Character from Half-Life 2 by Valve
The Combine's nimble synth escorts — fast, smart, and fiercely protective of their Strider charges.
Hunters are Episode Two's signature threat — the Combine's answer to the resistance's growing ability to destroy Striders. They escort Striders in packs of two or three, specifically targeting anyone carrying a Magnusson Device or RPG. They are tactically intelligent: they flank, they flush targets from cover with flechette barrages, and they charge when they sense vulnerability. They represent an escalation in the Combine's response to the resistance. Where Overwatch soldiers are converted humans following orders, Hunters are purpose-built predators with genuine tactical instincts. They communicate with Striders through subsonic signals, coordinating attacks in real time. The White Forest battle is defined by the Hunter problem — you can't take down a Strider while its Hunters are alive, and Hunters are fast enough to close distance before you can reload.
Roughly seven feet tall, three-legged like Striders but compact and agile. Dark blue-grey carapace with a cluster of sensor eyes and a flechette launcher mounted in the body. They move with a disturbing, insectile quickness — darting, flanking, charging. Their legs can impale targets at close range. They make a distinctive trilling sound when hunting and a shriek when damaged.
Also known as: Hunters, Hunter-Choppers