Predators

👹 What Are Predators?

Predators are hostile AI hunter creatures — fast, aggressive, and capable of killing an armed survivor quickly if caught off-guard. Unlike standard infected zombies, Predators do not wander. They hunt with purpose, closing the distance between themselves and their target rapidly once they lock on.

Predators are not passive threats you can walk around. They are apex hunters designed to create high pressure encounters at specific locations.

Current Locations

Black Market

Triggered by player proximity. Spawns within 90 seconds of arrival.

Threat Level

Extreme ☠

Fast-moving, high-damage AI. Do not underestimate in a confined space.

⌚ How the Spawn System Works

The Predator at the Black Market is not pre-placed or always present. It is triggered dynamically by player proximity. Here is the exact sequence of events from the moment you enter the area:

T+0 — Arrival

You enter within 200 meters of the Black Market vending machines. The proximity sensor activates and a spawn countdown begins.

T+0 to T+90 — The Window

The Predator will spawn at a random point within this 90-second window. You could have nearly a minute and a half — or it could appear almost instantly. There is no reliable indicator of when it will arrive.

Spawn Event

The Predator materializes 30–80 meters from the center of the Black Market at a random angle. It immediately begins tracking any player in the area.

After Kill — Cooldown

If the Predator is killed, a 3-minute cooldown prevents another spawn. If players leave the area, the Predator despawns after a 2-minute grace period.

One at a time: Only one Predator is active at the Black Market at any given time. Killing it gives you a 3-minute window before the next one can appear.

🔫 Fighting a Predator

Predators are significantly more dangerous than infected zombies. Plan your engagement carefully:

Keep distance. Predators deal heavy melee damage up close. Fight at range if possible — a rifle or SMG gives you more time to land shots before it reaches you.
Aim for center mass. Sustained fire is more reliable than trying to land headshots on a fast-moving target.
Use terrain. Vending machines, railings, and the platform structure can briefly break line of sight or slow the Predator's approach.
High-caliber weapons matter. Military rifles, shotguns at close range, and high-tier Paragon Arsenal weapons all perform well. Low-tier weapons may not put the Predator down fast enough.
Don't fight in a corner. Give yourself room to backpedal. A Predator pinning you against a wall is usually fatal.

Do not try to outrun it on foot. Predators are faster than a player at full sprint, especially in open terrain. If fleeing, reach your helicopter before it closes the gap.

🚁 Fleeing by Helicopter

The fastest and safest way to survive a Predator encounter is to simply leave before it reaches you — or the moment it spawns.

Leave the engine running while you use the vending machines. A helicopter with a running engine can lift off in seconds.
Once airborne, the Predator cannot follow. It will lose interest and eventually despawn.
Returning after a few minutes resets the encounter, giving you another 0–90 second window.

📦 Predator Kill Rewards

Killing a Predator has a 40% chance to spawn a loot container nearby with randomly selected gear. Possible reward packages include:

M4A1 with rail handguard, OE buttstock, and M68 red dot sight
Plate Carrier Vest with holster attachment
Coupled STANAG 30-round magazines (×2)

The reward set is selected randomly from 5 available configurations — all approximately equivalent in value. This is a bonus reward on top of the Black Market purchases you came for, but the Predator fight is never required to use the vending machines.

Risk vs. Reward: Choosing to fight the Predator instead of fleeing nets you extra gear, but costs time and increases your exposure to other players who may be watching the area.