Fighting Wolves

[Dubbs Malone]

Ok so in another thread I explained how to fight wolves and I figured I should put a guide up so more people can understand. I see a lotta people complain about wolves, especially on reddit. It's really so simple it feels silly to make this a guide but based on the amount of times I've seen people emphasize the threat wolves are to them I guess I'll just do it.

 

Ya just use a spear and sprint sideways, circling the wolf while you stab it. They can't adjust to the movement quick enough to hit you. Obviously the better the spear the easier it is but it really isn't hard to avoid getting hit even a single time. Multiple wolves aren't much harder as they just can't handle the lateral movement. You just vary the size of the circles and maybe mix in a figure 8 here and there. 

Unfortunately this renders wolves as virtually zero threat but I guess they can surprise you in the woods every once in a while.



Here's a quick and dirty example of it. I accidentally selected my black bronze spear instead of my flint but I think it still gets the message across:
 

 

Edited March 22, 2025 by Dubbs Malone

[Broccoli Clock]

The "run in a circle and keep hitting" doesn't work for me. I've tried it a few times, and the wolf seems to phase across 2 blocks while jumping always landing a hit. That was in 1.20.4, not done that manoeuvre in 1.20.5 as by now I prefer taking them on head on, then retreating and repeating the process. Made considerably easier with a bronze spear and falx blade. Shouldn't take more than three or four hits.

 

[Facethief]

I personally just walk around with 3 flint spears, run backwards and hope I hit. Always works on the second attempt.

[Thorfinn]

14 minutes ago, Facethief said:

I personally just walk around with 3 flint spears, run backwards and hope I hit. Always works on the second attempt.

That's largely what I do. But the method @Dubbs Malone describes is a very good one to learn, as it's more generally useful. Bears and shivers and certain story elements...

[EDIT]

I've tried recording, and it's been something of a disaster, but if you felt so inclined, that would be a very good video to make, @Dubbs Malone

Edited March 20, 2025 by Thorfinn

[LadyWYT]

I tend to pick them off at range with spears, when possible. I try not to engage them in melee unless I have a shield and a copper falx, bare minimum. Swords work better than spears when it comes to melee, at least in my opinion, as it's a little easier to land hits while dancing around them. Spears have a longer range, that is true, but seem to get a little clunky when it comes to attacking things that are very close.

[Dilan Rona]

Just make a 2 deep pit trap, that is 3x3. Poke the wolf, and run like the devil is chasing you. Jump over the pit trap, and the wolf will run into the pit trap. Then I just pick it off with spears and get the meat if I need it. For now, I got a wolf farm with 18 wolves trapped, and I am not in a hurry to kill them. Got too much meat stocked up again, and need to get rid of that first.

[Broccoli Clock]

1 hour ago, Dilan Rona said:

Just make a 2 deep pit trap, that is 3x3. Poke the wolf, and run like the devil is chasing you. Jump over the pit trap, and the wolf will run into the pit trap. Then I just pick it off with spears and get the meat if I need it. For now, I got a wolf farm with 18 wolves trapped, and I am not in a hurry to kill them. Got too much meat stocked up again, and need to get rid of that first.

I'm in a quandary.

I don't want animals being so stupid that they see a hole, clearly a deep hole, and they jump in without a care. Meanwhile, chasing an animal after it attacked you and it falls down a deep mine shaft hidden in the forest undergrowth and I'm like, "ha! get wrecked".

In my game I don't built a pit to capture animals because it feels a bit cheesy. No shade being thrown at those who do, it's clearly a successful tactic (incredibly successful based on some streams I've seen) and I'm guessing when primitive hunters went after animals like this digging a massive hole is probably a top strat.

Be interesting to see if the devs could tweak the animal AI, where you lose the automatic "jump in a hole", but at the same time adds the ability fill a hole with punji sticks (crafted with knife+stick for example) then covered over with dry grass.

 

 

[Dilan Rona]

tbh, i had a few cases of wolves running around the pit trap when on level ground. a 1 block high ledge solves that partly. and I certainly dont want animals dropping to their deaths either. means less meat that i can harvest later.

