Horned Yautja: List Of Predators With Horned Masks

While many Yautja wore the iconic smooth, featureless masks, several individuals were distinguished by horned, antler-style, or spiked helmet designs. These horned masks often served as visual cues of status/rank, clan affiliation, or cultural connections to Earth's warriors. The following article lists the most notable Predators known for wearing horned masks, while some have even grown horns of their own.

Njohrr

Njohrr was an older Yautja introduced in Predator: Badlands, fathering both Dek and Kwei Predators. He was depicted as a seasoned clan leader with white dreadlocks and a black cape, commanding a tribe of hunters. Njohrr’s mask design featured antler-like protrusions on either side of his helmet, giving him a distinctive horned appearance. He was portrayed as a strict and traditional leader who valued strength and honor, even ordering his son to kill his weaker sibling to preserve the clan’s integrity.

Clan Leader

The Clan Leader Yautja rank was first introduced as part of a Kenner figure in the 90ties. NECA did a reimagining of him 2016, releasing the "Deluxe Clan Leader", with a bio-mask with giant horns (the longest of any known Predator). The Clan Leader was even revealed to sit on a throne made of Xenomorph bones (and the Queen's head). The Clan Leader was a parallel rank to the Elder Predator, who was older and wiser (such as Greyback Predator), but did not necessarily lead the clan. Njohrr from Badlands seems to have taken several traits from the legendary NECA figure.

Hornhead

Hornhead, also known as the Champion, served as a warrior of the Tartarus Clan on planet LV-797, appearing in the Life And Death comic series. Known for his immense strength and combat ability, Hornhead was eventually slain in a duel with the hunter known as Ahab. Ahab would then take control of the clan and lead them against a horde of Xenomorphs. Although Hornhead Predator was never unmasked in the comic, NECA released a figure for him with a removable bio-mask. It was revealed that the somewhat small horns were a part of his anatomy and were sticking out of his head.

Enforcer Predator

The Enforcer Predator was not a single individual but a specialized class of Yautja who served as a kind of inter-clan police force. Their role was to track down and eliminate those who violated the Yautja code of honor. They were often described as wearing white armor and helmets featuring angular ridges or horn-like spikes. These protrusions distinguished them from ordinary hunters and visually reinforced their role as enforcers of justice within Yautja society. The most famous Enforcer Predator appeared in the Predator: Bad Blood comic, where he fought well, but was eventually slain by the Blood Blood.

Witch Predator

The Witch Predator represented a rare and mystical female Yautja within Yautja culture. According to the official description, the Witch Predator originates from ancient Britannia, during a period characterized by megalithic structures and untamed wilderness. Identified as a Scout-class hunter, she operated independently, observing and targeting human Celtic warbands known for their violent raids and combat prowess. The horned mask suggested a connection to spiritual or ancient traditions, emphasizing her role as a supernatural or mystical hunter among her kind.

Viking Predator

The Viking Predator merged Yautja culture with Norse warrior imagery. This hunter wore heavy metal armor, fur accents, and carried melee weapons such as axes, evoking the appearance of ancient Viking warriors. His bio-mask often included horned or antlered shapes reminiscent of the horned helmets of Norse mythology. The Viking Predator appeared in the Predator: Hunting Grounds video game as a DLC. Later on, a Viking Killer Predator (nicknamed the Grendel) was featured in the animated Predator: Killer Of Killers anthology movie, but this time, without any horns.

Samurai Predator

The Samurai Predator was inspired by feudal Japanese warriors, combining Yautja technology with samurai-style aesthetics. His armor and weaponry, including katanas, spears, and ornate plating, reflected a disciplined and honor-bound approach to combat. While not always depicted with full horns, several versions of his bio-mask featured crests or curved extensions that resembled the antler-like kabuto helmets worn by samurai. The design emphasized the Predator’s adherence to ancient warrior codes and the ceremonial nature of the hunt. Similar to the Viking Predator, the Samurai Predator appeared in Hunting Grounds and a "Samurai Killer" appeared in Predator: Killer of Killers.

Nightstorm Predator

Nightstorm Predator, also known as the Scarab Predator, was a golden-armored elder inspired by ancient Egyptian motifs. His mask combined elements of an Anubis visage with horn-like ridges and exposed mandible vents. As revealed on the NECA figure bio, Nightstorm Predator was one of the first Super Predators, setting up the Super Predator clan/subspecies. He was one of the most visually distinctive Predators, with blue skin and golden armor. The horned features of his mask aligned him with the "god-like hunter" archetype, emphasizing age and rank.

Stalker Predator

The Stalker Predator (not to be confused with another Stalker Predator from Predator 2) was a Yautja originally released by Kenner, and then reimagined by NECA. Stalker donned horns that were unconventionally pointed downwards. It might even be that the horns were part of his body, and not the helmet. In the detailed NECA backstory, Stalker hunted in the southern regions of Yautja Prime, which were constantly covered in darkness. His translucent skin was organically adapted to fit this dark environment, while his blood glowed in the dark, revealing his position to fellow hunters. Stalker hunted as part of the "Night Hunter Clan", fighting blind animals removed from the rest of the planet.

Spiked Tail Predator

The Spiked Tail Predator was a fierce Yautja variant known for its spined tail and aggressive helmet design. In addition to Hornhead, he is one of the few Predators with biological horns, although these might have grown due to hybrid experimentations. As part of the Rogue Space Tribe, he extended his life through cybernetic enhancements. Exiled from Yautja Prime for his use of forbidden technology, he and his brothers, the Armored Lost and Lasershot Predators, chose to hunt mechanical beings across the galaxy using stolen space-time tech. Originally a 1990s Kenner action figure, he was later reimagined by NECA with this expanded backstory.

Conclusion

Throughout Yautja mythology, horned and spiked masks served several symbolic purposes. They signified hierarchy, ritual status, and individuality while connecting Yautja to Earth's ancient warriors. As a last resort, they might even be used to stab an opponent. Most of the horns have been attached to bio-helmets, while some rare Predators have grown their own horns. However, this might have been due to illegal experimentation with hybridization.

Tag Categories: Individual Predators, Predator Lists, Yautja Appearance