Fractal Guardian

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	Last updated for version 0.18.15.0 The current game version is 0.18.15.2

Fractal Guardian
ID: Fractalguardian
Stats
Health 400	Sight: 2
	Hearing: 1
Armor Arms, Tail, Stinger (see Defense values below)	Weakpoints Sensor, Torso
Behavior
Walk speed N/A	Swim speed 2 slow - 5 fast
Aggressive? Always (Humans) Never (Submarines)	Can Enter Submarine? Yes
Drops only 1 of the items marked with an asterisk * may drop at a time
Items	Chance
None	N/A

The Fractal Guardian is a Europan creature. Its origin is unknown to even the most seasoned of sailors. Two variants exist, the only difference being the weapon carried.

Description

The Fractal Guardian is a mechanical entity which roams the hallways of Alien Ruins. It is capable of opening ruin doors, and navigates the ruins with ease. It possesses two weapons: a blade-like spear which can be shot at intruders, Human or otherwise; and either a steam cannon (similar to the Prototype Steam Cannon) or a "hook cannon" (not entirely incomparable to the Harpoon Gun). It is incredibly aggressive towards anything aside from Husks, Swarm Feeders and other Ruin Guardians. It is much larger than a person and is completely capable of besting one in combat if they catch them unaware.

In-game

Rather uniquely, Fractal Guardians will attack and kill crew members, but will ignore submarines. However, they only spawn in Alien Ruins, meaning one must confront them in person. Fractal Guardians will roam the corridors of an Alien Ruin looking for intruders. The strength of the intruder is irrelevant to the Fractal Guardian, and it will attack without warning. The Fractal Guardians will not attempt to enter maintenance vents found in the ruins.

While multiple Fractal Guardians can spawn in any given Alien Ruin, they typically do not spawn in close proximity.

When under 30% of its maximum health, the Fractal Guardian's head will flash red and emit a siren-like sound. This causes the Fractal Guardian to take 0.4 Internal Damage but gain 50 Vigor. It will then attempt to retreat to a Guardian Pod and enter it for a short while. While in a pod, the guardian is slowly treated with vigor.

Combat strategies

As Fractal Guardians possess an extremely small attack delay, it is prudent to bring medical support on ruin expeditions, and vital to bring some means of defense. Weapons such as the Autoshotgun, Riot Shotgun, and SMG are effective at neutralising the threat. It is paramount to aim for the head of the Fractal Guardian as that is its key weakpoint. Without aiming for the head, the fight may last considerably longer which exposes the player to the risk of a quick death.

In the event that melee combat is preferred, the Boarding Axe is recommended. The high damage output allows a sufficiently skilled player to take down a Fractal Guardian without having a serious threat posed to themselves. Other melee weapons are not recommended in combat.

The difference between the two variants should be noted: The Guardians equipped with a hook cannon will drag the player around, and possibly out of position or away from friendlies. The steam cannon inflicts severe Burns, which cannot easily be healed with opiates such as Morphine.

Attacks

Attack	Target type	Afflictions on hit	Context	Structure Damage	Duration	Cooldown	Kinetic Force	Notes
Stinger	Any	Bleeding 30 Lacerations 30 Stun 0.2s	Any	20	0.25s	2	12
Hook Cannon	Character	Bleeding 30 Lacerations 30 Stun 0.3s	Any	20	3s	3	0	If not stuck to anything, the rope snaps. The rope will always snap after 45 seconds.
Steam Cannon	Character	Burn 1.25	Any	0	3s	3	0

Defense

In addition to the values in the following table, the Fractal Guardian is also immune to: 

• Stun 
• Bleeding 
• Poisons (Affliction type)

 

Limb	Burn	Damage (all)	Lacerations	Bite Wounds
Sensor	x 0.25	x 1.25	x 1	x 0.5
Torso	x 0.25	x 1.25	x 0.5	x 0.5
Arms	x 0.1	x 0.65	x 0.5	x 0.5
Tail	x 0.1	x 0.35	x 0.5	x 0.5

Trivia

• An NPC conversation mentions that fractal guardians are, quote, "not organic - closer to a robot than an animal". This could explain how they survived the presumed extinction of the alien species behind ruins.

Media

• 

  Note the Fractal Guardian's limbs propelling it through the water

• 

  A Fractal Guardian compared with a Human

• Idle 1

• Idle 2

• Attack 1

• Damage 1

• Death 1

• Panic loop