Wes

Wes is one of the two playable Characters that are not unlocked via Experience in Don't Starve and one of the 13 playable characters in Don't Starve Together (DST). He is a fragile French mime that uses pantomimes to communicate instead of speaking.

He has a maximum of 113 Health, 113 Hunger, and 150 Sanity. His Hunger drains faster than normal, and he deals less damage in both melee and ranged combat. Wes is a Balloonomancer, and comes equipped with his Pile o' Balloons. Wes' purpose in the game is to provide a challenge to experienced players.

Unlocking

“Maxwell's statues are trapping him.”

–Wilson, when examining Wes.

“He's trapped by those mean statues!”

–Willow, when examining Wes.

“Is puny man trapped by statue men.”

–Wolfgang, when examining Wes.

“Trapped by Maxwell's statues, forever alive.”

–Wendy, when examining Wes.

“SILENT HUMAN TRAPPED BY STATUES”

–WX-78, when examining Wes.

“Poor sod is being held here by those statues.”

–Wickerbottom, when examining Wes.

“Who's that hoser?”

–Woodie, when examining Wes.

“He displeased me.”

–Maxwell, when examining Wes.

“A performance artist! Who could have imprisoned him like this?”

–Wagstaff, when examining Wes.

“I'll save yöu, silent mörtal!”

–Wigfrid, when examining Wes.

“Hello? Can you hear me?”

–Webber, when examining Wes.

“You probably want me to like, free you or something, huh.”

–Walani, when examining Wes.

“I'll get you out, mon ami!”

–Warly, when examining Wes.

“'E be locked up tight!”

–Woodlegs, when examining Wes.

“'TIS UNSPEEKING UNPIG”

–Wilba, when examining Wes.

“... ...”

–Wormwood, when examining Wes.

“Just say the word and I'll get you out of there.”

–Wheeler, when examining Wes.

In the third chapter of Adventure Mode, a set piece may appear (if the map is not Two Worlds), which will have two chambers with a Maxwell Statue in each one, and a third one with Wes in the middle.

When players break one of the statues, it will release various non-damaged Clockwork Monsters. After breaking all the statues and defeating the Clockwork Monsters, go to the chamber where Wes is trapped. More Bishops, Knights and Rooks will spawn and the player will need to defeat them.

After all monsters are cleared, Wes will pass out, fall on the ground, and disappear. Wes will then be unlocked as a playable character.

In Don't Starve Together, Wes is available to play from the start, with no unlocking required.

Special Power

Main article: Pile o' Balloons

Wes' special power is his Pile o' Balloons. It has unlimited uses, but it costs 5 to inflate each Balloon. In Don't Starve Together, it is craftable from the Survival Tab using 4 Water Balloons and lasts 3 Days when dropped on the ground.

When a Balloon is attacked, it explodes, dealing 5 damage to anything nearby (including Wes). Balloons can also trigger other Balloons to explode, allowing massive chain reactions. Balloons can also be used as decoys or to distract Mobs.

Disadvantages

Wes' Hunger drains 25% faster than normal, he deals 25% less damage, & all of his stats are 25% less than the average survivor.

Wes does not speak, so there are no actual words that show up on the screen, warning the player of incoming attacks or other pertinent information such as when night is approaching or low Hunger levels. The player will only be able to rely on audio cues in these situations.

Tips

• Balloons can be used to lure Mobs to traps or to other hostile Mobs.
• Weapons that deal indirect damage, such as the Fire Dart or Gunpowder, are not affected by Wes' low damage multiplier, making them excellent choices for him.
• A Belt of Hunger will nullify Wes' Hunger drain and also provide a boost to Sanity, although a Backpack can't be equipped while wearing it.
  • In the Reign of Giants DLC, the Hibearnation Vest also provides a Hunger drain reduction, as well as the highest insulation against Freezing and more than twice the Sanity regeneration of the Hunger Belt.
• In Don't Starve Together, Wes' favorite food is Fresh Fruit Crepes, meaning he gains 15 bonus when consuming the food.

Trivia

In-Game

• Wes was added in the Insanity! update on February 12, 2013.
• Wes was made unlockable through Adventure Mode, in the The End of the Beginning update.
• Wes used to be the sixth unlockable character via Experience.
  • Wes is currently one of six characters that cannot be unlocked by gaining Experience, the others being Maxwell, Webber, Wilbur, Woodlegs, and Wilba.
• The Pile o' Balloons was added in the Strange New Powers update.
• Wes has higher maximum Sanity than Willow, Wigfrid, Webber and Woodlegs, and higher maximum Health than Maxwell and Wheeler. All his stats are higher than a non-upgraded WX-78 (except in DST).
• When struck by Lightning, Wes is shown to have bones in his hair.
• In RoG, the Pile o' Balloons can be given to a Catcoon to befriend them, but this is not advised as to get them back the Catcoon must die and similar results can be achieved with simple Twigs.
• Instead of using an actual paddle, Wes pantomimes one to move Boats in the Shipwrecked DLC.
• When The Gorge event first began, Wes' Culinarian skin was missing his red cheeks. This was later fixed in an update.
• For an April fools update in 2020, Wes was given a fake character rework along with an animated short.
• In Rhymes with Play #201, it was revealed that Wes' Victorian skin was to have a soot cloud effect when he walked. This was not implemented as it would have made the skin more complex and thus more valuable compared to the others.
• Wes is the only characters whose favorite food can only be cooked in Warly's Portable Crock Pot.

