The 80-X Boxguard is a special type of security bot developed by Steiner-Bisley GmbH in Deus Ex: Human Revolution.
Characteristics
The 80-X Boxguard is a powerful bot that unfolds from a cube form (hence the name) and is powered by a small radioisotope thermoelectric generator. In addition to being almost unnoticeable in standby mode, it can be dropped from a helicopter without taking any damage, which allows the bot to be in optimal condition for an attack. It is slow and looks cumbersome with a mode of locomotion similar to a gorilla's, but it's a formidable opponent armed with dual miniguns and side-mounted vertical missile launchers, which fire guided missiles. When defeated, it activates its self-destruct mode, exploding and damaging anything in its blast radius.
The Boxguard possesses several armor-plated areas on their bodies that reduces incoming damage, most notably on their arms, shoulders and legs. The unit's head also counts as armor. Because of the aforementioned armor, these units are extremely hard to destroy with raw firepower when said areas are targeted, even requiring multiple direct hits from a rocket launcher to take down. EMP grenades are the weapon of choice for taking the boxguard down, disabling the units in a single detonation, though the size of the units can sometimes create confusion as to whether or not they are inside the blast radius. EMP Mines also work, but can take as much as three mines to shut down the bot since the mine's range is wider than grenades, but otherwise has the same blast radius, effectively giving the bot a "safe distance" away from the explosion. However, it is seen that EMP mine can be "sticked" on BoxGuard's armor plate, making it more useful than grenade when upclose since there's a chance that grenades may ricochet out range even coming back, putting the saftey of the user at risk.
Often the best way to deal with them is to sneak past them (they can't see you if they aren't facing you) and find the security console, if one is available. Once you get to the console, you can first set the bot to "Enemies" to take care of any opponents in the area, and then disable it. In a few places, you cannot disable or reprogram the bot, such as the FEMA camp, so you will have to take it down using conventional means.
A single fully upgraded Typhoon detonation destroys the bot (two on the highest difficulty), provided you get close enough.
An upgraded Pistol with the Armor Piercing Modification is surprisingly effective against the bot, 20-30 rounds can destroy one even on the highest difficulty.
Boxguards can be found in quite a few different areas. There is one in the FEMA camp early on in the game, one at the Belltower ambush, a pair in the Tai Yong Medical hangar, at the Docks (it's dumped through the ceiling) and one in Panchaea. Some police Boxguards can be found at the anti-augmentation riots in Detroit, blocking Jensen's way and assumes combat positions if he has a weapon readied, but are otherwise friendly unless you attack them or the police.
Another thing to note is that if you are hiding under the helipad in the Tai Yong Medical hangar, and they cannot hit you, it will circumvent this feat by shifting some of its parts so the guns are below it, and go from the default movement style to moving around on wheels. You're better off using the catwalks near the ceiling or trying to hack the security console to disable them.
Trivia
- Its designation 80-X is leet for "box".
- A notice on all boxguards says: "Robot should be moving at least every 21 days. This will maintain lube coating on vital parts and prevent damages".
See also
Gallery
