Helldivers 1:Impaler

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The IMPALER is a very different threat compared to the other BUGS. It burrows its head in the ground, and tunnels its tentacles so that they burst from the ground in close proximity to its target. The tentacles are very dangerous but the creature also exposes a weakpoint when burrowing them, something that implies a lack of self preservation.

Encyclopedia Description

The Impaler is a Bugs Emblem.png Bug unit in Helldivers 1.

Stats

Bugs Emblem.png Role Danger Weapons Resilience Armor
Tank High Tentacles High Heavy
Health Constitution Armor
Base Decay Base Decay Location Min Max
2200 0 0 0 closed 1000 1500
front open 45 45
600 0 0 0 tentacle
(default)
20 40
Attacks Projectile

Power

Crit Explosion

Type

Explosion

Radius

Explosion

Damage

Ignore

Shields?

AP?
Melee n/a n/a Direct 2.5 350 no no
Anti-Personnel 2.5 350
Tentacle n/a n/a Direct 2.0 120 no no
Anti-Personnel 5.0 0
  • The Impaler's melee attack is an invisible explosion that triggers after a 1.65 sec delay, appearing 2 m away from the Impaler's center. Due to a bug, if the Impaler's target moves away from its front during the delay before the attack hits, the explosion's position will be offset towards the target when it triggers. This may cause the attack's center to appear to the side of the Impaler, or even directly behind it, especially in multiplayer where lag may introduce additional delay and desync issues. This also affects other enemies' melee attacks, such as the Warlord's hammer slam, and thus it is not recommended to try dodging them by moving to the side of the enemy!
  • The Impaler's tentacle triggers four invisible explosions when its target is within range. The target may be hit by multiple of these explosions if they are standing within their center radii where they overlap. Due to a bug or multiplayer desync, the tentacles may inflict damage after they are killed.

Tactics

  • Predominately found on medium to high level planets, Impalers emerge from underground, normally alone, wherever Scouts or Vanguards have raised an alarm to warn of a Helldivers presence.
  • Impalers are the only bug unit that does not need to close to melee range in order to engage Helldivers in combat, instead using their three tentacles to attack players from considerable range. Just two swipes are enough to kill a Helldiver, but damaging the tentacles will cause the Impaler to withdraw them back to itself. Dealing significant damage to the body will cause it to retract all tentacles, as does stunning the body. The tentacles ignore stunning effects, however. Any damage done to the Impaler's tentacles (even the toxins from the TOX-13 Avenger or Mk3 M-25 Rumbler) does not transfer to its main body.
  • If the Impaler takes 600 damage while its vulnerable front is exposed, i.e. while its tentacles are burrowed, it will immediately retract the tentacles and its front will no longer be vulnerable. Otherwise, it will retract the tentacles if they are active for 22 seconds; if the target is 2 m or 40 m away from the Impaler; or if the target is 20 m away from the tentacles.
  • With some practice, it is possible to identify exactly where the Impaler is located if only its tentacles are on-screen. If the Impaler is close to the tentacles, they will be clumped together; if it is farther away they will be spread out. The orange side of the tentacles is the one facing away from the Impaler.
  • Anti-tank stratagems (such as the MLS-4X Commando or Close Air Support) are required to damage the Impaler's thick armor although conventional weapons can instead be used to attack the creature's large weak spot which is exposed for as long as the Impaler is attacking with its tentacles.

Notes