Honing YOUR killer's instinct

For the four young monster hunters in Killer's Instinct, knowledge is power.

Whether it's learning how to execute a perfect roundhouse kick while wielding an athame, discovering the differences in protection powers between salt and holy water, or memorizing the vital stats on every Tom, Dick and Frank..enstein, the crew lean on an ancient survival guide hidden within the guarded walls of La Manoir, an elite training facility for emerging monster hunters.

The full guide is top secret - but snippets of information are contained within this blog's archives. From cryptids to the classics, we've profiled the creatures that keep you up all night, the beasties that terrorize your nightmares.

But most importantly, we've provided tips on how to survive them.

Go on, take a look. Know them before they get YOU.

For more on Killer's Instinct and the four young hunters charged with taking out the world's most-wanted monsters, visit this blog.

Back to Ghoul: Tools of the Monster Trade - Minions

Students aren’t the only ones heading back to the classrooms this month – it’s back to business for monster hunters, as well, especially with Halloween only a few weeks away.

Which is why we’ve dubbed September “Back to Ghoul”, featuring profiles on infamous tools of the trade, whether you’re a beastie or a monster slayer.

This week’s item is on every Evil Overlord’s wishlist: MINIONS – because we all know, bad help is hard to find.

A minion’s loyalty to his / her master is absolute, their willingness to sacrifice themselves – a given. They are considered the red-shirt army of evil doers. However, a minion is most valued for the unerring ability to confuse, infiltrate, false inform, seduce, induce sympathy from, or just plain annoy the “good guys” while the Evil Overlord makes a quick getaway.

As a diversionary tactic – there’s no thing better. Where would Doctor Frankenstein be without Igor? Dracula without the spider-eating Renfield? Saruman without his orcs? Lord Voldemort sans Death Eaters? The Emperor without Darth Vader?

And we leave you with this prime example: Scrappy Doo. 

Back to Ghoul: Tools of the Monster Trade - Salt

Sure, most monsters are pretty good at wielding their beastly tools of the trade, but even hunters in training are likely to have a few tricks up their sleeves – starting with one of the most common household items: Salt.

Yep, that white stuff isn’t just great for seasoning or preservation – it’s also a spiritual tool, working hard against impure and unclean spirits.

If you’re into paranormal movies and TV shows like Supernatural – and really, you should be – you may have noticed the Winchester boys (or pretty much all slayers)  pouring a line of salt across the path of a windowsill or doorway. That’s because salt bars entry for unwanted spirits.

You can also draw a salt circle for protection – but be careful. What Hollywood sometimes forgets to tell you is that salt lines are only effective in a “clean” house, and we’re not talking an impressive once over from MaidPro.

Your house must be physically AND spiritually clean for salt barriers to work. If you lay one without knowing what spirits have already entered, or you’ve forgotten to sweep up those spiritual dust bunnies, you could trap the entity IN your house. Probably not quite the effect you’re looking for.

Back to Ghoul: Tools of the Monster Trade - Athame

Students aren’t the only ones heading back to the classrooms – it’s back to business for monster hunters, as well, especially with Halloween only a couple of months away.

Which is why we’ve dubbed September “Back to Ghoul” – a month of profiles on infamous tools of the trade, whether you’re a beastie or a monster slayer.

This week’s item, the Athame, is to witches what a pencil is to any student – an elementary, essential tool. Athames and their uses are documented in the famous Grimoire, the Key of Solomon. A ritual dagger, or knife, with a double-edge blade, and often sporting a black or wooden handle – an athame is not intended to draw blood. Instead, this tool is used to direct energy, to invoke or banish, as well as to cast magic circles.

Runes or magical symbols may be engraved on the handle, or hilt, and the blade itself may be anointed with herb infused oils to enhance its strength.

Remember, a newly acquired athame, given or purchased, must be purified via a specific ritual in order before use to avoid lingering influences – as the dagger is a reflection of the one who wields it.