The Hunter serves as the base game's hard mode. Though they are faster and stronger than Survivor, their campaign features a multitude of changes to make the game much more challenging.
Hunter's campaign is only accessible after completing the game as either 
Monk or 
Survivor.
| Lung Capacity | Standard |
| Throwing Skill | 2 |
| Spear Damage | 1.25 |
| Run Speed | 1.2 |
| Pipe Speed | Standard |
| Pole Speed | 1.25 |
| Mass | 1.12 |
| Loudness | 1.35 |
| Crawling Stealth | 0.6 |
The Monk experience is practically similar to the Survivor, except that is more accesible for new players that haven`t beaten the Survivor`s campaing yet. The Monk`s campaing characterizes by the extra help that gives to players.
Hunter can store a Spear on their back, allowing them to carry 2 Spears at once. Holding PICKUP with a Spear in the main hand (Slugcat's right) or while holding nothing else places the Spear on Hunter's back, and holding again with an empty hand takes it back off. A Spear on Hunter's back can be placed on the ground by holding Down and PICKUP while empty-handed. If already holding a Spear, picking up another sends it straight to their back.
Slugcats are able to swallow and store certain objects in their stomach. Only 1 object can be stored at a time. An object can be swallowed by holding PICKUP with no other inputs. If holding 2 objects, the object in Slugcat's right hand is prioritized. When there is already an object in Slugcat's stomach, holding PICKUP with no other inputs regurgitates it. When Slugcat has a free hand and is upright, such as by standing or crawling upwards in a tunnel, then Slugcat grabs the object.
While both death and incapacitation disable the player's input and cause a game over, Slugcat is still alive when incapacitated and may be able to come back. This potentially allows the player to continue without restarting the cycle. The two states can be differentiated by looking at Slugcat's eyes; they are shut when incapacitated but crossed out when dead. Additionally, death plays two bass notes, while incapacitation only plays one.
Lizards, 
Dropwigs, and 
Big Spiders, among other creatures, have an RNG-based kill system, which means that when bitten or grabbed there is a percentage chance that Slugcat dies. If this check fails, the player is incapacitated, then killed if brought into a den.
There are a few ways to get out of incapacitation. A creature is likely to let go if already wounded or attacked by another creature. When bitten by most creatures, there is a short grace period where a 
Rock or a 
Spear can be thrown to stun them, allowing escape. Tamed Lizards or friendly 
Scavengers may also attempt to save Slugcat.
Monk requires 3 food pips to hibernate, while up to 2 may be stored for the next cycle.
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Unlike every other Slugcat, Hunter's cycles count down, meaning the player has a limited amount of time to do everything they wish. Cycles decrement upon 
Sheltering and are limited to 19 upon beginning the game. If Hunter visits 
Five Pebbles, he rewards them with 5 extra cycles and acts like an Echo in terms of karma, as opposed to raising it to Maximum Karma 10. This means that visiting Echoes is required; the player needs to raise their maximum karma 4 times before passing the 
Guardians.
At cycle 0 and below, Hunter becomes significantly weaker, suffers seizure-like spasms, and requires more food to survive. The cycle count descends into negative numbers, with each cycle below 0 making the effects of their affliction much worse. In this state, Hunter occasionally hallucinates, covering the screen in a shaking, dark red filter which partially obscures the player's vision. It is difficult, although not impossible, to survive for some time in negative cycles. Dying or quitting at this point causes the run to immediately end and the final score to be tallied.
Apart from the cycle countdown, Hunter has a special mission apart from ascending like the rest of the Slugcats in a normal campaign. Inside there is both a 
Neuron Fly capable of restoring the world, and the disease that is consuming it.
It is up to the player to take risks to fulfill the mission of this slugcat, or enter Subterranean directly to give Hunter a better ending.
Vultures and 
King Vultures tend to prioritize Hunter over any other creature they see except Scavengers.
Daddy Long Legs appear in the 
The Exterior Underhang and 
Five Pebbles.
Garbage Wastes has more 
Rot than usual.Lizards attempt to eat Hunter more eagerly, and their bites have an increased chance to kill. Scavengers are more likely to attack Hunter, with higher lethality.
Karma Flowers do not spawn, except on a permanent death.