Signal → what to do
- Weird chewing sounds behind the next door? Open it with your light off.
- Loud metallic buzzing means the swarm is already in the room. It sounds more like flies than bats.
- The room is dark, and you're in The Mines? Be ready for them: most of their rooms are dark.
- The buzzing has faded or moved far away? You can turn your light back on.
- A distant roar during the candy event means Gloombats came from an Infested Candy.
How to Get Past the Swarm: Turn Off Your Light
There's one rule: don't use an active light. Gloombats won't hurt you if you're not holding a light that's turned on. They don't mind if you're holding a Flashlight, Lighter, or anything else that's turned off. You can also stand near someone else's light. They won't attack you for that.
Here's what I do when I hear chewing: 1. Turn off my Flashlight or Lighter before opening the door. 2. If it's pitch-black ahead, I pull out a Glowstick. It gives off light without provoking them. 3. I cross the room without stepping on any eggs. 4. I turn my light back on only when the buzzing fades.
If you need light, you have options. Glowsticks and the Laser Pointer don't bother them. If you throw a Glowstick, Gloombats will attack it instead of you, knocking it away and trying to turn it off. The blue light from Guiding Light on a door usually scares them off, too.
Remember, you can hide, too. They'll still get you in a closet if your Straplight is on. The swarm will leave on its own after a couple of minutes—about 2 minutes.
Where Gloombats Live
Gloombats only appear in The Mines. They have a chance to show up when you open a door, starting at door 105. They fly in groups of five or more.
They can show up in flooded rooms, too, and they can dive underwater. If the swarm appears right before door 200, the room goes dark and Guiding Light turns off. That's a rough spot, so approach the Dam with your light off.
Using a Crucifix Against the Swarm
A Crucifix banishes Gloombats. Chains grab each one and pull the whole swarm into a ball. You don't need to turn on your Straplight for this.
If you want to banish them on purpose, hold a light source. When the swarm flies in to attack, quickly switch to the Crucifix. Without a light, they won't fly at you, so the Crucifix won't work. The light acts as bait.
How You Can Lose Health
- Opening a door with your Flashlight on. The swarm will attack until the light goes out or you die.
- Stepping on eggs. Each one deals 10 damage and spawns another Gloombat.
- Turning on a light during Halt. A swarm that appeared before Halt can attack at the same time.
- Assuming Gloombats will stay in the room. If they can still sense your light, they'll follow you into the next rooms.
- Forgetting about the other entities. Gloombats can attack alongside Eyes, Screech, Giggle, Rush, and Ambush.
What They Are
In the lore, Gloombats are a normal species found in nature, even though the Crucifix can banish them. They reproduce by laying eggs, just like Grumbles. Their type is Neutral, but they're marked as "Deadly".
They're near the bottom of The Mines' food chain. Gloombats are used as food. El Goblino says he tries to catch them, but they're too small. Figure notices their buzzing, chases them, grabs them, and eats them.
Gloombats and Figure
This is the best combo The Mines gives you against a swarm. Figure eats Gloombats if they're in the same room, along with anyone Figure touches. You can lure the swarm back into Figure's room and let Figure deal with it.
There's an opposite effect, too. Gloombats can lead Figure to a Dupe door, letting Figure enter Dupe's room. So watch where you're leading them.
Gloombat Eggs
Eggs are the biggest hazard on the floor. Step on one, and you'll take 10 damage and spawn a new Gloombat, whose eyes match the egg's color. If you avoid the eggs and don't shine a light, the swarm won't attack you directly.
Crushed eggs glow for a while and can help you find your way in the dark. I don't use them for that: trading 10 health and an extra Gloombat for some light is a bad deal.
What They Do to Lights and Doors
Gloombats surround light sources and try to turn them off or break them as fast as they can. In The Hotel, where the Infested Candy brought them during the 2024 Trick Or Treat Event, they can't put out a room's fire or lights. But the Electrical Work Modifier doesn't stop them. They'll still break lights.
There's a theory that the swarm can break lights before they flicker to warn you about Rush unconfirmed. So when I'm in a room with Gloombats, I listen extra carefully for Rush and don't count on the lights flickering.
Light shining on you doesn't bother them. They won't attack players glowing from Starlit, Glowing Candy with the Trick Or Treat Modifier, or the Shine Bright event.
One more thing people forget: Gloombats can open doors. If they, Rush, or Seek open a door, Jack may appear in the hallway. In solo play, you can also run into Void, and Shadow can appear when you open the next door.
Badges and Achievements
- I Don't Believe My Eyes — survive a room with a swarm. Most players have it. The name is a reference to the song "Fireflies" by Owl City.
- Flyswatter — use a Crucifix against a swarm. It's an uncommon secret badge.
- Bug Bomb — same requirement: use a Crucifix against a swarm. It's rare, hidden, and secret.
For both Crucifix badges, use the same trick: hold a light, then pull out the Crucifix right before the swarm hits.
Fun Facts
- Gloombats were added on August 30, 2024. They first appeared in a Floor 2 teaser.
- They used to be called Batmoths, based on a leaked file name and their resemblance to bats and moths.
- Different colors were originally planned for Giggle, but the idea was given to Gloombats instead in older versions.
- Their eyes can be green, orange, blue, light blue, pink, red, yellow, or white. They're most often green.
- Gloombat colors look a lot like the colors of Glowsticks.
- They have more UGC items than any other entity.
- Sometimes they open the next door themselves.
Related badges
all badges
Frequently asked questions
How do you get past Gloombats in DOORS?
How do you banish Gloombats?
How much damage do Gloombats deal?
Where do Gloombats appear?
Can you use a Glowstick around Gloombats?
Are Gloombats dangerous if you just stand near a light?
See also
What’s Still Unconfirmed (2)
This information comes from announcements and rumors, or is outdated. The label will disappear once it’s confirmed.
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