Lurking GiantsThe Lurking Giants community has developed advanced strategies through thousands of hours of collective gameplay. These community-tested tactics go beyond basic survival tips and address specific situations that official guides rarely cover. This guide compiles the most effective community strategies for both survivors and Giants, organized by scenario and difficulty level.
Community-Tested Survivor Strategies
The "Freeze and Relocate" Technique
The most consistently recommended community strategy for surviving visibility pulses is the "Freeze and Relocate" technique:
- During the pulse highlight (~10 seconds): Freeze completely in your current position. Do not move, do not sprint, do not toggle your lantern. The Giant already sees you — moving during the highlight wastes energy and can reveal your intended direction.
- The moment the highlight fades: Immediately sprint (E key) to your pre-planned new cover position. You should have mentally identified this position BEFORE the pulse.
- Arrive at new cover within 10 seconds: Stop moving, turn off your lantern, and stay silent.
| Phase | Duration | Action | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highlight active | ~10 sec | Freeze in place | Panic-running during highlight |
| Transition | 0-2 sec | Begin sprint immediately | Hesitating for 2-3 seconds |
| Relocation | 10-12 sec | Sprint to pre-planned cover | Running without a destination |
| Settled | 15+ sec | Stop, lantern off, stay silent | Keeping lantern on, continuing to move |
The "Cover Rotation" Strategy
Experienced survivors maintain a mental rotation of 3-4 cover positions and cycle through them, never returning to the same cover twice in a round:
Forest Cover Rotation Example:
| Pulse | Cover Position | Why This Position | Escape Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st pulse | Bush cluster A | Close to starting position | Run east toward cave |
| 2nd pulse | Cave B (2 exits) | Solid cover, Haunt reduction | Exit through north or south |
| 3rd pulse | Rock formation C | Different area from cave B | Run west toward tree cluster |
| 4th pulse | Cave D (2 exits) | Deep cover for late game | Exit through east |
| 5th pulse | Rock formation E | Unpredictable final position | Stay put or sprint to nearby bush |
City Cover Rotation Example:
| Pulse | Cover Position | Why This Position | Escape Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st pulse | Rooftop A (2 exits) | Good starting height | Jump to adjacent building or drop to street |
| 2nd pulse | Tunnel B | Complete concealment | Follow tunnel branch to exit |
| 3rd pulse | Building interior C | Multiple room exits | Exit through back door |
| 4th pulse | Tunnel D (different branch) | Deep underground cover | Follow tunnel to street exit |
| 5th pulse | Interior building E | Final deep cover | Stay put — do not relocate unless Giant is close |
The "Audio Bait" Counter-Strategy
Some community players have discovered that the Giant's audio detection can be used against them. By creating audio distractions, survivors can misdirect the Giant:
| Technique | How It Works | Risk Level | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lantern toggle near entrance | Click lantern on/off near a cave entrance, then move away | Low — if done quickly | Medium — Giant may investigate entrance |
| Sprint past a choke point | Sprint loudly past a junction, then go silent and change direction | Medium — you are briefly exposed | High — Giant follows the sound trail |
| Voice chat decoy | Briefly speak in a false direction, then go silent | High — proximity voice reveals position | Low-Medium — unreliable with random players |
The "Cluster Avoidance" Rule
Community data suggests that survivors who stay near other survivors have higher elimination rates. The Giant naturally targets clusters because they provide the highest kill efficiency per chase. The community-recommended strategy is:
Stay at least 20 meters from the nearest other survivor at all times. This ensures that when the Giant chases one survivor, others have time to relocate without being caught in the same chase.
| Proximity to Other Survivor | Elimination Risk | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| < 5 meters | Very High | Giant can catch both in one chase |
| 5-15 meters | High | Giant may switch targets mid-chase |
| 15-20 meters | Medium | Giant must commit to one target |
| 20+ meters | Low | Giant cannot reach both before relocation |
| Different map area | Very Low | Giant must choose between distant targets |
Community-Tested Giant Strategies
The "Destination Prediction" Technique
The most effective Giant strategy recommended by the community is predicting where survivors will relocate after pulses, rather than chasing where they were highlighted:
- During the highlight: Note which cover type each survivor is currently using (bush, cave, rooftop, etc.)
- Predict their relocation: Survivors almost always move to the nearest higher-quality cover. A survivor in a bush will move to the nearest cave. A survivor on a rooftop will move to the nearest tunnel.
- Head to the predicted destination: Instead of going to where they were highlighted, go to where they are going. You will arrive at the same time or earlier.
