This bestiary is a run-first reference: what each monster does, where it typically shows up, and the most reliable ways to stay alive when things get loud. Treat it as a practical checklist, not a lore book.
If your squad is still learning, pair this page with the moons guide for lower-variance routes, and keep your ship-side workflow clean using the terminal commands reference. Want a quota plan that doesn’t collapse after one bad run? Use the quota calculator.
4 monsters in this tier.
Stalks quietly and tries to approach from behind. If you keep staring, it backs off and repositions, waiting for an opening.
Assign a buddy to ‘watch your back’ and do quick shoulder checks. If you spot it, keep brief eye contact while backing toward teammates, then leave the area—don’t get isolated.
Moves when not observed and closes distance extremely fast. It punishes split focus and chaotic retreats.
One person hard-watches it while others pathfind and open doors. Rotate the watcher only with clear callouts; never turn your camera away while it’s in the same corridor.
Starts in a ‘cranked’ state and escalates after enough time/interaction, becoming a lethal pursuer that forces evacuations.
Treat it as a timer: grab nearby scrap and start moving out early. If it begins ramping, call the retreat immediately and avoid dead-end loops.
Targets a specific player and manifests unpredictably; being alone and panicking tends to make outcomes worse.
If you’re being haunted, stick close to teammates and keep routes simple. Communicate early, avoid solo looting, and prioritize extraction over ‘one more room.’
4 monsters in this tier.
Charges aggressively down corridors and punishes slow turns and narrow chokepoints. It’s loud, fast, and relentless once engaged.
Break line-of-sight with doors and hard corners; don’t kite it into teammates. If you must fight, coordinate stuns/spacing—otherwise disengage and reroute.
Sets up in rooms and can control space with webs and surprise pressure. It often guards valuable scrap spots.
Listen for cues and avoid sprinting blindly into webbed rooms. Clear a safe path first, keep distance, and use doors to reset the encounter while you extract loot.
Burrows and attacks from below, punishing loud movement and predictable routes in open terrain.
Move in short bursts and avoid long straight sprints across open ground. If you hear/feel it tracking, change direction, use rocks/structures, and time your crossings.
Hunts by sound; noise can pull it to the ship or to your extraction route. It turns small mistakes into instant wipes.
Go silent: stop talking in proximity, avoid sprinting/jumping, and close doors gently. If it’s near the ship, wait it out and coordinate a quiet, single-file entry.
4 monsters in this tier.
Drops onto a player’s head and restricts vision/movement, turning a normal hallway into a panic trap.
Stay close enough to help each other: if someone gets grabbed, teammates should react instantly and clear it. Move carefully under ceilings and check corners with a flashlight.
Slow but persistent, it blocks paths and forces detours. It becomes dangerous when it pins you between other threats.
Don’t try to ‘thread the needle’—reroute early and mark a safe return corridor. If it’s on the shortest exit path, bank loot sooner and leave before the maze collapses.
Harasses and tests for openings, especially when players are separated. It’s more dangerous as a distraction than as a direct killer.
Stay grouped when hauling and avoid dropping items in panic. If it commits, back up together and keep your ship approach controlled instead of scattering.
Patrols forested areas and can spot and pursue players, making long outdoor carries risky.
Plan a safer haul route before you commit to heavy scrap. Use cover and break sightlines; if it’s on your line, stash loot closer to ship first and make fewer trips.
4 monsters in this tier.
Collects items and can get territorial near its stash. It’s often more annoying than lethal—until you provoke it.
Avoid stealing from its pile unless you’re ready to leave. If you need the loot, do it fast with a buddy and an exit plan; don’t chase it deep into rooms.
Usually non-aggressive and tries to flee; it can startle players into bad decisions rather than directly causing deaths.
Treat it as a noise/jumpscare risk: don’t sprint blindly after it. Keep your route discipline and save stamina for real threats.
Generally harmless wildlife that can distract attention or mask audio cues from more serious outdoor threats.
Don’t waste time on it—use the moment to scan your surroundings. Keep comms focused on dogs/keepers and save your stamina for extraction.
A moving swarm that reduces visibility and can disorient you during hauling or night returns.
Slow down and navigate deliberately; use landmarks and ping teammates for guidance. If visibility is terrible, consolidate scrap and do fewer, safer trips.
It depends on your team size and habits, but Bracken, Coil-Heads, Jester, and Ghost Girl consistently cause wipes because they punish isolation, bad comms, and over-staying inside.
Run roles: one ship/monitor support when possible, one scout, and two haulers. Extreme threats get easier when you keep line-of-sight discipline, call retreats early, and avoid solo looting.
Consolidate loot closer to the ship, make fewer trips, and keep movement quiet when dogs are possible. If a route becomes unsafe, stash and rotate rather than forcing a long carry.
Indirectly: faster routing, ship-side monitoring, and clean callouts reduce time loss and confusion. See the terminal command reference for practical ship workflows and common gotchas.
Choose lower-variance moons you can clear consistently, leave earlier, and sell with buffer. The moons guide helps you think in tiers and risk factors rather than chasing one ‘best’ moon.