How to open a hunt
Check the target's size, your stamina, and whether water or trees are in reach. Crouch or hide before an ambush move. Activate close enough that a miss does not leave you in the open. Watch for a pin, limp, bleed, stamina drop, or a grounded target, then either follow up or leave.
Wolf LUNGE is the tutorial version of this: get close, press F, and press F again to let go. The ability showcase below is a separate, fully grown demonstration. A move that pins a small animal may only slow a large one.
Nine carnivores from the ability showcase
| Animal | Ability | What the showcase showed | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gray wolf | Lunge | Leaps on and bites. Bites can bleed | You can stay on the target |
| River otter | Frenzy | Grabs a leg and bites fast. Larger targets may limp. Bleed is also listed | You are already in range |
| Peregrine falcon | Dive Bomb | From a crouch. Can ride large prey or pin small prey. Could not lift a target that was too big | The prey is small, or you only need to stick to a large one |
| Cougar | Pounce | Crouch leap that slows large prey or pins small prey. Faster climb that recovers stamina | Cover and climbable ground are nearby |
| Bald eagle | Dive | Same ride-or-pin pattern from a crouch. Steady climb that does not cost stamina | You can attack from above |
| Reticulated python | Constrict | Wraps and tightens over time | You can keep contact |
| Komodo dragon | Venom Lunge | Drains stamina and may collapse a target. The collapse was not consistent on every animal | You want to exhaust a runner |
| American alligator | Death Grip | Grabs and drags, including into water. Large animals resist | The fight starts at a shore |
| Siberian tiger | Takedown | Grounds prey for up to five seconds while biting | You opened from hiding |
Falcon and eagle climbs were described as steady and free of stamina cost. The cougar climbs faster and recovers stamina. A fall in the showcase did serious damage, so height is not free safety. Wolf and otter pressure depends on staying close after the first bleed.
The create menu's "tiger", "alligator", and "python" line up with the showcase's Siberian tiger, American alligator, and reticulated python. They are treated as those animals here, not as extra species.
Omnivores in the same showcase series
| Animal | Ability | How it was used |
|---|---|---|
| Red fox | Dandive | Digs a hole, travels underground, and comes out of a hole it dug. Air is limited down there. A bite was reported with extra bleed |
| Red panda | Rear End Strike | F stands the panda up so it can walk. F again pounces, rakes twice, and returns to the start. Climbing is fast and recovers stamina |
| Grizzly bear | Big Bear | Stands and cannot walk in that stance. The swipe hits harder and can scare a nearby animal. Climbing is steady but spends stamina. A swipe was reported in a wide injury range, so do not treat one clip's numbers as fixed |
Hippo Crusher Bite
The hippo's signature bite unlocks at 34 percent growth. Hold the bite button to open wide. A longer hold makes the bite harder when you release. That is the river animal's tool, separate from the nine-carnivore list.
Pick for the ground you are on
Ambush from cover favors the cougar and the Siberian tiger. Small prey favors the falcon, eagle, cougar, or otter. A shoreline favors the alligator, not a land pounce. Trees favor the climbers. Underground escape favors the fox only after you have an exit hole and enough air. None of these rows is an official tier. Player clips that call the Siberian tiger, American alligator, Asian elephant, hippo, or grizzly "the best" are preferences, not measured stats.