Shrinker

Background

The Shrinker is a high-tech weapon that glows as a result of its green, crystalline ammo. When fired, the weapon flashes while its green crystals are visibly electrified. The Shrinker deals no damage but instead shrinks enemies. While shrunk, enemies will wander aimlessly without stopping to shoot the player. If the player approaches a shrunken enemy, Duke will automatically stomp the enemy to death. If left alone, shrunken enemies will return to normal after 11.69 seconds. Shrinker projectiles produce a blast radius: firing closer to the ground may shrink larger enemies, and it may shrink multiple smaller enemies simultaneously.

If Duke himself is shrunk (by a Shrinker bolt bounced off a mirror or by the Protector Drone's attack), the viewpoint drops to the floor, he cannot use any weapon or even kick, he can enter small spaces (and dies if the effect wears off while inside), and other players can stomp him in multiplayer. Steroids grant immunity from a shrink blast, and a shrunken player who uses Steroids returns to normal size at once. The Shrinker has the highest projectile speed in the game, faster than the RPG, Freezethrower and Devastator, and it has no effect on bosses, Protector Drones, or mechanical enemies such as Turrets and Sentry Drones. One shot is enough to shrink enemies with lots of health such as Assault Commanders, Pig Cops, Enforcers and even Battlelord Sentries, which makes it a strong ammo-saver at short range.

In Duke Nukem Forever the weapon returns as the Shrink Ray: enemies shrunk are about 10 times weaker to weapons, and enemies on the ground can be stepped on by Duke for a one-hit kill.

Did You Know?

• In version 1.3d the Shrinker's projectiles had a blast radius of 650 map units; the Atomic Edition changed it to 680.
• A Battlelord Sentry that returns to normal size after being shrunk just runs around without firing until it is hit.
• The Holoduke is useful for baiting enemies close together so one blast shrinks several of them at once.