Can the Stasis Rifle Stop Leviathans in Subnautica?
The short answer is yes, the stasis rifle can effectively stop leviathans in Subnautica, but with some crucial caveats. This powerful tool can temporarily immobilize these colossal creatures, providing a vital window for escape, attack, or strategic repositioning. However, its effectiveness hinges on precise aiming and understanding the specific mechanics of how the stasis field interacts with these colossal beings. Let’s delve deeper into the intricacies of the stasis rifle and its role in surviving encounters with Subnautica’s most dangerous predators.
How the Stasis Rifle Works Against Leviathans
The stasis rifle functions by emitting an orb of blueish light that, upon impact, encases a target in a temporary stasis field. This field completely halts the affected creature, rendering them immobile and vulnerable. However, there’s a critical detail: the orb must directly hit the leviathan’s head to have full effect. Shots that land elsewhere on the creature’s body will often fail to fully immobilize it and may simply pass through, offering no protection. This precision aiming is paramount when facing a leviathan and is what determines a successful application.
Stasis Rifle: A Tactical Advantage
While the stasis rifle doesn’t inflict direct damage, it provides significant tactical advantages. Immobilizing a leviathan gives players an opportunity to:
- Escape: The most common and often the most prudent use is creating a window to escape the area, especially if caught off guard by a leviathan.
- Attack: While a leviathan is in stasis, players can use the thermo blade or other tools to inflict damage, turning the tables on the usually dominant predator.
- Reposition: If you find yourself trapped, a well-placed stasis field can provide the necessary breathing room to maneuver your vehicle or yourself to a safer location.
It’s important to remember that the stasis effect is temporary. Once it expires, the leviathan will regain its full mobility and aggression. Therefore, you must act quickly during the window of opportunity.
Stasis Rifle: The Limitations
While powerful, the stasis rifle is not a magic bullet against leviathans. Its effectiveness is governed by certain limitations:
- Aiming Accuracy: The need for a headshot makes precise aiming crucial, especially when facing a rapidly moving or maneuvering leviathan.
- Limited Duration: The stasis field’s effect is temporary, meaning that once it wears off, you are back to facing a fully hostile leviathan.
- No Damage: The stasis rifle does not inflict damage itself, requiring a secondary tool to exploit the vulnerable state.
- Not Always Reliable: There may be slight hit-box issues with larger leviathans that cause stasis to not work on certain sections of the body.
Specific Leviathan Encounters
The article you provided highlights some specific interactions with different leviathan species using the stasis rifle:
- Reaper Leviathan: Players can use the stasis rifle to halt a reaper, and then approach with a thermoblade to cause damage or use torpedoes fired from a Prawn Suit for a more effective kill. The key is to hit the reaper’s head with the stasis shot.
- Sea Dragon Leviathan: This massive creature, immune to the thermo blade, is still vulnerable to the stasis rifle followed by blade attacks.
- Ghost Leviathan: The method of using stasis rifle followed by blades is a reliable way of killing the Ghost Leviathan.
The effectiveness of the stasis rifle does depend on the precise application, it is especially potent when used in conjunction with other offensive weapons.
Strategic Uses of Stasis Rifle
The stasis rifle’s capabilities extend beyond mere self-defense. When mastered, it can become a key part of a player’s strategic approach to dealing with leviathans. For example:
- Hunting: Skilled players can use the stasis rifle to actively hunt leviathans, taking advantage of the brief window of vulnerability to inflict heavy damage.
- Resource Gathering: For example, you may need to gather specific resources near leviathan territories. Stasis rifle can temporarily eliminate the danger to allow you safe access to those resources.
- Exploration: The stasis rifle enables players to push the boundaries of exploration. It may provide passage through leviathan-infested areas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can the stasis rifle permanently stop a leviathan?
No, the stasis field is temporary. Once it expires, the leviathan will regain its mobility and can resume its attack. It provides you with a window of opportunity but won’t permanently neutralize a leviathan.
2. Does the stasis rifle work on all types of leviathans?
Yes, the stasis rifle works on all types of leviathans, provided that the stasis orb hits the leviathan’s head. It’s crucial to aim properly.
3. Can a stasis field stop the Sea Dragon Leviathan’s fireballs?
No, the stasis field affects only the leviathan itself. It will not stop the sea dragon’s fireballs.
4. How much damage can a thermoblade do while a leviathan is in stasis?
The damage output of the thermo blade against a stasis leviathan is the same as when it is not stasised, but the inability for the Leviathan to fight back makes it a lot easier to inflict continuous damage.
5. Is the stasis rifle effective against juvenile leviathans?
Yes, the stasis rifle works on juvenile leviathans just like it works on the adults, but the juvenile Ghost Leviathans have the same health as the adults.
6. Can a leviathan break free from a stasis field early?
No, once a leviathan is successfully encased in the stasis field, it cannot break free until the effect wears off.
7. What is the range of the stasis rifle?
The range of the stasis rifle is moderately long, but the orb of light can only travel for a limited distance. It can travel far enough to hit a leviathan if you are at a safe distance.
8. How long does the stasis effect last on a leviathan?
The duration of the stasis effect is temporary, generally a few seconds before it wears off, but it can be enough to attack or escape.
9. Can the stasis rifle be upgraded?
No, the stasis rifle in Subnautica does not have any upgrades that affect the duration or power of the stasis field.
10. Is there a cooldown after using the stasis rifle?
Yes, there is a short cooldown period before the stasis rifle can be used again.
11. Can the stasis rifle affect other creatures in the game?
Yes, the stasis rifle can be used on most hostile creatures in the game, however it is most beneficial to use on Leviathans.
12. Can a reaper leviathan drag you while in stasis?
No, if a reaper leviathan is encased in a stasis field, it will not be able to move, thus rendering its grab attacks useless, provided the stasis orb is on its head.
13. Can the Prawn Suit be affected by the Stasis Rifle?
Yes, the Prawn Suit can be encased in the stasis field, which will halt the movement of your vehicle.
14. Does the stasis rifle affect environmental hazards?
No, the stasis rifle only affects creatures, it will not affect environmental hazards such as lava or poison.
15. Is the Stasis Rifle effective in late-game scenarios?
Yes, the stasis rifle remains a valuable tool throughout the game, especially in the late stages where you’ll be facing the largest and most dangerous leviathans in the deepest regions of the game. It’s still one of the best ways to control the leviathans and defeat them.
Conclusion
The stasis rifle is a versatile and indispensable tool for surviving encounters with leviathans in Subnautica. Its ability to temporarily immobilize these powerful creatures can turn a desperate situation into an opportunity for escape, attack, or strategic repositioning. By understanding its limitations, mastering its usage, and employing other effective tools in conjunction, players can increase their chances of conquering the depths and the terrors that lurk within.