Inspector

Inspectors, also known as Hydras or Axons, are creatures exclusive to the Downpour DLC. They vary in color and possess three heads attached to long tendrils.

They act as protectors of Iterators'.

Appearance
Inspectors have three one-eyed heads attached to long tendrils that extend from a central body. The body has thin protrusions that vary in number between individuals arranged like a propeller, as well as trailing fibers similar to those on the red tendrils and surfaces throughout Five Pebbles’ can. Inspectors are blue in and yellow in. They become red when enraged.

Combat
Fighting an Inspector can be challenging, especially when encountered in zero-gravity environments. Though their main body doesn't move that fast, this low speed is offset by the dexterity of their tendrils. Attacking one up close is not recommended, as Inspectors grab and throw any objects within their reach, including objects held by the Slugcat, any Spears stuck in its tendrils, and the Slugcat itself. Attacking from too far away, however, becomes impossible, as past a certain distance thrown spears lose velocity and become harmless.

Due to how difficult they are to fight, provoking an Inspector is not recommended.

One can get rid of an Inspector by killing it via attacking either it's core, it's tendrils or it's heads.

Hitting the heads or tendrils with standard s or  consistently deals 0.12 damage, killing the Inspector in 8 hits.


 * Since both deal the same damage, rubbish are the best to use, as spears can be grabbed by the inspector and used against its attacker. It is also recommended to hide spare spears from the inspector's sight before provoking it as it will use those if there is nothing else to grab nearby.Attacks on the core on the other hand do no damage but have a very low chance to kill in one blow (0.1% chance).

Explosives (such as or ) can dispatch the Inspector in one blow if aimed well enough. Hitting the core is a guaranteed kill, while spearing the tendrils will only harm it.
 * Focusing on the core is not recommended as it is a very inneficient way to destroy the Inspector, unless one uses explosives (see section below)


 * When trying to dispatch of an Inspector using explosives it can be easier to attack it from far away as it's tendrils can block a clear shot to the core.

When playing as, it is possible (although usually hard due to the environment) to stun and maul an Inspector, killing it instantly.

This method is technically the safest, since deflecting near an Inspector doesn't make it aggravated, but it can be challenging to grab it in time due to the zero or low gravity environment they usually inhabit.

Stealth
It can be challenging to sneak by an aggravated Inspector due to their multiple heads and their chaotic movement, though if the slugcat gets out of its sight (by hiding in a pipe for example) it will become passive once more.

Do note that once an Inspector has been provoked it will keep attacking on sight for the remainder of the cycle, so the best course of action if one has been angered is to avoid contact as much as possible.

Evasion
Although their attacks are fast, Inspectors are rather slow, making them easy to outrun. They can pursue the Slugcat between rooms, but will lose interest if the room's pipe is too far away or inacessible.

Abilities & Behavior
Inspectors are initially passive, roaming through the zero-gravity environment. The fibers trailing on their bodies may reach out and contact fibers in the environment, lighting up blue at the ends.

Upon being approached, they use their tendrils to probe and feel Slugcat; this is a harmless behavior and has no effect on the Slugcat.

Aggression
Inspectors become aggressive if attacked or if the Slugcat grabs or attacks in their presence. They flash between red and white when angered. The state entered by grabbing a Neuron Fly is different to that of eating one or directly attacking an Inspector. Instead of trying to kill Slugcat, Inspectors pick up and drop items as if in warning, and attempt to dislodge the Neuron Fly from Slugcat's grasp, becoming passive once it is released.

Directly attacking an Inspector or eating a Neuron Fly within its line of sight makes it aggressive for the rest of the cycle.

Relationships
Despite having an Attacks relationship with the Rot, Inspectors do not attempt to kill it. Inspectors turn red when in close proximity to Rot but this is independent of their emotional state, as they can fade back to normal even when the Rot is within their line of sight. This is similar to Inspectors' behaviour upon Slugcat grabbing a. Inspectors do not attack each other and their aggressive state cannot be triggered towards other Inspectors, even if hit by a direct attack.

Trivia

 * When pulled by an intense force or stunned (notably throguh artificer's deflect), Inspectors briefly shift to a red color that is more vibrant than their enraged state.
 * s work because most of their damage is not immediate.
 * On death, Inspectors explode and disappear save for their eyes. This is a trait shared by.
 * In Five Pebbles, certain Inspector spawns are replaced by in later campaigns.
 * Inspectors use the Daddy Long Legs creature template, so most creatures are afraid of them.
 * Inspectors do not immediately lose aggression towards a creature upon its death and continue to attack until they calm down.
 * In Arena mode, Inspectors may spawn in orange or green. These colorations likely belong to Seven Red Suns and No Significant Harassment respectively.