Onos

From NS2 community wiki

The Onos is the largest and most powerful Kharaa lifeform. A gargantuan beast with bullet and explosion resistant carapace plating, this monstrosity serves as a living engine of destruction, known to rampage through Frontiersmen forward operations and heavy fortifications alike, often leaving nothing alive or fully intact. The Onos possesses a large, sharp horn above its snout, which is its preferred weapon against moving targets. Its strong forelegs are reserved for demolishing buildings into scrap metal, as well as used to unleash its imfamous stomp; when the Onos' bears its massive weight onto the ground, a powerful shock-wave can cause Marines to lose their footing, and any mechanical structure or unit to become disabled temporarily.

Background

The dreadnaughts of the Kharaa, the Onos are tanks – highly armored and very powerful. They are so large they cannot use crawlspaces and many of the narrow passages found on human ships and bases. This does not limit their effectiveness very much – the Onos is the highest level response to any threat, requiring large amounts of resources to gestate, but paying off with truly awe-inspiring strength.

Though it can seem like a joke (and one in poor taste, considering the devastation this species has caused), the name "Onos" does actually come from the phrase "Oh no." Early on in the conflict with the Kharaa, a Frontiersmen squad was fighting to regain control of a solar array in the Eleme system. Sporadic audio contact had been maintained with the squad by an experimental broadcasting spike, driven through the station's hull. In the besieged marine base, heavy turret placement and reinforcements had allowed them to hold off wave after wave of attack. Time stamp 65.05.43: Through the sound of gunfire and grenades, the screech of leaping Skulks and swoosh of acid rockets, a faint roar is heard. The alien weapons fall conspicuously silent. The turrets stop. The roar is heard again, much closer, much louder. Then four marine's, almost in unison … "Oh no". All hell breaks loose, contact is lost. These "Oh no's" mark the first contact with this species.

Like the Fade, the Onos' natural strength and armor are the core of its deadliness. It is the most powerful species of the Kharaa. It can soak up incredible amounts of damage, and single-handedly destroy all but the best outfitted bases or squads. The Onos' primary melee attack consists of ramming its long tusks, backed by its considerable bulk, tearing through metal, flesh, and armor with ease.

Stats

Onos
- Health: 600
- Armor: 400
- Hide Armor: 6
- Speed: 7
- Evolve Cost: 75 Personal Resources
- Gestation Time: 35 seconds

Abilities

Alien Vision
- Default Key: F
- Description: Alien Vision grants Kharaa lifeforms enhanced visual sensitivity, allowing them to quickly distinguish Frontiersmen and the terrain even in complete darkness.

Bone Shield (Currently Unavailable)
- Description: Head Blades extend out from the Onos' head, so when crouched down it protects the rest of his body from frontal attack taking no damage.

Charge
- Default Key: Shift (hold)
- Description: The Onos roars and gains momentum as it charges forward, increasing its velocity over time but also reducing its ability to turn; Charge can be interrupted by moving into a player, building, or obstacle, which sustains damage from the force. Once stopped, the Onos takes reduced damage temporarily and returns to base speed.

Gore
- Function: Inflicts damage on targeted player or structure at melee range.
- Damage: 70
- Damage Type: Puncture
- Fire Delay: 0.5
- Energy Cost: 12
- Description: A melee attack where the Onos slams his head into a target. If a Gore attack kills a marine, the corpse is flung in the air. Gore is merged with the Smash ability; Gore triggers when a player is the target.
Smash
- Function: Inflicts massive damage on targeted structure or Player at melee range.
- Damage: 100
- Damage Type: Door
- Fire Delay: 1.9
- Energy Cost: 13
- Description: The Onos lunges forward with his armored forelegs to smash a Frontiersmen structure, dealing powerful structural damage to buildings. Smash is merged with the Gore ability; Smash triggers when a structure is the target.

Stomp
- Function: Creates a shock wave in front of the Onos, temporarily disabling structures and robotic units, also knocking players onto the ground within the area of effect.
- Range: 10
- Disable Duration: 5
- Knockdown Duration: 2
- Fire Delay: 0.7
- Energy Cost: 40
- Description: The alternate attack for Onos, it stomps its massive forelegs, sending out a shockwave that temporarily knocks Marines over, also disables Marine structures and robotic units. Disabled structures and robotic units cannot function and emit electrical sparks. Stomp becomes available once Evolve Augmentation is complete on the first Mature Hive.