1]
- They can also be destroyed using the following methods:
- Medium Armor Penetrating weapons such as the JAR-5 Dominator. It specifically destroys one in ~6 shots. [1]
- 2 Autocannon shots [1]
- HMG can break them [1]
- ~3 seconds with Laser Cannon
- 2 AMR shots
- HMG emplacement quickly [1]
- A Cannon Turret is mounted at the top of the Strider
- It is powerful enough to destroy structures. Smart Helldivers may use this to their advantage to destroy Automaton Fabricators etc. [1]
- It may be destroyed using the following methods:
- 2 Rockets, namely the EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank, GR-8 Recoilless Rifle, FAF-14 Spear, and LAS-99 Quasar Cannon. [1]
- 6 Rockets from the EXO-45 Patriot Exosuit [1]
- 1 well-placed G-123 Thermite [1]
- One Orbital Railcannon Strike
- The Joints are also less armored than other parts of the Strider
- 5 Rocket shots to one of the 4 leg joints on the top of the leg destroys the Strider [1]
- 10 Rockets from the EXO-45 Patriot Exosuit [1]
- Additional weakpoints are: Foot joint, middle leg joint, neck joint (all difficult to hit)
- The undercarriage is the weakest weakspot. It is used by the Strider to deploy Devastators periodically.
- 7 AC-8 Autocannon shots [1]
- 1 Magazine of the MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun [1]
- ~6 seconds of LAS-98 Laser Cannon fire [1]
- 2 Rockets, namely the EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank, GR-8 Recoilless Rifle, FAF-14 Spear, and LAS-99 Quasar Cannon. [1]
- 1 mag and 3 shots of the APW-1 Anti-Materiel Rifle [1]
- MGs can do it, but the JAR-5 Dominator does it faster in ~10 shots [1]
- ~ 1 Magazine of the GL-21 Grenade Launcher [1]
- E/MG-101 HMG Emplacement kills it relatively quickly [1]
- 1-2 Explosive Grenades
- The face is a weakspot, too. But its very small, so hard to hit, and has lots of hp, thus not a recommended target.
- 18 AC-8 Autocannon shots [1]
- Technically, the MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun may damage the Strider in this way, but its practically impossible to pull off. [1]
- 4,5 mags of the APW-1 Anti-Materiel Rifle [1]
- Armor on either side can be stripped, by destroying the metal panel with the star
- Two LAS-99 Quasar Cannon shots. One to destroy a metal panel, and the second one to destroy the interior.
- The FAF-14 Spear can kill it in 5 shots [1]
- ~15 shots from the A/AC-8 Autocannon Sentry [1]
- Damaged Hellbomb
- 1 Orbital Precision Strike and 1 Eagle 110mm Rocket Pods combined [1]
- The Orbital Precision Strike probably does most of the damage
- 2 Eagle Airstrikes [1]
- 2 Eagle 500kg Bomb. This method is unreliable.
- The entirety of one Orbital Laser
- 4 full Eagle 110mm Rocket Pods
- Ineffective weapons are:
- ARC-3 Arc Thrower (no apparent damage) [1]
- FLAM-40 Flamethrower (no apparent damage) [1]
- RS-422 Railgun (4 max charge shots to destroy one MG, 20 max charge shots to the undercarriage to destroy the Strider) [1]
Weapon Damage Statistics:
| Weapon | Belly | Eye | Undercarriage Weapon | Head Cannon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trivia
- The Factory Strider may be inspired by Star Wars's AT-AT Walker.
Change History
- Officially recognized by Super Earth Dispatch.
- Undocumented: Added back into the game with increased spawn rate and alongside the mission: Eliminate Automaton Factory Strider
- Undocumented: Added to the game.
- Undocumented: Removed from the game after Operation Swift Disassembly
Enemies
| |
|---|---|
| Terminids |
Scavenger – Bile Spitter – Pouncer – Warrior – Hive Guard – Hunter – Stalker – Shrieker – Bile Spewer – Nursing Spewer – Brood Commander – Charger – Bile Titan |
| Automatons |
Trooper – Commissar – Scout Strider – Berserker – Devastator – Gunship – Hulk – Tank – Factory Strider – Dropship |