When an update transforms the subterranean depths into an even harsher place, it’s easy to overlook what’s happening above ground. But while most adventurers look downward, a new ruler hops into power on the surface—the Rabbit King. This fluffy monarch has more to offer than just regal charm; he’s a valuable trading partner and a source of unique gear. But how do you summon this hippity-hoppity royalty, and what can you gain from his rule? Let’s dive in.

Summoning the Rabbit King: The Four Paths to Power

Contrary to what some may think, there are four distinct ways to summon the Rabbit King. Each method varies in difficulty and randomness, making it essential to understand your best approach.

1. The Carrot Method: The most direct method is to feed 12 to 16 carrots into a rabbit hole. This offering causes the Rabbit King to burrow up, appearing before you in all his royal splendor.
2. The Fortuitous Rabbit Chance: Every rabbit that emerges from the ground has a mere 1% chance of becoming a fortuitous rabbit, which in turn triggers the Rabbit King’s appearance. This is an unreliable method, but increasing rabbit spawns artificially can improve your odds.
3. Earthquake-Induced Summoning: If you prefer playing the odds, earthquakes can also trigger the Rabbit King’s appearance. However, the chances are even lower—earthquakes must first drop a rabbit (5% chance), and then that rabbit must be a fortuitous rabbit (10% chance). With such steep odds, patience is a necessity.
4. Rabbit Naughtiness Mechanic: The fastest but most aggressive method is through the rabbit naughtiness system. Killing rabbits or bunnymen increases your naughtiness meter by 1 to 3 points per kill. Once you reach 20 to 30 naughtiness, the Rabbit King spawns immediately. This is ideal for players who don’t mind upsetting the ecosystem in exchange for results.

Understanding the Rabbit King’s Behavior

Once summoned, the Rabbit King acts like a regular rabbit, aimlessly wandering the area, even taking naps in the same spots. However, he has one frustrating quirk—he despawns when no players are nearby. While his respawn time is relatively short (just over half a day), his vanishing act can be a major inconvenience. If you want to keep him around, stay in the area or be prepared to resummon him.

Trading and Crafting: The Rabbit King’s Royal Wares

The Rabbit King’s presence grants access to the Trading Hutch crafting tab, which allows you to craft powerful gear, including:

1. Warren Wreath

• Cost: 1 Rabbit + 6 Grass
• Duration: 5 Days
• Effects:
  • Provides slight sanity regeneration.
  • Prevents rabbits from fearing you.
  • Allows you to pick up rabbits by hand.
  • Bonus: Can be instantly repaired using any vegetable food.

2. Coat of Carrots

• Cost: 8 Carrots + 3 Rope
• Duration: 3 Days
• Effects:
  • Provides sanity regeneration, similar to the Warren Wreath.
  • Auto-befriends up to 10 bunnymen, requiring no manual interaction.
  • Hides meat from bunnymen, preventing aggression.
  • Bonus: Can be repaired using carrots (25% durability restored per carrot).

3. Burrowing Horn

• Cost: 4 Carrots + 1 Rope
• Function:
  • Creates a portable rabbit den, which serves as a 12-slot storage system.
  • Storage is shared across all players but does not transfer between cave shards.
  • Dens disappear after 3 minutes unless occupied.
  • Tip: If using in caves, craft separate horns for storage efficiency.

The Wrathful Rabbit King: When Carrots Turn Rotten

Not all royal encounters are peaceful. If you cross the Rabbit King the wrong way, he transforms into the Wrathful Rabbit King, a formidable boss enemy.

• HP: 2,000
• Sanity Drain: -40.7 per minute
• Summons: 3 Royal Rabbit Enforcers (400 HP each)
• Attacks: Dropkick attack every 10 seconds
• Strategy:
  • Avoid engaging all enemies at once. The King continually spawns guards, making drawn-out fights difficult.
  • Use a Pan Flute to control the battlefield. The King and guards will sleep, allowing you to eliminate them systematically.
  • Take advantage of AI behavior. Guards are passive when the King is sleeping, making them easy to pick off without much resistance.

The Royal Prize: The Cuitel Melee Weapon

Defeating the Wrathful Rabbit King rewards you with the Cuitel, a unique Tier 2 Shadow Weapon with the following perks:

• Durability: 125 uses
• Damage: 51 per hit (71 against bunnymen)
• Effects:
  • Fears all bunnymen, including beard lords.
  • Sanity Drain: -5 per hit
  • Bonus for Maxwell: Tier 2 shadow weapon synergy

A Final Fun Fact: Maxwell and Simon’s Connection

If you play as Maxwell, you’ll notice an interesting Easter egg. The Fortuitous Rabbit’s name is Simon, the same rabbit used by William Carter (Maxwell’s real-world counterpart) in his magic shows before being drawn into the Constant. This small detail adds a touch of lore to the Rabbit King’s domain.

Final Thoughts: Should You Chase the Rabbit King?

Unlike many additions requiring deep exploration, the Rabbit King’s content is available immediately, making it one of the more accessible late-game mechanics. Whether you’re after unique gear, a convenient storage system, or an interesting boss fight, the Rabbit King provides fresh gameplay incentives for those willing to interact with the fluffy monarch. So start stockpiling carrots, adjusting your naughtiness, and preparing for a royal encounter—the surface has never been this intriguing.

Hop to it!