Gestalt Guard Evolved

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

Overview

gestalt_guard_evolved defines the full prefab and client-side behavior for the evolved Gestalt Guardian, a boss entity in DST. It integrates the combat, health, lootdropper, follower, locomotor, and sanityaura components to implement complex boss mechanics—including close-range physical attacks, mid-range moonglass-hat projectiles, and far-range multi-split projectiles—alongside sanity-based transparency, timer-based teleportation, and loot generation tied to pet count or health loss. The component also includes supporting projectile prefabs for ranged attacks.

Usage example

-- This prefab is created by the game engine during world load or boss summoning.
-- Modders typically interact with it via its component API after spawning:

local guard = SpawnPrefab("gestalt_guard_evolved")
guard.components.combat:SetDefaultDamage(50) -- modify damage
guard.components.health:SetMaxHealth(500)
guard.components.lootdropper:SetLoot({"moonglass_charged", "purebrilliance"})

Dependencies & tags

Components used: combat, health, lootdropper, follower, locomotor, sanityaura, planardamage, planarentity, inspectable, timer, transparentonsanity, migrationpetsoverrider, weapon, projectile, burnable, followermemory, leader, inventoryitem, catcher, petitioner.
Tags added: brightmare, brightmare_guard, crazy, extinguisher, lunar_aligned, NOBLOCK, scarytoprey, soulless, hostile, alwayshostile.
Tags checked: player, gestalt_possessable, shadow_item, shadow_fire, nightmarecreature, shadowcreature, stalker, nightmare, shadow_fire, bedroll, knockout, sleeping, tent, waking.

Properties

Property	Type	Default Value	Description
_petcount	number	0	Tracks how many Gestalt Guardians were defeated, influencing loot table weights.
_times_hit_since_last_teleport	number	0	Counts hits taken to determine when teleportation evades are allowed.
blobhead	Entity	nil	Client-only visual head prop, attached as a child entity.
scrapbook_overridedata	table	{"head_fx_big", "brightmare_gestalt_head_evolved", "head_fx_big"}	Data used for scrapbook display.
no_spawn_fx	boolean	true	Suppresses default spawn effects on the master instance.

Main functions

GetLevelForTarget(target)

• Description: Determines how the guardian interacts with a target based on sanity and equipped shadow items. Returns a level (1–3) and optional sanity value for client-side transparency calculation.
• Parameters: target (Entity or nil) — the target entity to evaluate.
• Returns: level (number), sanity (number) — level encodes interaction (1: ignore, 2: observe, 3: attack); sanity is used for client-side alpha interpolation.
• Error states: If target is nil, returns (1, 1).

KeepTarget(inst, target)

• Description: Implements a target-keep rule: persists aggro if the target is the leader, or if recent attacks or attacks against this guardian occurred within a configured time window.
• Parameters: inst (Entity), target (Entity).
• Returns: true if aggro should be kept, false otherwise.

Retarget(inst)

• Description: Returns the leader (owner) as a fallback if the current combat target is nil.
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: inst.components.follower:GetLeader() or nil.

TryAttack_Teleport_Do(inst)

• Description: Attempts to teleport the guardian near its combat target using a random walkable offset. Resets teleport-hit counter on success.
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: true (always, regardless of success—teleport failure is non-fatal).
• Error states: May fail silently if no walkable offset is found within 10 tries.

TryAttack_Teleport_Evade(inst)

• Description: Initiates a teleport evade only if the guard has been hit enough times and is outside the teleport cooldown.
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: true if teleport was executed; false otherwise.

TryAttack_Close(inst)

• Description: Attempts a standard melee attack via the combat component.
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: Boolean result of combat:TryAttack().

DoAttack_Mid(inst)

• Description: Spawns a moonglass-hat projectile around the target and sets it to orbit. Sets default and planar damage values.
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: Nothing.
• Error states: Does nothing if target is invalid.

TryAttack_Mid(inst)

• Description: Triggers mid-range attack animation and sets cooldown timer.
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: true if doattack_mid event initiated the correct state; false if already on cooldown or state mismatch.

DoAttack_Far(inst)

• Description: Fires three split moonglass shards using the gestalt_guard_projectile prefab: center, left, and right.
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: Nothing.

TryAttack_Far(inst)

• Description: Triggers far-range attack and sets a cooldown timer.
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: true if doattack_far event started the attack state; false otherwise.

SetHeadAlpha(inst, a)

• Description: Sets the alpha channel of the client-side head blob (blobhead) for visual transparency updates.
• Parameters: a (number, 0–1) — alpha value.

OnDespawn(inst)

• Description: Handles cleanup on despawn: detaches from leader pet leash, sets despawn loot (moonglass based on health %), drops loot, and removes the entity.
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: Nothing.

SetupKilledPetLoot(inst, petcount)

• Description: Configures loot table based on number of Gestalt Guardians killed.
• Parameters: inst (Entity), petcount (number).
• Returns: Nothing.

SetupDespawnPetLoot(inst)

• Description: Generates loot with moonglass_charged count proportional to current HP % and current tuning.
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: Nothing.

Client_CalcTransparencyRating(inst, observer)

• Description: Calculates client-side transparency for the boss based on observer sanity and current combat status. Returns a number between 0.2 and TUNING.GESTALT_COMBAT_TRANSPERENCY.
• Parameters: inst (Entity), observer (Entity).
• Returns: number — transparency level.

OnAttacked(inst, data)

• Description: Handles incoming attacks: increments hit counter and switches/aggroes target if the attacker is not the leader.
• Parameters: inst (Entity), data (table) — includes attacker.
• Returns: Nothing.

Events & listeners

• Listens to:
  • attacked — fires OnAttacked, triggering retargeting and shared aggro.
  • onattackother — fires onattackother, extinguishing shadow-fire effects.
  • onremove — handled via OnEntitySleep/OnEntityWake to manage sleep-despawn timer.
• Pushes:
  • teleport — triggers teleportation event.
  • doattack_mid, doattack_far — initiates ranged attack animations/states.
  • leaderchanged — pushed by follower component.
  • hostileprojectile, onthrown, entity_droploot — via components or helpers.
  • buff_expired, onhitother, hostileprojectile — via related components.