How Many Hits Does It Take to Kill a Ghost Leviathan in Subnautica?
The quest to conquer the vast and often terrifying ocean of Subnautica leads many players to ask a crucial question: how many hits does it take to kill a Ghost Leviathan? The answer isn’t as straightforward as a simple number, as it depends heavily on the weapon you’re wielding. However, to offer a basic answer, it’s important to understand that there isn’t one definitive “hit” value that applies to all situations. Different weapons deal different amounts of damage, and the effectiveness can vary greatly. This article will delve into the various methods to combat these colossal creatures and provide estimated hit counts for several popular approaches.
Understanding Ghost Leviathan Combat
Ghost Leviathans are formidable adversaries in Subnautica, known for their large size and intimidating presence. They come in two forms: juveniles and adults, each with different health pools and behaviors. Juvenile Ghost Leviathans are typically found in the Lost River, while adults can be encountered in the Grand Reef, Northern Blood Kelp Zone, and the Crater Edge. Adult Ghost Leviathans are significantly tougher to defeat than juveniles.
Before attempting to engage, understand that killing Leviathans is not the primary focus of the game. It is a challenge often undertaken for personal satisfaction or to clear specific areas for exploration. There are no tangible rewards for killing them, besides the potential of clearing out a difficult area.
The Infamous Thermoblade
Let’s start with the Thermoblade, a common melee weapon. It deals relatively low damage, even with its heat properties. Based on previous observations and player experience, a juvenile Ghost Leviathan can take approximately 100 swings of the Thermoblade to be killed. Given its low damage output, this method is quite time-consuming and tedious and is not recommended as a primary strategy.
Prawn Suit Punching and Drilling
Moving onto more advanced combat techniques, the Prawn Suit offers significantly more damage output. Players have reported that punching a Ghost Leviathan with the Prawn Suit can be surprisingly effective, potentially outperforming other methods. The damage from punching is not constant, so it’s difficult to give an exact “hit” count, but this method can be faster than using the Thermoblade.
The Prawn Suit Drill Arm is often touted as an efficient way to take down Leviathans. However, its effectiveness varies based on where the drill hits and how consistently you can maintain contact. Some players have claimed that drilling doesn’t seem to do much initially and that punching is more effective initially, though constant drilling will do damage. This suggests that the drill’s damage may accumulate over time, making a prolonged drilling session more effective. While a hit count isn’t applicable here, the key is maintaining prolonged contact.
Other Methods & Their Limitations
It’s important to note that several other methods have been tested by the community with varied results. For example, the Stasis Rifle can temporarily immobilize a Ghost Leviathan, allowing for a brief window to inflict damage. However, the Stasis Rifle itself does not damage, so it doesn’t qualify as a damaging hit method. Similarly, the Gravity Gun, while capable of manipulating objects and even creatures, is not an effective method for outright killing a Ghost Leviathan, despite potentially dealing minor damage.
The use of torpedoes is also possible. However, given the Ghost Leviathan’s high health pool, it would require an extremely large number of torpedoes to defeat one, making it inefficient and not feasible. Players also need to be careful as the Ghost Leviathan may actually damage or destroy torpedos making the strategy less efficient.
Key Takeaways and Recommendations
In conclusion, the number of “hits” required to kill a Ghost Leviathan in Subnautica varies greatly depending on the weapon used:
- Thermoblade: Approximately 100 swings for a juvenile, far more for an adult and not recommended.
- Prawn Suit Punching: More effective than the Thermoblade, though the exact “hit” count varies, it’s an effective method.
- Prawn Suit Drill Arm: Effective with constant contact and should be viewed as a sustained method of damage, not individual “hits.”
- Other methods like the Stasis Rifle and Gravity Gun are not very effective at causing significant damage.
The most efficient strategy, based on player feedback, is to use the Prawn Suit with either punching or a drill arm, ideally both, and to grapple on to remain in range. Be prepared for a prolonged fight and use the environment to your advantage, as the leviathan won’t give up without a fight.
Remember, killing Leviathans is challenging and time-consuming. It is not a required part of the main story, and you’ll likely gain more satisfaction from learning to evade these majestic, yet terrifying, creatures.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can Ghost Leviathans Respawn?
Yes, adult Ghost Leviathans in the Crater Edge will respawn. However, those within the main crater do not respawn once killed. This distinction is important when planning exploration or combat strategies.
2. How Many Ghost Leviathans are there in Subnautica?
There are six Ghost Leviathans that spawn in the main map (not counting the Crater Edge): three juveniles in the Lost River, two adults in the Grand Reef, and one adult in the Northern Blood Kelp Zone. One additional Ghost Leviathan will spawn when the player enters the Crater Edge.
3. What is the Size of a Ghost Leviathan?
Adult Ghost Leviathans measure approximately 107 meters long, while juvenile Ghost Leviathans are around 65 meters long. Their size is intimidating, making them a considerable threat in the game.
4. Is the Ghost Leviathan the Scariest Creature in Subnautica?
While a Ghost Leviathan is indeed terrifying, many consider the Reaper Leviathan the scariest creature in Subnautica. Both are formidable predators, but the Reaper’s aggressive behavior and sudden attacks often make it a more frightening experience for many players.
5. What is the Most Powerful Leviathan in Subnautica?
The Sea Dragon Leviathan is considered the most powerful predator in Subnautica. Its ability to destroy precursor facilities and shoot fireballs makes it an extremely dangerous and destructive force.
6. What are the Other Scary Creatures in Subnautica?
Besides the Ghost and Reaper Leviathans, other scary creatures include the Crabsquid, Sand Shark, Warper, and Bleeder. Each creature presents unique challenges and threats to players.
7. Do Ghost Leviathan Eggs Hatch?
Yes, Ghost Leviathan Eggs can be found in the Giant Cove Tree at the Lost River. They are protected by tree branches until it’s time for them to hatch.
8. Can You Outrun a Ghost Leviathan in a Seamoth?
It depends on the distance. If a Ghost Leviathan is very close, outrunning it in a Seamoth is highly unlikely. However, if the leviathan begins pursuit from a distance, you have a better chance of escape.
9. Is There a Reward for Killing a Leviathan?
No, there are no rewards for killing Leviathans in Subnautica. The game’s focus is on exploration and survival, not on combat. Killing them is a personal challenge and has no effect on the main storyline.
10. What is the ‘Bloop’ in Subnautica?
The Bloop is a harmless creature in Subnautica. It resembles a large pufferfish with a dark gray body, glowing green dots, and transparent blue fins.
11. Are Ghost Leviathans Blind?
No, Ghost Leviathans are not blind. They use sonar and have functioning eyes, allowing them to perceive their surroundings effectively.
12. Is Subnautica a Horror Game?
While Subnautica has many terrifying moments, it’s not primarily considered a horror game but rather an open-world survival game with elements of horror. The ocean setting and encounters with large predators create a sense of terror and tension.
13. Where Should Players Avoid Going in Subnautica?
The Crater Edge, Dunes, and Bulb/Koosh Zone are generally considered dangerous and should be avoided by inexperienced players due to the presence of aggressive Leviathans.
14. What Kills Leviathans in Subnautica Lore?
Lore-wise, Leviathans can only be beaten by another Leviathan, by forcing them to eat themselves, by ‘bibbing,’ or being stabbed with a bone weapon imbued with mystical powers, an intentionally ambiguous method.
15. Is the Peeper Leviathan Real?
The Peeper Leviathan is a myth and April Fool’s joke within the Subnautica community. While some old concept art suggests similar creatures might have been planned, there is no Peeper Leviathan in the actual game.