KF2 Specimen Files: Slasher Behavior and Statistics

The Slasher is the third and final Clot variant: an improved, more aggressive, faster and more agile Clot, the opposite of the weak Cyst. It still dies easily, but usually comes in groups. This page paraphrases the community "Specimen Files 2.0" entry from late 2015.

The Slasher.

When it appears

On all waves and the boss wave. Compare the other variants: Cyst and Clot.

Behavior

Like the Cyst and Clot it walks toward a player and tries to grab them in range. It is slightly faster than its variants and moves erratically. After a grab it turns the player's camera toward it and holds on until it is killed or stumbled. Unlike the Cyst, it does not stumble when a grab fails; it keeps attacking. Its grab animation is faster than the Cyst's and somewhat faster than the Clot's, making a successful grab more likely. It cannot grab a player using the Berserker perk.

It can spawn in manholes, vents and windows. On Hard and Suicidal it may sprint and always sprints when damaged; on Hell on Earth it always sprints. It uses a roll on higher difficulties when close to players to throw off their aim, and starts sprinting automatically when five ZEDs remain. It fights ZEDs that attack it but rarely wins.

Strategy

• Weakest tier overall, but dangerous in combos: it does moderate damage in rapid combos if it does not try to grab.
• Erratic movement makes headshots hard; wait for the roll to finish before firing again if you want to save ammo.
• Kill any Slashers you see while running from a group or a big ZED: the fast grab will doom you.
• Use lower-tier weapons or the default pistol, knife and melee bash on the head, which has very low health.
• It has a 50% resistance to the microwave gun, like the other Clot variants.
• Prioritize the Slasher over the Clot and Cyst when they come together.

Statistics

• Health: Normal 75 total, 15 head; Hard and above 100 total, 20 head.
• Melee: damage 6, range 172, door multiplier 1/4, player multiplier 0.2/0.4/0.5/1. Grab chance 0.38.
• Damage multiplier by difficulty: 0.5x, 1x, 1.25x, 1.75x.
• Hitzones: head 1.1, rest 1. Resistances: microwaves 2x, penetration 1x.
• Movement: walking random 270-330, sprinting random 450-550, hidden speed 600. Speed multipliers 0.87x, 1x, 1.1x, 1.15x.
• Sprint chance (random / when damaged): Normal 0 / 0, Hard 0 / 1, Suicidal 0.2 / 1, Hell on Earth 1 / 1.
• Rewards: Dosh 8/7/6/5 (Normal/Hard/Suicidal/Hell on Earth); XP 8 on Normal, 11 on Hard and above.
• Grab details: use distance 188 units, maximum range 210 units, minimum interval between grabs 5 s.
• Misc: chance to evade a grenade 0.6, damage to doors 6/24. Doors have 4000 total health and 1500 maximum welded health.

The Slasher is the strongest of the Clot variants and should be treated that way.