Lurking GiantsThe VERITY rework is the most significant update in Lurking Giants history. When it launches, the game will expand from two Giants to four, add survivor perks or classes, potentially rework existing maps, and introduce VR and controller support. These changes will fundamentally reshape the tier list, potentially ending Guilt's S-tier dominance and creating a more diverse Giant meta. This guide analyzes every announced feature of the VERITY rework and predicts how each change will affect the current tier rankings.
Every prediction in this guide is based on community analysis of official announcements and developer hints from the ULTRA works Discord. None of these predictions are confirmed — the actual tier rankings will only be known after the rework launches and the community has time to test the new content. Treat this guide as informed speculation, not fact.
Current vs Predicted Giant Tier List
| Tier | Current | Predicted (Post-Rework) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Guilt | Guilt (likely retains S) | Stable |
| A | — | Verity (speculation) | New entry |
| A | — | Doctor Nowhere (speculation) | New entry |
| B | Locust | Locust (likely retains B) | Stable |
Key prediction: Guilt will likely retain S-tier because its wall-penetrating Haunt is a unique mechanic that no new Giant has been announced to counter directly. However, if Verity or Doctor Nowhere introduces abilities that counter Guilt's specific strengths, the S-tier position could be challenged. Locust is expected to remain B-tier — effective but outclassed by premium options.
Verity — Predicted Tier Analysis
Verity is the flagship Giant of the VERITY rework, and its name ("verity" means "truth") provides the strongest clue about its abilities. Community speculation centers on detection and revelation mechanics — abilities that reveal hidden survivors more effectively than the current visibility pulse system.
Verity Ability Theories and Tier Impact
| Theory | Predicted Abilities | Predicted Tier | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truth Revealer | Constant passive detection, True Sight zone | S | Would counter every hiding strategy |
| Path Tracker | Survivor movement trail reveal, Echo Pulse | A | Counters relocation but not static hiding |
| Hybrid | Pulse enhancement + zone reveal | A | Strong but not overwhelming |
| Moderate | Enhanced pulse range and frequency | B | Incremental improvement, not meta-defining |
Most likely scenario: Verity will be A-tier, not S-tier. ULTRA works has an incentive to create balanced content, and an S-tier detection Giant would invalidate every survivor concealment strategy, making the game unplayable for survivors. The most balanced prediction is that Verity enhances detection in specific ways (such as seeing through bushes or showing recent survivor paths) without completely negating all concealment.
How Verity Could Change the Map Tier List
If Verity excels on Forest (where concealment is bush-based), the map tier list could shift:
| Map | Current Tier | Post-Verity Tier (If Detection) | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| City | A | A | Tunnels still counter detection |
| Forest | B | B or C | Verity detection counters bushes |
Forest risk: If Verity can see through bushes, Forest becomes significantly harder for survivors. Bush-based survival — currently the primary Forest strategy — would be negated, forcing survivors to rely on caves and constant movement instead.
Doctor Nowhere — Predicted Tier Analysis
Doctor Nowhere's name suggests medical horror or void mechanics. Community speculation ranges from psychological warfare abilities to teleportation or dimension-pulling effects. The name "Nowhere" implies appearing from or sending survivors to nowhere — a void or displacement theme.
Doctor Nowhere Ability Theories and Tier Impact
| Theory | Predicted Abilities | Predicted Tier | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Void Giant | Void Zone (blind/deaf zone), Phase Walk (through walls) | S | Counters tunnel meta |
| Medical Horror | Hallucination (false positions), Injection (slow debuff) | A | Psychological warfare, not direct chase |
| Displacement | Dimension Pull (trap zone), Appear (teleport) | A | Strong but skill-dependent |
| Moderate | Enhanced Haunt variant + new area denial | B | Incremental, not meta-shifting |
Most likely scenario: Doctor Nowhere will be A-tier. If the void/displacement theory is correct, Doctor Nowhere would counter the tunnel meta that currently keeps Guilt in check. This would create a strategic triangle: Guilt dominates buildings → tunnels counter Guilt → Doctor Nowhere counters tunnels → buildings counter Doctor Nowhere. This triangle would be a healthy meta with no single dominant strategy.
How Doctor Nowhere Could Change the Tunnel Meta
The current tunnel meta is the only effective counter to Guilt on City. If Doctor Nowhere can affect survivors in tunnels:
| Current Meta | Post-Doctor Nowhere Meta |
|---|---|
| Guilt → buildings | Guilt → buildings (unchanged) |
| Tunnels counter Guilt | Doctor Nowhere counters tunnels |
| No counter to tunnels | Doctor Nowhere + Guilt cover all strategies |
| Survivor strategy: always use tunnels | Survivor strategy: adapt based on Giant |
Meta health analysis: Adding a Giant that counters tunnels would actually improve game balance. Currently, tunnel-dependent survival is the only viable counter to Guilt, creating a monotonous meta. If Doctor Nowhere introduces a counter to tunnels, survivors must diversify their strategies, making the game more interesting for both roles.
Survivor Perks — Predicted Impact on Tier List
The VERITY rework will introduce survivor perks or classes. While specific perks are unconfirmed, community speculation suggests passive abilities that enhance survival in specific ways. The introduction of perks changes the tier list because Giants must now account for survivor enhancements.
| Perk Category (Speculated) | Impact on Giant Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Speed boost | Locust down, Guilt stable | Speed helps vs chase Giants, not area control |
| Enhanced stealth | Guilt down, Locust stable | Stealth counters detection, not wall Haunt |
| Stamina regeneration | Both Giants down slightly | More survivor mobility = harder to catch |
| Tunnel mastery | Guilt down, Doctor Nowhere up | Better tunnel use favors anti-tunnel Giant |
| Group coordination | Both Giants down | Coordinated survivors are harder to eliminate |
Net tier impact: If survivor perks are significant, both Locust and Guilt may drop half a tier. However, this is offset by the introduction of new Giants that may be designed with perk-awareness in mind.
