The Mesa biome in PEAK is an experiment in strength and smartness, where blistering heat, treacherous ground, and vicious wildlife push the abilities of players to the limits.
One of the most lethal creatures of this place is the Antlion, a behemoth sand-digging beetle that can pull in a careless climber straight into its tunnel. Surviving the ordeal is what awards the Megaentomology Badge, a reward for players who are brave enough to confront the predator and intelligent enough to come out alive.
Where to Find the Antlion in PEAK
The Antlion is found solely within the Mesa biome, and simply just beneath the surface of enormous circular craters in the sand. The pits are trap-forming, drawing players who have an unsuspecting-appearing piece of luggage in the center. If you inspect from a distance, the pits look like wide, shallow bowl-shaped craters, so are relatively simple to locate if you know where to look.
The moment you step into the middle of the pit, the Antlion erupts from the ground, clamping on and trying to drag you towards the direction of its mouth. This triggers the encounter needed for the badge, though you must at least get bitten once before escaping for it to be tallied.
Preparation for the Encounter
Ensure you are at full strength before you go down to the pit. You should enter with a full stamina bar because running away will be continuous strafing against the creature’s pull. Having stamina-restoring items in your inventory can prove to be the difference between winning and losing, and having your health full will enable you to take the first bite without collapsing.
If possible, scout the area beforehand and look for any environmental items that may assist in an escape. When playing with someone else, have someone else who can wait off-stage of the pit to enter and assist if needed. Even the briefest of pushes or quick revive can save a botched escape.
How to Escape the Antlion
When the Antlion catches you, your first goal is to struggle against being sucked into its center. Jumping clear and pushing clear of the beast immediately puts you out of range. Sand fills with substance and slows your movement, and the pull is extremely powerful, so reaction must be fast. When you drop or get wedged in the rim of the trench, the Antlion has a short distance to travel and can simply suck you back in.
During cooperative play, your partner can tug you out or draw off the Antlion so that you can climb to safety. Solo players will have no choice but to depend on stamina management and careful movement.
Obtaining the Megaentomology Badge
If you manage to survive from the pit alive after spending it with the Antlion, the game will even reward you with the Megaentomology Badge. In addition to the achievement, you also receive a cosmetic reward for surviving. You don’t necessarily need to kill the Antlion—surviving its attack while keeping it alive is good enough.
