Crusher

— **Crusher description**

The **Crushers** (also known as **Squeezers**) are Mutations of towering stature. They belong to the Tallboy family of the Ridden, which also include the Basic Tallboy, Bruiser, and Ripper variants. All Tallboy variants feature an oversized right arm and shoulder that they use to crush Cleaners to death.

## Overview

All Tallboy variants are very effective at close range and can absorb a significantly higher amount of damage than most other Ridden. They each have a powerful, long-range melee attack that can knock Cleaners away and break up tight formations. The key difference in the variations are the methods of offense that they employ in addition to their signature slam attack.

Unique to this variant, the Crusher can use the Squeeze Attack where they can grab a Cleaner and wring their body with agonizing force. While grabbed, the Crusher's victim becomes incapacitated and will continue to take damage unless they are freed or lose all of their health. Dealing enough damage to a Crusher while it is squeezing a player will eventually force it to release its grip.

While the Crusher can be highly effective against an isolated target, this variant is much more vulnerable than the base Tallboy variant due to the Squeeze Attack preventing it from acting.

### Abilities

**Squeeze**
—Grabs and crushes the target, dealing damage over time.

The Crusher grabs a Cleaner and crushes them, dealing significant damage over time. While the Cleaner is grabbed, they cannot move, are unable to use their weapons and equipment (with the exception of the Stun Gun), and lose health over time. The pinned Cleaner can free themselves by using a Stun Gun or with a breakout ability; otherwise, the Cleaner will need to rely on their team to kill the Crusher.

**Burst**
—Burst forward to cover ground quickly.

This ability allows the Crusher to traverse quickly through the area.
Burst can be canceled by the usage of Squeeze and can be used every four seconds.

### Upgrades (Swarm Mode only):

For the Tallboy/Bruiser/Crusher/Ripper upgrades see it here

## Strategy

* **Maintain a safe distance away from it.** In addition to dealing greater damage, the melee range of the Tallboy exceeds that of other Ridden. Staying out of the Tallboy's proximity and attacking it from a considerable distance away is the safest method of eliminating it.
* **Target the neck.** Unique to this variant, the Crusher has a distinct growth on its neck that presents a visible weak point that should be attacked to kill it quickly and/or free any Cleaner it grabs.
* **Take advantage of its missed attacks.** When the Crusher grab a Cleaner, it will be vulnurable since its unable to move. Aim and shoot the head for faster killing.

## Notes

* Due to their overgrown arm, Crushers bear a striking resemblance to Chargers from Valve's *Left 4 Dead 2*.
* The Crusher is the only variants who has three of differences from its other variants: they grab and squish Cleaners instead of smashing them, their weakspot is located on its jaw than the right shoulder, and has lesser health than its other variants.
* The Crusher share one same thing with the Retch, and the Stalker. Which is their weakspot being on their head.
	+ The Crusher and Stalker also have the same way of executing Cleaners. Exception that the Stalker freely moves, while Crusher doesn't.

## Gallery

Crusher render by Elliot Betancourt.Crusher render by Elliot Betancourt.Crusher render by Elliot Betancourt.Crusher render by Elliot Betancourt.Crusher render by Elliot Betancourt.Crusher render by Elliot Betancourt.Crusher render by Elliot Betancourt.A Crusher grabbing Evangelo.The Crusher shown with its ability, in the left side on the Mutations icon.