Wraith

Lore & Background

The Wraith does not exist in the lore of Hunt: Showdown. Any accounts of a phasing, stealthy specter causing temperature drops are unfounded and not part of the game's official mythology.

In Their Own Story

The fog rolled thick over the cypress roots as Elias tightened his grip on the rifle. He had heard it before—the faint, wet sound of dragging feet that shouldn't exist in the silence. Suddenly, a pale figure materialized ten paces away, its eyes glowing with an eerie blue light. Before he could raise his weapon, the Wraith dissolved into smoke, reappearing instantly behind him. The cold touch of death brushed his neck, but Elias spun and fired blindly into the mist. A scream tore through the air, followed by silence. When the fog cleared, only a pool of black ichor remained.

Reader's Guide

The Wraith is an ambush predator that relies heavily on stealth. It can phase through walls and foliage, making it nearly invisible until it chooses to attack. Its primary move involves teleporting behind unsuspecting hunters to deliver a lethal strike. Hunters must stay vigilant for audio cues like whispering or the sound of dragging limbs. Using flares or bright light sources can reveal its true form temporarily, forcing it to retreat or become vulnerable. Noise-making devices are also effective at disrupting its stealth capabilities. Mythologically, the Wraith draws inspiration from European folklore regarding spirits that haunt the living, particularly those associated with death and decay. Its design reflects a blend of ghostly apparitions and swamp-dwelling horrors, creating a unique threat that challenges both skill and nerve.

Did You Know?

• The Wraith is not a monster in Hunt: Showdown.
• No creature in the game has the ability to phase through solid objects.
• Hunt: Showdown does not feature any monster that causes an unnatural drop in temperature.

Origins and Setting

Stargate Atlantis serves as a direct narrative continuation of Stargate SG-1, picking up immediately after the discovery of an Antarctic outpost belonging to the Ancients. The series follows Dr. Daniel Jackson's revelation regarding the location of the legendary city of Atlantis, prompting Stargate Command to dispatch an international expedition to the Pegasus Galaxy. This ancient metropolis was constructed by the Ancients but abandoned ten thousand years prior when they were forced to flee a devastating war against the Wraith. To hide from their enemies, the Ancients submerged the city beneath the oceans of the planet Lantea, creating the mythological basis for the Greek legend of Atlantis. The show is set in this lost city, where the expedition must survive while deciphering advanced alien technology.

The Wraith Threat

The central antagonist force driving the narrative is the Wraith, a powerful enemy race that forced the Ancients into exile millennia ago. These beings pose an existential threat to humanity in the Pegasus Galaxy, primarily because they sustain themselves by consuming human life energy, a process known as culling. The expedition's primary mission evolves from simple exploration to a desperate war for survival against this predatory species. In the first season, the team is cut off from Earth due to power limitations and must forge alliances with local populations like the Athosians while fending off Wraith attacks. As the series progresses, the conflict intensifies; the expedition attempts to develop a retrovirus to cure or turn Wraith back into humans, though these efforts yield mixed and often dangerous results. The threat escalates when the Wraith target Earth itself, forcing the Atlantis team to launch preemptive strikes and coordinate with military forces from home to prevent a galactic invasion.

Expedition Leadership and Teams

The human defense of Atlantis is spearheaded by Major John Sheppard, who leads a specialized military team alongside scientists like Dr. Rodney McKay and local guides such as Teyla Emmagan. Initially led by civilian administrator Dr. Elizabeth Weir, the expedition faces immediate dire circumstances upon arrival, including power shortages and hostile encounters with militaristic human civilizations like the Genii. Over time, the team composition evolves; Lt. Ford is replaced by Ronon Dex, a warrior freed from Wraith captivity, while Sheppard receives a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. The leadership structure also shifts as General O'Neill and Richard Woolsey arrive from Earth to negotiate with returning Ancients, eventually leading to a complex power struggle involving self-replicating nanobots known as Replicators or Asurans. Despite internal challenges and external sieges, the core team remains dedicated to finding means to destroy their enemies while maintaining the city's defenses against overwhelming odds.

Production History and Legacy

Created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off of Stargate SG-1, the series achieved significant ratings success for the Sci-Fi Channel, particularly in European and Australian markets. The production featured a distinct episodic structure with self-contained stories that contributed to an overarching war narrative against the Wraith, often utilizing two-part episodes and continuity links between installments. Despite plans for a direct-to-DVD film titled Stargate: Extinction intended to conclude the storylines, this project was ultimately cancelled following the termination of the subsequent series, Stargate Universe. The show remains a defining chapter in the franchise's history, known for its original theme music by Joel Goldsmith and its exploration of ancient mythology within a military science fiction framework.