The Antlion is summer's persistent nuisance in Don't Starve Together, capable of tearing apart your base with sinkholes or cave-ins. Here's how to either negotiate with this desert dictator or crush it permanently.

Why the Antlion Matters

This territorial boss spawns in the Oasis Desert biome every summer, creating sinkholes that: - Destroy structures - Slow movement by 40% (like trudging through peanut butter) - Force players to rebuild entire bases if left unchecked

Ignoring it leads to cascading disasters: 1. Day 1-3: Minor tremors (cosmetic warnings) 2. Day 4+: Sinkholes targeting players' locations 3. Late Summer: Entire roads and farms rendered unusable

The Pacifist's Playbook: Keeping the Antlion Happy

For players who prefer diplomacy over combat:

What the Antlion Wants

Pro Tip: -- Automate tribute with this rock-farming routine: if SummerDay() and AntlionAnger > 50% then SendWilsonToMineBoulders() DropRocksAtAntlionFeet() end

Real-World Example: The Oasis Taxman Strategy

One player reported maintaining peace for 100+ days by: 1. Building a cobblestone road to the Antlion's spawn 2. Creating a dedicated rock quarry nearby 3. Storing 40 rocks in a backpack labeled "BRIBES" 4. Delivering payments every 3-4 game days

The Warrior's Path: Killing the Sand Tyrant

For those who prefer to solve problems with a ham bat:

Essential Gear Checklist

Prepare for battle against the Antlion with the right gear, including armor and weapons.

• Mandatory:

  • Desert Goggles (prevents sandstorm blindness)
  • 2x Log Armor + Football Helmet (85% damage reduction)
  • 4-6 Healing Items (Pierogies recommended)

• Advanced Loadouts: 

  Weapon Choice	Hits Needed	Durability Used
  Ham Bat	68	1.3 bats
  Dark Sword	51	0.85 swords
  Tentacle Spike	75	2.5 spikes

Phase-by-Phase Fight Mechanics

[img3] Understanding the phases of the Antlion fight can lead to victory.

1. Initiation:

   • Throw a cold thermal stone (stage 1) at the Antlion
   • Immediate 3-second freeze window for free damage

2. Sand Castle Traps:

   • Burn castles with a torch mid-fight to create glass obstacles
   • Use these as temporary cover from sand spikes

3. Healing Interruptions:

   • When Antlion eats rocks (200 HP heal), land 3 consecutive hits
   • This cancels the healing animation

Pro-Tested Combo:

"We had Wolfgang tank with marble armor while Willow burned the castles. Three people with ham bats took it down in 90 seconds flat." - Reddit user u/SandSlayer2024

Post-Battle Cleanup

[img4] After defeating the Antlion, players must deal with sinkholes and gather resources.

Killing the Antlion gives: - 4-6 Meat - Desert Stones (for lazy deserters) - Blueprints for turf-raising gear

But leaves behind: - Existing sinkholes (repair naturally in 30 days) - A cleared spawn zone for future oasis bases

When Things Go Wrong: Sinkhole Recovery

If you've ignored the Antlion all summer: 1. Triage Your Base: - Prioritize rebuilding crockpots and ice boxes - Use surviving structures as anchor points

2. Mobility Workaround: 

   Surface Type	Movement Speed	Alternative Path
   Normal	100%	N/A
   Sinkhole	60%	Build cobblestone detours

3. Psychological Recovery:

   • Build decorative glass spikes from burned castles
   • Create a "Summer War Memorial" with Antlion drops

The Community Speaks: Unconventional Tactics

• The Frozen Fireworks:

  "We froze it with 29 gunpowder, then lit the stack. Instant 5800 damage!" - YouTube commenter JazzyGames

• The Pig Mercenaries: One player diverted 12 werepigs to attack the Antlion, using monster meat as bait

• The Endless Winter: A speedrunning team used 17 thermal stones to keep the Antlion perma-frozen while chipping away at its HP

Final Verdict: Fight or Feed?

[img5] A comparison of the benefits and drawbacks of appeasing or fighting the Antlion.

Last Resort Option:

"If you're trapped underground, build 4 endo fires in a square - the Antlion can't target you through them!" - Reddit user u/CaveDwell