| Current Cover | Predicted Relocation | Probability | Where the Giant Should Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bush on Forest | Nearest cave | 80% | The cave, not the bush |
| Rooftop on City | Nearest tunnel entrance | 70% | The tunnel, not the rooftop |
| Tree cluster on Forest | Nearest cave or rock formation | 60% | Between both options |
| Billboard on City | Interior building room | 65% | The building, not the billboard |
The "Haunt Timing" Strategy
When to use Haunt (G) is critical. Community Giant players recommend:
| Timing | When to Haunt | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Best | Immediately after pulse highlight fades | Survivors are relocating and exposed during transit |
| Good | 30-40 seconds after pulse | Survivors have settled but may still be adjusting |
| Okay | Before pulse (at 00:50 of each hour) | Scouting to predict where survivors will hide during the next pulse |
| Worst | During the pulse highlight | Redundant — you already see them during the highlight |
The "Route Cutting" Technique on City
On the City map, experienced Guilt players cut off relocation routes rather than chasing survivors directly:
- After highlight: Identify which direction the survivor is moving
- Take the vertical shortcut: Use stairs and rooftops to reach the destination faster than the survivor
- Wait at the destination: The survivor runs into you instead of away from you
| Route | Direct Chase Time | Route Cut Time | Time Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survivor on Street A → Tunnel B | 12 seconds | 6 seconds (via rooftop shortcut) | 6 seconds |
| Survivor on Rooftop C → Building D | 8 seconds | 4 seconds (via adjacent rooftop) | 4 seconds |
| Survivor in Tunnel E → Exit F | 15 seconds | 10 seconds (via alternate tunnel exit) | 5 seconds |
Community-Identified Common Mistakes
Survivor Mistakes
| Mistake | Frequency | Consequence | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Shift instead of E for sprint | Very Common | Character does not sprint, stands still during relocation | Train E key muscle memory |
| Returning to previous cover | Common | Giant anticipates and patrols old positions | Maintain 3-4 position rotation |
| Keeping lantern on between pulses | Common | Light visible to Giant from distance | Default state: lantern OFF |
| Dead-ending on rooftops (City) | Medium | Trapped with no escape route when Giant arrives | Always ensure 2+ exit routes |
| Grouping with other survivors | Medium | Giant catches multiple survivors in one chase | Stay 20+ meters from others |
Giant Mistakes
| Mistake | Frequency | Consequence | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chasing highlighted position instead of destination | Very Common | Arrive at empty cover, survivor already gone | Predict relocation destination |
| Using Haunt during pulse highlight | Common | Wasted cooldown on redundant information | Save Haunt for post-pulse |
| Attacking (Q) from too far | Medium | Missed attack, survivor escapes | Wait until within melee range |
| Same patrol direction every pulse | Medium | Survivors learn your pattern and avoid it | Vary approach direction each pulse |
| Ignoring audio cues | Medium | Miss approaching survivors you cannot see | Listen for footsteps and lantern clicks |
Advanced Community-Developed Formations
Beyond individual strategies, the community has developed team-level formations for players who coordinate in voice chat during intermission. These formations require cooperation but significantly increase group survival rates.
The "Spread Network" Formation
In this formation, survivors spread across the map in a loose network, each maintaining 20+ meter spacing:
| Position | Cover Zone | Role | Communication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point A (north) | Cave system | Northern watcher — alerts when Giant moves north | "Giant heading north" |
| Point B (east) | Rock cluster | Eastern watcher | "Giant near geyser fields" |
| Point C (south) | Bush cluster | Southern watcher | "Clear south" |
| Point D (west) | Tree formation | Western watcher — early warning | "Giant moving west" |
| Point E (center) | Mobile reserve | Relocates to replace eliminated survivors | Fill-in as needed |
Key rule: Communicate Giant position only during pulses. Avoid continuous voice chat between pulses because the Giant may hear proximity voice. Brief, structured callouts during the 10-second highlight window give all network members the best chance to relocate effectively.
The "Decoy Relay" Tactic
This advanced tactic uses one or two volunteers as deliberate decoys to draw the Giant away from the main group:
- Decoy player: Sprint visibly during the pulse highlight to attract the Giant's attention
- Main group: Use the decoy's distraction to relocate to deep cover silently
- Decoy escape: After leading the Giant away, the decoy freezes in hard-to-reach cover (deep cave, multi-exit tunnel)
- Result: The Giant wastes 20-30 seconds chasing the decoy, giving the main group time to settle in new positions
| Role | Risk Level | Required Skill | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decoy (Forest) | High | Advanced — must know deep cave locations | 60-70% survival |
| Decoy (City) | Very High | Expert — must navigate vertical escape while being chased | 40-50% survival |
| Main group | Low | Intermediate — basic relocation | 85%+ survival |
Important caveat: The decoy relay only works with trusted teammates in voice chat. It fails in random public lobbies because decoys cannot coordinate their escape without communication.
Community Strategy Effectiveness by Map
Not all strategies work equally well on both maps. Here is a community consensus on which strategies are most effective on each map:
| Strategy | Forest Effectiveness | City Effectiveness | Best Giant Matchup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freeze and Relocate | Very High | High | Works vs both Locust and Guilt |
| Cover Rotation | High | Very High | Essential vs Guilt (more relocation needed) |
| Audio Bait | Medium (open terrain) | High (echoes amplify effect) | Better vs Locust (Guilt uses Haunt, not audio) |
| Cluster Avoidance | Very High | Very High | Essential vs both Giants |
| Destination Prediction | Medium (Giant) | Very High (Giant) | Guilt on City is devastating |
| Route Cutting | Low (Giant, no vertical) | Very High (Giant) | Guilt exclusive technique |
| Spread Network | High | Medium | Works vs both |
| Decoy Relay | High (more caves) | Medium (fewer deep hiding spots) | Better vs Locust |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these community strategies officially verified? No. These strategies are developed and tested by the player community. While many are widely accepted as effective, they have not been confirmed by ULTRA works as intended gameplay mechanics. Community strategies represent practical knowledge, not official guidance.
Should I always follow the "Freeze and Relocate" technique? In most cases, yes. However, if you are in extremely exposed cover (open area, geyser field edge), sprinting during the highlight to reach basic cover may be necessary. The technique assumes you are already in some form of cover when the pulse fires.
How do I practice the cover rotation strategy? Play several rounds focusing only on memorizing 3-4 cover positions per map. Do not worry about winning — just practice rotating between your chosen positions after each pulse. Once you have the rotation memorized, add the timing element.
Does the "Cluster Avoidance" rule apply if I am playing with friends? Yes, and it is even more important. Friends tend to stay close together, which creates a cluster that the Giant can exploit. Coordinate with friends to spread out and use different cover positions, communicating through voice chat only when absolutely necessary.
Where can I find more community strategies? The ULTRA works Discord at https://discord.gg/ultraworks has active strategy channels where players discuss and refine techniques. YouTube videos from community creators also demonstrate advanced strategies visually.