What "decoys" really means in this game
In MECCHA CHAMELEON, a decoy is any tactic that makes the Hunter spend attention — and clock — on the wrong thing. It might be an obvious-looking hiding spot that's actually empty, a paint job that mimics a nearby prop so you're dismissed as scenery, or simply positioning that exploits how a Hunter's scan naturally flows through a room. Decoys are less about a button and more about psychology.
Decoy tactics for Hiders
- Bait an obvious spot. Leave a tempting but empty-looking area in the open. A Hunter who commits to checking it burns time you can use to stay hidden.
- Become "just another prop." Blend beside a real object and mimic it. The Hunter assumes you're one of several identical decoy pieces and keeps moving.
- Exploit the scan path. Hide where the Hunter's eyes naturally skip — right behind a focal point they've already cleared, or low near clutter they've scanned once.
- Never cluster with panic. If one Hider is found, everyone nearby gets checked next. Spread out so a single catch doesn't cascade into yours.
- Sell the stillness. The best decoy is undone by a flinch. Once you've set your bait and taken your spot, commit to zero movement.
Beating decoys as the Hunter
- Don't chase the obvious. An "easy" target is often bait designed to drain your timer. Confirm it fast, then move on — don't tunnel.
- Test with movement and angle. Approach suspicious "props" from a new direction. Real Hiders hold unnaturally still or subtly break the object's geometry.
- Re-scan cleared zones. Smart Hiders sit exactly where you already looked. Sweep the same area a second time from a different height.
- Check the shadow line. Decoy paint jobs often nail the color but miss the shadow where an object meets the floor. A "prop" with no grounding shadow is a player.
- Count the props. If a room should have three crates and you see four, the extra one is breathing.
Decoys + camouflage = the complete play
Misdirection only works if your camouflage holds up when the Hunter finally does look. Pair these tactics with a solid surface match from the paint designs guide, and sharpen your detection with the Hunter guide.