How to survive bear attacks?

[HumanDude]

I've been struggling with surviving run ins with bears since the start of my world recently and I can't really figure out how to escape. There are obviously ways to avoid bears but in some unlucky situations or areas bears will be hidden or take you by surprise. So I want to know specifically what is everyone's approach on a surprise bear attack? I don't really mind what the strategy is as I just personally don't enjoy bears. They are overwhelmingly punishing even if you never intended to interact with them so I'll take any cool tricks no matter how easy it is.

[Teh Pizza Lady]

I found a video guide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F09HNpeiQZ4

 

[Thorfinn]

Welcome to the forums, @HumanDude

Run. I'll take them down with spears from a distance if I want some bear armor, or if I'm trying to keep the wildlife from becoming wilddeath, however futile that always is, but bears are too risky for too little reward.

[Teh Pizza Lady]

in all seriousness, you'll need good armor (at least bronze tier?) a good shield and a good hit-and-run tactic. Spears are especially deadly to them.

[LadyWYT]

Welcome to the forums! 

*looks at username with suspicion* You're not a bear trying to figure out how to keep those pesky players from escaping, are you? 

Jokes aside, the best way to survive bear attacks, is to avoid getting attacked in the first place. If you see the bear first, you can avoid getting close enough to provoke an attack. If, however, the bear has already noticed, the best thing to do is run, usually cutting across rougher terrain where bears may have a hard time following. That is, of course, assuming that you're decent at navigating terrain yourself, and the bear isn't something like a polar bear(which can outrun the player).

If you're not great at navigating rough terrain, you can also try diving into deep water and stabbing at the bear from below. Oftentimes, it's possible to kill the bear this way. And of course, if the bear hasn't spotted you yet, you could try digging a deep pit and trapping there--said pit should probably be around 4-5 blocks deep, as bears can climb 3 block heights I believe.

If you are the brave type and a good shot, you can always try throwing spears at the bear and killing it at range, or softening it up before killing it in melee. In the early game though, do keep in mind that the strongest weapon you have available is often going to be a thrown spear. If it's later in the game though and you have bronze gear or better, you should be able to confront bears head-on and survive with relative ease.

Last but not least, if you are playing with friends, there's always the tried-and-true strategy of simply making sure that you are faster than your friends. Of course, you may not have friends for long if you keep sacrificing them to bears, so you don't really want to utilize this strategy too often.

Edited November 15, 2025 by LadyWYT
Grammar

[TFT]

Bears are simple enough to avoid if you spot them first. If not, such as with all cases encountering ninja bears, you run and do what others said and try your best to lose it. You wont always get away as most of your bear attacks begin with taking a surprise hit from one, and sometimes despite your best efforts it sticks to you like glue and it finishes you off. But, unless you're good at it fighting them off or have very good reflexes you're going to die from one and that's a certainty. Of course, assuming you didn't pick hunter or clockmaker, those dont have much trouble escaping bears and wolves if there's a way out. That said you shouldn't be afraid of them either. They beeline towards you and are far more manageable to fight or lose in water, and since they are a fantastic source of huge hides along with being a threat to any area they're in, you'll want to hunt them and get used to hunting them. Getting used to fighting them means ninja bears are less of a pita when they jump you. All else fails there are mods to give them footstep sounds or put them on your minimap so they aren't as likely to jumpscare you if you're focused doing something else.

Every bear is a new pelt for tanning. Kill them all.

[Bruno Willis]

Playing a slightly faster running class really helps. Since I've started playing clockmaker, I've just been able to run run run and I'm usually alright. 

Sometimes I see wolves dozing in the sun and I jump over them. I like to hear them yap. I wouldn't do that to a bear though, cause they don't sound as cute.

[Endeavour]

I've killed them naked in stone age by just kiting them over lakes and chucking spears at them.
Spears thrown are absolutely deadly. 

[Broccoli Clock]

Here's the thing, how much do you want to lean into RP/Realism? If not then it's pretty easy to cheese a bear, nerdpole (4+ blocks) using dirt, throw spears at it. The AI is very simple and easy to predict. 

If however you want to try and maintain a level of immersion then it's totally possible to merc your fuzzy opponent, you just have to be very very careful. Water can work in your favour, it can also very much work against you! A more realistic hunt is just something learned rather than taught. Watch a few videos, sure, but ultimately you find it becomes muscle memory.

Armour is always a good choice when facing up to something with danger mittens, and while it's pretty low tier, the basic wooden type can make the difference between running away or being stopped with a single swipe.

[Steel General]

Turn fifteen sticks into wattle and enclose four blocks, minus the corner away from the bear. On the side near the bear make steps of dirt that rise a block higher than the fence. Get on the steps and throw a rock at the bear and wait. When the bear starts up the steps, step back into the wattle and wait. When the bear comes down into the wattle, step through the corner and place the final wattle to enclose the bear (if it lunges it will get through open corners).

Now you have a bear in a box, and you can poke it to death in leisurely fashion.

[Scorpixel]

The absurd amount of brown bear spawns in my current playthrough is the reason why i don't even wear armour when venturing the wild, it's 110% movement speed or bust against those considering the abrupt/flat terrain around.

