Darkwalker

Darkwalker
Background info
Faction	Necris
Game info
Type	Ground
Health	1000
Seats	2
Appears in	Unreal Tournament 3

"Mounted on a tripod of nano-fueled tentacles, the Darkwalker stands imposingly tall in the battlefield, intending to strike fear into the hearts of those who oppose the Necris. Few have faced this offensive platform in battle and lived to tell the tale.

Side mounted particle accelerators combine their firepower into a large sweeping beam that disintegrates anything in its path. Integrated compressor units along the underside of the vehicle release a battle cry that is as destructive as it is intimidating.

The concussive blast released by the horns impairs the senses and paralyzes anyone caught below the Walker, leaving them vulnerable to fire from the secondary turret of the crushing forces of the crouching Darkwalker itself."

– Vehicle description

The Necris Darkwalker is a vehicle appearing in Unreal Tournament 3.

Overview

The Darkwalker is a large, slow-moving vehicle mounted on spider-like legs, allowing it to travel smoothly over very uneven terrain and climb a wider variety of terrain compared to other vehicles. Its elevated camera provides excellent visibility of the surrounding battlefield. If enemies are detected behind or below the vehicle, the secondary shriek attack can knock them off their feet, giving the driver time to turn and retaliate. The Darkwalker can also crouch, enabling it to pass through low ceilings or openings and crush enemies unfortunate enough to be underneath it.

Its primary weapon is an extremely powerful twin laser beam that sweeps across the battlefield, disintegrating anything caught in its path. The secondary fire emits a terrifying shriek intended to disrupt enemies, knocking players off their feet and ejecting them from certain vehicles such as the Manta or Viper, while forcing others, like the Scavenger, out of the user's way. The Darkwalker also features a secondary gunner position, which functions similarly to a Plasma Turret.

Despite its immense firepower, the Darkwalker moves and turns very slowly due to its size.

Related Achievements

	Jack of All Trades  10
	Kill an enemy with every vehicle (except Hoverboard).

Tips and tricks

Using the Darkwalker

• The Darkwalker's shriek is useful not only for clearing enemies directly beneath it, but also for forcing pilots out of Vipers and Mantas within its area of effect. Scavengers are knocked away and temporarily forced into "ball mode."
• Roadkills with the Darkwalker are impossible, so do not expect to crush enemies simply by stepping on them.
• Some areas of maps are difficult to access with a Darkwalker. While crouching allows it to pass under low overhangs, its legged design enables it to "climb" certain areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.
• The primary beam weapon is extremely powerful but turns slowly, lagging far behind the crosshair. Thus, it is most effective against targets directly in front of the Darkwalker or only slightly off-center.
• A useful tactic is to skirt the perimeter of the arena, keeping the Darkwalker's back to a wall to minimize its vulnerability.
• In Team Deathmatch, the Darkwalker becomes more effective when a second player occupies the gunner seat. The secondary weapon is far more agile and helps compensate for the vehicle's weaknesses. This cooperative element makes the Darkwalker an interesting addition to Team Deathmatch, adding depth beyond simple fragging.
• The Darkwalker is very effective at destroying smaller vehicles with accurate aim, and it can also excel at destroying poorly defended Power Nodes. Its primary weapon has a very large range, making it especially effective in large open areas against slower vehicles such as tanks and the Leviathan. However, operating in open terrain also makes it an easy target for AVRiL rockets and other long-range fire.

Fighting against the Darkwalker

• Unlike Goliaths and Paladins, Darkwalkers are not vulnerable to Raptors or other flying vehicles. Attacking from below is particularly ineffective, as the shriek will send attackers flying.
• A self-destructing Viper can be highly effective, as it deals 600 points of damage, more than half of the Darkwalker's 1,000 health. However, care must be taken to avoid being hit by the Darkwalker's beams, which can kill players instantly.
• Long-range Longbow AVRiL attacks, such as camping with the AVRiL, are actually quite effective, as five AVRiL rockets are enough to take down a Darkwalker with ease.
• The Darkwalker's weaknesses allow skilled players to damage and destroy it by attacking from behind or circling around it, striking between beam sweeps. When these weaknesses are exploited, the Darkwalker can be limited to no more kills than a well-placed Redeemer.

Trivia

Easter eggs

Main article: Easter eggs

• References to other works:
  • In addition to its obvious resemblance to the tripods from The War of the Worlds, the Darkwalker also closely resembles the Strider from Half-Life 2.

Preview notes

"The Necris vehicles in particular are quite possibly the best thing to enter a game in a long time. They are not mere functional clones of the Axon vehicles, but instead provide genuinely unique experiences. Many of the Necris vehicles feature mechanical tentacle arms that can be used to climb over giant walls or other pieces of architecture that would otherwise be impassible. The Darkwalker in particular is impressive. It's physically very large and quite slow, but its primary cannons stream out large amounts of damage in pulses."

– PlanetUnreal

Gallery

Concept art.

See also

• Vehicles
• Phayder Corporation
• Necris