The Bat Bat: Part weapon, part sanity gamble.
Let’s cut to the chase: The Bat Bat is Don’t Starve Together’s most misunderstood weapon. It’s not a direct upgrade to the Ham Bat, nor is it strictly worse—it’s a situational tool that rewards players who understand its quirks. Here’s what you need to know before crafting this sanity-draining lifesteal stick.
Why the Bat Bat Divides Players (And When to Use It)
1. What Makes the Bat Bat Unique?
- Heals 6.8 HP per hit while draining 3.4 sanity
- 42.5 base damage (scales down to 25.5 when worn)
- 75 durability uses (1.33 days of continuous combat)
- Crafting cost:
Recipe = { Batilisk_Wing = 3, Living_Log = 2, Purple_Gem = 1 }
Key Insight: It’s an infinite-ammo healing tool disguised as a weapon.
2. Damage Comparison: Bat Bat vs. Alternatives
Comparison of damage, durability, and healing between different weapons.
| Weapon | Damage (Fresh) | Durability | Healing | Sanity Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bat Bat | 42.5 | 75 swings | +6.8 HP | -3.4 | Ruins diving, Wormwood |
| Ham Bat | 59.5 → 29.75 | 10 days | None | None | Early-game boss fights |
| Dark Sword | 68 | 100 swings | None | -5.3/min | Burst DPS |
| Tentacle Spike | 51 | 100 swings | None | None | Mid-game exploration |
Farming Bat Wings: A 3-Step Cave Strategy
- Locate Bat Caves
- Each sinkhole spawns 4 bats at dusk/night
- Optimal setup: 8-10 clustered caves = ~32 bats nightly
Optimal setup for farming Bat Wings using Bat Caves.
2. Passive Farm with Bunnymen
[Bunny Hutches] → [Sinkhole] → Auto-kill bats → Collect wings
- 2 hutches yield ~1 wing/day (no player input)
3. Active Farming with Weather Pain
- Clear bat swarms quickly using AoE weapons
The Wormwood Exception: Why Bat Bat is Meta
Wormwood can’t heal via food, making the Bat Bat 470 net HP profit per craft:
Cost = 2 Living Logs (-40 HP)
Gain = 75 swings × 6.8 HP = +510 HP
Net = +470 HP
Case Study: Day 45 Ruins Rush
- Bat Bat + Night Armor = -0 sanity loss (old Wormwood perk)
- Heal while fighting Depth Worms and Nightmare Creatures
Wormwood, the character that benefits most from the Bat Bat.
Common Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
❌ Using it as a primary weapon
- Fix: Pair with Hambat/Dark Sword—use Bat Bat only when low HP
❌ Ignoring sanity management
- Fix: Pre-cook Green Caps (+15 sanity) or use Tamarind (Shipwrecked)
Items that can help manage sanity when using the Bat Bat.
❌ Farming bats manually
- Fix: Let Bunnymen/Weather Pain do the work
Final Verdict: When to Craft the Bat Bat
- You’re playing Wormwood
- Prepping for long cave/ruins sessions
- Fighting enemies with AoE attacks (e.g., Bee Queen)
Pro Tip: Store it in a Chef Pouch (50% spoilage slowdown) to extend its shelf life.
Additional Resources
“It’s not about the damage—it’s about staying alive to deal damage.”