Predator (class)
| Classification | |
|---|---|
| Alignment | Neutral |
| Starting City | (none) |
| Tutor | Sigurd v76795 |
| Basics | |
| Attacks | phys - bal - dex |
| Armor | leather |
| Weapons | sitara |
| Skillsets | |
| Knifeplay | |
| Predation | |
| Beastmastery | |
This is a page about the mechanics of Predator. If you are looking for origin, history, roleplay, or any other lore-related topic, see: 
[Predator (lore)].
Overview
Predators are savage warriors of the frozen wilds, a special brand of arctic phantom drawn to this world from another. From knives carved of the bones of the fallen to the dominated wild beasts who rise to their call, the tools of the Predator exemplify their fierce dedication to self-reliance. Though a Predator's knifeplay focuses primarily on destroying a victim's limbs, they also have access to a very capable affliction based offense through flung darts and venoms. Predators are excellent hunters, especially if they've slain others recently (AB APEX), dishing out significant damage with a particular emphasis on critical hits due to their three-or-four-hit combos.
A new Predator is advised to use the Need 'statpack' variable statpack, though they may change to something else later. Everyone receives one free reincarnation upon leaving novicehood (level 31), and if that is used up, another one upon reaching Tekal (level 99). It is common for people to keep an early statpack until reaching level 100.
Skills
Knifeplay is the mainstay of a Predator's arsenal, featuring a range of attacks from the signature sitara knife, as well as introducing the concept of stances (AB STANCES). Most knifeplay attacks will move the Predator from one stance to another, with each stance having a different effect. This is the foundation of the hallmark complexity of Predator combat.
Predation consists of an array of defensive and utility abilities, as well as the skills necessary to craft, envenom, and throw darts in pursuit of an affliction based offense.
Beastmastery allows the Predator to command the loyalty of an iconic direwolf, as well as one other beast at the same time - an orgyuk (bear-type creature), orel (a bird), or spider. While the direwolf can help with hunting (AB FLANK) and has several utility features, the other beasts are purely for combat against other adventurers.
Defences
- Knifeplay Ambidexterity: Passive. Allows the Predator to swap their sitara to their other hand if one arm is crippled.
- Knifeplay Spacing: Reduces physical damage and increases chance to dodge.
Maintaining your defenses is an important part of staying alive in Aetolia! You should be using these in conjunction with your generic, non-class-specific, defences.
Firstaid Defences: blindness, deafness, fangbarrier, insomnia, levitation, waterbreathing (as needed), instawake, arcane, speed, vigor (while hunting)
- Firstaid can also maintain a handful of combat-only defenses: density, rebounding, harmony
Other Defences: tattoos, allsight and waterwalking enchantments, nightsight, deathsight, thirdeye, clarity, and dodge or divert, as well as any ylem mist orbs
Equipment
Weaponry: a bone sitara, carved via bonecarving, and possibly a shield (though this reduces damage output, due to ambidexterity)
Armor: a suit of leather armor, 10/10 protection or better
Enchantments:
- a jewelry item with a waterwalking enchantment (unless you have a zephyr artifact)
- a jewelry item with an allsight enchantment (replaces mindseye tattoo)
- a jewelry item with a purity enchantment
- a jewelry item with all four of magic, fire, cold, and electric resistance enchantments
- a fist sigil attached to each wielded item
- a handful of eye sigils and a weaponbelt, for combat against others
Recommended Tattoos:
- Boar
- Moss
- Moon (to cover regeneration)
- Shield
- Tree
- Cloak
Other Equipment: Predators use wood, iron, and cloth commodities to craft darts and threadtraps, and will need a stock of venoms and assortment of venom rags to fight other adventurers, but not to hunt denizens.
Hunting
New Predators will begin by using a single sitara attack at a time, generally alternating between lateral and vertical in order to swap between Ein-Fasit and Vae-Sant stance. Understanding what attack to use from which stance is critical to stringing together an effective offense as a Predator - there is a chart of stance flow in AB STANCES.
Upon learning series and twin, Predators can begin to string together combos of two (or three, using Laesan stance) hits at a time, and triplet allows for another hit still. Generally, Predators have the option of continuing to alternate lateral and vertical, or to alternate with a crescentcut combo (used from Rizet stance, for best results). Arranging your combos to end in Ein-Fasit stance reduces incoming physical damage between hits, but is difficult to pair with Laesan's extra hit.
Predators only need their sitara for hunting, and all sitaras have the same damage, speed, and penetration ratings. You may wield a shield in order to mitigate physical damage, but having a free hand makes all attacks (except crescentcut) more effective.
Core Offense
Need 'offense_info'
Group Combat
Need 'group_info'
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