The new Watcher DLC features a myriad of fun locations full to the brim with water. This guide aims to teach how to swim properly, as well as tools to assist in swimming.

This guide does not include anything about aquatic creatures, the wiki already has plenty of information on those, however these tips should help you survive a large majority of them!

Knowing how to swim properly is as vital as it is shockingly simple.

While swimming horizontally, alternate between holding up and down for about half a second each time. This dramatically increases your swimming speed, to the point that you outswim a majority of underwater threats. With some practice, you can move faster underwater than you can on land!

GIF is from the Rain World Movement Guide[docs.google.com], check that out too!

Buoyancy isn't a technique, but rather a mechanic to keep in mind. Slugcats float, meaning that swimming upwards is easier while swimming downwards is harder. Additionally, when you're out of breath, your buoyancy can save you if you're close enough to the surface.

DO NOT PRESS Z UNDERWATER. Doing so will cause you to shoot forward in the water with a boost of speed, however this will drain your breath by a lot more than if you had just swam the distance normally. This can be helpful in a pinch, and there is a notable exception to this rule later, but in almost any circumstance, water boosting is not worth it unless moving across the surface of water.

There are a handful of items that alter your swimming with varying degrees of helpfulness.







Bubble weed is an abundant aid acquired in aquatic areas. It provides about 25 seconds of underwater breathing before drying up and becoming useless. While simple, this is easily the best tool at your disposal.
While holding bubble weed, swim boosting does not consume anything. Swim boost to your hearts content! Do it while wriggling to zoom through the water at breakneck speeds.

NOTE: Holding two bubble weed does not provide extra breath. Leave the other bubble weed behind in case you need to go back that way later, or store one in your stomach for emergencies. Also note that you cannot access your stomach while underwater, but you can while on the surface of it.







While less common than bubble weed, jetfish can usually be found in similar locations. Holding onto one allows you to hitch a ride, making you extremely fast. However, this does not provide any additional breath like bubble weed does, and jetfish are also ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Use with some caution, but otherwise, jetfish are a great alternative to bubble weed.








While bubble fruit makes a tasty aquatic snack when dipped in water, it can also be a decent last resort option to assist in swimming. Holding bubble fruit increases your buoyancy, and holding two increases it even more.

Now you know (hopefully) all you need to know about how to use water to your advantage. Go have fun in the water and not fear leeches or salamanders as much!