Core economy · Mass for movement
Speed is borrowed from the body you already built.
Growth and boost are connected by one resource: mass. Food increases score and body presence; acceleration spends part of that progress and returns visible material to the arena as a trail.
Verified against the active game configuration ·
Food and growth
Small pickups accumulate into a longer route.
The active food system uses regular pickup values of three, four or five points. A denser arena target distributes thousands of pieces across the map, but value still depends on whether the route can be collected safely. As canonical mass rises, the body gains segment capacity, length and visual width through the shared growth model.
Growth is progressive rather than an instant visual jump. The target body length follows mass, and the tail extends along recorded movement history. That relationship is why a clean path matters: the body occupies the decisions already made by the head.
Evaluate food by exit quality, not only by cluster size. A smaller open route can produce more lasting growth than a dense pocket that forces an emergency boost.
Boost economy
Default drain: 0.1 mass per second.
Holding left mouse or Shift switches movement toward boost speed and subtracts mass over time. The default configuration drains 0.1 mass units per second before mutation modifiers. The system protects the minimum starting mass, so boost cannot consume the creature below its playable baseline.
Mass lost during boost is accumulated into trail samples behind the moving body. Those samples become collectable food in the world. A long boost therefore creates both a faster route for you and a recoverable resource for anyone following it.
Decision model
Use acceleration for a measurable positional gain.
Escape
Accelerate until the threatening angle closes, then release. Continuing after the exit is safe only increases the mass paid.
Intercept
Boost toward the route a rival must occupy, not merely toward its current head position. The cursor arrow helps preview that line.
Reposition
Short bursts can move the head from the inside of a tightening curve to open arena space before the full body commits.
Mutation interaction
Speed, cost and braking can move in opposite directions.
Predatory Surge raises opening speed by 40% but increases boost cost by 25%. Spectral Skin reduces boost cost by 40% but lowers collision damage dealt. Midnight Veil strengthens braking by 60% and reduces its cost by 35%. Those trade-offs mean “more speed” and “better mobility” are not interchangeable.
Before selecting a movement mutation, decide whether the run needs a faster engagement, a longer escape or a sharper stop. The complete values and incompatibilities are listed in the mutation guide.