Location: Chapter 7: Highway 17 (and later as a regular enemy)
The Antlion Guard is a large, aggressive Antlion variant that acts as a mini-boss. It's fast, durable, and charges at you with powerful melee attacks.
Strategy:
- Keep Your Distance: The Antlion Guard's melee attacks are devastating. Try to keep it at a distance, using your environment to create barriers or choke points.
- Target the Soft Underbelly: Its armored carapace protects it from most frontal attacks. Its weak point is its soft underbelly, which is exposed when it rears up to charge or after it takes a hit.
- Explosives are Key: Grenades, SMG grenades, and explosive barrels are highly effective. Try to time your throws so they detonate as it charges or exposes its underside.
- Gravity Gun Tactics: Use the Gravity Gun to launch heavy objects (crates, rocks, sawblades) at it. This can stun it or knock it off balance, creating openings for attacks.
- Hit and Run: If you're in an open area, a hit-and-run strategy works well. Fire a few shots, then sprint away to create distance before turning to fire again.
- Acquire Bugbait: Defeating the first Antlion Guard is how you acquire the Bugbait, which allows you to control regular Antlions.