Werebeast - Revision history

108.85.197.99: /* Full Moons / Transformation dates */ maths can be hard to follow

2026-01-11T20:15:26Z

Full Moons / Transformation dates: maths can be hard to follow

Clevin: Add link to curses

2025-11-24T20:20:19Z

Add link to curses

No Telefrag Plz: Fixed typo

2025-11-06T06:08:28Z

Fixed typo

Ziusudra: /* Defending your fort against werebeasts */ updated size and trap avoid with info from lua scripts

2025-10-29T00:38:06Z

Defending your fort against werebeasts: updated size and trap avoid with info from lua scripts

Ziusudra: /* Curse transmission and effects */ updated size and trap avoid with info from lua scripts

2025-10-29T00:30:24Z

Curse transmission and effects: updated size and trap avoid with info from lua scripts

162.118.89.123: Added a reference to Woody from Don't Starve.

2025-10-17T19:06:34Z

Added a reference to Woody from Don't Starve.

Ziusudra: /* Werebeasts in fortresses */ added toggle difficulty link

2025-06-09T06:14:31Z

Werebeasts in fortresses: added toggle difficulty link

Ziusudra: /* Werebeasts in fortresses */ added difficulty mention and links

2025-06-09T05:55:47Z

Werebeasts in fortresses: added difficulty mention and links

Dr.Eli: British English is just as valid to use as American English!

2025-03-29T16:12:37Z

British English is just as valid to use as American English!

Gnomeknight: /* Werebeast types / fix

2025-03-26T06:59:20Z

Werebeast types: *fix

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 | style="text-align: center; background: #ccf;" | 2nd<br>''<small>&</small>''<br>28th
 |}
-:: ''(* The math of {12 months x 28 days each} vs. {13 full moons x 26 days each} is not a perfect match, they're different by 2 days (336 vs. 338). This results in a 25 day lunar cycle between months 7-8 and months 12-1.)''
+:: ''(* The math of {12 months x 28 days each} vs. {13 full moons x 26 days each} is not a perfect match, they're different by 2 days (336 vs. 338). This results in two <u>25</u> day lunar cycles (each 1 day shorter), one between months 7-8 and one between months 12-1.)''
 ==Werebeasts in adventure mode==

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 {{DFtext|Urist McBitten, Cheesemaker has transformed into a werelizard!|3:1}}
-[[File:werebeast_sprite_preview.png|right]]'''Werebeasts''' {{Tile|Ñ|6:0}} are [[night creature]]s resembling an unnatural cross between a sapient creature and a beast, cursed to transform every full moon into a dangerous and bloodthirsty beast form. The curse can be contracted by incurring the wrath of one's patron [[deity]] or from another werebeast. Werebeasts are hated and feared throughout much of the world, posing a great risk to the player.
+[[File:werebeast_sprite_preview.png|right]]'''Werebeasts''' {{Tile|Ñ|6:0}} are [[night creature]]s resembling an unnatural cross between a sapient creature and a beast, [[cursed]] to transform every full moon into a dangerous and bloodthirsty beast form. The curse can be contracted by incurring the wrath of one's patron [[deity]] or from another werebeast. Werebeasts are hated and feared throughout much of the world, posing a great risk to the player.
 There will be a specific amount of werebeasts roaming the lands, depending on [[Advanced world generation#Number_of_Werebeast_Curse_Types| the world's settings]]. They can take the form of mammals or reptiles, ranging from the classic [[Wolf|werewolf]], to more exotic things like [[Giraffe|weregiraffes]], [[Lizard|werelizards]], [[Sloth|weresloths]] or [[Gila monster|weregila monsters]]. Also included are some creatures not normally present in the game (werelorises, weremammoths).

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 The following are some commonly used methods to achieve this; in an approximately decreasing order of risk to your fortress population, but increasing effort to implement.
-==== Squad assignement method ====
+==== Squad assignment method ====
 One method is to equip a squad of dwarves with training weapons and send them to an isolated area with one or two of your werebeasts. Ideally the dwarves who get [[Wound|injured]] will back away while the others hold back the werebeast. In reality it can be hard to balance the battle, which leads to either the werebeast killing off the injured dwarves, or being pummeled into submission without spreading their curse. Another significant problem arises when an attack by either the werebeast or a dwarf happens at the moment of transformation. This is considered a dwarf-on-dwarf attack, which leads to a minor [[loyalty cascade]].

