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CritterBrain

Based on game build 718694 | Last updated: 2026-04-04

Overview​

CritterBrain is an AI behavior tree that governs critter entity behavior in Don't Starve Together. It manages owner following, combat avoidance, playful interactions with other critters, affection displays, and minigame spectator behavior. This brain is typically assigned to pet-like critter entities that follow players and exhibit social behaviors.

Usage example​

local inst = CreateEntity()
-- After setting up critter components...
inst.components.brain:SetBrain(require("brains/crittersbrain"))

Dependencies & tags​

Components used: follower, crittertraits (on critter); sleeper, locomotor, combat, grouptargeter (on owner or target entities); minigame_participator (on owner); minigame (on minigame entity returned by minigame_participator)

Tags: Checks busy, playerghost, flying, _combat, _health, wall, INLIMBO

Properties​

No public properties. This is a Brain class that defines behavior tree logic rather than storing entity state. Configuration is handled through local constants at the top of the file.

Main functions​

CritterBrain(inst)​

  • Description: Constructor that initializes the brain for a specific entity instance. Handled internally by the Brain component; users should assign the brain via components.brain:SetBrain.
  • Parameters: inst (Entity) - The entity instance this brain will control.
  • Returns: New CritterBrain instance.

CritterBrain:OnStart()​

  • Description: Builds and assigns the behavior tree when the brain starts. Sets up priority nodes for minigame watching, combat avoidance, playful behavior, owner following, and affection actions. This method is automatically invoked by the Brain component when the brain is assigned and should not be called manually.
  • Parameters: None.
  • Returns: Nothing.
  • Error states: Requires the entity to have a valid stategraph and necessary components attached.

Events & listeners​

  • Pushes: start_playwithplaymate - Fired when the critter begins playing with another critter. Data includes {target = playfultarget}.
  • Pushes: critter_avoidcombat - Fired when combat avoidance state changes. Data includes {avoid = true/false}.