This is my main build in Predator: Hunting Grounds , with a focus on plasma caster hits, high mobility, and wrist blade fighting for anyone looking to try a different style of hunting. The video features five successful hunts using only these basic weapons. When using the Scout, extra care is needed because of the small amount of hit points available, so this is a hit and run build from beginning to end, and compared to my Hunter and Berserker builds, I find this one the most fun and risky.
Perks are Cooling Syncs to keep Plasma Caster working efficiently, Long Jump for mobility, and Adrenal Boost to keep up the pressure. Gear is a Healing Kit and Motion Detectors.
The strategy is simple: Find the prey, begin a constant assault of plasma caster attacks, move often, and make quick wrist blade attacks to keep them on their toes. I often down a Fireteam member and allow for a revive but will also kill three to force the last person to go reinforce.
The great thing about this build is that, especially when you find a player alone, you can set up melee fights. If they keep trying to shoot, I often use the Net Cannon and then swipe the air a couple of times. Sometimes they get it, sometimes not, either way it makes for some great fights.
Finally, I try not to use Leap Slam. First, the bug that lets the slam damage through buildings is not in my opinion working as intended by the designers, and I expect it to be changed. You might see it in the videos above, but rarely. That is my opinion, and people are welcome to disagree, but I find it to be complete cheese as a Predator mechanic.
Results – Successfully playing this build often nets 10,000-15,000 experience. If there is something ever added to post-level 100, this will be useful. Otherwise the experience is useless, but I still love the longer games.
Why not use the following weapons?
Combistick – I love this weapon and its old-school theme from the comics/games, but for hit and run I prefer the theme of attacking one Fireteam member at a time.
Yautja Bow – I love the bow; it is great and uses the same lead-off mechanic as the Plasma Caster to land hits. However, I prefer the Plasma Caster because it is clearer for the Fireteam where the shots are coming from and feels more like the films/comic books. When I turn off Cross-play and only go against PC players, I use this because it feels like they can always see me from across the map.
Hand-Held Plasma Caster – I don’t mind this at all, because it is fun, unexpected, and surprises the Fireteam. However, it feels thematically off base.
Smart-Disc – This is in some loadouts, but I do not rely on it for serious damage. It is more like a fun surprise if I manage to hit someone, which is the case in the first match of the video above.
Elder Sword and War Club – The long animations that one can be locked into can be a death sentence. The wrist blades offer quick strikes that let you keep moving, but the combo for these weapons makes it easy to be blown away.
Bear Traps - I prefer Motion Detectors for Fireteam objectives inside buildings to see when one strays away, when they huddle up, or when they leave. Placing these on the root or side of a building usually keeps them safe from being shot. Bear Traps I find are thematically fun, but inefficient because they are easy to spot and cannot be reset once triggered.
That wraps up my current favorite build, I hope this helps some players experiment with something new.