Infected Explorer

Description

 * Featured in the Ruins of Brightholme DLC, Infected Explorer is originally a human conscript but rapidly mutated into a dangerous self-respawning foe due to their excessive inhalation of spores. It's frequently found in the slums of Brightholme, and often appear in groups.


 * At the 1st phase, Infected Explorers look not different to smaller and slower Walkers, but instead of dying when their health depletes, they fall forward and enter the 2nd phase.
 * At the 2nd phase, they revive to their maximum health and start crawling, they move slower but gain 50 armour, they need to be killed at this phase to actually be dead. If they're left hanging for 10 seconds, they'll pick themselves up, return to the 1st phase and fully recover their health. So the process of killing them must be repeated.

Gameplay Notes

 * Infected Explorers at both phases are very aggressive toward players, and have a melee attack similar to a Walker's.
 * Their weakspot is a bulging orange lump on the back of their head, but it comes around the left side just enough to be visible when facing them directly. When an Infected Explorer is on the ground, it leaves their weakspot very much exposed.
 * Target locking still works on an Infected Explorer that enters the 2nd phase. For instance, Focus tower will still lock on it, and REX won't lose its aim at it.
 * It worths noticing that as it does, the Infected Explorer become really close to the ground, which can cause Focus or other towers trying to fire through tower bases, the beam of the focus passes thought but the tower does 0 damage until it has a line of sight on it again.
 * Adjusting the Targeting System of towers doesn't help them distinguishing Infected Explorers of different phases.
 * Slowing effect prolongs the respawn time of an Infected Explorer. For example, a rank 3 slow field can extend it to about 18 seconds.
 * An Infected Explorer takes about 2 seconds to fall down or get up after it switches to another phase, during which it cannot move or attack. Again, this can be prolonged by slow effects.

Strategy

 * Due to it's nature, a tower should ensure the rate of its damage put on Infected Explorers to prevent them from getting up. Focus, ACP and Orbital Strike Relay will be an excellent choice, while Violator and Lightning are not effective.
 * Slow Fields are highly recommended against a horde of Infected Explorers since they will get up much later and will be vulnerably gathered together.