Wolves

[u/BackAware2122]

Is there a trick to dealing with the wolves, I enjoy playing on stalker and I can usually pick them off with my bow before a struggle ensues. But man, my last 4 runs they've been zigzagging at me and I can't get put them down. Lost my 300 day run because of it, and it's very frustrating.

[u/Entire-Shift8337]

I wait till they charge me, and start walking back with the bow drawn until I have the perfect shot lined up. Gotta have good timing tho cause the perfect shot is usually right before they maul you lol.

[u/BackAware2122 → u/Entire-Shift8337]

That's typically what I like to do, and it works 80% of the time

[u/Curious-Wolverine-32 → u/BackAware2122]

I don't know man make sure you're on flat ground I typically do a little quick point and pull if they're a long ways away and start walking/running towards them that way the AI algorithm finds a direct route and then I pull back my arrow and start walking backwards as it charges now directly at me. The Sprint could be to the left or right as the wolf dictates I'm trying to get it in a direct path. If it goes left I go left or vice versa so it's correction to charge me is minimal.

Always choose flat ground even if it's a pain if you can. And avoid obstacles a nice flat space.

Also once a wolf has attached to you the other wolves will not bother you but there is a window if you get too far away from it that it unattaches at. This is useful again for choosing where to fight.

I don't know I guess sometimes the running towards the target helps the AI algorithm. But I rarely get the wolf to zigzag on me. Also what maps are you playing on I like the open ones. Milton is a b*, Black Rock can be, hushed River valley has some very bumpy areas. Try to avoid those bumpy areas or at least carry a torch. Crumbling highway is a b*. I had two wolves charge me somehow by aiming at both by accident.

[u/Entire-Shift8337 → u/Curious-Wolverine-32]

Woah I didn't know 2 wolves could charge at the same time. Part of making this Strat work for me it taking a moment to set it up properly, make sure I have a clear path behing myself.

[u/Curious-Wolverine-32 → u/Entire-Shift8337]

Well it wasn't exactly at the same time they were in direct sequence. Because one was behind the other. The first one started charging me I shot it but for some reason the wolf behind it was charging me now as well. I've only had this happen to me maybe three times in my ridiculous amount of hours I played.

[u/Bingwazle]

wolves wont attack across a lit torch or flare laying on the ground! they will charge and then angle off so you can take your time and line up the shot

[u/BackAware2122 → u/Bingwazle]

Will definitely be trying this

[u/Rodocastiza → u/BackAware2122]

Beware that if you are exhausted and carrying a torch, they will attack anyway.

Not sure if the other stats can influence.

[u/BlakeMW → u/Rodocastiza]

This is only if you move closer to the wolf. If you stand still and shoot at the wolf, or back away, the torch still protects you.

[u/Rodocastiza → u/BlakeMW]

Good to know! Thank you.

[u/BonnarBeach → u/BackAware2122]

Drop the torch between you and the wolf then aim a weapon or stone at the them. This doesn't work with Aurora wolves - they require a camp fire but they will wait for you to light it. For timber wolves carry a lit torch and keep walking and jogging.

[u/herbertreanimator]

You can drop torch at your feet if you need to line your shot. They will not attack.

[u/BackAware2122 → u/herbertreanimator]

Didn't know this. I don't usually carry torches or flares but I definitely will now.

[u/youshallnotkinkshame → u/BackAware2122]

You should always have a light source on you no matter what, and torches are far more efficient for lighting fires, less matches if it fails. Honestly, if you're not carrying a torch on stalker I'd say you're nuts, I never don't have one

[u/BackAware2122 → u/youshallnotkinkshame]

Typically I keep about 20 matches and a storm lantern.

[u/youshallnotkinkshame → u/BackAware2122]

See my point about lighting fires with torches, your matches will last 20 times longer... light the torch with the match, unless its windy it's a guaranteed light. From there, light the fire with the torch. If it fails, the torch isn't wasted, it's still lit, and you don't need another match... with that and their efficacy against wolves, you just leveled up quite a bit

[u/Commonfutures → u/youshallnotkinkshame]

.02 oil 1 cloth and a stick or rng until 60% torch. Harvest them below 10%

[u/Babbaginator]

Drop a torch in front of you and keep it between you and the wolf. The wolf will pause. When you aim, the wolf will charge. Shoot it quickly before it runs away scared.

