Hunter

A Hunter is a monster.

Hunters are bipedal reptilian-like creatures with large claws and teeth, and are noted for their loud shriek. They are actually B.O.W.s (Bio Organic Weapons) designed by the Umbrella Corporation by combining a fertilized human ovum with reptilian DNA and then implanting the T-Virus into the resulting creature.

The original Hunters (or the Alpha models, as they've been retroactively coined) appeared in the original Resident Evil, when the player returns to the main mansion after exploring the Guesthouse thoroughly, replacing many of the zombies in the mansion. First-time players are normally taken surprise by the Hunters, with their agility and resistance to regular firearms (in contrast to the slow zombies). Moreover, a Hunter is capable of killing the player's character by decapitatio (or by swallowing whole, by the Gamma Hunters). As a result, the Hunters have become one of the best-known creatures in the series.

Several kinds of Hunters have appeared in virtually every Resident Evil game (with Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 being two of the few, if not only, exceptions), although they're considerably easier to defeat in later game due to the player being better-equipped in those titles. The Licker seems to have replaced it in Resident Evil 2. The Resident Evil 2 exception may be denounced completely due to a deceased Hunter 121 in the Nintendo 64 port of the game.

MA-121 Hunter Alpha
Hunter model featured in Resident Evil 0 and Resident Evil, as well as in Resident Evil: Survivor. The first successful Hunter model, the Alpha model was developed by Albert Wesker and William Birkin within the Spencer Mansion in the Arklay Mountains. During the T-Virus outbreak in Raccoon Forest, the Hunters were released by the resurrected James Marcus to eliminate Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen when they were in the facility. There were also a good deal of these Hunters stored in the Arklay Research Facility, where they were released by Wesker in an attempt to eliminate the surviving members of S.T.A.R.S.. There were also some Sweeper variants of this type of Hunter.

Originally they took two Colt Python shots to take down. But in the re-release of Resident Evil, they only took one shot to kill. They've only taken one shot to kill ever since.


 * Appears in: Resident Evil Ø, Resident Evil, Resident Evil Remake, and Resident Evil Survivor

MA-121 Hunter Beta
A variation of the standard Hunter, based on battle data collected from the Alpha model in the Arklay mansion. These were being transported to Raccoon City, via truck, in order to obtain their final combat data before they were mass-produced. With the viral outbreak taking over town, the truck never left Raccoon City, and eventually the Hunters escaped to several city areas. One of the most notable aspects of the Beta model was their large left arm, making them left-handed. Though they were significantly quicker than the Alpha model and had an improved nervous system that helped them to evade bullets, they lacked fighting prowess and further research was carried out to improve the model.


 * Appears in: Resident Evil 3:Nemesis

MA-124 Hunter Gamma
An amphibian version of the Hunter, nicknamed Frogger/Blocker due to its frog-like appearance. The Gamma model has no eyes or teeth. Instead, it has a large mouth that allows it to swallow its prey whole and small claws on their webbed hands. They were secretly being harvested in tubes within a small lab in the Raccoon General Hospital, and make their home in the watery areas of the basement of the hospital. Due to their amphibious nature, they are exceedingly difficult to transport and mantain. Therefore, the only existing Gamma models were experimental ones, as they were not mass-produced. Additionally, another factor that adds to their weaknesses is the fact that they cannot resist dry air or heat, and thus must be kept in strict watery environments only to ensure its survival. The research on the model was not continued due to its multiple weaknesses and lack of effective fighting prowess. Another version of the Gamma appears in the Outbreak series, where it lacks claws and has a slightly more human appearance, walking on two legs.


 * Appears in: Resident Evil 3:Nemesis, Resident Evil Outbreak, Resident Evil: Outbreak File #2

MA-125 Hunter R
A faster variation of the Alpha model. Similar to the Alpha model in terms of appearances. Some of its distinguishing characteristics includes smaller claws and spikes on its back. It is thought that this Hunter variation was developed under the orders of William Birkin himself, and that the mutations come from increasing the amount of human material in their systems. Though, it is dubious this model will ever be mass-produced, as the test combat data on it was not recorded and all related data was consumed in Birkin's laboratories. The numerous Hunter R only appear in the "Below Freezing Point" scenario of Resident Evil:Outbreak and for most of the scenario are safely frozen. However, in order for the characters to escape the lab and complete the scenario, they must defrost the whole lab, thus reviving the monsters. The Hunter Rs aso appear in Outbreak File #2 in the "End of the Road" scenario, and a miniature version (called Hunter micros) can be found in the "Nursery" room of the lab. The Hunter micros have exactly the same attacks and firepower resistance as the larger versions.


 * Appears in: Resident Evil: Outbreak, Resident Evil:Outbreak File #2

Enhanced Hunter
The Enhanced Hunter featured in Resident Evil Code: Veronica. Also known as the Hunter II model, it was not developed by Umbrella, but by a group called HCF, Albert Wesker's mysterious employer after leaving Umbrella. This model was more intelligent than any of Umbrella's models, as it could track down its target through an automated surveillance device called a Seeker, which directed the Hunter directly against the target received by the device with a special frequency.


 * Appears in: Resident Evil Code:Veronica, and Resident Evil Code: Veronica X

Sweeper
A variation of the Enhanced Hunter, the Sweeper has purple veins and scales that are a light purple color, with red eyes that separate them from the common Enhanced Hunter. They attack in the same manner of the Enhanced Hunters, but their claws have an additional poison effect, making them considerably more dangerous.


 * Appears in: Resident Evil Code:Veronica, and Resident Evil Code: Veronica X

Hunter Elite
Hunter model appearing in Resident Evil: Dead Aim. The Hunter Elite is said to be faster and more powerful than the standard Hunter. As well, they are far more agile and powerful, requiring larger amounts of ammunition to be taken out due to their more resilient nature. Oddly, one hand was bare while the other had a claw.


 * Appears in: Resident Evil:Dead Aim

In other media
In addition to the Hunter models listed, S.D. Perry's series of Resident Evil novelizations also feature two unique Hunter models that are not in any of the games. The MA-7 appeares in the novel Caliban Cove and another species of Hunter (known as the '3k' model) is mentioned in the novel Underworld. The '3k' has a chromatophoric capability which made them disappear into their surroundings, similar to a chameleon. They are hyper-sensitive to light exposure and seemed to feel pain when sudden flashes occurred.