A Demon, Pterodactyl or "Vichukha" (as referred to in several Universe novels in Russian) is a large surface predator that appears throughout the Metro universe. One of the only known flying mutants in post-apocalyptic Moscow, they are at the top of their food chain and deadly to both humans and mutants alike.
Overview
A Demon after pouncing its victim
A Demon can be described as having a knobbly spine, short tail and three pairs of limbs: two prehensile arms, two legs and two large wings. They also have a long head with a blunt snout, consisting of a bat-like nose, eyes with vertical cat-like slit pupils set far apart on the head, and a large mouth with 4 canines and several secondary teeth. The backs of Demons are covered in sparse, short black fur and there are folds of skin on the base of the neck. Their wings are attached to their body with massively muscled arm like limbs that are almost twice the diameter of their thigh muscles. This explains how Demons can fly, despite a their massive size - a Demon's wings are in fact so powerful that they can hover in the air for significant periods of time. Demons vary in size from babies the size of household cats to the largest encountered in the level, The Crossing; this dead Demon is the size of a large horse. Demons produce roars that seem to be a guttural version of a tiger's. Because their eyes are quite small and on the sides of their head, it is unlikely that the demons hunt by sight. Their large nasal ducts suggest a powerful sense of smell.
Illustration from Metro 2034 book
Genetic Origin
It is unknown what exactly Demons mutated from and there are a number of theories suggesting mammalian, avian and reptilian origin, but none have so far been proven.
The most likely animal they have mutated from was the bat. Demons possess hair while lacking feathers, scales, or beaks, suggesting a mammalian origin. They also have very bat-like noses, seem to fly like bats, and sometimes swoop down like bats upon their prey. Another aspect that would support them being descendants of bats would be that in order to achieve such a drastic form of mutation in such a short time, they would have to have a fairly high birth rate; this theory is supported by the fact that most of the other mutants seem to be descended from fast breeders too. Nosalises are presumed to have been descended from moles or shrews, and lurkers, or as one person in theater suggests elephants from the zoo and Watchmen possibly derive from rodents.
Opposing the bat theory is the fact that their legs are similar to feline or canine hind legs.
☀Unlike all other mutants and every other vertebrate, Demons have six limbs. While this may simply be an extensive mutation that was quickly brought into their gene-pool following the nuclear war, it is also theoretically possible that, given the many different physical characteristics that are drawn from several different unrelated species, that Demons are some kind of genetically-engineered chimera-like animal that was created in a lab before or not long after the war; this is not an entirely unlikely prospect, given that Khan raises the possibility of the Dark Ones also being genetically-engineered.
Their roars strongly resemble those of a lion, tiger, or other large cat (as opposed to the screeching of a bat), and they possess vertical slit pupils similar to felines. These features, in addition to the layout of their teeth, would seem to support the possibility that the Demons are descended from tigers, which were native to some parts of Russia before the war. However, the relatively slow birthrate of tigers would seem to discredit this. This could mean that they mutated from ordinary house cats, which were more numerous and bred faster than tigers. At times, they do display some distinctly feline-esque behavior; the baby Demon in Metro Last Light reacts to Artyom's presence by arching its back and hissing like an agitated house cat, while an adult one encountered on the Bridge curiously paws at the cable that Artyom rides along before biting it.
In Metro: Last Light, Demons posses a relatively similar size, shape and behavior but have undergone significant external appearance changes; they have a distinctly reptilian appearance with scaly skin and have lost their fur or hair. Demons also appear to have become even more muscular than they were before. Their talons are now a bit shorter but are thicker and wider. On top of all this they have a significantly different head shape, their teeth are in different places and more uniform in size and shape, and their jaws and eyes are in slightly different places and shapes. Demons never have projecting ears, instead possessing ear-holes similar to that of reptiles, birds and amphibians.
Habitat
Demons are purely surface-dwelling predators due to the fact that they cannot enter the metro due to their large size. Demons often make nests on top of tall buildings, giving them a good vantage point to hunt for prey and to offer protection for their young. They also will try to find areas with large open grounds, such as parks, where hunting is easier. They hunt either alone or in small packs, spread out across several city blocks; if one is seen, there is likely to be more close by. While they prefer to attack by circling overhead and swooping down on prey to wound it or carry it away, if they can catch humans in the open they will sometimes land to attack. They tend to avoid entering structures as this limits their ability to escape by flying if the situation turns against them, but in some occasions they will attack through windows, doors, or damaged walls to get at prey inside. However on at least one occasion a Demon entered a hole in the roof of the large chamber in the Library, and was deft enough to launch swooping attacks without running into any walls, occasionally hovering in place. They are not easily intimidated and will readily attack creatures much larger than themselves, such as a Bog Shrimp.
Diet
Demons will hunt almost anything they see but usually prefer smaller prey that can be carried in its talons, either to drop and kill it or to drag it back to the Demon's nest. They hunt Watchmen, amphibians of all kinds and humans. They have also been seen attacking Bog Shrimp, though it is unknown whether this was for food or territorial disputes. Shrimp do eat Demons however.
