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These are challenges available to the contestants of DreadZone in the Sarathos Swamp Romp on Sarathos in Deadlocked. This planet and its challenges come directly after the Catacrom Four challenges, and will provide the necessary Dread Points and green medal for the planet Kronos, as well as the Grind Cable gadget for the combat bots. The DreadZone vendor will have the Hunter Mine Launcher weapon and Shock Mod available as well. The former launches explosive homing mines, whereas the latter lets weapons damage nearby enemies for some minor extra damage.
Challenges
Alien Soil
The first thing to do is to check the vendor and see if you can purchase either the Hunter Mine Launcher or the Shock Mod. If able, buy the former, which lets you lay down explosive homing mines (equip the Napalm Mod once you have it). If not, ignore the Shock Mod for now and wait till the second challenge. Up ahead are Shriekers, more-or-less identical the Tri-Spike Swarmers encountered before. Past them are leviathans, which are the main enemy on Sarathos. They are incredibly tough and deal a lot of damage, especially on Hero difficulty. Their scorpion-like tail is capable of either projecting a laser with which they make sweeping attacks, or firing blobs of acidic goo. Dodge both by strafing and jumping, although you can also rely on the Holoshield Launcher. The B6-Obliterator and Hunter Mine Launcher are effective in dealing enough damage, along with the Magma Cannon
Head across the path to the building up ahead, where several of the leviathans will stick their tails out of the mud holes and attack you. This makes them a smaller target, but also means they cannot move around themselves. Before ordering your combat bots to hack the orbs to the entrance with their new Hacker Ray, head across the right side for a jackpot crate (both side also contain ammo and nanotech crates. Have them hack the orbs after, then deal with the spawning Shriekers. More Shriekers will spawn inside, as well as a dropship with a few DZ Strikers, after which the challenge ends.
Sarathos Sprint
You should buy the Hunter Launcher at this point, which should be sufficient along with the Napalm Mod against the leviathans. Get rid of the first leviathan then head for the next 'island' with a 70 millimeter Stalker Turret. Either EMP it or use a Holoshield to protect yourself. Deal with the accompanying DZ Strikers and leviathans that spawn after, along with the Shriekers that show up when you order your bots to hack the orbs. More Shriekers show up when you cross the next bridge, atop of which waits another leviathan. At the end of the second bridge is a double Swingshot orb gap, past which is the final platform with another Stalker Turret and a few Tri-Spike Swarmers. Destroy them and then hack the two orbs to disable the force field, during and after which more Swarmers and Strikers show up, although they won't pose a real threat at this point.
Where the Leviathans Roam
This is the first challenge in which you get to drive the Puma, an armored vehicle with a powerful cannon. Use said cannon to blow any roaming leviathans to bits, as well as the DZ Strikers guarding the bridges and bolt cranks. There are only three such nodes and the Puma is more than capable to handle any enemies, including those that spawn while you order a combat bot to rotate the cranks. The only notable enemy is a hostile Landstalker, but it will not use its mortars and can be EMP'd as well. If at any point you take too much damage you can also take your time on a vehicle recovery pad. Lastly, there is a hidden jackpot crate on the north-east side, in front of a large ramp.
King of the Leviathans
The final challenge starts in a circular area with a large mud pit in the center and a ring of hacking orbs spread around the edge of the platform. A lot of ammo crates also ring the pit itself, so you will have at least some to spare. As soon as you order your bots to hack leviathans and Shriekers will begin to spawn out of the pit. Rely on the B6-Obliterator, Hunter Mine Launcher, and Magma Cannon for their spread and area of effect damage while the bots handle the orbs.
Once all orbs are hacked a massive tail will rise up out of the mud. The King Leviathan is essentially an over-sized leviathan, but will not deal more damage, only take a lot more. Instead of dodging just focus on throwing up Holoshields while emptying your Hunter Mines and Obliterator ammo on it. After enough damage it will jump out of the pit, but its attacks remain the same and it will only provide a bigger target. On Hero difficulty due to its health it can likely tank almost everything you throw at it, but your combat bots' Alpha Ravager is liable to provide enough immediate damage to finish it off instantly.
Completion of "King of the Leviathans" rewards the player character with the Grind Cable and a green medal, with which they can attempt the next planet and its challenges, after collecting enough Dread Points by completing Dread Challenges.
Dread Challenges
Check Me Out
"Check Me Out" is an identical hoverbike challenge to "Hoverbike Madness" on Catacrom Four. The only difference is the larger amount of explosive barrels and the more space in which to maneuver. Focus on continuously shooting to destroy the barrels up ahead, and jumping over and around them otherwise.
Swamp Fever
In "Swamp Fever" you once more get to control the Landstalker, with the objective being to destroy 23 of the 25 roaming leviathans within a time limit. The standard lasers are ineffective, so rely solely on charging the mortars and letting go whenever they are done and an enemy is within range. Due to the time limit and the Landstalker's slow speed you will have to continuously keep moving to be able to make it. Head towards the building on the left side (there is no need to cross any bridges) and take out the leviathans on the way there, the one inside, and the few behind it to finish the challenge.