“ | Marine Flares are extra bright and loud, and may even ward off a Timberwolf. | ” |
Marine Flares are a multi-purpose tool in The Long Dark. They can be used as a light source, firestarter, or frightening Wildlife.
Overview[]
Once lit, marine flares burn for 15 in-game minutes (75 real-time seconds), which is shorter than a normal flare, which burns for 1 in-game hour (5 real-time minutes.) like their red counterparts, they cannot be manually extinguished or relit once ignited (unlike the Storm Lantern or Torch). Marine Flares can be lit in strong winds and blizzards, and will not be extinguished by them.
Marine Flares are effective at deterring Wolves, Timberwolves, Deer and Rabbits; Wolves and Timberwolves will not approach within 15M of a lit Marine Flare (held, or on the ground), and may be frightened by lit flares when thrown. Throwing a lit flare at Timberwolves will reduce the pack's morale; once depleted of morale, a pack will flee.
Usage[]
- Marine Flares may be selected from from the Radial Menu (Radial>Light Sources>Flare), the Light Sources hotkey ("1"), or from the inventory.
- For firestarting, a Marine Flare must first be ignited, and then selected as a "Starter" option in the campfire menu.
- Flares may be thrown while held ("RMB").
Thrown Marine Flares can be picked up even while burning, this makes them an effective tool against multiple wolves (as long as the flare can be retrieved). Marine Flares can even be picked up after they are burned out, though they serve no purpose (marked in the inventory as "RUINED" and red 'X' icon) and will still contribute weight to one's inventory.
Animal Deterrence[]
Marine Flares are effective at frightening wolves, deer and rabbits, and have limited usefulness against timberwolves.
- Wolves and Timberwolves will respect lit marine flares and not approach within 15M of them (the same as flares, flare shells and campfires). However, approaching a hostile wolf with a lit flare may result in an attack.
- Lit flares may cause a stalking wolf to flee when thrown (at the ground between the survivor and wolf), ideally landing near the wolf's forelegs.
- Unlike common red flares, marine flares are effective at reducing timberwolf pack morale when thrown.
- If a wolf is already charging into an attack, it will not be intimidated by a thrown flare.
- Flares and marine flares are most effective at passive deterrence when moving away from a predator.
- Marine Flares are more effective at deterring and scaring wolves than torches (and as effective as Flares).
- Bears are deterred by flares, stopping mid-charge just outside a 15 meter radius around the player, however they will continue to chase them until they reach safety (such as enter a vehicle, walk off a ledge, etc) or the flare runs out and the bear attacks. Throwing the flare at a charging bear has no effect. Standing still for too long will provoke the bear to charge, ignoring the flare completely.
Frightening Wolves[]
Below is an effective tactic for scaring wolves (not timberwolves) with lit torches or flares (either variety). This tactic will always work at frightening wolf (unlike thrown torches) and is easier to perform, especially against multiple wolves.
- Ignite the flare and hold it.
- Approaching the wolf to 15M, the animal will stop and assume a "stand ground" posture (forelegs spread, ears back and growling).
- Drop the flare (to where you are standing) and draw any weapon ("2") including Stones, then then aim at the wolf ("RMB").
- The wolf will then flee.
Obtaining[]
Marine Flares cannot be harvested, crafted, or repaired and are found rarely in all regions in high-loot areas (such as Signal Hill or the Quonset Garage), but are found regularly in Bleak Inlet particularly at the Last Resort Cannery. Despite having no real use there (aside from walking through a certain waterfall), Marine flares abundantly spawn in Ash Canyon, normally bunched with a couple of other flares.
Marine Flares are a finite and non-renewable resource.
Story mode[]
In the Wintermute Episode 3: Crossroads Elegy the optional side mission "Molly's Gift" gifts five marine flares as a reward. They are also found rarely throughout Pleasant Valley and the Cinder Hills Coal Mine throughout the episode.
Trivia[]
- Flares are "emergency roadside flares", a type of pyrotechnic used to designate roadside construction, traffic hazards, vehicular accidents, or vehicular distress.
- Ignited flares most likely are red from burning strontium salts.
- Marine Flares are used by real-world military and civilian naval craft, but these real-world flares do not burn blue. In pyrotechnics copper chloride or copper sulfate are the most likely ingredients to achieve a blue color.
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