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 ==Defending your fort against werebeasts==
-If you have not established an early-detection defensive perimeter (see [[defense guide]] and note that werebeasts are [[trapavoid]]), it is quite likely that if a werebeast attacks, a dwarf will be bitten. The best defense against this is to keep civilians off the surface (unless they are inside high walls), and rely on warning systems to tell you when to trigger a [[Burrow#Civilian_Alerts|civilian alert]] and close your [[bridge|drawbridges]]. A werebeast retains its infectious form for only a few days during the full moon. After that, it reverts to an ordinary humanoid form, and will typically flee.
+If you have not established an early-detection defensive perimeter (see [[defense guide]] and note that most werebeast forms are [[trapavoid]]), it is quite likely that if a werebeast attacks, a dwarf will be bitten. The best defense against this is to keep civilians off the surface (unless they are inside high walls), and rely on warning systems to tell you when to trigger a [[Burrow#Civilian_Alerts|civilian alert]] and close your [[bridge|drawbridges]]. A werebeast retains its infectious form for only a few days during the full moon. After that, it reverts to an ordinary humanoid form, and will typically flee.
 Warning systems may include [[pasture]]d or [[restraint|restrained]] animals, or outdoor [[statue]]s. If you get notices of toppled statues with no visible cause, it's probable there is a werebeast nearby. Baby werecreatures are neutral, and while you can order your military to kill them, the order will not be followed.
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 ===Infection===
 [[File:Weregiraffe.jpg|thumb|A Weregiraffe infecting dwarves. Note that getting infected doesn't protect the dwarf in question from further attacks.<br />''Art by [[Zach Adams]]''.]]
 Werebeasts are dangerous opponents, perfectly capable of killing an unarmed dwarf with impunity, but as notification-worthy invaders go they aren't especially terrifying; a few dwarves with modest military training and gear should be able to handle them with few casualties, as will a single elite dwarf in quality steel gear. The real threat they pose, however, is in their bite. If a sentient creature is bitten by a werebeast, and the bite tears fat, skin, or muscle, said creature becomes infected. Infected creatures will become werebeasts at the next full moon (see below for schedule). Scratches, bites that merely bruise or dent, and subsequent shaking attacks after a bite will not transmit the curse, and thus are merely as dangerous as any other such assault. Any [[learning]] creature who has [[blood]] and isn't [[undead]] or supernatural can potentially be infected, meaning you could theoretically have things such as [[troglodyte]] or [[troll]] werebeasts, while animals, [[vampire]]s, and [[Mummy|mummies]] are immune to it.
 There is no cure. To protect your other dwarves, you should either keep all infected dwarves isolated so they cannot infect your whole fortress, or if you do not want to take care of them, [[expel]] them from the fortress or just kill them.
 Only the original werebeast of a particular strain is immune to aging. All subsequent creatures who become infected from that strain will still retain their original lifespans (in the case of elves and goblins, they simply continue to be immortal). While transformed, a werebeast will require neither food nor drink, nor do they require sleep. Note that the immunity to these requirements only applies during the full moon. However, the monthly transformation resets an infected creature's dehydration and hunger levels, thus allowing them to be trapped in a room until they expire from old age (although they will likely go mad well before this happens). Additionally, each transformation will heal any and all of an infected creature's wounds, and will also restore any missing limbs which the creature may have had.
 Particularly [[Fun]] ideas for using werecreatures include:
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 [[Image:Creature_wereracoon_cage-trap_v50.png|thumb|right|Wereraccoon accidentally caught in cage trap. A safer outcome than most [[‼SCIENCE‼]] failures.]]
-The most successful method discovered is to lock a werebeast in a room with civilians, but make sure the room is completely covered in [[cage trap]]s (Though this method may not work with certain types of werebeasts, such as wereraccoons, as they are small enough{{verify}} to be caught in cage traps when transformed). Many injuries inflicted by werebeasts can knock a dwarf [[unconscious]] due to pain or strangulation, and an unconscious dwarf will be trapped by a cage trap. In the cage, dwarves are free to recover from their wounds, safe from any further attacks. In addition, a dwarf who is [[Thought#Justice|released]] from a cage gets an enormous [[Emotion|happiness]] boost that will help him [[Stress|cope with]] the loss of [[Relationship|family and friends]] who were not so lucky.
+The most successful method discovered is to lock a werebeast in a room with civilians, but make sure the room is completely covered in [[cage trap]]s (Though this method may not work with certain types of werebeasts, such as wereraccoons, as they may be small enough to be caught in cage traps when transformed). Many injuries inflicted by werebeasts can knock a dwarf [[unconscious]] due to pain or strangulation, and an unconscious dwarf will be trapped by a cage trap. In the cage, dwarves are free to recover from their wounds, safe from any further attacks. In addition, a dwarf who is [[Thought#Justice|released]] from a cage gets an enormous [[Emotion|happiness]] boost that will help him [[Stress|cope with]] the loss of [[Relationship|family and friends]] who were not so lucky.
 Further improvements to this technique, such as assigning the uncursed to squads with no uniform (or just a helmet), that replaces clothing in order to allow every bite to break the skin, have pushed successful conversion rates to near 50%. It is also recommended to release dwarves from their cages immediately (via constructing the cages and attaching them to a [[lever]]), to prevent [[insanity]] due to unhappiness.

