Year of the Varg
![]() |
This article is incomplete because of the evil sabotage by Maxwell.... Please help to improve the article, or discuss the issue with the community on the talkpage. |
Year of the Varg | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Dates |
2018: February 9th - March 16st |
Developer(s) |
Klei Entertainment |
The Year of the Varg is an event in Don't Starve Together, lasting from February 9th until March 1st, 2018, and afterwards announced to extend it until March 16[1]. It is inspired by the Chinese Year of the Dog, which started from February 16th, 2018, and continues until February 4th, 2019. In the Chinese zodiac, each year is related to an animal in a 12-year cycle.
It is similar to the Year of the Gobbler event, which came in the year before, and shares mechanics with it, such as the Offerings crafting tab, and most craftable items from that event. However, there were several additions and differences implemented into the event, especially concerning the obtainment of Lucky Gold Nuggets.
During the Year of the Varg event, the Knitted Puppy Hat Skin is given to players upon opening the game.
Players can revisit this event by setting Events to Year of the Varg in the world creation menu. Event-only themed skins will be disabled when revisiting the event.
Contents
Varg Shrine
Varg Shrine | |
---|---|
![]() "Make offerings to the earthen Varg." | |
![]() ![]() | |
![]() | |
Always available. | |
Perk |
A Torch can be offered to gain access to the Offerings Tab. |
"wargshrine"
|











The Varg Shrine is a craftable Structure located in the Structures Tab, and requires 8 Gold Nuggets and 2 Boards to craft. It is always available to craft and does not require prototyping. Offering Torch to the Varg Shrine will grant players access to the Offerings Tab where they are able to acquire event-specific items using Lucky Gold Nuggets.
Varg Shrines will allow Clay Vargs (and its accompanying Clay Hounds) to spawn in the world in place of a Koalefant, Ewecus, or normal Varg. Sometimes, a Red Pouch will drop from these Clay Hounds and Vargs , with a 10% chance of doing so for Clay Hounds and a 100% chance for Clay Vargs. (Note that feeding Gobblers attracted to the Gobbler Shrine no longer works for acquiring Lucky Gold Nuggets).
If the Varg Shrine is destroyed by Hammering it, it will drop any Torch placed in it, along with half its resources. Varg Shrines are also flammable.
While a Torch is in the Shrine, its fuel usage rate is multiplied by 0.2 - so a Torch with 100% durability, which would usually last for 75 seconds, will last for 375 seconds (6.25 minutes) instead. Once the Torch runs out, the Varg Shrine will no longer be active.
Clay Varg
Clay Varg | |
---|---|
![]() | |
1800 | |
50 | |
3 | |
Attack Range |
5 |
5.5 | |
![]() ![]() | |
Spawns from |
![]() |
"claywarg"
|











Clay Vargs spawn from Suspicious Dirt Piles like normal Vargs do if there is an activated Varg Shrine in the world.
Activated Varg Shrines will allow Clay Vargs (and its accompanying Clay Hounds) to spawn in the world in place of a normal Varg and the Hounds it summons. Sometimes, a Lucky Gold Nugget will drop after these Clay Hounds and Vargs, with a 20% chance of doing so for Clay Hounds and a 100% chance for Clay Vargs, dropping 4-6 each.[Need Clarification]
Unlike normal Vargs, Clay Vargs are unable to summon Hounds. They cannot be set on fire or put to sleep.
Clay Hound
Clay Hound | |
---|---|
![]() | |
150 | |
20 | |
2 | |
Attack Range |
3 |
8.5 | |
-40/min | |
![]() ![]() | |
Spawns from |
![]() |
"clayhound"
|











Clay Hounds spawn from Suspicious Dirt Piles in two groups of six next to the Clay Varg. They cannot be set on fire or put to sleep.
Clay Hounds cannot be set on fire or put to sleep.
Lucky Gold Nugget

–Wilson, when examining a Lucky Gold Nugget.

