Special Enemies
Brutes
Brutes are enormous eight-foot tall behemoths that the Syndicate uses to enforce its will. They are extremely durable and hard to kill.
Also, All Brutes recover health when in a downed state. When Brutes are finally out of health, they will become incapacitated and you must run in and press a button to kill them or continue to pummel them to finish them off.
As your notoriety increases, the Brutes arrive on the back of a special vehicles. There are three types of Brutes, each suited to a different type of combat.
Melee Brute
The standard or Melee Brute is a close-in brawler. At range, he will attempt to grab and throw a nearby person or object. In general, however, he is much more effective at rushing in close (like a bull) and then performing a melee attack or grabbing you. Also, like all Brutes, the Melee Brute recovers health when in a downed state, which makes this enemy incredibly tough. The best way to deal with these hulks is to take advantage of the fact that they are unarmed. Keep your distance and plug away at them for as long as you can before sprinting away. That is easier than it sounds since they can charge at you at a very quick pace. These big boys can move!
Minigun Brute
Slower than the other Brutes, the Minigun Brute attacks from range, having no real desire (or ability) to rush his opponents.
But then again, he really doesn’t need to. The minigun he carries does heavy damage, has excellent range, and a very quick rate of fire. The Minigun Brute is also protected by bulletproof armor (though it acts as only partial cover).
The major weakness of this Brute is his inability to move and fire at the same time. Also the big gun is hard even for him to carry and he moves rather slowly.
He is very tough to deal with if he has an elevated position or partial cover. Use your speed to outmaneuver him, then force him to come to you, where you are somewhat protected.
Flamethrower Brute
This Brute likes to close the distance to be effective with his short-range weapons. Unlike the sluggish Minigun Brute, the Flamethrower Brute has the ability to rush in very quickly. Also, he possesses fireproof armor.
One important weakness is that if his backpack fuel tank is sufficiently damaged, it will explode and kill him. Because of the relatively short range of his flamethrower, keep your distance to attack this foe.
Unless you hare reduced your fire damage through an upgrade, he is simply too tough to take on toe-to-toe even if you have a minigun. Hit-and-run is the best way to deal with these flaming monsters.
Gang Specialists
Each enemy group has specialists that are rarer enemies with unique abilities or weapons to provide variety to combat. These are more lethal enemies that should always get your priority when you are fighting any group. Specialists will begin to arrive on the scene as your notoriety increases.
Riot Shield
Riot Shield specialists are any law enforcement members (Police, Guard, or STAG) that carry a riot shield. The riot shield provides exceptional cover from bullets, though it doesn’t protect against explosive weapons. While the shield is bulletproof, enough damage done in a short period of time can cause the person using it to flinch, temporarily exposing himself. It takes a lot of shots to make the shield carrier flinch, so use any type of explosive to drop them quickly. Also, once they are gone, grab the riot shield yourself! Not only is it a great defensive weapon, it can also deliver a devastating shield bash that sends most enemies sprawling.
Morningstar Sniper
The Morningstar Sniper’s high-powered rifle is laser-sighted and produces a red, telltale laser beam. This beam allows you to see both the Sniper’s position and who is currently being targeted. Once locked on to a target, the Sniper’s rifle is very accurate and damaging. However, it is slow to reload and requires a few seconds to reacquire a lock after a shot. Take these enemies out from cover, or use your own sniper rifle to even the odds. If neither of those are an option,sprint to close the distance to eliminate the Sniper’s tactical range advantage.
Luchadore Grenadier
His ability comes from his extraordinarily powerful mid- to long-range grenade launcher, which fires many small grenades in an arcing spread around the target. The grenades lie on the ground for a short period, allowing the target a moment to escape, before exploding in series, with high ragdoll potential. The Grenadier is relatively slow but extremely tough. If you circle-strafe around him he won’t be able to keep up, as the grenades will detonate behind you. Let him waste his ammo as he attempts to track you and when we performs his ducking animation or tries to reload, let him have it.
Decker Rollerblader
The Rollerblader is a hit-and-run specialist, firing at range with light weapons but occasionally closing to melee range to use her principal weapon, a rocket-powered Shock Hammer. The Rollerblader is especially dangerous out in the open due to her incredible speed and ability to knock you on your back. Try to force the skater chick into a confided space to limit her movement, or use up-close melee attacks to hinder her mobility.