Hello everyone!
We're back with more information about the enemies you'll be facing in The Dark West!
As explained last week, enemies are divided into four tiers. Tier 1 features common enemies you’ll see roaming, while Tier 4 represents boss variants based on them. As tiers increase, enemies gain higher stats, additional talents, new skills, and even unique talents.
Jackalope
Jackalopes are a common menace across the open plains of the Dark West, as familiar to travelers as dust storms and dying cattle. These wiry, horned hares move in sudden, violent bursts, vanishing into scrub and tall grass before reappearing just as quickly to strike. Their antlers grow jagged and uneven, often scarred, splintered, or blackened, and their mouths are lined with small, needle-sharp teeth that tear more than they bite. Though small, they are aggressive and territorial, favoring low lunges that gore and shred in quick succession before darting away.
They are rarely alone for long. Jackalopes are often seen in loose packs or under the watch of older, hardened matriarchs; larger, more scarred beasts that guard and drive the younger ones with ruthless efficiency. Given time, they grow tougher, faster, and far more dangerous, their antlers thickening into brutal weapons. Some hunters speak in hushed tones of older things still; warped, blackened jackalopes that seem to swallow light itself, moving like a void across the plains. Whether legend or truth, the message is the same: what begins as a nuisance in the grass can become something far worse if left to thrive.
Jackalopes have three skills: Springslash, Blitz Charge, and Horn Thrust. All are offensive abilities they use to ensure you’ve seen your last sunset.
Tier 2 Jackalopes are even more dangerous, especially in packs. With their Pack Frenzy talent, each one gains increased attack and movement speed for every nearby Jackalope, quickly becoming an even greater threat.
Harrow
A Harrow is a twisted offshoot of the common crow: leaner, meaner, and violently territorial. Smaller flocks haunt the dirt roads between settlements, where the dead are left to rot. Feeding endlessly on these abandoned corpses, Harrows have absorbed corrupted flesh and the lingering curse that clings to branded creatures. Over time, this diet has changed them. Their feathers are unnaturally jet black, swallowing light rather than reflecting it, while their eyes burn with a dim, unnatural violet glow. They attack in bursts, darting, shrieking, and relentless; using hooked beaks and razor-edged talons to tear flesh from bone. What begins as scavenging quickly turns to frenzy. Larger Harrows, however, are something else entirely. These bloated, overfed horrors grow solitary and territorial, no longer bound to flock behavior. Their increased size and warped strength allow them to crash into prey with brutal force, toppling men, overturning wagons, and even dismantling entire horse-drawn carriages in a storm of feathers and bone.
Harrows have the Flying talent, meaning they never fully commit to the ground, making them immune to all ground-based effects.
They also have the Coordinated Assault talent, which broadcasts their attacks to nearby Harrows within Presence, causing them to target the same enemy in unison. This talent also resets their Peck (Harrow Dive) skill, which deals damage and has a chance to inflict bleeding.
Harrows are dangerous enemies and, like Jackalopes, can be fatal in packs.
Tier 1 - Harrow
The common Harrow is the most basic of its kind, featuring two talents (Flying and Coordinated Assault) and two skills: Claw (basic attack) and Peck (Harrow Dive).
Tier 2 - Carrion Hen
The Carrion Hen gains access to Talon Slash, a powerful multi-hit skill that has a chance to apply Disease on hit.
Tier 3 - Blackfeather Alpha
In addition to its existing talents and skills, the Blackfeather Alpha gains Wing Slam, a powerful ability with a 100% chance to Knockdown on hit. Being knocked down in the middle of a pack of Harrows is certain death.
Tier 4 (Boss) - Dreadbeak Matriarch
The Dreadbeak Matriarch is the most dangerous of them all. In addition to enhanced versions of all skills from previous tiers, with increased chances to inflict ailments and reset ability cooldowns on hit or use, it also gains access to the unique talent Feast of Affliction.
This talent applies Afflicted to nearby players who are Bleeding or Diseased. It also grants the Matriarch one stack of Bloodlust while players within its Presence are Overwhelmed.
We hope you enjoyed this showcase of enemies! In our upcoming demo, currently in development, you can expect to see all four tiers of the Harrow and the first two tiers of the Jackalope. Of course, everything is still subject to change.
Tune in next week for more from the world of The Dark West.
Don’t forget to check out our official Discord server, where you can help shape the game through polls and by sharing your feedback.
And if you haven’t yet, don’t forget to wishlist The Dark West!