Lurking Giants Survivor Perks Updates — New Class System Coming

Currently, all survivors in Lurking Giants are identical — no abilities, no classes, no differences beyond player skill. The VERITY rework will change this with the introduction of a Survivor Perks and Classes system. This RPG-style addition gives survivors active tools for the first time, fundamentally shifting the game from pure hide-and-relocate to a more strategic experience with build choices and counterplay options. This guide covers everything known about the upcoming perk system.

Why Survivor Perks Are Being Added

The current survivor experience in Lurking Giants has two limitations that the perk system addresses:

1. No counterplay: Survivors cannot fight, slow, or outmaneuver the Giant with abilities. The only option is to hide better. This creates a passive gameplay loop that can feel helpless.

2. No variety: Every survivor plays identically. There are no build choices, no specialization, and no reason to play one survivor differently from another. After dozens of rounds, the experience becomes repetitive.

The perk system introduces meaningful choices: do you build for pulse resistance, sprint endurance, audio awareness, or cover bonuses? Each choice creates a different playstyle and different counterplay against each Giant.

Confirmed Information About the Perk System

Speculated Perk Categories

Based on the current gameplay limitations and the needs of survivor players, the following perk categories are the most likely additions:

Pulse Resistance Perks

These perks reduce the impact of visibility pulses, giving survivors more time and safety during the highlight phase:

Pulse Resistance perks would be the highest-impact category because the visibility pulse is the core threat. Even small reductions in highlight effectiveness translate to significantly better survival rates.

Sprint and Movement Perks

These perks address the limited movement options survivors currently have:

Sprint perks are the second most impactful category because the E-key sprint is currently the only movement advantage survivors have over the Giant. Enhancing sprint directly improves the core survival mechanic.

Audio and Detection Perks

These perks enhance the survivor's ability to detect the Giant before visual contact:

Audio perks address the most common survivor problem: the Giant appears without warning. Currently, only headphone users can reliably detect approaching Giants through audio. Perks that standardize detection would help all players.

Cover and Concealment Perks

These perks enhance the effectiveness of cover positions:

Cover perks are interesting because they create counterplay against specific Giants. A Haunt Resistance perk directly counters Guilt's wall-penetrating scan, while Shadow Meld would only be useful against Locust (who cannot see through walls anyway).

How Perks Change the Gameplay Loop

Before Perks (Current)

The current survivor loop is simple:

Pulse highlights you → Wait for highlight to fade → Sprint to new cover → Stay still until next pulse → Repeat

Every survivor executes this loop identically. The only variables are player skill, map knowledge, and cover selection.

After Perks (Post-Rework)

The post-rework survivor loop includes build-dependent decisions:

Before round: Select perk build based on map vote result and your playstyle
Pulse highlights you → Perk may reduce highlight duration or delay it → Sprint to new cover (perk may boost sprint) → Use audio perk to track Giant position → Select cover type that synergizes with your cover perk → Repeat with perk-informed decisions

The key change: Survivors must think proactively about their build before each round, then make perk-informed decisions during gameplay. This adds a strategic layer that currently does not exist.

Counterplay Implications

Perks vs Each Giant

Different perk builds will have different effectiveness against each Giant:

Strategic insight: Cover perks that counter Guilt are less useful against Locust (since walls already block Locust's Haunt). This creates a strategic decision: do you build for the most dangerous Giant (Guilt) or the most common one (random selection)?

Giant Counterplay to Survivor Perks

Giants will also need to adapt their strategy based on survivor perk builds. If a Giant notices that survivors have pulse resistance perks (shorter highlights), they may need to:

• Chase more aggressively during highlights — Less time to reach survivors means faster response needed
• Use Haunt more frequently — Compensate for reduced pulse information with active scanning
• Focus on audio tracking — If survivors have shadow meld or lantern shield, visual detection becomes less reliable

How to Prepare for the Perk System

Develop Transferable Skills Now

Skills that transfer to the perk system:

1. Audio awareness — Even without audio perks, learning to track the Giant by sound is essential
2. Cover selection logic — Understanding WHY certain cover is effective (Haunt reduction, two exits) transfers regardless of perks
3. Pulse relocation discipline — The timing of relocation after highlights is always relevant

Save Coins for Perk Unlocking

If perks require coin investment (which is likely), start saving now:

• Current Guilt cost: 7,000 coins
• Estimated new Giant costs: 7,000-10,000 each
• Estimated perk unlock costs: Unknown, but could be 1,000-5,000 coins per perk
• Recommended: Prioritize Guilt first (most impactful current purchase), then save for perks

Frequently Asked Questions

Are survivor perks confirmed? Yes, the perk and class system is confirmed as part of the VERITY rework. However, specific perk names, effects, and the unlocking mechanism have not been officially announced.

Will perks make the game easier for survivors? Intended to add depth, not just power. Perks give survivors more options, but Giants will likely receive new tools as well. The goal is strategic variety, not making survivors overpowered.

Will I have to pay Robux for perks? Unknown. Perks could be coin-based, free, or a mix. The game pass system (2x Giant Chance, 2x Voting Power) is separate from the perk system. Watch the official Discord for pricing announcements.

Can I change my perks between rounds? Likely yes, but not confirmed. Most RPG-style systems allow build changes, and restricting perks to one build would reduce the strategic value of the system.

How will perks interact with the visibility pulse? Some perks may reduce pulse effectiveness (shorter highlight, delayed reveal), but the pulse itself is the core mechanic and is unlikely to be fundamentally changed. Perks modify how you respond to the pulse, not whether it happens.

Preparing for the Perk System Now

While the specific perks are unknown, you can prepare by developing the skills and resources that will make the perk system more impactful:

Develop Skill Diversity Now

Currently, most survivors play the same way because there are no build choices. The perk system will reward players who are comfortable with multiple playstyles:

Save Coins and Robux

The perk system may require coin or Robux investment:

Practice Without Perks First

The most important preparation is mastering the current perk-free gameplay. Perks enhance existing skills — they do not replace them. A survivor with poor relocation timing will not be saved by a sprint perk, and a survivor who does not use audio cues will not benefit from audio perks.

Master the fundamentals first (pulse relocation, cover selection, lantern management, E-key sprint), and the perk system will amplify these skills when it launches.

Frequently Asked Questions