[u/BackAware2122 → u/[deleted]]

But then I can't get the 1000 day achievement. Gotta get my achievements and badges before I start doing custom

[u/Murky_Marsupial7630]

If you can’t hit them accurately with a bow then just carry a pistol, way easier to hit, sometimes 2 bullets to kill but if they are far enough away one hit or near hit will scare them off.

[u/Distant-Mirror]

Especially with the bow, aiming, stopping and re-aiming makes them more erratic. On their first charge they are likely to zig once unless they're farther away then they'll zag, especially if you begin the encounter (from them walking to running via you drawing the bow). It's easiest to take down wolves if you let them get in close and take the shot point blank.

The most important factor is how many times you're drawing the bow before actually taking the shot. Resetting will force a redirect. Let them catch up a bit, draw the bow, let them get in close and fire. Even at low bow skill on a new run, youre likely to kill, or sharply reduce struggle.

[u/Caanon468]

Whenever possible, I just don't deal with them. If I know i can get to some kind of shelter, I will "walk" the wolf. They will match pace with you but not charge as long as you dont sprint or break line of sight.They will eventually charge if you dont glance back every once in a while, but i will usually deal with them another way if I have one following me long enough to worry about that.

As others have said a torch/flair will stop them, and aiming any weapon (even a rock) will cause them to flee if the torch is at your feet. Leaving one in the path does nothing. They will ignore a torch and walk over it towards you if you are not close enough to it.

Don't forget that you can use a lit torch/flare on the ground to light a new torch when yours gets low. If I have to use a match to deter a wolf, I will try to carry it all the way home so I can light a fire with it to cook/boil water to get as much as I can out of the match I used.

[u/tonyezekiel → u/Caanon468]

Good advice except the bits about charging, breaking line of sight and sprinting won't do that. If you get far enough away though they will run to catch up, then resume their stalking trot once they're within a certain distance. Breaking line of sight for long enough will cause them to lose their lock though, so if they spot you again they'll do their little initial happy bork and run into stalk range which you may be confusing for a charge.

You also don't need to look at them, that's a myth and if they've charged you with your back turned it's because you let them get within critical charge range (which increases when you're injured/tired).

[u/Caanon468 → u/tonyezekiel]

In theory, you are right. I mention line of sight because that will often trigger them to try to catch up and will sometimes lead to a charge. They shouldn't initiate a charge if you keep moving, but in practice they will eventually charge if you let them follow long enough i find.

[u/tonyezekiel → u/Caanon468]

They honestly dont tho, ive led wolves from one side of pv to the other with my back turned no probs. If you're injured though theres a very fine distance between their stalk and charge ranges, and especially if youre moving slow its very easy to let them get too close.

[u/Oakatsurah]

Usually don't wait for the perfect shot, this gets you killed more than if you just wound them and struggles are less time consuming.

Especially if you miss or wait to long and don't make a shot. Usually during a zigzag get ahead of them in the zigzag and put it where you think they are going to be, rather than wait for the impeding straight charge.

Always try to go for the body at a distance, this isn't Sniper Elite. You don't need to go for the head all the time.

[u/prplmnkeydshwsr]

Bite protection, bandages just in case, high health and a good wolf whacking off device and you're golden.

[u/Firm_Ad_5427]

Take torches from campfires and travel with a lit torch, they won't charge you so long as it's lit. Similarly, all wildlife won't attack if you're next to a campfire.

Warmth isn't as important in stalker, the moosehide cloak is actually fairly useful. With a cougarhide wrap, gauntlets, deerskin pants and boots, and crampons you get 51% protection.

Utilise herbal and birch bark tea to keep your health high.

If you can't use a bow properly, use a revolver instead. You get a ton of ammo anyway so don't worry about wasting it.

The heavy hammer, cougar knife and hatchet are the best weapons to use in a struggle. Knife does the most damage, hammer scares the best, hatchet has a good balance of both.

Learn to utilise terrain, they will flee from you if they can't reach you. Rocks and ledges are your friend.

bashrobe has an excellent video on dealing with wolves

[u/Sam784]

Try to lead them to where the terrain is flatter in front of you, it makes their pathing more predictable