Mycopod

Mycopods are large, armadillo-like bugs that live in dense forests and jungles, native to the planet Fungaia.

They are a semi-intelligent species that live in groups, similar to the colonies of ants. They can communicate with other mycopods, and even with kuparkukes and scufflepaws, though they are not as intelligent or evolved as either of those species. Their armour has evolved to withstand projectiles and quick attacks. They are very tough in nature, and are usually known to be aggressive.

Biology and appearance

Resembling giant, spotted pillbugs, mycopods are easily identified by their bulbous noses, round eyebrows, and large eyes. Each of their six legs ends in a pair of sharp claws, and long antennae extend from their heads which help them to navigate their environment. Their primary manner of self-defence and attack involves curling into a ball and ramming at potential predators. The sheer weight of their armour makes these impacts devastating. If ramming doesn’t work, they use their large teeth to bite, and their dual claws to slash.

As the scavengers of their ecosystem, they consume moss, small animals, scraps and decaying matter, carrying any surplus back with them to sustain their colony.

When standing on two legs, they are almost as big as a kuparkuke!

Strengths

Their most lethal asset is their heavy armour. Mycopods strike by curling into a dense sphere and launching themselves at an opponent’s head or face, a manoeuvre often powerful enough to cause severe concussions. If cornered, they transition from blunt force to close quarters combat, using their razor sharp claws and teeth to finish the fight.

Weaknesses

Despite their heavy plating, mycopods have one critical weakness: a soft, unprotected underbelly. If a mycopod is flipped onto its back, its dense armour becomes a liability, leaving it struggling to right itself. Predators often exploit this opening to bypass their defences. Furthermore, their extreme density makes them naturally poor swimmers. A mycopod in deep water will quickly sink, unable to stay buoyant.

Role in Star Heretic

Mycopods appear in Star Heretic as an early-game enemy. They physically harm the player by rolling into them, often waiting on hills or slopes to gain momentum and speed. To avoid their attack, the player simply has to jump over them.

If a mycopod hits a wall or its momentum dies, it will face whichever way the player is standing and repeat its attack, however, they cannot roll uphill. Using damaging abilities will not work whilst the mycopod is in its ball form. Instead, the player must jump on them to force them into a vulnerable state, at which point they can be quickly struck, and polished off.

Like all creatures in Star Heretic, they can be scanned to add their details to the codex.