For more information about other enemies, see Enemies
Drones are Lesser Machines that first appear in the mission [ 1-1: HEART OF THE SUNRISE ]. They are ranged projectile enemies, constantly moving around in the air to fire projectiles from afar.
Appearance
Drones are the smallest enemies in the game so far, being small purple machines with a single pink eye, accompanied by glowing pink lines on the sides. They will occasionally make chirping noises, almost similar to birds.
Combat
Drones are aerial enemies that will slowly move toward the player until they are at medium range. If approached, they will quickly back away until they are at medium range once more. Drones will frequently dash from side to side, which makes them hard targets to hit. However, they dash on a random basis and do not dodge in reaction to the player's attacks.
Their primary attack consists of three Hell Energy projectiles that fly in a vertical column toward the player. It is telegraphed by particles around the drone accompanied by a short charging sound, with the drone changing the color of its eye and face lines to orange. During this charging window, the Drone can be parried by hitting its body. The projectiles themselves can also be parried.
When killed, a Drone will fly toward the player in a suicide dive attack, exploding on contact. In this state, the Drone can be parried to redirect it into other enemies, or can be shot to make it explode prematurely. Sufficient damage or an explosion will bypass this kamikaze attack, causing the Drone to instantly explode.
Difficulty Changes
- HARMLESS
- Drones move and attack much slower than usual.
- LENIENT
- Drones move and attack slower than usual.
- VIOLENT
- Drones move and attack faster than usual.
- Their projectiles travel faster with slight spread.
- BRUTAL
- Drones move and attack much faster than usual.
- Their projectiles travel faster with slight spread.
- They will stick closer to the player.
Terminal Data
For more information, see Terminal
TYPE: Lesser Machine
DATA:
A mass-produced security device built as both a surveillance camera and a security guard.Though originally built to only use non-lethal ammunition, they have scavenged parts from the defunct machines on the surface for greater efficiency at collecting blood.
Curious by nature, but to keep production costs low, their intelligence is very limited.
STRATEGY:
- Due to their light weight, physical projectiles such as nails will push them around, making them harder to deal consistent damage to.- On death they will make a last ditch effort to harm their opponent with a self-destruct, but powerful single attacks and explosives will make them explode instantly.
- Punching a drone will redirect their suicide dive, making them a high-risk offensive opportunity.
- Their scanning mechanism makes a chirping sound, which can be listened for to make them easier to track down, as their flight and small size can lead them to hard to reach places.
Rending Apart
Drones are not hard to kill, but they can be difficult to hit. Being small targets that keep their distance and frequently dodge back and forth, projectile weapons such as the Shotgun and Nailgun are less effective, unless the Attractor Nailgun's magnet is used to guide the nails. Since using Railcannons against a Drone is an inefficient use of its charge, the Revolver with its hitscan shots is the most reliable way to kill a Drone, requiring two regular shots before triggering its suicide drive. The Piercer Revolver's piercing shot will instantly detonate them, and shooting coins thrown by the Marksman Revolver will automatically target them, which bypasses their dodging. The Alternate Revolver's primary fire can kill them in one shot and will cause them to fly back a short distance before triggering their suicide dive.
An easy way to dispatch Drones with any weapon is to drag them toward the player with the Whiplash and shoot them immediately after. Punching a Drone immediately after dragging them in with the Whiplash will redirect their suicide dive in the direction of the punch, as long as the punch kills the Drone, which can be done from full health if the player punches with the Knuckleblaster. This can also net extra style points.
Patch History
| Patch 16c (2025/03/02) |
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|---|---|
| Patch 15c (2024/05/11) |
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| Patch 15b (2024/04/19) |
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| Full Arsenal Update (2024/04/15) | |
| Patch 14c (2024/01/17) |
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| VIOLENT NIGHT Update (2023/12/20) |
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| Back to the Cyber Grind Update (2023/04/27) |
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| Patch 10b Hotfix (2022/02/19) |
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| Saw Your Heart Update (2022/02/17) |
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| GREED Update (2021/06/24) |
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| Soul Survivor Update (2021/04/13) |
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| Early Access Patch (2020/11/05) |
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Trivia
- Drones are named after drone music, a technique using single sustained notes or chords.[1] Drones feature heavily in ULTRAKILL's soundtrack for a variety of purposes, from calming ambience to ominous intensity to atmospheric buildup to overwhelming aural sensation.
- If the player is out of a Drone's sight, they will fly around randomly, trying to find them. This is best observed by putting some glass walls in the Sandbox, as Drones can't see through them.
- Drones make chirping noises similar to robotic birds, yet another reason to almost feel bad for killing them. Almost.
- If the pre ULTRA_REVAMP Update opening credits are taken into account, the Drone is the first enemy the player ever sees, even sooner than the Filth and Cerberi in the Intro.
- With Radiance, the speed of the Drone's kamikaze attack is increased.
- The Drone will spin far faster if parried during its Kamikaze attack.
- Drones and sentries are made by the same manufacturers[2]
- Attempting to repeatedly parry the Drone's kamikaze attack will make it explode on the second parry attempt.
- Hitting a drone with the Whiplash, and NOT pulling it will stop it from dashing and freeze it in place.
- Though the pink glow between the Drone's plating heavily resembles it, this is probably not intended to be a blush.
- On April 1st 2024, an April Fools post was made showcasing Drones turning into ghosts upon death.
- On April 15th 2024, these ghosts were added as an easter egg in [ 7-S: HELL BATH NO FURY ]. They can also be encountered through the "Drone Haunting" cheat in the Cheats menu, accessed through finding this easter egg.
Gallery
References