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 === Curse transmission and effects ===
-Sapient creatures ([[human]]s, [[Dwarf|dwarves]], [[Elf|elves]], [[goblin]]s or [[animal people]]) bitten by werebeasts are cursed to become werebeasts themselves.{{cite forum|126618}} Those that have died as a werebeast are still capable of being resurrected by necromancers as intelligent undead.  When this happens, the curse is retained and the newly revived will proceed to transform on a monthly basis whenever the original bite/turn date is reached.  Transformations will not remove their status as undead.
+Sapient creatures ([[human]]s, [[Dwarf|dwarves]], [[Elf|elves]], [[goblin]]s or [[animal people]]) bitten by werebeasts are cursed to become werebeasts themselves.{{cite forum|126618}} Those that have died as a werebeast are still capable of being resurrected by necromancers as intelligent undead. When this happens, the curse is retained and the newly revived will proceed to transform on a monthly basis whenever the original bite/turn date is reached. Transformations will not remove their status as undead.
-The size of the werebeast is dependent on the nature of its curse, but all are significantly larger than a dwarf, with things like wererhinos and weremammoths being particularly massive. Depending on their starting status and the beast form in question, transformed individuals may receive augmented (or reduced!) strength, agility, recuperation and disease resistance while in monster form, though they often possess slightly lower-than-average toughness and endurance. All werebeasts possess at least Talented [[skill]] in [[wrestling]], [[Combat skill|biting, fighting, striking, kicking, dodging]] and [[Observer|observing]], as well as Legendary skill in [[ambusher]]. If the werebeast is a child, these skills will be at "dabbling" level. Additionally, they can [[Amphibious|breathe underwater]], [[No Exert|feel no exertion]], [[No Stun|cannot be stunned]] and are [[No Pain|immune to pain]], nausea, dizziness and fevers. Werebeasts need no food, water or sleep to survive, nor do they need to breathe, meaning they cannot be drowned or strangled. Werebeasts are Level 2 [[building destroyer]]s and are almost completely [[Trapavoid|immune to traps]] while transformed, safely bypassing any sort of [[trap]] set in their way. They may become caged when they revert, however.
+The size of the werebeast is dependent on the nature of its curse; wererhinos and weremammoths are particularly massive, while those based on smaller creatures can have a random size at least 1/3 larger than a dwarf. Depending on their starting status and the beast form in question, transformed individuals may receive augmented (or reduced!) strength, agility, recuperation and disease resistance while in monster form, though they often possess slightly lower-than-average toughness and endurance. All werebeasts possess at least Talented [[skill]] in [[wrestling]], [[Combat skill|biting, fighting, striking, kicking, dodging]] and [[Observer|observing]], as well as Legendary skill in [[ambusher]]. If the werebeast is a child, these skills will be at "dabbling" level. Additionally, they can [[Amphibious|breathe underwater]], [[No Exert|feel no exertion]], [[No Stun|cannot be stunned]] and are [[No Pain|immune to pain]], nausea, dizziness and fevers. Werebeasts need no food, water or sleep to survive, nor do they need to breathe, meaning they cannot be drowned or strangled. Werebeasts are Level 2 [[building destroyer]]s and all but the smallest are completely [[Trapavoid|immune to traps]] while transformed, safely bypassing any sort of [[trap]] set in their way. They may be caged when they revert, however.
 === Combat, strengths and weaknesses ===

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:06, 17 October 2025
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	Unlike other werebeasts, werehedgehogs have shown the ability to unnaturally stretch their limbs out for extra mobility, and often attempt to steal rings from your stockpiles.		Unlike other werebeasts, werehedgehogs have shown the ability to unnaturally stretch their limbs out for extra mobility, and often attempt to steal rings from your stockpiles.
		+
		+	There have been tales of a Human who would become a Werebeaver when he spent too much time chopping trees. He would carry a legendary talking axe and do his best to not starve. He also had a severe disdain for all birds.

