Deadelganger should be able to hold on to equipped weapon and armor, and have an innate damage reduction

[Valak]

I've been exploring the new update, and so far the new deadelganger proves to be quite a spooky new addition.

But I do feel like when it infects a player, it seems to be a little underwhelming. They only attack with their fists and have no defense or abilities.

As much as I would like making a Wilson Spider army amusing, it felt like it ended up as a novelty compared to other mobs that are infected with the same enemy.

So I propose that when your character gets possessed, it would only drop what is currently in your inventory except character specific items. The deadelganger would use any weapons and armor that were still equipped at the time of death, as well as having access to stat boosts/nerfs or skill from both the character and their skill tree. ( ie. A deadelganger wormwood with bloom will retain its bloom status, a possessed wx will still have the slotted circuits installed, a wigfrid with her song would still sing, etc)

 

Moreover, it would also be great if there is a variant of the deadelganger that you can encounter pre-rift.

 

[Well-met]

yes these absolutely need a buff with how rare they come into play

[Beetrice]

I think it would be interesting if it didn't drop what you had, then you would have to fight it to get it back. At the same time though, the power level is so high post rifts that a single deadelganger wouldn't be more of an annoyance than an actual threat. Perhaps they can also switch to ranged weapons at range, or use consumables like Pan Flutes?