Rain World advanced lizard combat (updated version)

Learn advanced combos and techniques for certain lizards and situations in this short guide. This guide assumes you already know basic movement and combat mechanics. Disclaimer: The info in this guide is based mostly off my knowledge and experimenting so some statements may not be completely accurate. Disclaimer 2: This is an updated version of my first guide. Check the "Fin" section for more info.

Killing techniques

For each technique we will discuss how to perform the technique, and its viability against certain lizards in certain situations, all with some extra tips and recommendations sprinkled about. This guide does not mention downpour lizards since I haven't played it yet, and the term that I use: "normal lizards" means non green and red lizards.

Follow up attack (uses rock)

This is a maneuver that is used commonly in the techniques below, and can be used to easily get an extra hit on all but red lizards when your spear is already embedded in them.

1. Wait at least a second after your spear throw for the spear cooldown to finish.
2. When close to the lizard: throw your rock, then immediately pick up your spear while the lizard is stunned.
3. Throw your spear at the lizard again.

If you manage to get another rock or reacquire the same rock, you could do the follow up again, or up to as many times as you'd wish.
https://youtu.be/YXqEVfQ6HYU
The example video uses two follow ups.

Combo from behind (spear and rock)

This is used mostly from stealth and consistently kills all normal lizards.

1. Hit the lizard from behind with your spear.
2. Perform the follow up attack.
3. Pick up your spear and stab the lizard again to confirm the kill.

This can also kill a green lizard in one go if you manage to spear lock it but it isn't consistent unless the lizard is already damaged or you have a second spear since the combo relies on the lizard not turning around after the second hit, which usually doesn't happen before its weakening point (read first miscellaneous tip for more info). It's commonly better to get another rock and go for another follow up before spear locking it.
https://youtu.be/3C1IJLY91Zk

Combo from front (spear and rock)

This is a versatile combo that consistently kills all normal lizards and can be used in most situations, but its timing is tight so I recommend practicing it in the sandbox before using it.

1. Throw your rock when the lizard is close to you to turn it around.
2. Throw your spear a quarter of a second after.
3. Pick up your spear as soon as the cooldown finishes and throw it again.
4. Pick up your spear and stab the lizard again to confirm the kill.

This technique simply doesn't work on a green lizard unless it's already damaged or you have a second spear since it relies on the stun lasting a full second, which usually doesn't happen before it's weakening point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgycHV7LV10

Backflip combo (spear and rock)

This isn't really practical since it has the same effectiveness as the combo from behind, but also has the unique trait of being really inconsistent especially when used in combat with aggressive lizards.

1. Backflip when the lizard is right behind you and hope it doesn't grab you out of the air.
2. Throw your spear downwards when the lizard's back is right below you.
3. Perform the follow up attack if the lizard doesn't block your spear with their head.
4. Pick up your spear and stab the lizard again to confirm the kill.

This can also kill a green lizard in one go if you manage to spear lock it but it isn't consistent for the same reason as the first combo.

You can also use a whiplash instead to reduce the chance of getting grabbed out of the air, but it obviously has much tighter timing. Just use the combo from front if you're in the same situation unless you want style points.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQk0gpur3gY

Slide stab (spear only)

This is used mostly in direct conflict and can kill all but wall climbing (blue, cyan, white) and black lizards using only a spear and some flat ground.

For normal lizards (rock recommended for safety):

1. Slide at a specific range from the lizard.
2. Throw your spear as soon as the slide begins.
3. Pick up your spear and stab the lizard again to confirm the kill.

Rarely, the lizard can immediately recover from this attack so if you have a rock, perform the follow up attack in place of step 3.

Throwing your spear from too close or too far may cause your spear to bounce of the lizard's head. How close you need to be before performing the slide mostly depends on its aggressiveness and size. Usually the more aggressive the lizard, the further you need to throw your spear from. Use the video for reference on the general area you should throw your spear.

For green lizards:

1. Slide stab the lizard.
2. Pick up your spear, back away, and slide stab it again.
3. Pick up your spear and run behind the lizard.
4. Spear lock the lizard until it's dead.

For some reason, green lizards can be slide stabbed twice, even while they're stunned, allowing for an easy spear lock.

For red lizards:

1. Bait out the lizard's tongue and slide stab it immediately after.
2. Pick up your spear, back away, and slide stab it again.
3. Repeat step 2.
4. Pick up your spear and run behind the lizard.
5. Spear lock the lizard until it's dead.

Red lizards can be slide stabbed up to three consecutive times, but due to how notoriously aggressive and large red lizards are, you have to stand an absurd distance away from it when you first slide stab it due to its extreme speed, and thus you probably won't be able to use it in an actual situation. Baiting the tongue is recommended since the lizard can grab your spear during your slide or interrupt it, which results in immediate death.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWc7eq46REA

When to use what?

If you have enough space and patience, sneak up and go for the combo from behind for an easy kill on any normal lizard. The slide stab is extremely powerful with enough flat ground and can kill even green and red lizards with only a spear. The combo from front is a versatile option once mastered that kills all normal lizards in most situations. The backflip combo should only be used for style points and is in most cases obsolete.

Miscellaneous combat tips

Green lizards are not stunned by regular spear attacks until the third hit. After that point, they will struggle to grab you and will even attempt to retreat to its den. Using a rock to turn the lizard around instead of attempting to run behind it is still recommended though.

Don't be fooled by a lizard's open mouth. Whether or not they can actually be speared in the mouth is mostly unrelated to the visuals ex. a white lizard cannot be speared in the mouth when they are grabbing you with their mouth wide open.

You can also use a slide cancel in substitute for a backflip in the backflip combo or simply to escape. The timing is much tighter and it needs a bit of space but can be useful when getting cornered by a more aggressive lizard since you cannot be grabbed out of the air during it.

You can throw upwards during a backflip. Simply push up on the movement stick when doing a backflip and throw. This can be useful for many combat encounters, even enemies other than lizards.

Fin

Thank you for reading this guide as its the first guide that I have ever made. If I made some inaccurate statements, please notify me and I might consider fixing them. I hope you consider practicing and using these cool maneuvers in game because they

• statistically improve your rizz (lizz?)
  
• prevent slugging and encourage catting
  
• reduce stomach pain

Note: this necessarily isn't my first guide, but a completely overhauled version of my first guide to be more comprehensible. I chose to make an entirely new guide and delete the old version since they're practically incomparable due to the overhaul. The only completely new info I added was the red lizard kill technique. I'm stalling since you went out of your way to scroll down here because of the disclaimer, only to find only two sentences explaining everything, and are now wondering why I didn't just fit this in the description. Go read the guide and see if it's actually comprehensible now. I have no idea if what I wrote makes sense since I'm not the reader and have no experience with writing.

[gurjeet]

Isnt it safer to slide under the lizard, and quickly turn around to stab their back? I feel like you wouldn't have to get the slide-stab's distance correct that way.

[sNif145]

reduce the chance of your keyboard being broken

[CtenosaurOaxacana]

@Pinecone
Agreed, always good to know how to face your primary predators.

[Pinecone]

noice tips and tricks, very helpfull