The best way to survive those is simply to spot them before being in range. Get rid of all the brush and low trees one way or another, go on vantage points whenever you can to see what's ahead, see where the passive critters are not currently getting mauled. If you have to cross unknown territory, have your nerves mounted on springs and get ready to sprint and parkour like there's one behind you because that's a very likely scenario.

Edited November 15, 2025 by Scorpixel

[Thorfinn]

6 minutes ago, Scorpixel said:

Get rid of all the brush and low trees one way or another

Weirdly enough, it's generally best to leave a lot of the branchy leaf blocks if you can. Their pathing over/around them slows them a lot, while you can time your jump to clear the obstacles. You can also just place fenceposts or other blocks at reasonable intervals, and that can get you a little better visibility, but now you are spending time taking away obstacles and putting back different obstacles, time that could be spent on something better progress-wise.

[HumanDude]

19 hours ago, LadyWYT said:

*looks at username with suspicion* You're not a bear trying to figure out how to keep those pesky players from escaping, are you? 

Ehm... Lets uh... stay on topic it here...

To everyone thanks for the answers as I am totally a human and a dude so your advice is safe with me.

Anyways when it actually comes to killing a bear I have found methods that make it easy. I have personally been using ladders to make it easier to kill them as its a safe space easily available via trees or cheap blocks while I dig a hole near it to lure the bear into. Of course the simplest method was me leading the bear to my base entrance which is too narrow for the bear to get through and hitting it then repeating this because it will run away. The issue of getting jumpscared by a Freddy Fazbear is what I struggle on. I have managed to get to safe places by using ladders or running but sometimes I don't know how they glue to me so well. It truly is the surprise portion that gets me every time. Grizzly Bears well I think they just get a free meal from you if they even see you.

Again thanks for the suggestions there's some good ones I haven't heard and I didn't know they worked. I'd try running from bears by swimming but for some reason I just stopped. I don't think I gave it enough of a chance. I also did not think about if bears can swim downwards well. Personally I also have found ladders to be quite the deterrent for bears. If there are any 3 block tall pillars (hello trees) I quickly place one on just the 3rd block and jump onto and watch as the bear forgets how to climb. This is where if I want to kill them I lure them back to a quickly dug hole. I will be messing with water for sure and I'll attempt to break their AI with the rough terrain. I do feel like there is pathing that causes the bears to get stuck if even for a second such as running close to trees.

[Pascaloubicou]

I know that turning in circles facing a shiver work fine as they miss there attacks, i wonder if it work with a bear gonna have to test it.

[Feycat]

Sprint away, bounce up hills as much as possible. Kill them by throwing spears and then sprint past them to get your spears and throw them again. 

[ArgentLuna]

Well geared Blackguard

[HalfAxd]

I rarely die to bears early game because...

1. Stay out of forests (or at least stick to the edges)

2. dig bear pits and mark them with a pole of dirt so you know where to run to (easy, free, saves your life)

3. Burn vegetation often... clears line of site.

 

All of the above works for wolves too.

Have fun, enjoy!

[Teh Pizza Lady]

31 minutes ago, HalfAxd said:

Stay out of forests (or at least stick to the edges)

Easy to say when you're not trying to track down a Chromite deposit and the best reading isn't in a forested area.

[LadyWYT]

14 hours ago, ArgentLuna said:

Well geared Blackguard

Given it's possible to fistfight a wolf and win...I'm not even sure one needs to have gear, or even be a Blackguard. Both qualities do, however, greatly increase survival chances. 

[Metalton]

For those surprise early game attacks, Improvised Armor will increase your odds of surviving a hit (2 if your real lucky).

[HalfAxd]

8 hours ago, Teh Pizza Lady said:

Easy to say when you're not trying to track down a Chromite deposit and the best reading isn't in a forested area.

LOL... I get it... and I've been in similar situations...

While no plan is perfect  I still setup a pit at the edge of the forest that I can run the bear back to...  then I burn my way thru thick forest, clearing a path for prospecting...

make another pit... rinse and repeat...

Thick forests are where you die unless you take your time.   Besides... fire is good!    

[Maelstrom]

StepUp mod makes ascending hills very quick if running at an angle and the incline is in single block steps.  Can outrun bears going up hill really easily.

[Thorfinn]

23 hours ago, Teh Pizza Lady said:

Easy to say when you're not trying to track down a Chromite deposit and the best reading isn't in a forested area.

That's when you invoke option 3. You don't really need anything flammable that's there, anyway.

@HumanDude, since you already know some of the Way of the Ladder, it's time for you to master another rung. There is very little terrain a bear can hide in if you recon the area from a sufficiently tall ladder.

[Bumber]

4 hours ago, Thorfinn said:

@HumanDude, since you already know some of the Way of the Ladder, it's time for you to master another rung. There is very little terrain a bear can hide in if you recon the area from a sufficiently tall ladder.

All fun and games until you notice the bear is presently ascending the ladder.

[hstone32]

if possible, look for ways in which the size and shape of your body is an advantage in contrast to the bear's. I haven't done comprehensive testing, but I know bears cannot fit through a 1 block wide space. Try running in and around trees, as you are more likely to navigate through the branchy leaf blocks than the bear is. Same goes for caves.

your other option is to juke out it's swipes while taking pokes at it.