How to Beat Spitters (Small/Medium/Big/Behemoth)

Learn how to effectively defend your base against Small, Medium, Big, and Behemoth Spitters in Factorio. Discover strategies and tips to overcome these aggressive alien creatures.

Alright, let's talk about Spitters in Factorio. These little (and not-so-little) alien pests are going to be a constant thorn in your side as you expand your factory. You'll encounter them in various sizes – Small, Medium, Big, and the absolutely terrifying Behemoth. They all share one primary attack: spitting corrosive acid that damages your structures and, well, you. Understanding how they behave and how to counter them is crucial for survival and continued expansion. Think of this less like a lecture and more like me showing you the ropes on how to keep your factory safe from their chompers.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Small Spitter: Low health, fast movement. Their acid has a short range but can still chip away at your defenses.
• Medium Spitter: More health and damage than Small Spitters. Their acid has a longer range, making them more dangerous to your outer defenses.
• Big Spitter: Significantly more health and damage. Their acid has a considerable range, and they can soak up a lot of punishment.
• Behemoth Spitter: The ultimate threat. Massive health pools, high damage, and a long-range acid attack that can devastate your base if you're not prepared. They also have a special ability to create acid pools on the ground that deal damage over time.
• General Weakness: All Spitters are vulnerable to direct damage. While they have ranged attacks, they don't have strong melee defenses, so getting up close and personal with the right tools can be effective. They are also susceptible to area-of-effect damage.

Phases:

1. Approach: Spitters will move towards your base, often in groups, from the surrounding alien nests. Their AI prioritizes attacking structures, but they will target players if they get close enough.
2. Attack: Once in range, they will begin spitting acid. The larger Spitters will often pause briefly before spitting, giving you a small window to react. Behemoths may also lay down acid pools.
3. Retreat/Death: Spitters will continue their assault until destroyed or until they have no viable targets within their immediate threat radius.

Strategy:

• Early Game Defense (Small/Medium Spitters): Your first line of defense should be turrets. Place them strategically around your base, especially near resource patches and your power infrastructure. Stone Turrets are a start, but upgrading to Gun Turrets as soon as possible is highly recommended. Ensure they have a constant supply of ammo! Automated ammo production feeding directly into turrets is the goal. Consider placing walls to funnel enemies into kill zones where your turrets have overlapping fields of fire.
• Mid Game Defense (Big Spitters): As Big Spitters start appearing, your defenses need to scale up. Laser Turrets become a fantastic option due to their unlimited ammo (they just need power) and higher rate of fire. Flamethrower Turrets are also excellent for clearing out groups of Spitters and creating lingering fire patches that damage anything that walks through them. Combining Laser Turrets for sustained fire and Flamethrower Turrets for area denial is a powerful strategy. Keep those walls repaired and consider multiple layers.
• Late Game Defense (Behemoth Spitters): Behemoth Spitters are a serious threat. You'll need robust, multi-layered defenses. This is where advanced setups shine: large fields of Laser Turrets backed by Flamethrower Turrets, potentially with Artillery Turrets for long-range softening of approaching waves. Rocket Turrets can also be effective against large groups. Ensure your power grid can handle the massive draw of many Laser Turrets. Don't forget about walls – thick, multi-tile-wide walls can buy you precious time.
• Player Engagement: While automated defenses are key, you'll often need to engage directly. The Submachine Gun is decent early on, but the Assault Rifle and later the Combat Shotgun and Personal Laser Defense are much more effective. Always carry plenty of ammo or energy cells. For Behemoth Spitters, the Rocket Launcher or even the Nuke can be useful if you're cornered, but be careful not to damage your own base!
• Mobility and Awareness: Keep an eye on your minimap for incoming attacks. If you see a large wave approaching, be ready to reposition yourself and your defenses, or to provide direct support. Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense – consider clearing out nearby nests before they become a major problem.
• Acid Pool Management (Behemoths): When Behemoths lay down acid pools, avoid them! They deal significant damage over time. If you need to cross an area with acid pools, use vehicles or try to lure the Spitters away so the pools dissipate.