[Dilan Rona]

45 minutes ago, Broccoli Clock said:

Be interesting to see if the devs could tweak the animal AI, where you lose the automatic "jump in a hole", but at the same time adds the ability fill a hole with punji sticks (crafted with knife+stick for example) then covered over with dry grass

Primitive survival does that exact mechanic. Still have to make use of it tbh

[Dubbs Malone]

So here's a quick example of it. I accidentally had my black bronze spear selected even though I mate a flinty just for the occasion but I think it's pretty obvious that the method can be used pretty much indefinitely.

[Dubbs Malone]

On 3/20/2025 at 12:20 PM, Broccoli Clock said:

The "run in a circle and keep hitting" doesn't work for me. I've tried it a few times, and the wolf seems to phase across 2 blocks while jumping always landing a hit. That was in 1.20.4, not done that manoeuvre in 1.20.5 as by now I prefer taking them on head on, then retreating and repeating the process. Made considerably easier with a bronze spear and falx blade. Shouldn't take more than three or four hits.

 

Sorry man, you're just doing it wrong.

[Dubbs Malone]

On 3/20/2025 at 4:25 PM, LadyWYT said:

I tend to pick them off at range with spears, when possible. I try not to engage them in melee unless I have a shield and a copper falx, bare minimum. Swords work better than spears when it comes to melee, at least in my opinion, as it's a little easier to land hits while dancing around them. Spears have a longer range, that is true, but seem to get a little clunky when it comes to attacking things that are very close.

Spears are 100% better as they allow you to kill them without taking any damage, consistently.

[Thorfinn]

You use StepUp, right? I'm not nearly that smooth, because I have to keep jumping all the time. But it's the same thing. I usually have to finish them off with a thrown spear when they run away, but maybe that's because the bronze spear takes them from choosing attack to dead without hitting the "ow, I'm nearly dead, run away!" stage?

[EDIT]

Love that you managed to show just how easy it is to avoid the lunge attack! So long as you don't turn your back, they are not all that tough.

Edited March 22, 2025 by Thorfinn

[Broccoli Clock]

3 hours ago, Dubbs Malone said:

Sorry man, you're just doing it wrong.

Nah man, you just need to cheese the game because you aren't good enough..

 

Edited March 22, 2025 by Broccoli Clock

[Dubbs Malone]

1 hour ago, Broccoli Clock said:

Nah man, you just need to cheese the game because you aren't good enough..

 

lol your feelings got hurt

[Broccoli Clock]

1 minute ago, Dubbs Malone said:

lol your feelings got hurt

Don't flatter yourself..

 

[Dubbs Malone]

1 minute ago, Broccoli Clock said:

Don't flatter yourself..

 

Waiting with baited breath for me to comment, salivating, hands shaking, heart pounding... waiting to reply.

[Broccoli Clock]

2 minutes ago, Dubbs Malone said:

Waiting with baited breath for me to comment, salivating, hands shaking, heart pounding... waiting to reply.

I honestly don't know why you are hitting me with shade, but buddy.. this isn't your origin story. Keep it up, I'll just chuck the matter to the site admins.

[Zane Mordien]

On 3/20/2025 at 4:25 PM, LadyWYT said:

I tend to pick them off at range with spears, when possible. I try not to engage them in melee unless I have a shield and a copper falx, bare minimum. Swords work better than spears when it comes to melee, at least in my opinion, as it's a little easier to land hits while dancing around them. Spears have a longer range, that is true, but seem to get a little clunky when it comes to attacking things that are very close.

I spear them to death as well. Even as a blackguard it is pretty easy once you get the hang of aiming. The video is interesting but I would muck it up if I tried to dance around in circles with them and end up dead.

[Dubbs Malone]

On 3/22/2025 at 5:16 AM, Broccoli Clock said:

I honestly don't know why you are hitting me with shade, but buddy.. this isn't your origin story. Keep it up, I'll just chuck the matter to the site admins.

You may need to google the definition of origin story, kid. Anyway, you start the “shade” then threaten to cry to the admins when it comes back to you? You’re deluded, lil bro. You’re the one who waits to respond to me within seconds every time I respond. Seems like harassment to me lol

[ConcreteMittens]

Tried this method and it actually works.
Took some time to figure it out, died a lot, but in the end it allows to kill multiple wolves (almost) without getting bitten.

