Death Worm

The Death Worm is a fearsome 15 HP predator found exclusively in The Desert, inspired by the legendary Mongolian Death Worm cryptid. Occupying a 2x2 space on the battlefield, this massive creature combines a devastating charge attack with a unique burrowing mechanic that makes it one of the most lethal enemies in Act 2. With only 1 movement per turn it appears sluggish at first glance, but its charge ability closes distance rapidly, and once underground it becomes an invisible, instant-kill trap for any unit that steps onto its tile.

The Death Worm's attack cycle follows a predictable but punishing pattern: it dashes toward a target dealing 5 damage, then immediately burrows underground. While burrowed, it devours any unit that ends its movement on top of it, removing that unit from the fight entirely. The worm resurfaces briefly after consuming a victim before disappearing again. This creates a deadly zone of denial on the battlefield where careless positioning means instant death. The Baby Deathworm is a smaller relative with similar mechanics but reduced stats, while the Bone Worm found in The Boneyard operates as a ranged variant with a different attack philosophy.

Desert encounters with Death Worms often feature abundant cacti, and savvy players can use ranged attacks to bait the worm into charging directly through these environmental hazards for significant bonus damage. Another viable tactic is spawning expendable units and deliberately positioning them on top of the burrowed worm to force it to surface, creating a window for concentrated damage from your main cats. Keeping track of where the worm burrowed is essential, as its underground position remains fixed until it eats or resurfaces. Champions have 30 HP and deal 6 damage, making their charges even more dangerous and their burrowed threat zone even harder to ignore.