They are EXTREME rare, except you really doint want one, then you have allways one chewing your backside.

There are many theories but finally there is no way to bait them

Originally posted by BGratz:

They are EXTREME rare, except you really doint want one, then you have allways one chewing your backside.

There are many theories but finally there is no way to bait them

So unless im a rather unlucky sod (which i am) then bobbing about on a leisurely cruise isnt going to be met with satans sperm? lol

Also, are there any tell-tale signs of a Serpent nearby? akin to a sharks fin breaking the sea surface etc

I have THREE just outside my main farm that swim around in the inlet. Sticking close to the shore I can sail up past them and mine copper. But go into the blue water? A green one comes out at night and two normals.

I also have a leviathan that spawns just outside the inlet :)

Originally posted by Groggy:

Originally posted by BGratz:

They are EXTREME rare, except you really doint want one, then you have allways one chewing your backside.

There are many theories but finally there is no way to bait them

So unless im a rather unlucky sod (which i am) then bobbing about on a leisurely cruise isnt going to be met with satans sperm? lol

Also, are there any tell-tale signs of a Serpent nearby? akin to a sharks fin breaking the sea surface etc

YES. normal ones are red with "shark fins" like a dragon. Unmistakeable once you see one.

On the map, the white water is the shoreline. Serpents HATE that. So that's the safe shallow water. Deaper spots have a chance to spawn. They move FAST too. So even at top speed, you may get hit once as a serpent hits you from the front. You CANNOT outrun them against the wind, so if you need to flee, turn fast, catch the wind with your sail and run.

They WILL chase you to the shore, and if you have any dwarves on shore, they will fight them. Gives you a distraction to either shoot arrows or run.

I'm only on boss 3, but have tested a few things with my serpents and frost arrows and fire arrows do extra damage.

On the open water tho, going solo is ill advised as a serpent can destroy your boat fast. meaning you are then in the water and drowning or food.

Anyone want to see the serpents in my world, you can friend me and visit

If you listen closely you can actually hear them coming. Sometimes before you can see them.

Originally posted by NerdgamerDave:

On the map, the white water is the shoreline. Serpents HATE that. So that's the safe shallow water. Deaper spots have a chance to spawn. They move FAST too. So even at top speed, you may get hit once as a serpent hits you from the front. You CANNOT outrun them against the wind, so if you need to flee, turn fast, catch the wind with your sail and run.

They WILL chase you to the shore, and if you have any dwarves on shore, they will fight them. Gives you a distraction to either shoot arrows or run.

I'm only on boss 3, but have tested a few things with my serpents and frost arrows and fire arrows do extra damage.

On the open water tho, going solo is ill advised as a serpent can destroy your boat fast. meaning you are then in the water and drowning or food.

Anyone want to see the serpents in my world, you can friend me and visit

Thanks for the info, i havent been out far from land so knowing that the map shows two types of waters is handy - may go naked sailing and get a taste for whats what :)

Originally posted by CelticPhilosopher:

If you listen closely you can actually hear them coming. Sometimes before you can see them.

Also good to know, always got my ear out for tell-tale signs/sounds for enemies :)

seems like they always hang out near the swamp for me.
if you have wind at your back you can outrun them on the boat

Originally posted by NerdgamerDave:

I have THREE just outside my main farm that swim around in the inlet. Sticking close to the shore I can sail up past them and mine copper. But go into the blue water? A green one comes out at night and two normals.

I also have a leviathan that spawns just outside the inlet :)

I though leviathans did not respawn? One i saw has not respawned in over 100 days.

They Spawn on Oceans Biome, wich is the deep sea.

They spawn rarely, they have higher chances of Spawn during storms.

When they freshly spawn they will usually Spawn in your back, with sticking their head out of the waters and growling at you, sometimes they will emerge in front of you and you can pass them or ram them caussing damage to both them and the ship.

They are fast and do decent damage, its impossible to escape with a raft, you have a slight chance with a Karve depending on your manoeuvring skills and the wind.
You can totaly leave them in the dust if you have a Longboat.

They will usually flee if their HP is under 50-40%, be mindfull though that if they flee from been too wounded, they will not despawn, chances are that if you pass by the same spot it fled, later on, you'll encounter it again.( at this moment you'll see that contrary to when they freshly spawn, they don't stick their heads out to growl at you, they're simply swimming towards you, so they are somewhat harder to spot)

The tactic is to use flint arrows at minimum, Fire arrows doesn't really work, since the thing is int eh water, and the water will put out the flames.

Ice arrows & Obsidian arrows or above are great.

Wound it enough that he would rather flee than fight, then if you have one, use a Harpoon, to capture it, then sail to shore and drag it out of the water to kill it.

You can kill it in the water, but you'll only get the meat, the scales and trophy(when it drop) will sink at the bottom of the water.

Harpoons are made using Chitin, that you can mine on the back of Giant sea turtles that people call either Leviathans or Krakens, be carefull that even tho they don't move around, once you start mining the Barnacles on their back, they'll occasionaly shake, and you'r ethen on a timer.

Once the timer's up, the Leviathan will sink in the sea, so be carefull to have enough stamina to swim back to your ship.

Since Serpents are from a different Biome, all other creature will attack it once you get it to shore.

They seem to have certain spawn locations. If you mark them you can farm them or avoid them, we have been farming them for meat.

They will spawn more at night and during a storm.

A Karve can only take about 4 hits... the longboat is what you want to use.

The longboat can outrun them with a good wind and full sail... they seem to stay in their territory and if you go far enough you can escape them.

A good bow and skill can take one out quickly. The meat will float but scales and trophies will sink.

With two people it is good to use the harpoon and beach them. Drag them on to land and kill them there to get all the stuff. They will not fight on land, only try to escape back to the water. Often it is too dangerous to land so at sea is easiest... don't want to drag one up next to a goblin village ha ha.

They are more likely to spawn at night.

They are more likely to aggro on you if you are going slow.

They also seem more likely to spawn during a storm.

That is what I have been observing so far, hope that helps.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2435798604

if you encounter one, stay calm, point the ship with the wind at max sail if possible, and get out your bow. A few hits will drive it off, you may not kill it (you want to, for the meat) but either way it will behave a lot like a raid enemy at your house where shooting it once makes it turn and leave for good. The karve is fast enough to minimize its ability to get close and make a hit, when it has wind. The raft ... you will probably die if you encounter one in a raft.

I never see them. Ever. Today I loaded up my longship with half a hold of iron, and the most of my previous base, and sailed over to my new base to set up shop. Within fifty yards of the leaving the dock, BAM, sea serpent.

Coincidence? I don't think so.

They are not THAT rare if you don't use portals all the time. Usually they turn up in more or less the same spot for me (not exact, but close). Sail around for a bit in different areas... you will run into one no doubt.

Thanks for the replies fellas, very helpful :)

Here's hoping i dont run into any unless i want to :P