Slicer - how could we ever forget you? The one Badnik everyone loves to hate. Slicer can fire off its arms at our blue hero, making it a formidable foe that will require a lot of practice to defeat unscathed. Timing is key, so don’t hesitate for a second if one of these robots spots you! — Profile, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I website
The Slicer[1] (カマキラー[2],Kamakirā?, lit. "Kamakiller") is an enemy in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a mass-produced, mantis-based Badnik model created by Dr. Eggman that can toss their sharp claws at foes.
Slicers, as a Badnik, are based on mantises. A Slicer's head is flat with two yellow eyes with small pupils and two metallic mandibles. Each of their two hands has razor-sharp claws, which are their primary weapons. Slicers also have thin legs, and each foot's heel has small wheels, which they use to move around with slowly.
Slicers in Sonic the Hedgehog 4 have a more mechanized design with few cosmetic changes, including the lack of small wheels on their feet. In Sonic Lost World, Slicers were redesigned with more wider yellow eyes, tiny cyan pupils and smaller mandibles.
Game appearances
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)
The first appearance of this Badnik was in the 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where it served as an enemy. This time around, this Badnik is referred to as Slicer[1] (カマキラー[2],Kamakirā?, lit. "Kamakiller"). In this game, the player encounters them in Metropolis Zone.
In gameplay, Slicers can usually be found at the edges of gorges where the player often bounce out or on narrow point of the routes. Slicers can also be found hanging on ceilings. As their means of attack, the Slicers will throw their claws at the playable character when they approach from the front. When thrown, their forearms will home in on the playable character for a few seconds, making them near-impossible to avoid. However, destroying the Slicer that threw them will make them stop following the playable character and drop to the ground.
Slicers are usually positioned in awkward locations, making it hard to get past them. However, once they have thrown their claws, they will be defenseless and open to attack. Alternatively, the player can attack them from behind to keep them from throwing their claws at all. Also, upon their destruction, they release an Animal.
Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure
Slicers also make appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure at the last full Zone, Gigantic Angel Zone. As the Zone resembles of Metropolis Zone, having same Badniks (including Slicer), which behave the same way like in Metropolis Zone. Also, when destroying a Slcier, it releases an Animal.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I
Slicers makes their return in the Mad Gear Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I. Despite having an updated look, they pretty much act same like in past games. In this game, its claws can interrupt the Homing Attack, so it is better to use the Spin Dash to deflect the claws. This time, however, after throwing its claws at the player, the Slicer will flash red and then self-destruct.
Slicers make another appearance in Sonic Lost World, where they are seen placed individually through the game. They also have the same attack patterns from previous games. However, their razor-sharp claws will regenerate after being thrown. During the game, Eggman's Badniks, including Slicers, got hijacked by the Deadly Six.
In Wii U/PC version of the game, Slicers are first seen in Silent Forest Zone 2, with a single, craftily-placed one seen lurking at the mid-point of Lava Mountain Zone 3. In Nintendo 3DS version of the game, Slicers are seen attacking individually or even on groups. Their attack patterns are identical to those in the Wii U/PC version. They are featured on Silent Forest Zone 2, and Sky Road Zone 1 and 3.
Powers and abilities
The Slicers are equipped with sickle-like front claws that they can dethatch and throw at opponents. They are also capable of crawling on walls and vertical ceilings. Some later models have also been able to self-detonate or even regenerate their claws after they have been thrown.
In the Sonic the Comic series published by Fleetway Editions, a single Slicer makes its appearance during the comic's run, as it with two Coconuts, Crawl and Burrow are bringing generator to the prison division. Slicer later turns out to be Johnny Lightfoot in disguise.
After the timeline was rewritten by the Super Genesis Wave, the Slicers became nearly identical to their game counterparts.
Trivia
Like Shellcracker, Slicers for odd reason disappear from places where they should be in Metropolis Zone. This is especially noticeable at the last High-speed elevator section in Metropolis Zone Act 3, where Slicer is supposed to appear in front of the High-speed elevator, but sometimes this Slicer disappears from that location when the player visits on another time. Presumably, it enters the elevator and is teleported somewhere else if the player waits long enough to discover it.
Technically this cannot happen as they are not designed to interact with the elevator object, meaning it is much more likely that they despawn occasionally.
Slicer's Japanese name "Kamakiller", comes from "kamakiri", which is Japanese for "mantis".
Slicer - how could we ever forget you? The one Badnik everyone loves to hate. Slicer can fire off its arms at our blue hero, making it a formidable foe that will require a lot of practice to defeat unscathed. Timing is key, so don’t hesitate for a second if one of these robots spots you! 
.jpg "Mad Gear Zone - Screenshot - (9).jpg (1.96 MB)")
