Chieftain

Chieftains are senior Gatekeeper commanders and a step above the rank-and-file Neophytes. They are encountered alone or near other Gatekeepers, sometimes muttering to themselves, and are hostile to anything that is not a Gatekeeper, Defense Robot, or Corrupted Robot. If possible, they will alert other Gatekeepers nearby, making them a dangerous target to leave alive.

In combat, Chieftains behave much like Neophytes, but with a more powerful weapon and far more pressure on the player. They keep their distance when they can, use melee attacks only when cornered, and can quickly sidestep or combat-roll either to evade incoming attacks or to shoot at players behind cover. Their attack set is varied and aggressive: they can fire multiple handgun shots that may inflict Severe Bleeding, throw frag grenades at a target’s position, kick in melee, strike with a pistol whip, or grab and headbutt an enemy.

A Chieftain’s most notable defense is its Hardlight shield. As soon as combat begins, it will raise this shield around its body, and the shield must be broken before the Chieftain can be damaged normally. However, if a player manages to sneak up on one before it becomes alert, the Chieftain can be damaged or even killed before the shield is deployed. Any shield-disabling effect will also leave it vulnerable, and acid-based weapons are especially effective once its protection is down.

Visually, Chieftains share the same build and outfit as Neophytes, including the same military and occult equipment, but they are distinguished by a painted ram’s skull mounted on their helmet. They carry a handgun rather than an automatic rifle, reinforcing their higher-status role among Gatekeeper forces.

Defeated Chieftains can drop:

• Arcane Scrap
• .357 Magnum Ammo
• Chieftain Pack
• GATE Defense Rune
• Lodestone Fragment
• Manomin Magnum

They can also be harvested for:

• Chieftain Skull
• Human Arm (Military)
• Kevlar Scrap

According to the GATE Compendium, Chieftains are the most senior Gatekeeper commanders, promoted from Phyters that have proven themselves in the field and within the Gatekeepers’ own conclaves. Their rank is tied to experience, survival, and the expectation that they can prevail under almost any circumstances.