–Willow, when examining a Lucky Gold Nugget.

–Wolfgang, when examining a Lucky Gold Nugget.

–Wendy, when examining a Lucky Gold Nugget.

–WX-78, when examining a Lucky Gold Nugget.

–Wickerbottom, when examining a Lucky Gold Nugget.

–Woodie, when examining a Lucky Gold Nugget.

–Maxwell, when examining a Lucky Gold Nugget.

–Wigfrid, when examining a Lucky Gold Nugget.

–Webber, when examining a Lucky Gold Nugget.

–Winona, when examining a Lucky Gold Nugget.
Lucky Gold Nuggets are used to acquire items from the Offerings Tab and can be obtained from Red Pouches dropped by Clay Vargs and Clay Hounds. Clay Vargs drop five Red Pouches each upon death, and Clay hounds can only one Red Pouch with a 10% chance.
Offerings Tab
See also: Offerings Tab (Year of the Gobbler)
The following items can be obtained from the Offerings Tab when standing next to an activated Varg Shrine, each of them having a different function. Similar to the Ancient Tab and the Ancient Pseudoscience Station, these items cannot be prototyped and then made on the go in the future; in order to craft an item under this tab, the player must always be near a Varg Shrine.
Red Firecrackers
Red Firecrackers | |
---|---|
![]() "Celebrate with a BANG!" | |
![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() ![]() | |
Stacks up to |
40 |
"firecrackers"
|











Three Firecrackers can be acquired in exchange for 1 Lucky Gold Nugget at the Gobbler Shrine. They can be set on fire with a Torch or Lighter to produce sparkles, and will be destroyed in the process. When set off, nearby Mobs such as Hounds will be startled and cower in fear, giving the Firecrackers a use apart from the festivities.
Red Lantern
Red Lantern | |
---|---|
![]() "A fortuitous lantern to light your way." | |
![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() ![]() | |
12 Days | |
30/15s | |
Stacks up to |
Does not stack. |
"redlantern"
|











Red Lanterns can be acquired in exchange for 3 Lucky Gold Nuggets at the Gobbler Shrine and can be equipped in the hand slot. They do not produce as much light as regular Lanterns, but have a higher durability.
Lucky Whistle
Lucky Whistle | |
---|---|
![]() "Blow the whistle on wild hounds." | |
![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() | |
10 uses | |
Stacks up to |
Does not stack. |
"houndwhistle"
|











Lucky Whistles can be acquired in exchange for 3 Lucky Gold Nuggets at the Varg Shrine. Blowing the whistle will tame nearby Hounds (including Clay Hounds) for 40 seconds. Tamed Hounds will follow the player around, but will not attack them. However, they will still attack other Mobs as they normally would. A player can only have five Hounds tamed at a time. The Lucky Whistle can be used ten times.
Figure Sketches











Clay Hound Figure Sketches and Clay Varg Figure Sketches can be acquired at the Varg Shrine in exchange for 8 Lucky Gold Nuggets and 16 Lucky Gold Nuggets, respectively. They can then be given to a Potter's Wheel to be able to sculpt Hound Figures and Varg Figures.
Lucky Beast
Lucky Beast Head | |
---|---|
![]() "The front end of a beast costume." | |
![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() ![]() | |
1 Day | |
Perk |
Restores sanity over time when worn and dancing. |
Stacks up to |
Does not stack. |
"dragonheadhat"
|
Lucky Beast Body | |
---|---|
![]() "The middle bit of a beast costume." | |
![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() ![]() | |
1 Day | |
Perk |
Restores sanity over time when worn and dancing. |
Stacks up to |
Does not stack. |
"dragonbodyhat"
|

–Wilson, when examining a Lucky Beast Head.

–Willow, when examining a Lucky Beast Head.

–Wolfgang, when examining a Lucky Beast Head.

–Wendy, when examining a Lucky Beast Head.

–WX-78, when examining a Lucky Beast Head.