Tactics
Though Demons are often seen flying through the irradiated skies of Moscow, it is rare that you will have to fight one. However, if you find yourself forced to do, keep in mind that they are a formidable foe and can easily kill you, even on easy difficulties. It will take quite a few shots, between six and twelve, from a Shambler to kill it and almost three magazines from a Kalash. A sticky grenade can often kill one instantly. However, it will be almost impossible to stick one to it in the air, so they must land first. On lower difficulties, one revolver cylinder (six rounds) can suffice.
Demons prefer to perch in only a handful of locations; it is possible to locate an area of cover with a view of one of these positions and inflict head-shots on the Demons with a scoped weapon. They will usually take off after the first few shots, but eventually return to the same position. A scoped revolver is ideal for this method of attack, being able to kill the Demon with relatively few shots. Demons are able to land in places other than their preset perches, however, and may attempt to do so if the player is hiding in a spot with a lot of horizontal cover but no roof, such as on the top floor of the Nazi outpost.
Fighting Demons in the open is an extremely dangerous endeavor; if you insist on doing so, your only hope is to make absolutely sure that there is a tall, solid object behind you, preventing them from making swooping attacks, forcing them to land where they are a larger target. However, the best way to deal with a Demon is to simply run - if you dart from building to building, they will be unable to reach you and will not be a threat. Of course this is not useful when you are in open territory but they can still be safely avoided if you are swift.
In the Novel
In Metro 2033, Demons are the first surface creatures seen by Artyom on his trip to the Library from Polis, where one is seen nesting on a church spire. They are described as having leathery wings and are often called "pterodactyls" by other stalkers. However, unlike in the game, they are described as having no neck, with long heads jutting from their chest. Demons are encountered again when Artyom is pursued by watchers when one swoops down and carries off a watcher to eat. Later, a Demon attacks Artyom outside VDNKh station, as it has made its nest directly above the station entrance. It also attacks the stalker vehicle, a scene used again in the video game when Demons pull over the vehicle in the Prologue to Metro 2033.
They are also seen in Metro 2034, by Sasha when she runs away to the surface. Whilst exploring the city, two spot her and attempt to carry her off. While she dodges the attack and shelters near a wall, the Demons work out her plan and land. She is only saved by the timely arrival of a Stalker from Hansa who uses some sort of explosive to obliterate one Demon and scare off the other.
Related Achievements/Trophies
Metro 2033
|
Inquisitor | 35 
|
| Kill 2 demons | ||
Metro 2033 Redux
|
Inquisitor | Bronze Trophy - 15
|
| Kill 2 Demons | ||
Metro Last Light
|
Van Helsing | Bronze Trophy - 30
|
| Kill a Demon with the Helsing | ||
Trivia
Metro 2033 Novel
- Some of the Stalkers tell Artyom that the demons might actually come from the native birds which resided in Moscow before the blast.
- It is mentioned that some Demons made their nest right on the top of Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Metro 2033 Video Game:
- Bourbon jokingly prefers to call them "bitches", as he says in the mission Dead City 1.
- As demons prefer high locations from where they can spot their prey, the largest amount of Demons encountered in game can be found at Ostankino Tower, the highest point in Moscow. Roughly six are seen at once, descending from the Tower to attack the Rangers as they are busy fighting Watchmen.
- None of the demons have to be killed and all can be avoided except the one on top of Ostankino Tower. On the other hand, all demons can be killed (excluding the swarm from the Tower level), but can be particularly difficult to kill, as they only appear for a short period of time.
- If Artyom gets pounced by a demon, or picked up off the ground, he cannot survive. This often ends in death in levels such as Outpost or Alley.
- On Dead City 2, the player has roughly 10–20 seconds to run from, or kill the demon that attacks Artyom and Bourbon, or it will pounce Artyom. This gives the player just enough time to clear any watchers, and run for cover.
- On Top, Artyom must kill the demon before it finishes off the injured Miller, or the mission will fail.
- On Alley, it is best to find the hole and get in as soon as possible. It is much safer than to stay and fight, as in this level the Demon is highly likely to pounce the player, and is indeed unkillable, as it is required for the plot of the mission to continue.
Metro Last Light:
- In The Dead City, a Demon nest is found with a baby demon inside. The Dark One will chastise you for killing its mother and the baby. Also, you will gain a negative moral point. However, the Dark One will NOT inform you or let you know about this ahead of time, only after the deed has been done.
- This is also the best location for the Van Helsing achievement/trophy, as the Demon doesn't stray far from its nest.
- Demons are known as Winged Ones by the Dark Ones, most likely as they have not heard the human name for them.
- Most Demons can be avoided and none need to be killed - avoiding doing so will sometimes award positive moral points.
- The Demons in Metro Last Light have a distinctly more reptilian appearance and in fact look very similar to Deathclaws from the Fallout series with wings and fewer digits on their limbs.
Gallery
| Creatures of the Metro Series | |
|---|---|
| Terrestrial Animals | Bear • Biomass • Corpse Eaters • Deer • Dog • Giant Amoeba • Hare • Lurker • Nosalis • Nosalis Rhino • Pigs • Snake • Spiderbug • Slimeslug • Watcher (Watchman) • Wolf |
| Avian Animals | |
| Aquatic Animals | |
| Plant Life Forms | |
| Humanoids | |
| Supernatural Phenomena | |