	{{Translation\| dwarven = senelfer \| elvish = riviìle \| goblin = bemkåbu \| human = hixursuku}}		{{Translation\| dwarven = senelfer \| elvish = riviìle \| goblin = bemkåbu \| human = hixursuku}}

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 ==Werebeasts in fortresses==
-In some regions, the full moon will herald the attack of werebeasts upon your fortress and the unwilling transformation of your own citizens into their bestial forms. This can only happen after a certain amount of time has passed, which can be adjusted in the [[Difficulty#Werebeasts|difficulty]] [[settings]].
+In some regions, the full moon will herald the attack of werebeasts upon your fortress and the unwilling transformation of your own citizens into their bestial forms. This can only happen after a certain amount of time has passed, which can be adjusted in the [[Difficulty#Werebeasts|difficulty]] [[settings]], or can be [[Difficulty#Individual_enemy_toggles|completely disabled]].
 If the region has at least one type of werebeast, a werebeast may choose to [[ambush]] your fortress from the surface, revealing itself only once seen. Unlike most other invaders, werebeasts are only announced on their discovery (triggering a message similar to that of a [[megabeast|megabeast]]), allowing them to get much closer to your fortress than most other threats. Local werebeasts will be announced at the moment of their transformation, but unlike invaders will not pause the game and can therefore slip under the radar if the transformation was unexpected or there was numerous other announcements at the time.

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 * May be exceedingly ‼fun‼ for [[Thought|dwarven]] [[Tantrum|sanity]]... but then again, you ''were'' looking for fun in the first place
-There are several ways to attempt to infect your whole fort, some with higher success rates than others. The trick is to have your uncursed dwarves be bitten but not die, and also to have your cursed dwarves survive any retribution. Delaying the release of the werebeast until near the end of the full moon will reduce the chances of the situation spiraling out of control (though it will also reduce the rate of infection).
+There are several ways to attempt to infect your whole fort, some with higher success rates than others. The trick is to have your uncursed dwarves be bitten but not die, and also to have your cursed dwarves survive any retribution. Delaying the release of the werebeast until near the end of the full moon will reduce the chances of the situation spiralling out of control (though it will also reduce the rate of infection).
 The following are some commonly used methods to achieve this; in an approximately decreasing order of risk to your fortress population, but increasing effort to implement.

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 |[[File:wereape_sprite.png|center]] || Wereape** || style="background:#ddd;" | || [[File:weredeer_sprite.png|center]] || Weredeer || style="background:#ddd;" | || [[File:werellama_sprite.png|center]] || Werellama || style="background:#ddd;" | || [[File:wereraccoon_sprite.png|center]] || Wereraccoon
 |-
-|[[File:werearmadillo_sprite.png|center]] || Werearmadillo || style="background:#ddd;" | || [[File:weredonkey_sprite.png|center]] || Weredonkey** || style="background:#ddd;" | || [[File:wereloris_sprite.png|center]] || Wereloris* || style="background:#ddd;" | || [[File:wererat_sprite.png|center]] || Wererat
+|[[File:werearmadillo_sprite.png|center]] || Werearmadillo || style="background:#ddd;" | || [[File:weredonkey_sprite.png|center]] || Weredonkey || style="background:#ddd;" | || [[File:wereloris_sprite.png|center]] || Wereloris* || style="background:#ddd;" | || [[File:wererat_sprite.png|center]] || Wererat
 |-
 |[[File:werebadger_sprite.png|center]] || Werebadger || style="background:#ddd;" | || [[File:wereelephant_sprite.png|center]] || Wereelephant || style="background:#ddd;" | || [[File:weremammoth_sprite.png|center]] || Weremammoth* || style="background:#ddd;" | || [[File:wererhinoceros_sprite.png|center]] || Wererhinoceros