Cowman

**Cowmen (**singular **Cowman,** and also referred to as **fatties** or **chargers)** are a creepy mutant type that was added to ***The Forest*** in update v0.20.

This creature can be found in cave systems, but beginning on day 7 can also be found roaming the surface patrolling along with Armsies and Virginias.

## Gameplay

Unlike other Creepy Mutants such as Virginias or Armsies, **Cowmen** have facial features and don't appear to be formed by multiple bodies though they are also taller, wider, and stronger than Mutants. **Cowmen** can be said to resemble a grotesquely obese human or an early human fetus as evidenced by the distorted, smoothed out facial features with tiny arms, a protruding stomach, the lack of genitalia, and the space between the legs.

It mostly attacks by charging at the player, changing direction as it charges in an attempt to hit players if they try to move out of the way. It has also been seen jumping into the air, stomping the ground and performing a bodyslam. A **Cowman's** charge can also hit other mutants, and will also bypass the player's armor, damaging his health directly. It is extremely difficult to flee a charging **Cowman** that has locked on to the player, it charges much faster than the player can run. It is possible with maxed athleticism that the player could be able to outrun a Cowman. A good way to avoid being hit by a charge, is to run in large circles as the **Cowman** is charging. The **Cowman**, when charging, can make dead Mutant bodies and animals explode on impact.

Beginning on day 7, the **Cowman** has a chance of spawning on the surface to accompany other creepy mutants, though they are rare compared to the Armsy and Virginia at this stage. **Cowmen** start to become more common after day 14, until eventually they are almost always seen in groups containing the Armsy(s) and Virginia(s). Up to two **Cowmen** can attack at any given time, though there is a very rare chance that multiple creepy mutant groups will spawn in the same proximity, causing abnormal numbers of individuals to be encountered. Between the Armsy, Virginia, and itself, the **Cowman** is the least likely of the three to spawn on its own.

Unlike the Armsy and Virginia, there is no blue variant of this Creepy Mutant.

## Story

Although unconfirmed, it is heavily suggested that **Cowmen** are also Obelisk Victims like Virginias, Armsies, Megan Cross, and Timmy.

There is a speculation that the original **Cowman** is Zachary, who can be seen on the Milk Carton story item in the yacht. This speculation formed as the **Cowman** and Zachary both have heavy builds, and Zachary's sudden disappearance could be a result of him being turned into the **Cowman**.

It could be possible if **Cowman** is a fully matured Mutant Baby considering that it was not presented on the Orientation Slideshow and so has similar features towards the *Mutant Baby*.

It is possible that it was created after Virginia and Armsy, as it is not displayed on the Orientation Slideshow.

## Cave Combat

The **Cowman** is a powerful foe in caves, as tight spaces make it incredibly difficult to dodge its charge. The charge can annihilate a significant amount of health, as well as knock contacted players to the ground. In the event you get hit, it is usually still possible to open your inventory before completely standing up in order to consume meds. Explosives and molotovs are the most effective weapons against **Cowmen** in caves and in general, as fire stuns **Cowmen**. The player require a great deal of environmental perception to able to escape its charge and accurately hit. Additionally, **Cowmen** often spawn near mutants, so the player must mind not running straight into the arms of a mutant while attempting to flee a **Cowman** charge.

An effective method for dealing with the **Cowman** is attempting to lure it into a more open area in the cave network before launching a full frontal attack. This allows the player to evade the charge while still mounting an offence instead of a near total defensive strategy. **Cowmen** are best dealt with in co-op by having players exchange turns grabbing Cowman's attention, while the others attack with melee weapons. In single player mode, using bombs and molotovs is a feasible option. The crafted bow or modern bow is an effective method, though if too much distance is created, the **Cowman** will charge. The **Cowman**, like other creepy mutants, seems to have great difficulty locating a player who is hiding, even when they're being shot with a bow from a relatively short distance away. Caution is advised, however, as they will still blindly attack or charge in a random direction.

## Surface Combat

Like Virginia and Armsy, **Cowman** will spawn on the surface on or after day 7, and are the rarest Creepy Mutant to spawn on the surface.

It is possible for a group of **Cowmen** to spawn on the surface and can be heard from afar due to it creating loud thumping noises. If heard, players are advised to crouch and stealthily exit the area and only return when the thumping is no longer audible.

Once the **Cowman** has noticed the player and obtained a lock-on, it is very difficult to flee because it can charge as fast as the player can sprint, and unlike the player, it does not tire.

Fleeing into water can help, but the **Cowman** is often fast enough that it will damage the player in the shallow water before the player can escape to deeper water. On the other hand, the **Cowman** can be coaxed into charging straight into deep bodies of water in pursuit of the player, which will drown it. Having multiple connected, elevated platforms built around player bases is effective against **Cowman** from which it can be shot with fire arrows.

As of game update version 1.10, Cowmen seem to have gotten a significant buff in their destructive capabilities; their charge can nearly destroy a defensive wall and can obliterate traps in a single hit. His belly flop attack can destroy raised platforms instantly. This ranks his max damage even higher than an armsy. And the speed at which he can distribute the damage puts Cowman in a league of his own. It is highly encouraged to abandon your base or focus all of your attacks on him the moment he appears in your area. The only other enemy that can beat his raw damage output is a fully formed Worm mutant.

## Known Bugs

* Occasionally **Cowman** does not engage the player in caves, even after being attacked
* After charging, **Cowman** sometimes gets stuck on terrain and will run in place until killed
* The **Cowman** can hit the body of another creepy mutant, like an Armsy, and break it into several pieces that fly everywhere. This may be intentional.
* Cowman rarely can fly.

## Gallery

* Cowman in the Survival Guide.
* Two Cowmen in a pack with other Creepy Mutants.
* Cowman with a flashlight shining in its face.

## Update History

**Enemies**