Dropwigs are ambush predators that hide on ceilings and drop down on their prey from above. They are agile and capable of giving chase for short periods of time. Dropwigs are significantly more prevalent when playing as Ĉasisto, and completely absent as Monaĥo.
Dropwigs resemble large earwigs. They have black bodies accented by subtle stripes which can range from light teal to deep purple along their abdomens and thoraxes. They have thick mandibles and short, curved legs at their front, and cerci (a pair of appendages at the rear of the abdomen) at the back. Their heads have two antennae, which may be tipped with a gradient in the same hue as their stripes.
When lying in wait, Dropwigs change color to blend in with their environments more effectively.
Tips
Combat
A single Lanco hit is enough to kill a Dropwig. If room geometry permits, a Dropwig may be killed with little risk by throwing a Spear at their perch on the ceiling. Otherwise, Sliding or backflipping can be used to bait out their drop attack, giving an opportunity to immediately retaliate with a Spear.
Stealth
Dropwigs on ceilings only attack when prey passes through their line of sight directly underneath them, making them easy to sneak around when an alternate path is available. Unusually placed objects, such as a Blue Fruit on the ground, can indicate a Dropwig perched above. In cases where avoiding their line of sight is impossible, other methods such as using Hazers to obscure their vision may be used.
Dropwig graphics are drawn behind foreground objects such as chains and vines, which can obscure them and make them harder to detect.
Evasion
Dropwigs give up chase after ~10 seconds, but they move fast enough to outpace Slugcat's normal walking speed. They tend to pounce while pursuing prey, which can be utilized against them by luring them off ledges. Using advanced movement such as sliding can help with evading the initial drop attack and keeping distance while the Dropwig gives chase. Furthermore, other creatures such as Vulture Grubs can be used to lure them off their perch.
Abilities & Behavior
Regeneration
As long as they are not poisoned, Dropwigs regenerate health at a rate that varies from about 0.07% per second to about 0.57% per second as their current health varies from 0% to 100%.
Ambush
Ambushing is a behavior that consists of up to four stages: locating a perch, lying in wait, the ambush attack itself and, optionally, pursuit if the ambush attack is unsuccessful.
When a Dropwig enters a room, they look for a suitable spot on the ceiling to perch. While searching for a perch, they often ignore all creatures that do not pose an immediate threat (even prey such as Limakkato).
Once a spot has been found, they curl up on the ceiling and their colors dim to match their environment. In this state, they have a symmetrical profile akin to a downward-reaching claw. They wait until a creature either passes underneath or gets too close to them.
As prey nears their line of sight, they tense up, opening their cerci in preparation for the attack. Once their prey is directly underneath, they drop from the ceiling and attempt to execute one of their two attacks, slashing or grabbing. If the ambush is successful, the Dropwig drags their prey back to their den. Dropwigs are capable of dropping at an angle and often do so should prey linger too close to their line of sight for too long. In this case, their cerci slowly widen the closer they are to attempting the ambush.
After an unsuccessful ambush, they spend ~10 seconds giving chase, periodically leaping at and attempting to slash or grab their prey. If the target is not caught within this time, the Dropwig loses interest and starts looking for another perch. If the prey is caught, the Dropwig takes it to their den. Dropwigs are often aggressive immediately after exiting their den.
Slash
Slashing has an 20% lethality rate. There is an 80% chance for it to be executed when dropping from the ceiling and a 20% chance for it to be executed when on the ground. After a slash is executed, it cannot be used again for 4.5 seconds.
Grab
Grabbing has a 20% lethality rate when executed dropping from the ceiling but is never lethal when executed on the ground. There is a 20% chance for it to be executed when dropping from the ceiling and an 80% chance for it to be executed when on the ground.
Bait
Dropwigs are capable of placing bait, typically useful objects or food items, beneath their perch in order to lure prey into an ambush. They may either spawn with this bait or find it and pick it up. Once suitable bait has been acquired, the Dropwig grabs it with their front mandibles and carries it with them until they settle in their ambush spot, after which they drop it beneath them.
Dropwigs have a chance to spawn with a bait item at the beginning of a cycle.
If playing as Hunter or in Expedition mode, Dropwigs cannot spawn with Karma Flowers, thus the chance for them spawning with no item is increased to 76.171875% (195/256).
Finding a perch
Ignoring Slugcat while looking for a spot to perch
Dropwigs' stripes vary in color. Their thoraxes, antennae, and cerci vary in length and thickness, and their antennae have a 50% chance to bear tip gradients of the same hue as their stripes.
Purple stripes, a thin thorax, long, tipped antennae, and long, wide cerci
Purple stripes, a stout thorax, short, tipped antennae, and short cerci
Blue stripes, a thin thorax, long, tipped antennae, and long cerci
Blue-purple stripes, a thin thorax, medium antennae, and short, wide cerci
The color palette for Dropwigs' stripes
Trivia
Dropwigs were added in the 1.5 update.
Multiple Dropwigs are technically able to perch on the same spot but prefer not to.
Lower dominance Dropwigs give up spots to higher dominance Dropwigs.
Like other Slugcat-sized creatures, Dropwigs' corpses can boost the player's speed in tunnels when held.
Dropwigs are capable of grabbing Garbage Worms and may even move them from their spawn point, resulting in unintended behavior.
Besides Scavenger Treasuries and Scavenger Tolls, the Pearls that Dropwigs may rarely spawn with are the only other instance of a naturally "respawning" Pearl.
Dropwigs have the ability to maul and kill Rain Deer.