Daywalker

Based on game build 714014 | Last updated: 2026-03-05

Overview

daywalker defines the Prefab for the Daywalker boss entity in DST. It coordinates complex boss behaviors including phase transitions based on health thresholds, leech tracking/attachment mechanics, chain imprisonment states, fatigue management, and integration with components like combat, health, grouptargeter, and lootdropper. The prefab uses state machines (via SetStateGraph) and brain logic to orchestrate boss encounters, and supports networked state via net variables for client-side FX synchronization.

Usage example

The daywalker prefab is instantiated automatically during world generation for boss arenas and should not be manually created by modders. However, modders may observe its API usage in custom prefabs or encounter scripts:

-- Example of inspecting Daywalker state (not recommended for direct manipulation)
if daywalker.inst.components.combat:HasTarget() then
    local engaged = daywalker.inst.engaged
    if daywalker.inst.IsFatigued(daywalker.inst) then
        -- Boss may be vulnerable or transitioning
    end
end

Dependencies & tags

Components used: combat, despawnfader, entitytracker, epicscare, grouptargeter, health, healthtrigger, inspectable, knownlocations, locomotor, lootdropper, sanityaura, talker, teleportedoverride, timer, updatelooper, drownable, explosiveresist

Tags: epic, noepicmusic, monster, hostile, scarytoprey, largecreature, shadow_aligned, pigtype, notarget (when chained), noteleport (when chained), NOCLICK (chains/FX)

Properties

Property	Type	Default Value	Description
chained	boolean	false	Indicates if the boss is imprisoned (no movement, combat disabled).
hostile	boolean	true	Whether the boss can engage in combat and target players.
engaged	boolean or nil	nil	Whether the boss is currently in combat mode (e.g., roaring, attacking).
defeated	boolean	false	Whether the boss has been defeated and is despawning.
looted	boolean	false	Whether loot has been collected from the boss (affects despawn timer).
fatigue	number	0	Boss fatigue level; used for stamina management.
canfatigue	boolean	false	Whether fatigue mechanics are enabled for the current phase.
canstalk	boolean	true	Whether stalk mechanics are enabled.
canslam	boolean	false	Whether slam attack is enabled.
canwakeuphit	boolean	false	Whether wake-up hits are enabled.
nostalkcd	boolean	true	Whether the stalk cooldown timer is disabled.
_enablechains	net_bool	false	Network variable controlling FX chain visibility.
_headtracking	net_bool	false	Network variable controlling head/FX tracking.
_stalking	net_entity	nil	Network variable for the current stalking target (player).
_facingmodel	net_tinybyte	0	Network variable for head facing model (0, 4, or 6 faces).

Main functions

SetStalking(stalking)

• Description: Sets or clears the boss's stalking target. Activates regen when stalking starts, and manages stalk cooldown timer. Resets stalk CD if nostalkcd is true.
• Parameters: stalking (Entity or nil) — the player entity to stalk, or nil to clear.
• Returns: Nothing.
• Error states: Ignores requests if stalking is non-nil and not a player with the "player" tag, or if the hostile state is false.

SetEngaged(engaged)

• Description: Manages boss engagement state (e.g., roar, combat, regen). Stops regen when engaging, starts regen when disengaging (unless engaged is nil).
• Parameters: engaged (boolean, true, or false, or nil) — engagement state.
• Returns: Nothing.

DeltaFatigue(delta)

• Description: Adjusts the boss's fatigue level by delta, and manages the fatigue regeneration timer task.
• Parameters: delta (number) — amount to change fatigue (e.g., +5 for damage taken, -0.1 for regen).
• Returns: Nothing.

ResetFatigue()

• Description: Sets fatigue to zero and cancels the fatigue regen timer task.
• Parameters: None.
• Returns: Nothing.

IsFatigued()

• Description: Checks if the boss is currently fatigued.
• Parameters: None.
• Returns: boolean — true if fatigue >= TUNING.DAYWALKER_FATIGUE_TIRED.

