Snail



A Snail, sometimes called a Hermit Crab or Turtle, is a creature that lives in watery regions, such as Drainage System. It is a passive creature; it will not actively hunt Slugcats, but if spooked it will pop and knock any living thing unconscious.

Abilities/Behavior
Snails attack by emitting a powerful shock-wave that stuns anything near it. This can be used as a valuable tool to stun enemies or traverse rooms, but you must be careful, as it can stun you too. They can be used as a particularly useful tool against leeches.

When the player holds a snail, it will not pop unless the player falls from a high place or takes a hard impact. If the snail is hit by a rock, it will also pop, but if it is killed it will only pop one last time if neared by an object. Once the Snail is thrown, it will pop a few moments later. Snails will pop when approached by threatening creatures as long as they are alive. They will pop once after death on contact with another object.

Jumping on a snail reduces the amount of time until the next pop. When dead, it will pop once for every two times the slugcat jumps on it. Activating a pop by jumping on a snail reduces the slugcat's stun time to 0.5 seconds and increases its vertical velocity.

When held, snails also give a boost to many forms of aerial movement including longjumps, backflips, and walljumps. Though, the player may find it hard to grab onto a vertical pole with a snail. This is likely unintended and is a result of the physics engine screwing up.

After being dropped, snails will tend to run away from the slugcat, and will stop to hide in their shells if the player comes close. This is often when they voluntarily pop. Popping is telegraphed by increasingly aggressive shaking and droplike particles flying off of the Snail.

Trivia

 * While not hunted or eaten by lizards, snails can still be eaten by other creatures such as daddy long legs or Miros Birds.