Can Lox Attack While Riding? Everything You Need to Know

The answer is a resounding, definitive yes. Lox, the colossal woolly beasts of the Plains biome in Valheim, can absolutely attack while you are riding them. While they can be tamed and ridden, turning them into powerful and mobile bases, their inherent aggression doesn’t simply vanish. Understanding how this aggression manifests and how to mitigate the risks is crucial for any Viking looking to master lox riding.

Understanding Lox Aggression

Lox are naturally territorial creatures. Even after taming, certain actions or environmental triggers can provoke them. It’s important to differentiate between their passive state while ridden and their reactive state when provoked.

Passive State: Calm and Collected (Mostly)

When ridden and not actively being attacked or provoked, a tamed lox will generally follow your commands without incident. They will move where you direct them, and their aggro will usually be transferred to the rider if enemies are nearby. This is when you can travel and transport goods relatively safely.

Reactive State: The Rage Awakens

Several factors can cause a ridden lox to become aggressive and potentially attack:

• Being attacked: If the lox is attacked by enemies like fulings, deathsquitos, or even other lox, it will almost certainly retaliate. This retaliation will involve stomping, kicking, and even attempting to throw the rider.
• Environmental factors: While less common, certain environments can increase the likelihood of aggression. Being near fuling villages, for instance, might trigger a defensive response.
• Rider actions: Certain actions by the rider, such as rapidly dismounting and remounting, or continuously trying to force the lox through impassable terrain, could theoretically agitate it. While there’s no explicit “aggro meter” visible, consistent mistreatment could influence their behavior.
• Mod Interactions: If you are using mods in your game, some may inadvertently alter lox behavior, making them more prone to aggression even when ridden. Always consider this when playing with mods.

Why Lox Attack While Riding Matters

Understanding that lox can attack while being ridden is essential for several reasons:

• Survival: Being thrown from a lox during combat, especially in a dangerous biome like the Plains, can be fatal.
• Resource Management: Repeatedly having to heal your lox after unnecessary fights wastes valuable resources.
• Efficiency: A lox that’s constantly attacking is slowing you down. Knowing how to prevent aggression improves the efficiency of travel and transport.
• Base Defense: Lox can be used in base defense if you breed them and place them strategically around your base. They can provide valuable support, but if they are prone to getting aggroed and throwing riders, they lose this advantage.

Strategies for Preventing Lox Attacks While Riding

Fortunately, there are several strategies you can employ to minimize the risk of your lox attacking while ridden:

• Avoid Conflict: The most straightforward solution is to avoid combat whenever possible. Steer clear of enemy camps and aggressive creatures.
• Equip Appropriate Armor: The better your armor, the more likely you are to survive if you do get thrown off the lox. Padded armor or better is highly recommended for riding in the Plains.
• Bring Healing Supplies: Always carry plenty of healing potions and food to quickly restore your lox’s health if it takes damage.
• Clear the Path: Before traversing a dangerous area, scout ahead to identify potential threats. Clearing the path of enemies can significantly reduce the risk of attacks.
• Use Terrain to Your Advantage: Utilize terrain features like hills and water bodies to avoid or delay encounters with enemies.
• Train With Lower-Level Threats: Before venturing into dangerous areas, spend time riding your lox and practicing combat techniques with weaker enemies.
• Food Buffs: Keep your Lox well fed to keep them happy and strong. This will also allow them to withstand more damage in combat.

Lox as Mobile Bases

Once tamed, lox are a valuable asset because they can be ridden and used as mobile bases.

Building on Lox

You can place structures like campfires and storage chests on the backs of lox, but these are vulnerable to attacks.

Lox Carts

You can attach carts to your lox. This can be useful for moving large amounts of materials but it is still vulnerable to attack.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Lox

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of lox behavior and riding:

1. How do I tame a lox?

Taming lox involves feeding them cloudberries repeatedly over several days. Build a small enclosure to keep them contained, and consistently drop cloudberries within their reach. Patience is key, as the taming process is gradual.

2. Can lox be bred?

Yes, lox can be bred. Ensure they are well-fed and in a comfortable environment (a large, enclosed space with plenty of grass). Eventually, they will produce a baby lox.

3. What do lox eat besides cloudberries?

While cloudberries are essential for taming, lox will also consume barley and flax after they are tamed.

4. Can lox swim?

Yes, lox can swim, although they are slower in water. They can cross rivers and shallow lakes, making them useful for traversing varied terrain.

5. How much weight can a lox carry?

A ridden lox can carry a significant amount of weight, allowing you to transport large quantities of resources. The exact weight limit is subject to the rider’s carry capacity as well.

6. What kind of damage can a lox inflict?

Lox can inflict significant damage with their stomps, kicks, and body slams. Their attacks are effective against most enemies in the Plains biome.

7. Can lox break structures?

Yes, lox can break structures, especially those made of weaker materials like wood. Be mindful of this when building near tamed lox.

8. How do I saddle a lox?

You don’t saddle a lox in the traditional sense. Once tamed, simply interact with them to mount and ride them.

9. What happens if my lox dies?

If your lox dies, it will drop any items it was carrying. You can retrieve these items, but the lox itself is permanently gone unless you reload an earlier save.

10. Are there different types of lox?

There are no distinct subspecies of lox in the base game. However, some mods may introduce variations.

11. Can fulings ride lox?

No, fulings cannot ride lox in the base game. This is not something implemented into the default enemy AI.

12. How do I heal a lox?

You can heal a lox by feeding it food, such as cloudberries, barley, or flax. They will gradually regenerate health over time.

13. Can I teleport with a lox?

No, you cannot teleport with a lox. They are considered creatures and cannot pass through teleporters.

14. Is it better to fight from a lox, or dismount and fight?

This depends on the situation. For dealing with weaker enemies or traversing long distances, fighting from the lox can be advantageous. However, against stronger enemies, dismounting may allow for better control and tactical maneuvering.

15. Will lox attack my base even if they are tamed?

If your tamed lox are attacked near your base, they will defend themselves. Consider building sturdy fences or walls to protect your base and prevent unnecessary damage. Also, make sure there are no enemies that can get inside the enclosure and aggro them.