–Wickerbottom, when examining a Lucky Beast Head.

–Woodie, when examining a Lucky Beast Head.

–Maxwell, when examining a Lucky Beast Head.

–Wigfrid, when examining a Lucky Beast Head.

–Webber, when examining a Lucky Beast Head.

–Winona, when examining a Lucky Beast Head.
The three costume pieces of the Lucky Beast are hats and can be obtained in exchange for 8 Lucky Gold Nuggets each at the Varg Shrine.
While they are worn as hats, the "/dance" emote will be replaced with a different dancing animation. If the player simultaneously wears a costume piece and dances, a Sanity bonus equal to that of the Tam o' Shanter (+6.7 per minute) will be applied to the character. This bonus is increased if there are more players participating in the vicinity (wearing a costume piece and dancing). This bonus can stack up to a max of 3 times (+20
per minute), for three players dancing.[Verification Needed]
Durability only decreases when the character is dancing while wearing a costume. Durability lasts for a day, and a Sewing Kit will repair 100% of its durability.
Figures
Varg Figure | |
---|---|
![]() "Sculpt a fearsome Clay Varg." | |
![]() ![]() ![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() | |
Perk |
Mobile. |
"chesspiece_claywarg"
|
Hound Figure | |
---|---|
![]() "It ain't nothing but a clay hound dog." | |
![]() ![]() ![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() | |
Perk |
Mobile. |
"chesspiece_clayhound"
|

–Wilson, when examining a Varg Figure.

–Willow, when examining a Varg Figure.

–Wolfgang, when examining a Varg Figure.

–Wendy, when examining a Varg Figure.

–WX-78, when examining a Varg Figure.

–Wickerbottom, when examining a Varg Figure.

–Woodie, when examining a Varg Figure.

–Maxwell, when examining a Varg Figure.

–Wigfrid, when examining a Varg Figure.

–Webber, when examining a Varg Figure.

–Winona, when examining a Varg Figure.

–Wilson, when examining a Hound Figure.

–Willow, when examining a Hound Figure.

–Wolfgang, when examining a Hound Figure.

–Wendy, when examining a Hound Figure.

–WX-78, when examining a Hound Figure.

–Wickerbottom, when examining a Hound Figure.

–Woodie, when examining a Hound Figure.

–Maxwell, when examining a Hound Figure.

–Wigfrid, when examining a Hound Figure.

–Webber, when examining a Hound Figure.

–Winona, when examining a Hound Figure.
Varg Figures and Hound Figures can be crafted from the Sculpt Tab after acquiring their respective Sketches from the Varg Shrine and giving them to a Potter's Wheel. Depending on whether the player chooses to place 1 Marble or 1 Cut Stone on the wheel before sculpting, the resulting Figure will either be white or black. Varg Figures additionally require 2 Rocks and 2 Hound's Teeth to craft, while the Hound Figures require 2 Rocks and 1 Hound's Tooth.
Similar to Chess Pieces, Varg and Hound Figures can be carried around on the players' backs and can be used for decorational purposes.
Trivia
- The Verdant Skin Collection was added alongside the event.
- During the time of the event, the theme in the main menu of the game is slightly different by being mixed with Chinese instruments.
- The Hound Figure's crafting description ("It ain't nothing but a clay hound dog.") is a reference to the Elvis Presley song "Hound Dog".
- The two Vargling skins introduced with the Year of the Varg event (the Purebred and Pedigree Varglings) resemble two dog breeds believed to originate from China (the Chow Chow and Shih Tzu, respectively).
Gallery
A promotional image for the event posted by Klei Entertainment on 2/9/18.
Wilson holding a Red Lantern.
References
- ↑ https://forums.kleientertainment.com/topic/87330-game-update-254569-extended-celebrate-the-year-of-the-varg-with-your-special-someone/?page=13&tab=comments#comment-1009948 [Game Update] - 254569 - EXTENDED! - Celebrate the Year of the Varg with Your Special Someone
|