In Frosthaven, you’ll be testing your skills against an array of menacing enemies. It’s time to shine the spotlight on them, so you can learn more about them and increase your chances of survival out there in the cold!
Learn all about the Algox here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2347080/view/814696363551884313
Missed our series about the Unfettered? Here it is: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2347080/view/514084814784038598
Take a peek across the planes and read about the Demons: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2347080/view/514087985507992284
Meet the Lurkers
The Lurkers - ten-legged crustaceans often reaching sizes greater than the fearsome Algox Warriors, with shells as hard as forged plate and pincers ranging from needle-thin armor-piercers to massive skull-crushing claws - were among the first and greatest concerns for the Imperial settlers who ventured this far north to found Frosthaven. It should come as no surprise: those early settlers were fishermen, and in these icy waters they found themselves in direct competition with Lurkers for one of the region’s most precious resources - fish.
But the conflict was never confined to violent encounters at sea. Lurkers are especially problematic because they will resort to raiding the outpost itself. While walls and fortifications could repel many of the land’s wild predators, they were far less effective against an enemy that could emerge from the surf without warning.
Lurkers are by no means endemic to the north - they’re found along much of the Empire’s coastline - but here their diversity is remarkable. That variety has drawn Imperial researchers to Frosthaven to study these little-understood creatures. Long thought to be no more complex than wolves or drakes, recent observations have revealed behaviors that suggest far greater intelligence.
This idea is further fueled by local fishermen, who - never short on stories - claim that under certain conditions and in certain places, one can glimpse vast, clearly unnatural structures on the seafloor where Lurkers gather most often. Still, it’s wise not to give too much credit to such claims, as they are often told in the local tavern alongside wilder tales of Lurkers the size of Imperial trade vessels, or magnificent mountain beasts with star-shaped hooves that can somehow see the future.
Nevertheless, Lurkers remain among the most dangerous creatures in the north, and any mercenary would be wise to study their behavior closely - because a battle with them is not a matter of if, but when.
Lurker Soldier
The backbone of any Lurker raiding party, Lurker Soldiers are the most common of their kind - and the ones you’re most likely to face. These are the same Lurkers found along much of the Empire’s coastline, and in many ways, they’re exactly what you’d expect: relentless, well-armored, and highly dangerous.
The hardness of their shells varies, likely tied to age and the number of battles survived, but on average you’ll need to put in extra effort to pierce through it. One constant, however, is their four thin, razor-sharp pincers - perfect for slipping past an opponent’s last line of defense.
They are disciplined fighters, often positioning themselves to strike two nearby foes at once. At times, they attack with such ferocity - almost a berserker’s rage - that even if you’re holding the perfect defensive stance, two pincer-lengths away, a single moment’s distraction can still see their claws lashing into you.
With average durability, speed, and attack power, they may not seem like your top priority on the battlefield. But underestimate them, and you’ll quickly learn otherwise. Left unchecked, a Lurker Soldier can shift the balance of a fight - and you might just end up feeding the fish before the day is done.
Lurker Wavethrower
If Lurker Soldiers form the backbone of their infantry, then the Wavethrowers serve as skirmishers - harassing from a distance and disrupting your lines. No matter how dry the battlefield, these crustaceans have the uncanny ability to conjure great swells of water and hurl them toward their enemies.
On their own, the blasts aren’t especially dangerous - it’s just water, after all, and chances are you’ve been battered by harder things ever since you were a child. What makes them dangerous is the sheer spread. When those waves break, they wash over a wide area, catching more than one target in the spray. This becomes a real problem when you’re up against elite Wavethrowers, who imbue every attack with immobilizing force. Suddenly, half your party is frozen in place, ripe for follow-up strikes.
Fortunately, Wavethrowers are slow - both in movement and in initiative. Most of the time, you’ll see them coming and have the chance to prepare. Some even speculate this is intentional: their role isn’t to kill, but to scatter your formation and create openings for other Lurkers to strike.
As individuals, Wavethrowers are fragile - light shells, little endurance. A strong frontal assault can bring them down quickly. But don’t get complacent. Their true danger lies in their ability to summon Lightning Eels to the fight. One or two eels are hardly worth worrying about, but left unchecked, Wavethrowers can call them in by the swarm. And what begins as an irritation can quickly spiral into a full-blown nightmare.
Lurker Clawcrusher
When someone tells a tale about a big, mean Lurker, odds are they’re picturing a Clawcrusher. They’re not the largest of their kind, but their sheer bulk and thick plating make them look as if one Lurker is wearing another as armor. What truly completes the menace are the two massive claws among their four frontal pincers.
Those claws can certainly crush, but their favored tactic is bludgeoning strikes against armored foes. The cruel irony is that the more protection you wear, the more of that force transfers straight through your armor - cracking bones, bruising flesh, and leaving you staggered. Like other Lurkers, they can threaten multiple targets at once, and they’ll often force their way into your formation, dragging you into skirmishes when you’d much rather be focusing on other threats.
Their strikes often stir the battlefield with Earth energy, which they then channel to hit harder still - or even coat their attacks with poison. Speaking of poison, it’s something you’d be wise to bring in your arsenal as well: Clawcrushers can soak up staggering amounts of punishment before going down, so every lingering wound you inflict pays off over time.
Like the Wavetrowers, the Clawcrushers are highly specialized. On their own, they may not be the worst foe you’ll ever face, but the true danger lies in how they coordinate with other Lurkers. Together, they become more than just tough opponents - they become a disciplined and well-organized squad.
Lurker Mindsnipper
Probably the scariest of all Lurkers you’ll face is the Mindsnipper - but not for the usual reasons. Unlike their kin, they’re surprisingly fragile, and their shells crack with a disturbingly satisfying click when you land a hit. If you land a hit. With Soldiers and Clawcrushers hammering you head-on and Wavethrowers scattering your formation, the Mindsnipper has plenty of room to work its insidious trickery.
And trickery it is. These creatures move with startling speed and prefer to operate from range - even when they retaliate. Like all Lurkers, they’ve got enough free pincers to strike at two of you at once, but their real danger comes from what rides along those blows. Somehow, they channel a lightning-charged energy, crackling with an eerie, whistling hiss. Armor won’t save you. The shock bites straight through, leaving you reeling under the worst effects imaginable: curses and disarms.
Worse still, their lightning tears open rifts that scatter dark energy across the battlefield. If they manage to weave that darkness into their strikes, the next bolt can lock you in place - stunned before you even know what hit you.
When you see a Mindsnipper, make it your top priority - no matter how many other Lurkers stand in your way. You cannot afford to let them rule the battlefield. Cornering them might seem like the smart play, the usual tactic against ranged foes, but be warned. Unless one of you can do it alone, approach with extreme caution. Mindsnippers have a way of seizing control of their enemies and turning them against each other. That means you against your friends - exchanging blows you never meant to give, your own hands turned traitor, striking with the strength you swore to use against these damned crustaceans, while you watch helplessly from inside your own skin.
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