Pacific Drive - Anomalies And Enemies Guide
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Pacific Drive is a roguelite survival game. Survival is somewhat of an understatement, because so many things can annihilate your vehicle. Of course, without your trusty car, you can bet that your character will perish eventually. Here's our Pacific Drive anomalies and enemies guide so you can prepare for the game's many confusing threats during your runs.
Hurricane Squall
A Hurricane Squall is an extremely dangerous weather anomaly that can occur in certain junctions. Denoted by a huge, light green radius, heading inside this area will cause your car to get constantly pushed to various directions. If your vehicle is hard to control, then you might end up bumping into other hazards or obstacles.
Darkness
One particular Pacific Drive anomaly that you should beware of is perpetual darkness, which can occur in certain locations. As the term implies, the entire junction will be pitch black, making your surroundings almost impossible to see. This is why you should bring extra headlights and flares in your trunk.
Hot Dust
Hot Dust is basically radiation or irradiated materials. Patches of these are found all over the Zone, and going inside the radius will also cause a radiation spike that gradually depletes your character's health. However, if you're inside your car and vehicle integrity isn't compromised, then you shouldn't worry too much.
Cough Box
The more severe counterpart of the Hot Dust is the Cough Box, which is an extremely poisonous gas cloud found in swampy areas. Not only does it deplete your HP, but it also corrodes the durability of vehicle parts.
Bollards
Bollards are negligible obstacles early in the game. Later on, however, they can be quite annoying. That's because these pillars get periodically raised from the ground. They can either push and cause your car to tumble, or act as obstacles that must be avoided.
Shakers
Bollards emerge rather slowly, but Shakers erupt if you try to drive over them. The good thing is that they're somewhat visible due to a yellowish outline along the road.
Airstrips
Airstrips are lines of hazy smoke. If you pass through one, your car will get launched high up into the air. This can cause damage to your vehicle's wheels upon landing, or damage to other parts if you hit other objects. While Airstrips are easily visible, they're somewhat hard to avoid since they cover a long patch of ground, and you have to look for a gap if you want to avoid them.
Abductors
One Pacific Drive anomaly that gives that sci-fi, alien threat vibe is the Abductor. These floating robotic contraptions are seen early in the campaign, and they're going to be a headache for the rest of your journey. If you pass near an Abductor and get detected, it will clamp down on your car, tossing it like garbage and causing tremendous damage.
Bubblegum Buddies
If Abductors annoyed you to no end, then get ready for the weirder Bubblegum Bunnies. These creatures made up of pink tentacles love to roam around, sticking to your car while slowly dismantling its parts. Compared to Abductors that have a limited patrol area, Bubblegum Buddies have a wider aggro range. They can stay with your vehicle for a longer period, unless you can manage to shake them off.
Spark Towers
The Spark Tower is a Pacific Drive anomaly that appears early in the campaign, and is also somewhat easy to deal with. These structures are powered by Plasma Drives nearby. All you need to do is sidestep the lighting arc that it shoots, before breaking open the case using an Impact Hammer tool.
In some cases, a Spark Tower might be surrounded by two or more Plasma Drives, which means you have to destroy all the devices that power it. On the bright side, you'll be able to loot more Plasma and Glass Shards.
Sizzling Mist
The Sizzling Mist is a stationary environmental hazard that zaps your vehicle's circuits. Although it has a medium-sized radius, it can still be avoided without issues.
Wriggling Wreck
Over the course of your entire trek through the Pacific Northwest, you're going to stumble upon a lot of abandoned vehicles that you can dismantle for parts and fuel. The Wriggling Wreck, however, is quite different. It's actually a trap--getting close to one will activate other devices that can zap you.
Minutemen
Speaking of getting zapped, the Minutemen anomaly is a cluster of small pylons that emerge from underground. These pylons will, in turn, form a circuitous segment that electrifies anyone who passes through. As such, you want to wait for an opening if you don't want to get hit.
Tourists
Tourists are probably the creepiest anomalies in Pacific Drive. These humanoid forms might seem harmless at first, but their sheer numbers and the damage that they deal can be very deadly. If you run over one, expect a thunderous "boom," not to mention the possibility of hitting other Tourists that are close by.
Glittering Boulder
The Glittering Boulder is yet another type of explosive hazard. Early in the game, you might spot only one or two in a junction. Later, though, you'll see entire clusters dotting the roadside. These bright, glowing orbs will explode if you get near, causing a burst of speed that will likely make you hit another obstacle.
Shaggy Scrambler
Most explosive anomalies in the game tend to just trigger if you get close enough. The Shaggy Scrambler is different since it's the one that moves toward you. Run or drive as fast as you can, or you might find yourself in deep trouble.
Bunnies
There are several variants of Bunnies in the game, and they're all annoying to deal with. Multiple critters will latch onto your car, causing you to lose control. Depending on the variant, they might also cause further damage, such as Bolt Bunnies with their electrification effect. A well-timed LIMPulse Emitter should do the trick. Barring that, you might want to try kicking them off your vehicle, even if it's a bit risky.
Spike Puddles
Spike Puddles appear as black, gooey substances left by the road. Try to watch out for them, since they can cause your tires to deteriorate in seconds.
Crawlers and Can Openers
These mechanical creatures travel along the ground, unlike stationary Spike Puddles. The "tell" is a clear line (i.e. either red or blue depending on the type), which you should definitely avoid. Failure to do so, and they'd rip apart your tires, greatly hampering your car's mobility.
In any case, these are just some of the enemies and anomalies in Pacific Drive. While you're thinking about the hazards that you'll face, we also suggest taking a look at our beginner's guide/survival guide so you can prepare for the journey ahead.
Pacific Drive takes you on a harrowing journey through the northwestern United States, where eerie forests, fetid marshes, and deadly anomalies await. If you want to survive for as long as possible, we encourage you to check out our guides hub.