Centipedes are long, segmented myriapods based loosely on their real-world counterparts. Their behavior varies with their size, ranging from passive prey to dangerous predator.
Centipedes are black and orange arthropods with protective shells and segmented bodies. They have many legs and 2 sets of feelers on both ends of the body. They have a brown coloration on the ends of their legs, and can range vastly in size.
Tips
Combat
Depending on their size, Centipedes range from harmless to extremely dangerous. Centipedes are fast crawlers, able to outpace most creatures along the ground, in tunnels, and on poles. Their ability to climb along background walls makes them difficult to evade. Centipedes are not stunned by throwing Rocks unless injured; however, it may cause them to release their prey. Cherrybombs cause Centipedes to release held creatures, as well as prevent them from grabbing for a short period.
Mature Centipedes can be killed with 2 or 3 Spears, but Overgrown Centipedes may require up to 12 hits before they die. Segments that have been de-shelled take extra damage. Centipedes spasm and ball up after becoming injured, making it easier for them to grab and shock threats, alongside making retrieving Spears difficult. Spore Puffs can be used to kill a Centipede from a distance.
Stealth
Due to their sharp hearing and vision, sneaking around Centipedes can pose a challenge. Avoid making loud noises or passing by one of their heads to avoid detection. Crouching and crawling greatly reduces their vision. When a Centipede is moving, its vision is further reduced, giving opportunity to sneak past.
Evasion
Keeping a distance from Centipedes is safest, as they are primarily found in dark, tunnel-filled areas with little room for escape. By use of shortcuts or avoiding areas they are in altogether, it is possible to pass by unharmed. Throwing Rocks or Spears to create sound can lure Centipedes to a different location if there is no other way around. Movement such as slidepouncing, backflipping, and slide flipping can help to keep distance between Slugcat and Centipedes.
Abilities & Behavior
Grabbing & Electrocution
Centipedes grab on to creatures with their heads. If they manage to connect both ends to the creature, they deliver a shock. Centipede shocks do not deal damage, but either stun or kill depending on the mass of the creature in relation to the Centipede. If the creature has less mass than the Centipede, the shock kills them. Shocks delivered underwater deal damage instead of depending on mass. The current travels to all other creatures within the same body of water. When injured and attempting to retreat inside a den, Centipedes can latch on to creatures and pull them into the den, killing them.
Vision
Centipedes have strongly movement-based vision. All Centipedes share the same vision capabilities regardless of size. They are only able to see out of 1 head at a time, but alternate between heads every frame. Centipedes' alternating vision causes a unique behavior; as long as Slugcat moves at a steady pace across flat terrain, or when climbing poles, Centipedes are caught in a consistent loop of starting and stopping. This behavior is caused by their alternating vision, where they have to re-realize that Slugcat is moving. This loop can be used to escape a Centipede safely, as they do not grab on to Slugcat unless provoked or run into.
Centipedes cannot see Slugcat when they are crouching and have greatly reduced vision when crawling. If a Centipede is moving, their vision is further reduced, and they become unable to see Slugcat when crawling or standing.
Centipedes' vision cones when idle while Slugcat crawls, moving while Slugcat runs, vs idle while Slugcat runs.
Centipedes' vision cones when idle while Slugcat crouches vs idle while Slugcat stands.
A moving Centipede unable to see Slugcat until they jump.
A moving Centipede unable to see Slugcat crawling.
Hearing
Centipedes are one of the few creatures capable of hearing and are only able to do so when idle. Centipedes have a hearing stat of 1.5 when sitting, and 0 when moving. Depending on their size, Centipedes may flee from or investigate interesting sounds.
Aggression
Centipedes have a unique aggression system. Unlike other creatures, which have dynamic, constantly changing relationships, Centipedes have fixed relationship values with creatures in accordance to their weight relativity, unless otherwise specified. Centipedes are more interested in creatures closer to their own weight, which has the side effect of making larger Centipedes less interested in Slugcat. When a creature has more weight than a Centipede, they become afraid of that creature at the maximum possible value. Running into, attacking, or otherwise provoking a Centipede does not change their Eats relationship with the player or other creatures, but does make them more willing to grab and shock creatures.
A Youth Centipede's high aggression towards Slugcat in comparison to an Overgrown Centipede's low aggression.
An Overgrown Centipede's higher aggression towards a Red Lizard, which is closer to them in weight.
Centipedes come in a large variety of sizes, ranging from small and harmless to massive and dangerous. Their aggression, health, and food pips given vary depending on how large they are. A Centipede's segment and shell count depends on their size. Centipedes fall into three categories of size: Youth, Mature, and Overgrown. Other variations of Centipede include Infant Centipedes, Centiwings, Red Centipedes, and, exclusively to the Downpour DLC, a unique Infant Centiwing reskin and Aquapedes.
Youth
Youth Centipedes have 7 to 9 segments and are typically unable to kill Slugcat, as well as most creatures, and can only stun them with their shock. Due to their relatively small size, Youth Centipedes are neutral towards Slugcat. If threatened enough, they become aggressive and shock Slugcat. They have at least 0.69 health points and can be killed with one or two Spears. They fill 2–3 food pips when eaten.
Mature
Mature Centipedes have 10 to 13 segments and are larger than Slugcat, being hostile towards them. Mature Centipedes can hunt by grabbing and then shocking creatures to death. They have a health range of 1.32–2.56, and so can be killed with 2–3 shots of a regular Spear. If killed and eaten, Mature Centipedes fill 3–5 food pips.
Overgrown
Overgrown Centipedes have 14 to 17 segments and are extremely large, nearly 4 times the size of Slugcat. Due to their size, they have slightly more trouble grasping prey with both ends and delivering shocks, making them less dangerous than they at first appear. Despite their size, they can traverse tunnels easily and travel much faster than most creatures. They have a health range of 2.56–12, and so they require at least 3 Spear shots or a well-aimed Spore Puff to kill. If killed and eaten, they fill 5–7 food pips.
Trivia
All Centipede sizes are considered the same creature and as such have identical relationships to other creatures, along with other creatures treating them as the same regardless of size.
While the static relationship doesn't change, some creatures adjust their dynamic relationship based on the target's mass. For example, Vultures are set to ignore creatures larger than them in mass. Overgrown Centipedes very close to their maximum size exceed Vultures in mass, leading to the Vultures ignoring such Centipedes while eating smaller ones.
In version 1.5, their shell colors are not tied to ID and change color every time a room is loaded.
When a Centipede spawns, each segment has a 1.5% chance to be missing its shell.
Centipedes release what they are holding after 4.55 seconds if they cannot connect their other head.
Adult Centipedes are the only large creature that can be eaten by all Slugcats. (except for Saint who is unable to eat any meat.)
Centipedes always have 2 legs per segment.
Centipedes cannot be stunned by Rocks unless injured. However, if hit by a Rock, Centipedes release held creatures 50% of the time.
Adult Centipedes die in shelters if Slugcat hibernates.
Unlike Infant Centipedes, regular Centipedes cannot shock a Lizard that is holding them. This is particularly noticeable with Blue Lizards, which often fail to bring Infant Centipedes to their lairs, but easily incapacitate and kill Overgrown Centipedes.
Centipedes are able to shock each other, though this is rarely seen naturally and deals minimal damage.
In certain areas where there are many Centipedes inside a small room with a large amount of water, such as in Drainage System or Outer Expanse, Centipedes may shock each other when attempting to hunt for food.
Centipedes are resistant to electrical damage and stun, which is divided by 102 when inflicted.