Hunting Guide
Hunting feeds the clan. A warrior who cannot hunt is a burden, and an apprentice who cannot hunt never becomes a warrior.
The Hunting Cycle
Stalking
Move slowly and stay downwind. Prey can smell you long before it sees you.
Controls:
- Ctrl — crouch (silent movement)
- Shift — sprint (fast, but scares prey)
- WASD — direction
Stalking rules:
- Check wind direction (leaf particles drift with the wind)
- Approach from downwind
- Move in short bursts, pause between
- Stop completely when prey looks up
Pouncing
Get within range, then leap.
When to pounce:
- The pounce indicator appears under your crosshair
- Prey is facing away or grazing
- You have enough stamina for the leap
Pounce technique:
- Aim slightly ahead of moving prey
- Pounce from as close as possible — missed long pounces are loud
- Land on the prey's back for a guaranteed catch
Retrieving
Carry prey back to the fresh-kill pile in camp.
Carrying limits:
- Small prey (mice, voles) — carry two at once after level 5
- Medium prey (rabbits) — one at a time
- Large prey (hares, large birds) — one at a time, slower movement
Prey by Clan Territory
ThunderClan (Forest)
| Prey | Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Mouse | Easy | Low |
| Vole | Easy | Low |
| Squirrel | Medium | Medium |
| Thrush | Medium | Medium |
| Rabbit | Hard | High |
Tip: Squirrels are the best value in ThunderClan territory — worth the climb.
RiverClan (River)
| Prey | Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Small fish | Easy | Low |
| Water vole | Medium | Medium |
| Large fish | Hard | High |
| Water bird | Hard | Medium |
Fishing technique: Stand at the bank, wait for a ripple, then swipe with a front paw. Timing matters more than speed.
WindClan (Moorland)
| Prey | Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Mouse | Easy | Low |
| Small bird | Medium | Medium |
| Rabbit | Medium | High |
| Hare | Very hard | Very high |
Tip: Rabbits are plentiful but fast. Sprint behind them in a curve, not a straight line — cut off the turn.
ShadowClan (Marsh and Pines)
| Prey | Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Frog | Easy | Low |
| Lizard | Medium | Medium |
| Rat | Medium | Medium |
| Bird | Medium | Medium |
| Snake | Very hard | High |
Warning: Rats at the Carrionplace carry disease. Snake bites can be fatal without a medicine cat.
Weather and Season
Best Hunting Conditions
| Weather | Effect |
|---|---|
| Overcast | Best — scent doesn't carry as far |
| Light rain | Good — prey is less alert |
| Sunny | Normal |
| Heavy rain | Poor — prey hides |
| Snow | Difficult — prey is scarce, tracks visible |
| Fog | Good for stalking, bad for finding prey |
Seasonal Difficulty
- Newleaf (Spring) — easiest, prey is abundant
- Greenleaf (Summer) — normal, hot midday reduces activity
- Leaf-fall (Autumn) — good, prey is fattening for winter
- Leaf-bare (Winter) — hardest, prey scarce and thin
In leaf-bare, the clan may not have enough prey. This is when warriors are expected to hunt from dawn until dusk.
Hunting Techniques to Learn
Silent Step
Crouch and move in short bursts. Reduces noise by 80%. Essential for forest and moorland hunting.
Unlock: Level 3
Downwind Approach
The game highlights wind direction when you crouch. Approach from the opposite side and prey won't detect you until you're in pounce range.
Pounce Arc
Pouncing in a curve rather than a straight line catches fast prey that try to turn away. Best against rabbits and hares.
Unlock: Level 8
Stillness
Standing completely still when prey looks up prevents detection. Most disciples of hunting learn this late — patience is harder than speed.
Unlock: Level 12
Hunting With Others
Patrol Hunting
Hunting in pairs is more efficient than solo hunting:
- One cat drives prey toward the other
- Larger prey becomes catchable
- Safety in numbers near borders
In game: Patrol hunts yield shared XP and are the fastest way to level hunting early.
Drive Hunting
Two or more cats spread out and drive prey toward a waiting hunter. Best for rabbits and hares.
Formation:
- 2 cats drive from upwind
- 1 cat waits downwind
- Prey runs into the waiting cat
Common Hunting Mistakes
❌ Sprinting toward prey — it flees immediately ✅ Crouch and approach slowly
❌ Approaching from upwind — prey smells you first ✅ Always approach downwind
❌ Pouncing from too far — you miss and scare everything nearby ✅ Wait for the pounce indicator
❌ Hunting on another clan's land — breaks the warrior code ✅ Stay inside your borders
❌ Skipping the fresh-kill pile — clan goes hungry, honor drops ✅ Deliver every catch
Feeding the Clan
Order of Feeding
- Elders
- Queens and nursing kits
- Kits
- Apprentices
- Warriors last
In game: The fresh-kill pile tracks clan hunger. If it runs empty, morale drops and the leader will assign mandatory hunting patrols.
What Counts as Enough
- Small prey — 3-4 per day keeps the clan fed
- Medium prey — 2-3 per day
- Large prey — 1-2 per day
A warrior should contribute every day. The clan notices who does and who doesn't.