Pigs in Don't Starve aren’t just background NPCs—they’re a Swiss Army knife of survival tools. From farming meat to sanity management, these oinkers can singlehandedly carry your run if you know how to manipulate their quirks. Let’s break down everything you need to turn pig villages into profit centers.

Pig Behavior 101: How to Read Their Moods (And Abuse Them)

Neutral ≠ Harmless

Pigs default to neutral, but they’re easily provoked. Attack one, and its buddies will swarm you like bees to honey. But their aggression has exploitable patterns:
- Daytime Pacifists: Pigs won’t attack unless threatened. Use this to bait them into fights with spiders or hounds.
- Nighttime Panic: When darkness falls, pigs prioritize light sources over combat. Drop a torch near a spider nest, and they’ll brawl while you loot.
- Full Moon Frenzy: Under a full moon, pigs transform into Werepigs—aggro monsters that drop 2 Meat + 1 Pig Skin guaranteed.

Understanding pig behavior can significantly enhance your survival strategy.

The Sanity Hack You’re Missing

Standing near pigs grants a +25 sanity/minute boost. Build a pen with 4-5 pigs near your base, and you’ve got a free sanity station. Just avoid full moons—Werepigs reverse this effect with a -25 sanity/minute drain.

Pig Farming: From Basic Meat to Industrial Manure Production

Step 1: The Bait-and-Switch Pig Pen

1. Destroy 6-8 Pig Houses with a hammer to collect materials.
2. Rebuild huts in a U-shape around a central bait item (e.g., Pig Skin).
3. Wall off the pen with stone walls to trap pigs inside.

Pro Tip: Leave one gap in the walls and use a gate. Pigs pathfind toward bait but can’t reach it, creating a perpetual mob.

Step 2: Full Moon Harvesting

On night 11, 21, 31, etc., Werepigs spawn. Equip a Hambat (crafted with 1 Pig Skin + 2 Twigs + 1 Meat) and:
1. Kill Werepigs first—they ignore others while transformed.
2. Collect 8-10 Meat/Skin per night from a 6-hut farm.

Pigs transform into Werepigs during full moons, providing valuable resources.

Step 3: Manure Automation

Feed pigs 40 Berries/Vegetables, and they’ll produce 1 Manure every 15 seconds. Use this to fuel Improved Farms or Bundling Wraps for long-term food storage.

Combat Tactics: Turning Pigs Into Cannon Fodder

The “Pig Mercenary” Strategy

1. Bribe 4-5 pigs with Monster Meat to follow you.
2. Lead them to a Tree Guardian or Spider Queen.
3. Watch them tank hits while you deal damage.

Case Study: A Reddit user cleared a Deerclops using 6 pigs and a Sleeping Dart. Total cost: 6 Monster Meat vs. 2000 HP.

Werepig Kiting Pattern

Werepigs attack every 2.5 seconds. Use this rhythm:
1. Hit twice → Dodge → Repeat.
2. Never attack more than twice—they’ll counter.

Lore Deep Dive: Why Pigs Are Smarter Than They Look

The Hamlet Paradox

Pigs in the Hamlet DLC have advanced societies with banks and shops, while base-game pigs live in huts. Reddit theories suggest:
- Evolution Split: Hamlet pigs evolved intelligence, while others regressed.
- Time Travel: The Constant’s warped timeline explains conflicting tech levels.

Maxwell’s Role

The Pig King’s gold obsession mirrors Maxwell’s own greed. In-game files hint he created pigs as “worker drones” before losing control.

Common Pig Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)

Mistake #1: Overfeeding for Manure

Feeding pigs 4 Monster Meat turns them into Werepigs instantly. Use 1 Meat for loyalty and Berries for manure.

Mistake #2: Ignoring the Moon Cycle

A full moon can wipe your pig army. Always check the Moon Calendar (craftable with 3 Moon Rocks) before farming.

Keep track of the moon cycle to avoid losing your pig army.

Mistake #3: Poor Pen Placement

Pig pens near Spider Dens cause endless brawls. Build at least 2 screens away from nests.

TL;DR: Pig Exploitation Cheat Sheet

1. Farm Setup: 6 huts + stone walls + Pig Skin bait.
2. Full Moon = Profit: Kill Werepigs for guaranteed loot.
3. Sanity Boost: Keep 4 pigs near base for mental health.
4. Combat: Use pigs as tanks vs. bosses.