Bruiser

— **Bruiser description**

The **Bruisers** (also known as **Smashers**) are Mutations of towering stature. They belong to the Tallboy family of the Ridden, which also include the Basic Tallboy, Crusher, 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.

In an attack known as the Frenzy, the Bruiser variant can chain multiple smash attacks in quick succession. The attack covers a large radius around the Bruiser and can quickly build up a lot of damage to several Cleaners in a short time. The combination of attacks is particularly deadly in confined areas where players have less space to avoid each strike. To compensate for its higher destructive power, the Bruiser is the slower yet tankier version than its other variants.

### Abilities:

**Smash**
—Slow overhead attack that deals high damage and knocks back.

After picking up speed, the Tallboy swings its massive arm down onto the Cleaner. The attack deals high damage and knockback, giving it the ability to forcefully separate Cleaners away from each other.

**Frenzy**
—A sequence of overhead attacks that affect everything in a large area.

The Bruiser slams its massive arm on the ground multiple times in quick succession, hitting Cleaners in front of and around itself.

Once Frenzy has been used or canceled by using the Smash attack it will be unavailable for five seconds.

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

This ability allows the Bruiser to traverse quickly through the area.
Burst can be canceled by the usage of either Smash or Frenzy 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 right shoulder.** The Tallboy has a distinct growth on its right shoulder that presents a visible weak point. If the growth takes enough damage, the Tallboy will lose its entire right arm and become severely weakened. Should the Tallboy remain alive after losing its arm, continue to shoot at its head to put it down.
* **Take advantage of its missed attacks.** After executing its primary slam attack, the Tallboy takes time to recover and is more open to hits. Use this chance to hit its weak spots.

## Notes

* Due to their overgrown arm, Bruisers bear a striking resemblance to Chargers from Valve's *Left 4 Dead 2*.
* The Bruiser is the only playable ridden who has a tons of health than most of the variants.
* The Bruiser has the same weak spot as the Tallboy, which is the overgrown pink cyst on their right shoulder.
* The Bruiser share two same thing with the Exploder, and the Hocker. Which is their dark almost charred-looking skin, and jagged shards of bones around their body.

## Gallery:

Bruiser render by Elliot Betancourt.Bruiser render by Elliot Betancourt.Bruiser render by Elliot Betancourt.Bruiser render by Elliot Betancourt.Bruiser render by Elliot Betancourt.Bruiser render by Elliot Betancourt.The Bruiser shown with its ability, in the left side on the Mutations icon.