Exploder

— **Exploder description**

The **Exploders** (also known as the '**Sploders**) are bloated mutated Ridden. They belong to the Reeker family of the Ridden, which also include the basic Reeker, Retch, and Shredder variants. All Reeker variants feature a morbidly-inflated body that explodes on death, leading to disastrous effects for any Cleaner unfortunate enough to be caught in it.

## Overview

All Reeker variants can be effective at close range and confined spaces, each with access to a melee attack and a death explosion.

Unlike the other Reeker variants, the Exploder can trigger a Death Explosion at will. Once the Explosion is triggered, the Exploder will detonate after a few seconds, or upon direct contact with a Cleaner. This more powerful version of the Death Explosion deals direct damage and covers a larger radius than a regular Reeker's explosion. To compensate for its higher damage potential, the Exploder is more vulnerable than the base Reeker variant and has a slightly weaker melee attack.

### Abilities

**Melee Attack**
—Heavy-Hitting melee swipes.

The Exploder strikes the Cleaner with its fist.

**Self Destruct**
—Trigger an explosion that deals damage in a large area.

The Exploder activates its Death Explosion timer and begins to glow. After the timer has elapsed or upon contact with a Cleaner, the enhanced explosion will occur which has significantly stronger explosion damage, explosion knockback, larger radius, and is able to interact with environmental hazards.

**Charge**
—Charge forward at high speed, damaging and stumbling into everything in the way.

### Upgrades (Swarm Mode only):

For the Reeker/Retch/Exploder7Shredder upgrades see it here

## Strategy

* **Maintain a safe distance away from it.** The Exploder's Death Explosion Timer is by far one of the deadliest abilities of the Mutations. Melee weapons, while effective at killing them, are ill-advised to use against a Exploder as the player will put themselves in proximity of the inevitable Death Explosion.
* **Target the chest.** The Exploder has a distinct growth right on the chest, that presents a visible weak point. Keep shooting at it for an effective kill.
* **Watch out for the timer.** Unique to this variant, the Exploder's body starts flickering a noticeable glow, to show that it has activated its timed death explosion. Refer to the above and prioritize in eliminating the Exploder, before it gets close enough to engulf your party in the explosion.
* **Take note of Environmental Hazards.** The Exploder's explosion ability interacts with whatever can be interacted around it.
	+ **Security Doors and Birds.** The ability can trip the security door alarms or a group of birds, which will then summon a Horde.
	+ **Cars/Barrels.** The ability can trigger car alarms, resulting in a Horde. It can also trigger car/barrel explosions, which will cause instantaneous lethal damage when combined with the ability damage.

## Notes

* Due to their appearance and abilities, all Reekers bear a striking resemblance to Boomers from the *Left 4 Dead* series. In contrast, Reekers are physically tougher than those stipulated above and can endure far more damage before exploding.
* The Exploder is the only Reeker variant who has lesser health but deal high DPS.
* The Exploder share two same thing with the Bruiser, and the Hocker. Which is their dark almost charred-looking skin, and jagged shards of bones around their body.

## Gallery

Promotional material featuring background information about the Exploder.Exploder final render by Alex Boatman.Exploder final render by Alex Boatman.Exploder ZBrush render by Alex Boatman.Exploder ZBrush render by Alex Boatman.Exploder ZBrush render by Alex Boatman.Concept art by Justin Cherry.Attack of the Exploder, Tallboy, and RetchThe Exploder shown with its ability, in the (middle) right side on the Mutations icon.