You can't just sprint sideways though. You have to move backwards at the same time as well.
You can even see this happening in the video.

For those who are struggling, I would advise to first practice "sprint backwards" method.
Just run backwards and hit the wolf with the spear preventing it from approaching you.
It works well when you have a large linear space to run through.
Once you figure it out, add some lateral motion, which reduces the space requirement.

Edited March 26, 2025 by ConcreteMittens

[Broccoli Clock]

It might work, but it just feels 'wrong' to me. That's just a personal take, I'm not telling anyone how to play, if you want to despatch wolves or bears this way, I'm not here to gatekeep. Although I find kiting them through water is a far better strat (obvs you're not always going to have water nearby, and wolves and bears can attack with little warning) and anyone who has been attacked by a dog knows you can't run in circles to get away from them, dogs are considerably more agile and will double back far better than humans can.

That said, I think it's more a symptom of an underdeveloped melee combat system. That's to be expected in games like this where development is still adding new stuff. You don't want to review your combat and/or melee interactions until all the mobs and their relevant AI are added. For example it was only in 1.20 that we got bowtorns, and their AI will need to be amended (or already has, can't remember where I read that).

So, as unrealistic and, imo, cheesy as it is, I totally understand why people would use it. After all, it's a pain in the ass to be jumped by wolves. I think this method will fall out of favour once a more complex melee combat system exists.

 

Edit: Just for reference, I find the combat system in "that other block game" to be poor too, in fact I find it worse and they've had over a decade to perfect it. That game's combat always feels really "floaty" and imprecise, so if you think I'm having a go at VS alone, I'm not. In comparison I think VS's combat will turn out better in the end.

Edited March 26, 2025 by Broccoli Clock

[ConcreteMittens]

On 3/26/2025 at 1:56 PM, Broccoli Clock said:

That said, I think it's more a symptom of an underdeveloped melee combat system. That's to be expected in games like this where development is still adding new stuff. You don't want to review your combat and/or melee interactions until all the mobs and their relevant AI are added. For example it was only in 1.20 that we got bowtorns, and their AI will need to be amended (or already has, can't remember where I read that).

So, as unrealistic and, imo, cheesy as it is, I totally understand why people would use it. After all, it's a pain in the ass to be jumped by wolves. I think this method will fall out of favour once a more complex melee combat system exists.

I agree and I hope that melee combat gets developed with time.
Enemy AI could use another pass. It would be nice if animals didn't rush you blindly, but employed tactics like waiting for your move or circling around you.
Cheese methods work because enemy AI is very predictable.

[Broccoli Clock]

Just now, ConcreteMittens said:

I agree and I hope that melee combat gets developed with time.
Enemy AI could use another pass. It would be nice if animals didn't rush you blindly, but employed tactics like waiting for your move or circling around you.
Cheese methods work because enemy AI is very predictable.

I think that VS does a decent job of representing when you hit, and when you get hit, that's important, and as I said we shouldn't expect fleshed out combat and ai to go with it until a lot more stuff is in the game, but I do think you are right. Nobody is going to bother RP'ing hunting when they can just run around in circles. No shade, no drama, but yeah.. you are spot on.

[Thorfinn]

I don't know what the roadmap means by fleshing out systems. Yes, combat may be included, but I'd think it means more fleshed out hunting, like footprints, spoor,  blood trails, that kind of thing. Even a trash panda drops meat, bones, leather, occasionally fat, but the eldritch? Most of the time you get nothing at all for your trouble. and most of the time you get something, it's one piece of belly-button lint. I don't get the feeling they are trying to incentivize hunting the eldritch.

More advanced AI is also fraught with peril. Every week someone posts how unfair the wolves already are, and rage quitting the game. We know there is no AI task to circle the seraph and attack as a pack, yet many post that is how the wolves acted. At most, I'd say that should be a part of a higher difficulty level, though it's a great place for a mod. Those who want enhanced AI tasks can download others' versions of animal buffs, or can develop their own.