Controls
Slugcat's controls feature a variety of advanced movements, many of which are unexplained in-game. This page exists to detail the variety of moves the Slugcat can perform and how to do them.
Buttons and basics
- Up: Grabs onto and climbs up poles. Causes Slugcat to climb up small ledges and reorient in midair. Also causes Slugcat to rise up onto two feet when crawling.
- Down: Causes Slugcat to duck down and crawl on all fours. When on a vertical pole, causes Slugcat to climb down it. When on a horizontal pole or the bottom of a vertical pole, causes Slugcat to drop off of it. Also causes Slugcat to drop off of corners.
- Left/Right: Basic horizontal movement. Also used to cause Slugcat to grab onto a wall and slide down it.
- Jump: A basic jump allowing Slugcat to climb over obstacles, reach poles, and leap across gaps.
- object or grabs certain creatures. If Slugcat's right hand (left from the player's perspective) is free, they grab objects with that hand first. Pick-Up (aka Grab or Eat): Picks up an
- Throw: Throws held objects. If Slugcat is holding two objects, the object in their right hand (left from the player's perspective) is thrown first. Some objects have an effect when thrown, and others are thrown a much shorter distance.
- karma level and food pips. When held slightly longer, brings up a timer depicting when the rain arrives. When held down for about a second, brings up a map from Slugcat's memory. Slugcat cannot move while remembering the map, and this does not pause the game. Map: When tapped, briefly pulls up the HUD showing Slugcat's
- Pause: Opens the pause menu.
Object management
- Eat: Holding food they are holding. If Slugcat is holding food in both hands, they eat the food in their right hand first. If Slugcat is already full, they do not eat any more food. Certain food, such as Popcorn Plants, are eaten as soon as they are grabbed. causes Slugcat to eat any
- Drop: Pressing and at the same time causes Slugcat to gently drop an item rather than throw it. Like throwing, Slugcat drops the item in their right hand first.
- Swap: Double-tapping causes Slugcat to swap the items held in their left and right hands, letting them throw or drop a different item first.
- Item Storage/Regurgitation: If the player holds down , as if to eat, and is unable to eat the item (due to not holding a consumable item or being full), the Slugcat swallows the object they're holding. If they are holding items in both hands, they store the item in their right hand first. This object can then be regurgitated later on by holding again. As long as the Slugcat is not in a tunnel, the object is regurgitated into one of the Slugcat's hands if they have an empty one. If not, the object is spat on the ground. Food and Spears cannot be stored this way, and the Slugcat can only store one item in them at a time.
Jumping
Pulling up onto ledge
When hitting a wall just below a ledge, holding forwards and pressing
allows Slugcat to climb up.Wall-jumping
The Slugcat slides down walls when holding forwards into the wall.
Wall-jumping is performed by pressing
while sliding down a wall (holding into the wall), immediately switching holding direction to the other wall and tapping jump as soon as the Slugcat comes into contact with that wall.Note: It’s important to switch holding direction as soon as possible after jumping. The aim is to jump as soon as possible while holding into the wall, to minimize height lost to sliding, then immediately hold away from the wall to minimize negative aerial drift.
Coyote jump
It is still possible to jump a few frames after running off an edge. This can be used to maximize horizontal jump distance, or safeguard against tight jumps.
Pole coyote jump
This can also be done off of poles.
Charge-pouncing
Entering the crouching position and holding
until Slugcat’s back is arched, then releasing, allows for a charge-pounce. For almost all pounces the Slugcat is subject to aerial drift, and so holding forwards mid-pounce allows the player to maximize the Slugcat's horizontal range whenever jumping or pouncing.Crouching to safely position on edges
This gif shows the farthest Slugcat can extend over a ledge while crouched, useful for maximizing charge-pounce distance.
Landing upright out of charge-pounce
Tapping
immediately after charge-pouncing puts Slugcat in an upright position, giving them more height. This can help grab ledges upon landing.Throw-boosting
Throwing Rocks or Spears during a jump or pounce increases horizontal velocity, allowing Slugcat to travel further than normal jumps and pounces. This is most effective when done at the start of a jump.
Note: Throw-boosting can be used at the start of any aerial move to increase speed / range.
Optimal throw-boosting
This can be done with two objects to further increase speed, optimally either out of a charge-pounce or max length roll-pounce (Explained later in guide).
Turning around
Backflipping
Backflips are performed by jumping immediately after turning around.
Turn-hopping
Turn-hopping involves repeatedly jumping after turning to conserve turn momentum and cover ground quickly. Momentum conserved this way only depletes when in contact with the ground, and lasts longer with more precise and better timed jumps.
Tunnel Movement
Main article: Controls/Tunnel Movement
Slides
Main article: Controls/Slides
Rolls
Main article: Controls/Rolls
Pole Movement
Main article: Controls/Pole Movement
Combat
Main article: Controls/Combat
Swimming
Main article: Controls/Swimming
Situational controls
Regions like Five Pebbles feature unique controls, which for the sake of spoilers are not listed here. Info on the controls can be found on the page for the region.
Source
More detailed gifs and more complete move information can be found on the Rain World Movement Guide