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Home/Threats/Swarm

Swarm: Bugs, Nests & Cover

When flying bugs interrupt looting, leave the exposed body or nest area and reach cover first. Gunfire can disperse a Swarm; recent players recommend flame when available. Deal with the nearby nest before committing to another long loot interaction.

Build
0.4.0.165
Reviewed
Contents

At a glance

  • The September 28 beginner video places Swarms near bodies or nests attached to walls and buildings. Check the nearby source rather than searching only the sky.
  • Gunfire can disperse the bugs. October players also report success with flamethrowers and grenades; this is not a verified fixed ammunition or damage requirement.
  • Use buildings as a retreat option. Cover is not universally safe: the September patch specifically fixed Swarms stinging through the Ozernoe church.

Check the body and the nearby walls

At 3:42–3:58, Astrosive identifies the flying bugs near enemy bodies or wall-mounted nests and describes shooting them to disperse them. This is a useful recognition cue, not proof that every corpse produces a Swarm.

  1. If damage interrupts looting, stop the interaction and leave the exposed position.
  2. From cover, inspect the corpse area and nearby walls or buildings for a nest.
  3. Choose whether clearing this spot serves your objective. Bypassing it is reasonable when ammunition, medicine or extraction time is low.

Sources: Astrosive: Swarms at 3:42–3:58

Clear an encounter without spending your whole reserve

  1. Use controlled gunfire to disperse a nearby Swarm when you lack a specialist tool. Reassess whether incoming damage stops before spending more ammunition.
  2. If equipped for it, use flame against the bugs or nest. The September 30 patch restored more reliable monster damage from flamethrowers and Molotovs.
  3. Recent players also suggest grenades. Keep enough distance for your own safety and retain supplies for the route out.
  4. Recheck the nest area and your health before resuming looting. If bugs continue damaging you, abandon the interaction and move to the next covered position.

Sources: October enemy advice discussion · Update 0.4.0.165

Prepare for a Hive-modified raid

  • Read the selected raid variant before entering and plan short movements between buildings.
  • October replies describe buildings and overhangs as useful cover. Test whether damage actually stops at your chosen position; trees are not a verified universal safe zone.
  • Avoid prolonged corpse looting in open ground. Recent players describe moving a body under cover before searching it.
  • Carry charged medicine and a realistic ammunition reserve. If you do not have the tools for repeated encounters, choose a different raid variant for the next run.

Sources: October enemy advice discussion · Update 0.4.0.122

Sources & references

  1. Astrosive: Swarms at 3:42–3:58Video

    September 28 transcript obtained through the Codex in-app browser. Sponsored overview; no independent combat test.

  2. October enemy advice discussionCommunity

    Recent reports on flame, gunfire, grenades and cover, including Hive variants.

  3. Update 0.4.0.165Official

    Fire damage reliability for monsters; does not publish Swarm damage values.

  4. Update 0.4.0.122Official

    Specific Ozernoe church protection fix.