Predator Harpoon: An Overlooked Ranged Yautja Weapon

Though often overlooked in favor of flashier or more iconic gear, the Yautja harpoon has proven to be a simple yet highly effective weapon for land, air, and aquatic hunts. Harpoons come in many forms, such as the retractable wrist harpoon and the ship-based, drone-controlled harpoon recently featured in Predator: Killer of Killers. Here is an overview of all Yautja harpoons across the movies and the Predator Expanded Universe.

The Predator Wrist Harpoon

The wrist harpoon was notably introduced with the Assassin Predator in The Predator (2018), offering a new twist on the classic wristblades. Unlike the traditional blades, this weapon could fire a blade attached to a razor-thin, razor-sharp wire. Upon release, the harpoon could entangle or even decapitate multiple enemies in a single sweep, as shown when an entire Stargazer squad was killed after driving into the wire. The beauty of this design lies in its ability to retract the harpoon back into the wrist gauntlet, solving the age-old problem of losing thrown weapons. The razor wire works best in dark environments (as it is not cloaked) and is an effective trap.

The Predator Ship Harpoon

Predators have long used their ships as extensions of their hunting prowess, and this includes harpoon-like devices. In many instances, particularly when encountering large or powerful prey, harpoons have been deployed from Predator vessels for capture or dispatching purposes. These ship-mounted harpoons can penetrate heavily armored targets, including enemy spacecraft and gigantic sea creatures. The Predator from Killer of Killers used a ship-based harpoon to shoot down an Allied aircraft during World War 2. The harpoon used kinetic force to penetrate the aircraft and even the pilot. This suggests that Yautja prioritizes energy conservation and stealth when deploying such tools.

The Harpoon Drone

An imaginative extension of Predator tech is the concept of the harpoon drone, an autonomous or semi-autonomous weapon. The harpoon shot from the ship in Killer of Killers wasn't just a harpoon, the cable was attached to an autonomous drone. After the harpoon had penetrated the Allied warplane and the pilot, the drone (not the Predator ship) pulled from the back end. The pilot was then pulled out together with the engine from the disintegrating plane. These devices might be further equipped with sensory trackers, cloaking abilities, flight systems, and auto-retraction systems.

The Underwater Harpoon

Predators have proven themselves formidable underwater, armed with harpoon-like weapons tailored for submerged hunts. In Predator: Hell & Hot Water, a Yautja operated efficiently beneath the ocean surface using a harpoon against human divers and exotic aquatic creatures. This harpoon had to function reliably under immense pressure and in the unpredictable dynamics of underwater combat. The harpoon served as both a ranged weapon and a close-quarters tool against fast-moving marine prey, including giant squids and other tentacled monsters.

The Yautja Harpoon Gun

The Yautja harpoon gun is another innovation that merges power with hunting tradition. Used primarily during hunts where disabling or capturing prey was preferred over immediate killing, this gun fired harpoon-like projectiles with incredible force. Sometimes equipped with tethers or possibly tracking elements, the harpoon gun allowed Predators to keep dangerous prey at bay or recover injured game. Ahab Predator famously used a small harpoon gun against an Engineer in the Fire And Stone comic series. The Engineer took the harpoon to his chest and was finished off with a self-destruct device explosion. Harpoon guns might be stored aboard ships or hidden among caches in the jungle or urban hunting grounds.

The Predator Speargun

One of the best-known harpoon-style weapons is the Predator speargun, made famous in Predator 2 and extensively used in the Aliens vs. Predator games. Although only glimpsed briefly in the film, the City Hunter used it to pin victims to walls with deadly accuracy. However, the speargun has no cable or razor-wire attached. In the games, the speargun became a favorite weapon among players due to its zoom function and sniping capabilities. Unlike other Predator weapons that tapped into their energy supply, the speargun had its own separate ammunition, adding an element of tactical management. Capable of dismembering foes with a single shot, it combined high lethality with precision.

The Whip "Harpoon"

Initially conceived as a projectile weapon, the Predator whip seen in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem evolved from early designs that resembled a fired, retractable harpoon. Concept artist Farzad Varahramyan envisioned a whip launched with a hook, which could be reeled back in much like the grappling hook from Aliens vs. Predator Classic. Eventually, the whip was redesigned to use the spine and tail of a Xenomorph, a fitting choice for Wolf Predator, a seasoned Xenomorph hunter. On-set actor Ian Whyte trained extensively with the whip, showcasing its lethal fluidity. Although not technically a harpoon in its final form, the original design highlights the Yautja’s experimental approach to ranged, retractable weaponry.

Grappling Hook

The grappling hook is another harpoon-like device, but intended with a non-lethal purpose. It was available exclusively in Aliens vs. Predator Classic, featured in select Predator bonus levels originally designed for Xenomorph gameplay. This device allowed the Predator to quickly ascend to otherwise unreachable areas, such as high ledges and elevated platforms. It functioned by firing a flexible blue rope from the wrist gauntlet, which then reeled the Predator in after a brief delay. The grappling hook also enabled the Predator to hang from ceilings, providing an excellent vantage point to snipe at Colonial Marines and Xenomorphs. However, while it offered a tactical advantage, Aliens could often reach the ceiling quickly, making lingering in one spot risky.

Conclusion

Though often overshadowed by plasma casters and wristblades, harpoon-style weapons represent an alternate and deadly part of Yautja hunting technology. These ranged tools have been adapted for use on land, underwater, in urban environments, and even from spacecraft. We will see more of the Predator harpoon in the upcoming Predator: Killer Of Killers animated movie.

Tag Categories: Predator Technology, Predator: Killer Of Killers Lore