Skink

The Skink is a small hostile creature found in radioactive areas, often around pools of radioactive waste. It can appear alone or in groups, and it will attack anything that comes close, even when doing so is dangerous for itself. In the GATE Compendium, it is identified as IS-0128, an extremophile from Anteverse 21 with a strong affinity for radioactive environments.

Skinks fight with a ranged acid attack at close to medium range. The attack is relatively weak, but it is still worth avoiding because the creature is fast and tends to move away from the player rather than stand and trade blows. Its threat level is low overall, but it can be annoying if ignored or if allowed to kite the player around hazardous terrain.

Practical notes:

• Skinks have a fast walking speed and usually try to retreat from the player.
• They are weak for this stage of the game, so most weapons are viable.
• Ranged weapons are preferred because they let you kill one quickly before it runs off.
• Sidestepping its projectiles is an effective way to avoid damage.
• If you want to capture one alive, repeated shock or stun effects can immobilize it, and netting with electrical discharge is effective for containment.
• After enough shocks, it can be picked up safely.
• Avoid its acidic regurgitation whenever possible.

Skinks drop a Skull, Raw Skink Meat, and Green Fish Liver guaranteed, with a chance to also drop Fish Bones and Radfish. Tamed Skinks can occasionally drop two Vibrant Feces, which can be collected with scrap plastic.