MakeChained()

• Description: Transitions the boss into the imprisoned state (e.g., after pillars are destroyed). Disables combat, regen, and movement; enables chains and override physics; changes SG to SGdaywalker_imprisoned.
• Parameters: None.
• Returns: Nothing.

MakeUnchained()

• Description: Exits the chained state, restores movement, and switches SG to SGdaywalker.
• Parameters: None.
• Returns: Nothing.

MakeHarassed()

• Description: Moves the boss into a "struggle" state (non-combat, no brain), often triggered when leeches attach.
• Parameters: None.
• Returns: Nothing.

MakeHostile()

• Description: Activates full combat mode: sets brain, enables combat and target tracking, starts stamina management, and configures sanity aura.
• Parameters: None.
• Returns: Nothing.

MakeDefeated()

• Description: Moves the boss into defeated state: starts despawn timer, disables combat, and sets sanity aura to medium.
• Parameters: None.
• Returns: Nothing.

SpawnLeeches()

• Description: Spawns three shadow_leech prefabs around the boss at random positions, each spawned at increasing distances.
• Parameters: None.
• Returns: Nothing.

AttachLeech(leech, noreact)

• Description: Attempts to attach a leech to an unoccupied attach position ("left", "right", "top"). Marks position as busy for 2 seconds after detachment.
• Parameters: leech (Entity) — leech prefab instance; noreact (boolean, optional) — suppress event push.
• Returns: boolean — true if successfully attached; false if chained, defeated, or no attach slots available.

DetachLeech(attachpos, speedmult, randomdir)

• Description: Detaches a leech from a specified attach position, or from a random available position. Handles busy-position lockout.
• Parameters: attachpos (string, table, or nil) — position(s) to detach from; speedmult (number, optional) — fling speed multiplier; randomdir (boolean, optional) — randomize fling direction.
• Returns: boolean — true if detachment occurred; false if no valid leech found or position busy.

CountPillars(inst)

• Description: Counts resonating and idle daywalker pillars within 6.1 units of the boss.
• Parameters: inst (entity) — the boss instance (passed implicitly).
• Returns: Two numbers: resonating, idle.

OnPillarRemoved(inst, pillar)

• Description: Cleans up the "prison" location from knownlocations when all pillars are destroyed (by checking for freed/prisoner references).
• Parameters: inst (entity) — the boss instance; pillar (Entity) — removed pillar.
• Returns: Nothing.

SetHeadTracking(track)

• Description: Enables/disables head tracking FX and eye flame. Spawns or removes head entity with updatelooper post-update function (UpdateHead) for dynamic eye animation.
• Parameters: track (boolean) — whether to enable tracking.
• Returns: Nothing.

SwitchToFacingModel(numfacings)

• Description: Changes the head facing model between 0, 4, or 6 faces for client-side animation sync via net variable _facingmodel.
• Parameters: numfacings (number) — 0, 4, or 6.
• Returns: Nothing.

Events & listeners

• Listens to:
  incoming_jump — registers jump cooldown for leech.
  attacked — updates combat target unless targeting a player in range.
  newcombattarget — sets engaged state, stalk target (if canstalk), and regen.
  minhealth — calls MakeDefeated when health threshold reached.
  pillarremoved — cleanup of prison location if all pillars destroyed.
  timerdone (name "despawn") — handles despawning (fade out or remove).
  onremove (leeches, stalking target) — cleanup tracking.
  newstate — manages stalking regen.

• Pushes:
  roar — fired at start of engagement (if "roar_cd" timer does not exist).
  leechattached — fired on successful leech attachment (unless noreact).
  stalkingdirty — client FX sync signal.
  chainsdirty, headtrackingdirty, facingmodeldirty — client FX sync signals.

Note: All inst:PushEvent(...) calls are in TheWorld.ismastersim context.