[Picture placeholder]
The Hornet is a medium-sized flying drone. It is basically the bigger, tougher brother of the Wasp. You usually see them patrolling the sky in groups, or guarding big ground machines.
Where do they come from?
Patrols: They fly around the "Rust Belt" often paired with a group of Wasps.
Alarms: If a Snitch sees you and fires a distress flare, it usually spawns a "response team" consisting of 1 Hornet and 2 Wasps.
Appearance: From far away, they look just like Wasps. But if you look closer (especially from the side), you will see they have thick armor plates on their front rotors. They look much heavier and bulkier than the flimsy Wasps.
The Hornet doesn't shoot rapid-fire bullets like the Wasp. It uses a Shock Dart Gun.
The Wind-Up: It takes a long time to aim. You will see a targeting laser pointing at you.
The Projectile: It fires a high-speed "shock dart."
The Effect: If this hits you, it does moderate damage but it Stuns you and shreds your shields.
Dodging: The dart is actually kind of slow. If you see the laser, just keep moving. A quick slide or jump is usually enough to make it miss.
Fighting a Hornet is a bit like a puzzle because of its armor.
The Armored Front: The two front thrusters (propellers) are covered in heavy armor. If you use Light or Medium ammo on the front, your bullets will bounce off. Do not shoot the front unless you have a Heavy weapon (like a Sniper or Grenade Launcher) that can punch through the plate.
The Weak Back: The rear thrusters have NO armor. This is the weak spot. Try to get behind it or wait for it to turn.
Make it Crash: You don't always have to deplete its HP bar. If you destroy one thruster, the Hornet becomes unstable. If you destroy two thrusters, it will lose altitude and crash into the ground, destroying itself.
Focus Fire: Since they usually fly with Wasps, kill the weak Wasps first so you can focus 100% on flanking the Hornet.
Hornets drop better loot than Wasps, including parts for medium weapons.
Hornet Driver (Unique item)
Experience Points:
Destroy: 150 XP
Loot: 250 XP
Why are my bullets doing 0 damage? You are definitely shooting the front rotors. The Hornet is designed to "tank" shots from the front. You have to circle around it or wait for it to turn towards a teammate so you can shoot the unarmored back engines.
What is the "Hornet Driver"? This is a crafting item unique to the Hornet. It is used for upgrading drone tech or crafting specific gadget modules. Since Hornets are a bit harder to kill, this item is more valuable than the Wasp Driver.
Can I stun the Hornet? Yes. If you hit it with enough force (like a grenade or a heavy sniper shot to the armor), it might stagger or wobble in the air. This gives you a few seconds to shoot the weak spots without it moving.
Does the Hornet chase you indoors? Like the Wasp, it can fly over obstacles, but it is bigger and clumsier. If you run into a small room, the Hornet often struggles to get a line of sight on you. This forces it to fly low, making it easier to hit.
Best weapon to use? If you are alone, use an Assault Rifle and aim for the back. If you are with a team, a Sniper can shoot the armor off the front in one hit, exposing the weak core for everyone else.