Enemies

Handgun to the head and back-pedal between shots: the first one makes it reel, then it closes in. A full point-blank shotgun blast to the head kills it, and the 44 MAG takes off the head or any limb in one shot. Block (L) instead of trading hits: you can walk through Molded rooms blocking to save ammo. Never sprint next to one: sprinting nearby, aiming at it for a long time or making it flinch up close triggers a counterattack, and the sprint counter can't be dodged. Dodge its overhead swing by crouching and strafing towards the attacking arm; its arm extension leads into a grab and bite unless you sidestep or crouch. With a Remote Bomb equipped, let it grab you and press ZR: the bomb goes in its mouth and it dies instantly ("That's a Spicy Meat-a-ball" achievement). Finishing an enemy with the knife gives "Things Got Personal".

A Molded whose right arm is a mass of stretching blades that covers its head. It takes a few more headshots than a normal Molded; one shotgun blast to the face usually does it, sometimes two. It has every Molded move except the grab, and its heavy slash can sever Ethan's leg: always block. Legless, it crawls and slashes nonstop: finish it from range.

A smaller Molded on all fours: it leaps long distances and runs along walls. Crouch (right stick) to line up headshots: 2–3 handgun shots do it on Normal. Its close swipe is fast and easy to block, but don't block its mid-range lunge: it hits twice and the second always lands, so shoot it instead. From a wall it can pounce and dig its claws in. Up close, use the shotgun.

Huge, slow and very tough. Don't shoot it while it stands idle: it answers with a vomit. Up close, a short vomit (step right) or a grab (block). At mid or long range, a horizontal vomit (crouch) or a vertical one (step right). If you sprint away it charges faster than you run: shoot its legs or block. Its vomit also stuns other Molded. It explodes on death: step away or block. If it grabs you while a Remote Bomb is equipped, press ZR and it dies instantly.

The big flying insect. It is passive, slow and does little damage. Wait until it hovers still, which means it is about to attack, and hit it then. Finishing one with the knife is the easy way to the "Things Got Personal" achievement. In Marguerite's pit they can't hit you if you keep toggling crouch and stand (right stick).

It surrounds you, drains health nonstop and blocks your view. Nests and Marguerite release it: kill the source, not the swarm. Burn it with the Burner, the best weapon against it, or use the Grenade Launcher's blast (only the splash hurts it). The shotgun does −20%.

Nests are armoured and keep releasing swarms until destroyed. Light it with the Burner for a few seconds, step back while the flames eat the armour, re-ignite it, then finish it with a close shotgun blast. The hives Marguerite lays in the Greenhouse are smaller and weaker; interrupt her before she finishes them.

Tarantula-sized albino spiders covering doors and cabinets. They only attack when you get close, for minor damage. Kill every one to open what they cover. With ZL + ZR the knife does a longer stab and they can't reach you. Clearing a door with the knife gives the "Slash Slash, Slashity Slash!" achievement: the first chance is the Living Room door after the Stone Statuette.

Handgun to the head → punch (press the prompt) → stomp when it is down: it saves ammo. Deflect (L right before the hit) to stun it and open the punch. Against groups, hold a corridor or the entrance steps so they can't surround you; switch to the shotgun after 4–6 kills.

Fast and on all fours: it leaps and claws. Shotgun up close (Thor's Hammer - AW Model-02) or sneak up on it. Plan for Shield Machine wave 2, which brings 4 at once.

Two of them crash through the barricade in the middle of the Shield Machine as the third and last wave of the gauntlet, once wave 2 is over. Stun them with a Neuro-stun Grenade, then unload the shotgun (Thor's Hammer - AW Model-02) or put a RAMROD in the head. Their vomit can be blocked and their charge can be deflected (L right before the hit). Interior 2F, up the stairs, has RAMROD ×4 and shotgun ammo to restock mid-fight.

No head and no arms: it runs at you and explodes, for weak damage. It is slow and makes a noise as it comes. Shoot it with the handgun before it closes in, or with the shotgun from range and back off; you can also deflect the explosion.

The white Molded. Normal weapons don't hurt it; a single RAMROD (Anti-Regen Ammo, switched in with ZL + X), ideally to the chest, kills it. Explosions or a hit after a block stun it. It gives off spores that drain your oxygen. Avoid it until you have RAMRODs; in the spore tunnels, running past it stays a good idea. A Neuro-stun Grenade also gets it off you. In the Shield Machine waves, keep a RAMROD loaded for the one in each wave.

A small seven-legged spawn with a single red eye. Its only attack is a leap: block it or sidestep. It explodes afterwards, hit or miss. If you aim at it, it hops back. Neuro-stun Grenades kill them.

Automated guns. Crouch (right stick) to pass under their line of fire. Back off and let them shred the Molded chasing you. The one in Research Facility Corridor 1 only switches on after you restore power in the Power Room; the one in the Back Corridor is out of ammo by the time you get there.

Strong combo → stomp, or a stealth kill from behind if it hasn't seen you (move crouched). Repeated blows stun it and open an instant finisher. A shotgun blast to the head is fatal. "Swamp Warfare" achievement: 5 stealth kills; the Base Camp has 2 in the tents that are easy to catch unaware.

The deadliest enemy for Joe up close. Always stealth-kill it from behind or spear it from range with a Throwing Spear.

Blades on both arms and spines on its head: tougher and hits harder, with the same moves as a Molded. Block and counter: it falls to a few punches (a strong punch does 1200 to it on Normal). Break one of its legs and it turns very aggressive and attacks in a series: finish it fast.

Punches don't make it leak acid, and it recovers faster than in the campaign. Circle it while you punch: it loops into its short vomit, which a sidestep dodges (you need room). Knocked to its knees it counters with a scratch and a vomit: get behind it. Block its ranged vomit and back off as soon as it goes down, because it explodes. It can't be stealth-killed.

Joe can't handle them hand to hand and they can't be stealth-killed: only Throwing Spears (Tree Branch + Scrap Metal) kill them. Watch for ripples in the water, sneak past when you can and have a Throwing Spear readied before you step into water. In Quarantine Area 1 a stuffed alligator toy surfaces as a decoy, and the real one is right behind it. Spears that miss can be picked up again.