Map Rework — Predicted Impact on Map Tier List
The VERITY rework may include changes to Forest and City maps. Potential changes and their tier impact:
| Possible Map Change | Forest Impact | City Impact | Overall Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| New tunnel entrances | Slight survivor buff | Slight survivor buff | More tunnel variety |
| Reduced tunnel network | Major survivor nerf | Major survivor nerf | Favors all Giants |
| New building types | Minor | Major | Depends on building layout |
| Third map | Unknown | Unknown | Entirely new tier evaluation |
| Bush density change | Major if reduced | Minor | Forest-specific impact |
Most likely map change: Minor adjustments to existing maps rather than a complete overhaul. ULTRA works is unlikely to remove the tunnel network that is central to City gameplay, but they may add new entrances or adjust some interior layouts to create more strategic variety.
Predicted Complete Post-Rework Tier List
Combining all predictions, here is the most likely post-rework tier list:
Giant Tier List (Predicted)
| Tier | Giant | Map Strength | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Guilt | City S+, Forest A | 9/10 |
| A | Verity | Forest A/S, City A | 8/10 (speculative) |
| A | Doctor Nowhere | City A, Forest A | 7.5/10 (speculative) |
| B | Locust | Forest A-, City C+ | 6/10 |
Map Tier List (Predicted)
| Tier | Map | Survivor Difficulty | Giant Variety |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | City | 9/10 (harder) | 3 Giants effective |
| B | Forest | 6/10 (moderate) | 2 Giants effective |
Key takeaway: The meta will become more diverse with four Giants instead of two, but Guilt is likely to remain the strongest overall due to its unique wall-penetrating Haunt. The game will be more interesting because Giant selection becomes strategic — you choose based on map, opponent survivors, and your perk loadout, rather than always picking Guilt.
How to Prepare for the Rework Meta
| Preparation | Action | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Master both maps | Practice City and Forest equally | Rework may shift which map is favored |
| Save 3,000–7,000 coins | After Guilt, accumulate reserve | Purchase new Giants on release day |
| Practice all Giant roles | Master Locust and Guilt | Skills transfer to new Giants |
| Diversify survival strategies | Practice caves, tunnels, rooftops, bushes | Perks may invalidate single-strategy reliance |
| Join Discord | https://discord.gg/ultraworks | First source for rework reveals |
Community Tier Prediction Consensus
Based on community discussions in the ULTRA works Discord and strategy channels, here is a summary of community predictions for the post-rework tier list. These are community opinions, not verified data:
| Giant | Community Predicted Tier | Confidence Level | Key Community Arguments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guilt | S-tier | High | "Wall Haunt is too powerful to nerf without breaking the game" |
| Verity | A-tier | Medium | "New Giants are usually strong but not meta-breaking at launch" |
| Doctor Nowhere | A or B-tier | Low | "Too little information to predict — could be anywhere" |
| Locust | B or C-tier | Medium | "Locust may drop if new Giants outclass free options" |
Why Locust May Drop After the Rework
The most significant community concern is Locust's potential tier drop. With 4 Giants instead of 2, Locust's "balanced but not exceptional" design becomes less competitive:
- Currently: Locust is the only free alternative to Guilt — players who do not own Guilt must play Locust
- Post-rework: If Verity or Doctor Nowhere are free or low-cost, they may offer better performance than Locust
- If both new Giants are premium (coin-purchased): Locust retains its niche as the free entry-level Giant
How to Prepare Your Coin Reserve
Community members recommend saving coins strategically based on your current progress:
| Current State | Recommended Action | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Do not own Guilt yet | Save all coins for Guilt (7,000) | Guilt remains S-tier, the biggest upgrade |
| Own Guilt, < 3,000 coins saved | Continue saving | Reserve for Verity/Doctor Nowhere at launch |
| Own Guilt, 3,000-7,000 coins | Save aggressively | Enough to likely afford one new Giant on release day |
| Own Guilt, 7,000+ coins saved | You are prepared | Purchase any new Giant immediately on release |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Guilt still be S-tier after the VERITY rework? Most likely yes, unless a new Giant directly counters wall-penetrating Haunt. Guilt's wall-penetration mechanic is unique and powerful, and nothing in the announced rework content suggests it will be nerfed. However, new Giants may create situations where Guilt is not the optimal choice, reducing its pick rate even if its tier remains S.
Could Verity be better than Guilt? Possible but unlikely. Verity would need to counter every concealment strategy to surpass Guilt, which would make the game unplayable for survivors. ULTRA works has a strong incentive to create balanced content, so Verity is more likely to be A-tier — powerful but with counterplay.
Should I stop using tunnels after the rework? Not necessarily. Doctor Nowhere may counter tunnels, but tunnels will remain effective against Locust and partially against Guilt. The post-rework strategy is to diversify — use tunnels when appropriate, but also practice alternative shelter types in case Doctor Nowhere is the active Giant.
How will survivor perks affect the tier list? Survivor perks could reduce Giant effectiveness by half a tier across the board. However, if perks are subtle (small speed or stamina bonuses) rather than dramatic (complete concealment or invulnerability), the tier impact will be minimal. The actual effect depends on perk balance, which is unknown.
When will the VERITY rework launch? No confirmed release date. Based on the scope of announced features (new Giants, perks, map changes, VR support), the rework is likely months away. Monitor the ULTRA works Discord at https://discord.gg/ultraworks for the latest development updates.