Hudson represents everything brutal about Delta Force Season 8's PvE evolution. This Space City boss encounter isn't just another firefight—it's a two-phase gauntlet that punishes hesitation and rewards tactical discipline. You'll face elite guards, an automated defense vehicle, and a 30-second countdown that can wipe your squad if you don't respect the mechanics.
Here's the thing: most players treat Hudson like a standard boss rush. They push the door, eat the blast, and wonder why their 200,000 currency entry fee vanished. What most players miss is that this encounter has exploitable windows, especially if you're running solo with the right operator.
What Makes Hudson Different From Other Delta Force Bosses?
Hudson spawns exclusively in Space City's dock area, and the encounter design follows mini-raid logic rather than standard boss mechanics. You're not just fighting one target—you're managing a sequence of threats that escalate if you don't clear them efficiently.
The encounter triggers after a specific entrance sequence. Once you reach the north side of the dock, Hudson's minions spawn immediately. You'll see four elite soldiers and one automated support vehicle, both designed to control the space before you can even reach Hudson's chamber door.
Key differences from standard encounters:
- Elite guards land headshots through aggressive peeks
- Automated vehicle uses electric arrows and incendiary grenades
- Active defense system makes grenades ineffective against the vehicle
- Two-phase structure requires keycard access between phases
Warning
Hudson and Demolands never spawn in the same match. If you're hunting specific loot, plan your route accordingly before committing to the Hudson path.
Delta Force Hudson Boss Fight Guide
Phase 1: Clearing Elite Guards Without Getting Deleted
Phase 1 is your permission slip to start Phase 2. You're not trying to outgun four elites and a vehicle simultaneously—you're reducing how many angles you expose yourself to at once.
The automated vehicle is your first problem. It won't die to grenades thanks to its active defense system, and it puts constant pressure on your position with electric arrows. The elites compound this by forcing you to hold tighter angles than you'd normally prefer.
Standard Clear Method
Hold cover aggressively. Take single angles. Let teammates crossfire rather than stacking on one sightline. Wide swings are losing trades here—the elites punish bad peeks faster than most boss guards in the game.
Critical trigger detail: Once all four elites are down, the automated vehicle self-destructs. You don't need to burn through its health pool. Just survive it while you clear the guards, and the sequence advances automatically.
Solo Flawless Strategy Using Bit
If you're running solo, Bit turns this phase into a remote execution. Deploy your Hive at the guard spawn point before they appear—place it slightly outside the doorway, right in the middle of the entrance.
When guards spawn, activate your Spider Drones remotely. The explosion takes out the vehicle instantly. Then retreat to the second-floor balcony, keep the door closed, and cycle drones every cooldown. They'll automatically path to remaining guards while you stay behind cover.
Pro Tip: Don't place drones too deep inside the door. If guards die before exiting, you can't loot their crates.
Delta Force Hudson Boss Fight Guide
Phase 2: The 30-Second Countdown That Deletes Squads
After clearing Phase 1, loot the elite guards to obtain an access keycard. This keycard opens Hudson's chamber door, but here's where squads get wiped.
When you swipe the keycard, a 30-second countdown begins. The door sequence ends with an explosion, and being near the door during the final 10 seconds is instantly lethal.
Your Phase 2 rule is boring, but it wins runs:
- Swipe the keycard
- Rotate into cover immediately
- Give the blast its space
- Enter after the explosion completes
Don't push early. Don't assume you can tank it. Just wait.
Fighting Hudson: Why Smoke Won't Save You
Hudson himself is framed as high-lethality. In the current build, he lands instant headshots even through smoke. The one fair tradeoff is pacing—he's relatively slow, which means coordinated utility and teamwork can beat him without squad wipes.
You don't want four people sprinting through the same doorway. You want controlled entry, clean target focus, and spacing so one mistake doesn't chain into a team wipe.
Timing trap: If you open the door and delay engaging Hudson too long, he can run away. Once you commit to the door, be ready to finish.
Solo No-Damage Kill
For solo operators using Bit, the fight follows the same logic as Phase 1. Swipe the keycard, immediately hide behind the door frame, and release Spider Drones to do the work. Since you're not peeking Hudson, you achieve a flawless kill with zero damage taken.
Cycle your drones on cooldown. Hudson's slow movement means he can't dodge them effectively, and you stay completely safe behind cover.
Advanced Melee Window
If you want a faster finish, there's a specific mechanical window at the 1 minute 30 second mark. Hudson begins a coughing fit due to asthma, creating a massive opening to rush in and finish him with melee.
This window is tight, but it's consistent. If you're confident in your positioning and have health to spare, it's the fastest way to close the encounter.
Important
The melee window only appears if you haven't dealt significant damage yet. If Hudson's health is already low, he may skip the animation.
Hudson Loot: What You Actually Get For The Risk
If you win, Hudson drops straightforward rewards:
- M4 rifle
- Gold inhaler
- Computer
- Large safe
- Minor supplies
The loot isn't game-breaking, but it's consistent. The real value is completing the Fate Covenant mission ("Catch the King"), which requires defeating Hudson twice. That mission unlock is worth more than the immediate drops.
Delta Force Hudson Boss Fight Guide
Space City Underwater Loot: Still Not Worth Your Time
Players keep checking underwater routes hoping for hidden jackpots. In the current build, underwater loot is still capped at six low-value containers. What changed is flavor—you'll run into 2-3 Macro Sharks per match underwater.
They do low damage, and you can execute them with F to trigger a loot box drop on death. It's fun, but for efficient runs, it's hard to justify unless you're already rotating through that area.
Comparison table:
Final Execution Checklist
Before you commit your 200,000 currency entry fee to a Hudson run, verify:
□ You understand the Phase 1 vehicle self-destruct trigger □ You know the 30-second countdown blast zone timing □ You have a plan for Hudson's smoke-penetrating headshots □ You're equipped for the melee window if running aggressive □ You've confirmed Hudson and Demolands spawn logic for your route
Hudson is a two-part test of discipline. Win the elite wave cleanly, respect the door timer, and don't assume smoke will save you. If you're running solo, Bit's drone kit turns this brutal firefight into a hands-off execution. If you're running squad, communicate the countdown clearly—one person pushing early wipes everyone.
The encounter isn't about mechanical and weapon skills. It's about respecting the sequence and not getting greedy. Do that, and you'll clear Hudson consistently without burning through expensive gear.