What counts as a disaster word
Disaster words break into five distinct threat profiles based on where danger strikes and how much map space remains intact.
Ground hazards alter floor safety: lava turns the ground deadly, fire burns through wooden structures and grass, earthquakes rip open deep fissures, and flash floods sweep a mud river across the terrain.
Sky threats strike from above: meteors drop burning rocks that smash through rooftops, a satellite is recorded as plummeting onto the map, and supernova explodes the sun to scorch open terrain.
Map-eating events permanently carve away terrain: black hole opens an inescapable vortex that devours an entire corner of the island.
Water surges submerge lower elevations: tsunamis crash a massive wave over the island, and floods raise water levels to drown anyone caught on ground level.
Whole-lobby panic events reset survival positions: apocalypse throws the battlefield into widespread chaos, epidemic spreads coughing sickness to every player, and fallout covers the island after a nuclear strike.
The full disaster word list
The table below lists all 21 public disaster entries with their recorded effects and threat patterns.
| Word | What it does |
|---|---|
| acid | Rains down toxic acid from the sky. |
| alien | Brings in aliens that pull players up with green tractor beams. |
| apocalypse | Throws the entire map into world-ending turmoil. |
| black hole | Opens a black hole that pulls in and devours a corner of the island. |
| blackhole | Spawns a black hole in a map corner with a warning ring you must avoid. |
| earthquake | Triggers a brief hazard that rips the ground open. |
| epidemic | Spreads a coughing illness across every player in the match. |
| fallout | Covers the entire island in nuclear-style fallout. |
| fire | Ignites a wildfire that burns through wooden structures and grass. |
| flash flood | Sends a rushing mud river through the island that can drag players away. |
| flood | Triggers a brief hazard where rising water submerges the entire island. |
| lava | Briefly turns the floor into lava so you must get off the ground quickly. |
| meteor | Rains down meteors that can shatter bunkers and persist for the whole match. |
| rumbling | Marches a wall of colossal giants across the island. |
| satellite | Crashes a space satellite onto the battlefield. |
| supernova | Causes the sun to explode, forcing players to find shade. |
| titanic | Docks an ocean liner right before it strikes an iceberg. |
| tornado | Summons a brief twister that drags in nearby objects. |
| tsunami | Sends a huge wave crashing over the island that requires heading to high ground or underground. |
| volcano | Spawns a volcano that hurls burning lava rocks across the map. |
| zone | Shrinks a safe circle inward across the map. |
Which disasters to write and which to avoid
Disasters fall into two tactical camps: those that leave the Writer a reliable safe position, and those that threaten the Writer alongside everyone else.
Words worth writing:
- Lava: secures an immediate advantage if you stand on a raised structure before typing, as opponents stuck on the grass take rapid damage.
- Tsunami and Flood: reward writers already positioned on high towers or rooftops, forcing lower players into dangerous water.
- Volcano: hurls burning rocks across the map, leaving space to dodge while keeping open-field opponents on the run.
Disasters to avoid or delay:
- Black hole: devours a full corner of the map. The record does not say the Writer is safe from it, and the lost space never comes back.
- Meteor: rains down destruction that can shatter bunkers and continues falling for the entire match, eliminating permanent shelters.
- Acid: rains toxic droplets from the open sky, offering no natural safe spots without overhead cover.
What to do when one lands
Every disaster gives a warning before its hazard takes effect, giving you a brief window to react.
When lava activates, the floor is the hazard: climb onto raised platforms or structures immediately, because the first seconds decide survival. Tsunami and flood require immediate elevation: climb towers or ladders to high ground, or head underground if a stairway is open. Hip-deep water drains health, while leftover shallow water only splashes.
When fire ignites, move away from grass and wooden structures, since wood acts as fuel rather than protection. Earthquakes split the ground: watch the cracks and keep clear of opening fissures.
When a meteor warning sounds, avoid relying on bunkers, as falling rocks smash through roofs. If a nuke siren blares from a weapon spawn, sprint into an underground bunker before detonation. If a shark spawns during flooded flooring, avoid wading through any water in your path.