What do effigies do?

[Cougarific]

I searched the Q&A thread but see no mention of the purpose of building an effigy - anybody know what effect these have on the cannibals?

[WissyMeisteri]

And let me continue on this old post too.
Today i build 2 effigies around my base, 1 small and 1 big effigy. At night i watched cannibals doing something, then went to sleep to pass the night. At morning there was 15 effigies around my base build by cannibals....

[Steven Brattac]

Originally posted by The Friendly Necromorph:

Originally posted by RDFrostFlame:

I have heard from people that the cannibals will build effigies close to your base to tell the others of your position. Does that mean if I build my own effigies IM kinda betraying myself?

I would assume your effigy would cancel out theirs, but if they start laying effigies down by your base you should probably move anyway just in case.

Exact this you set a sign how you tick ! are you agressive you play more effigees if your peaceful you never place one thats my guess so far i surived all the time never built a hard base fortress i just have plenty Dryracks waterplaces and provisory camps to save and wonder no i dont have a house never and i just keep moving around the island as i get searched or seen which saved my butt plenty times ! I dont have fought with any tribe yet im just defending when attacked pulling back have a swim heal up eat and save sleep at a prov camp. To note i just died 2 times yet due stupid agression of myself testing out how my bow handles!

[TheChad]

An effigy needs to be finished and set on fire in order to have an influence on the cannibals.
Their main purpose is to keep the cannibals away from the player. They presumably show the cannibals that the player is not afraid, telling them that he has killed many of their kind and is capable of killing more, and will repel cannibals from the area.
Building an effigy won't necessarily stop the cannibals from attacking, but they often approach a burning effigy with caution or run away from it (sometimes only to get some other cannibals and come back later in much larger numbers).

[CarloV3r]

I've actually noticed a very distinct increase of cannibals in the area around my base after they've set up their effigies. I kept seeing cannibals run past my base, kneel down at a certain point and stay there for a while. Couldn't figure out what it was until I checked it out. Turns out they put up an effigy there. It certainly seems to have some sort of effect on cannibals.

[Major Mozzer]

Me an my friends set up a few effiges an set them on fire around our base but it just seemed to enrage them. Everyday we're attacked by about 10+ locals and they normally bring 2-3 mutants along with them.

So from our impression they just get enraged or they do completely jack.

[Mikee]

Originally posted by SurvivalistGaming C.M.:

It's all about trial and error, They haven't told us because they want us to experiment with it ourselves.

sounds like effigies are useless. only for decoration purpose. thanks your answer :)

[Rieder]

I've been experimenting with areas of bushes/grass or whatever it is on the ground (the trap ones that catch on fire). Coax/bait the Canibals onto it then fire a flaming arrow and watch them get a bit hot in the cheeks about it. Now an area of these bushes/grasses and some effigies on might get their interest while I watch from a vantage point. Just before I let loose some flaming arrows and set off a wall of flames at each end to stop their hasty exit.

I've seen them emerging from the hole in the ground caves in great numbers too. So lately I wall them in with a medium size circle of rocks. If I see them popping up I then have them all in one place ready for some fire arrows to warm them up a bit after that cold dark cave system.

I go through phases though. Sometimes they come to one of my camps and I run about moving logs and take no notice of them. Mostly they run after me a little then get bored or don't bother at all. Occasionally I have to make an example of 1 or 2 when they get a little too brave.