In-game icon
Intimidate or Intimidation is an action performed by pressing the appropriate button when available.
This action is a valuable ability when it comes to escaping death during combat. It allows you to attempt to scare off an aggressor, with varying success depending on the target.
Mechanics[ | ]
You have to have a hostile aggressor nearby for this action to be available. Intimidating can only be done when your hominid has the 
Alert status.
You can attempt to intimidate any aggressor but the larger the physical size of the enemy, the lower the success tends to be.
The larger you can make your hominid to a threat, the better your chances of intimidating that threat. Having two items in your hands makes your size much larger. Even items that aren't offensive in nature can be used to increase your size and intimidation power. A 
Natal Grass Cycad in each hand makes your size much larger to a hostile threat. Even though the leaves aren't a weapon, they can be quickly 
grabbed in any biome and used to intimidate hostile threats.
Carrying a weapon while attempting to intimidate an aggressor can increase the chances of a successful intimidation. Different weapons have different effects on intimidating an aggressor.
A successful intimidation will result in the intimidated animal running away. If unsuccessful, the animal may attack you instead. The success rate of intimidation depends on the objects held in your hands and on the numbers of your exploring party. Having several clan members nearby with additional weapons helps increase the chances for intimidating an aggressor. A large group with weapons is much more intimidating to an aggressor than a single individual with no weapon.
As you learn specific neurons, your ability to intimidate successfully will increase. Group intimidations will also become more successful.
When exploring in a group, your clan members may mimic this action automatically or even initiate it by themselves once the Self Empowerment (CM 02) neuron is learned.
It is recommended that you reach a safe place before you attempt to intimidate an aggressor, as the cost of dopamine and the low intimidation chance of some creatures can quickly lead to you either going into a state of hysteria due to low enough dopamine levels and running off, or just getting killed.
Neurons[ | ]
The following neurons impact intimidating.
| Image | Neuron | Neuronal Branch | Genetic Mutation? |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Deimatic Behavior (IT 01) | Communication | No | The chances of successfully intimidating a threat and scaring it away are increased. HOLD (button) to intimidate a threat when close enough. |
 |
Dominant Species (IT 06) | Communication | No | Intimidation effectiveness is maximized. HOLD (button) to intimidate a threat when close enough. |
 |
Group Unity (CM 04) | Communication | No | A group intimidation is more effective against any threat. When in a group, HOLD (button) to intimidate a predator when close enough. |
 |
Group Unity (CM 07) | Communication | No | A group intimidation is more effective against any threat. When in a group, HOLD (button) to intimidate a predator when close enough. |
 |
Induced Fear (IT 02) | Communication | No | The chances of successfully intimidating a predator and scaring it away are increased. HOLD (button) to intimidate a predator when close enough. |
 |
Induced Fear (IT 03) | Communication | No | The chances of successfully intimidating an irascible opponent and scaring it away are increased. HOLD (button) to intimidate an irascible opponent when close enough. |
 |
Internal Process Speed (FR 06) | Self-Control | No | Reactions when facing a predator are faster. |
 |
Internal Process Speed (FR 07) | Self-Control | No | Reactions when facing an irascible animal are faster. |
 |
Internal Process Speed (FR 08) | Self-Control | No | Reactions when facing a wildlife animal are faster. |
 |
Perceptual Time Dilation (FR 05) | Self-Control | No | Reactions when responding to a threat are faster. |
 |
Self Empowerment (CM 02) | Communication | No | While following you, clan members are able to automatically mimic an intimidation or the action of conquering fear. |
Notes[ | ]
- Sometimes dangerous animals will witness you kill one said animal, but this will make intimidating the witnessing ones easier: an example would be you meeting a pack of hyenas, you kill one hyena, and if the rest don't run away already, just intimidate them and they will run.