Yautja Grenade: A Guide To Predator Explosives
While the Yautja are best known for precision weapons like the plasma caster, smart disc, and wristblades, they also employed a variety of explosive devices. Predator grenades were used far less frequently than human equivalents, but when they appeared in the lore, they were devastating. These explosives range from plasma-based grenades to experimental cryogenic weapons and proximity mines. This guide covers the known types of Yautja grenades and explosive devices, including the cryo grenades from Predator: Badlands.
Plasma Grenade
Very rarely, the Predators used hand grenades, often referred to as Plasma Grenades. One such grenade was used by a Yautja in Alien vs. Predator: Sand Trap, when it was thrown inside an M113 armored personnel carrier. The resulting explosion was enormous, though it may have been amplified by the vehicle's onboard ammunition detonating. The Plasma Grenade contained a green, glowing liquid-like substance that closely resembled Predator blood in appearance. It was activated by a button located on the top and featured a short fuse similar to human grenades. Its destructive power suggested an energy-based explosive rather than a purely chemical one.
Cryo Grenade
Another type of Predator grenade appeared in Predator: Badlands. These weapons, often referred to as Freeze or Cryo Grenades, were capable of freezing even the largest and most resilient opponents. They were originally stored aboard the ship of Kwei, the brother of Dek, the lead Predator in the story. The grenades ultimately fell into the hands of Tessa, the Weyland-Yutani android and the "sister" of Thia. Tessa used one of these grenades against the otherwise unkillable Kalisk on the planet Genna, exploding it from the inside. The damage was so severe that Kalisk was unable to recover, resulting in its permanent death. This established the Cryo Grenade as one of the most lethal Yautja explosives ever shown.
Witch Predator's Grenade
The grenades worn by the Witch Predator in Predator: Hunting Grounds were never clearly identified in canon. The Witch Predator was shown carrying multiple Yautja hand grenades on her belt, but their exact function remained unexplained. Based on her mystical and ritualistic design, it was possible that these grenades were not standard plasma explosives. A common interpretation was that they may have been gas-based weapons, potentially releasing mind-altering substances that caused hallucinations, fear, or disorientation. This would have aligned with the Witch Predator's emphasis on psychological warfare and primal hunting methods. However, this remained speculative, as the Predators in the game are unable to use any grenades.
Yautja Fire Bomb
A Fire Bomb style grenade appeared as part of the large Predator arsenal in the Predator: Concrete Jungle video game. This device caused a smaller-scale explosion than the plasma grenade and emphasized incendiary damage. The grenade was meant to set victims on fire and "burn until their flesh is consumed", a somewhat macabre intention. The Fire Bomb demonstrated that Yautja explosives could vary in payload and destructive effects depending on the mission. The weapon is useful against Xenomorph threats, but the game featured them only in one level.
Proximity Mine
The Predators also adapted their technology into explosive traps rather than thrown grenades. In Prey, the Feral Predator used disc mines that incorporated the homing and hovering technology of the smart disc. These mines were deployed in clusters of three and remained dormant until a target approached. Once triggered, the mines rose from the ground, hovered briefly, and then launched themselves at nearby targets, detonating on contact. The Feral Predator used these mines to kill several French trappers, who hesitated out of confusion and fascination rather than fleeing immediately.
Self-Destruct Device Being Thrown
Some sources of Predator lore established that the Yautja wrist gauntlet, including the self-destruct device, was embedded into the Predator's arm and was extremely difficult to remove. This depiction was contradicted in the first Alien vs. Predator film, where the Scar Predator easily detached his wrist gauntlet and deliberately activated its self-destruct function. He then threw the device into the heart of the Antarctica pyramid Xenomorph hive while escaping alongside Alexa Woods. The resulting explosion destroyed the temple structure and eliminated the remaining Xenomorphs inside, though the Xenomorph Queen escaped through an underground tunnel.
Conclusion
Although grenades were not a common part of the Yautja arsenal, they were used in situations where overwhelming force was needed. When they did appear, these weapons were usually tied to extreme circumstances, such as destroying hives, killing otherwise unkillable targets, or escaping certain death. Different grenades clearly served different purposes, from freezing targets to burning them alive or acting as automated traps, rather than functioning as a single standard explosive.
Tag Categories: Predator Technology, Predator: Badlands Lore