Lore

• According to the description for Wes' Roseate skin, he feels "his rosy cheeks [are] his best feature."
• The description for his Verdant skin states that he is "an avid landscape painter".
• Wes' birthday is listed as April 16 in the Compendium.

Cultural References

• In the Valentine's Day card for 2018, it appears that Wes is using the American sign language (ASL) sign for "love".
• Wes' Guest of Honor skin may be based on a man's ballet outfit. This could be a reference to ballet mime.
• Wes' Victorian skin may be based on Bert from the Disney film Mary Poppins. Bert was played by Dick Van Dyke, who performed a mime act early in his career. ^[1]
• Wes' Pierrot skin is based on Pierrot. A stock character in the French pantomime and form of clown.
• Wes' Magmatic skin is based on a bullfighter's uniform. In addition, the design takes inspiration from the titular character of The Scarlet Pimpernel, a novel by Baroness Orczy. The name of the individual skins call him the "Sulphur Pimpernel". Also, the skin's flavor text describes him as a dandy by day and a "swordsmime" by night, not unlike the Scarlet Pimpernel himself.

Gallery

Wes' silhouette. Wes' portrait. Wes in-game. Wes' icon in the Map. Wes doing one of his many examination animations. Wes struck by Lightning, showing his "hair bones" (Reign of Giants). Wes sleeping. A map of his location in "A Cold Reception". Wes pantomiming a paddle as he rows in Shipwrecked. Wes, frozen by a mob, in Reign of Giants. Wes' portrait as an unimplemented character. Wes' skull as found in the game's files. Wes' ghost in Don't Starve Together. Portait of Wes' "Guest of Honor" skin in DST. Portait of Wes' "The Survivor" skin in DST. Portrait of Wes' "The Triumphant" skin in DST. Wes' Hallowed Nights Mandrake costume skin in DST. Portait of Wes' "The Gladiator" skin in DST. Portrait of Wes' "The Roseate" skin in DST. Portrait of Wes' "The Verdant" skin in DST. Portrait of Wes' "The Victorian" skin in DST. Portrait of Wes' "The Pierrot" skin in DST. Portrait of Wes' "The Magmatic" skin in DST. Portrait of Wes' "The Lover" skin in DST. Portrait of Wes' "The Merrymaker" skin in DST. Wes as he appears in the trailer for the Strange New Powers update. Wes and Wigfrid as seen in the DST Release trailer. Wes being robbed by Wortox in Possessions. Wes as seen in the launch trailer for the Salty Dog update. A Wes wallpaper made for the Insanity! update. Wes was introduced in the Insanity! update. Wes in a promo image for Don't Starve Together. Wes alongside other characters as seen in a promo image for DST leaving Early Access. Wes as seen in a teaser image for Wortox's animated short. Wes in a promotional animation for the Salty Dog update. Concept art of Wes and other characters. Concept art of Wes for Possessions. A rough animation featuring Wes and Warly from the Return of Them Salty Dog update trailer. Wes as seen in a rough animation for A 1st For Everything. Another rough animation for A 1st For Everything. Another rough animation for A 1st For Everything. A drawing of Wigfrid, WX-78, and Wes fighting the Toadstool from Rhymes With Play. Wes holding a Glommer balloon in a drawing from Rhymes with Play #158. A sketch of Wes's Survivor skin from Rhymes with Play #181. Wes as seen in a summer-themed DST drawing from Rhymes with Play #189. Wes as seen in a New Year themed drawing from Rhymes with Play #220. Wes as seen in a lunar island drawing from Rhymes with Play #253. Wes being chased by a Bunnyman as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 5. Wes with a Clay Varg as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 7. Wes with a Spider Queen as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 8. Wes with the Deerclops as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 9. Wes with a Tallbird as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 10. Wes riding a Beefalo as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 11. Wes with a Reanimated Skeleton as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 12. Wes with an Ewecus as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 16. Wes with Klaus and two Gem Deer as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 17. Wes with the Werebeaver as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 18. Wes with two Shadow Creatures as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 20. Wes with a Varg as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 21. Wes with the Pig King as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 22. Wes with the Dragonfly as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 23. Wes with the Bearger as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 24. Wes with a Rock Lobster as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 29. Wes with a Clockwork Rook, Clockwork Bishop, and Clockwork Knight as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 33. Wes with Woodie as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 35. Wes with two Pogs as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 48. Wes with Skittersquids as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 97. Wes with Slurpers as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 99. Wes in a Frog Rain as seen in a drawing from Art Stream # 100. An image posted by the developers of Wes and a Reanimated Skeleton. Wes as seen in an image for Klei getting nominated for the Best Developer award on Steam in 2018. Wes and Wigfrid in a Steam Trading Card for DST. Wes in the expanded Steam Card. Wes's 2016 Valentine Card. Wes as seen on the 2017 Valentine Cards. Wes as seen on the 2018 Valentine Cards. Wes as he appears in a Valentine's Day comic for DST. Wes collectable figurine and an Umbrella. A limited-edition zombie Wes figurine holding a rotten model Ham Bat, next to a similarly decayed Tentacle Spike. The box art for the zombie Wes figurine. Wes in his Victorian skin from a vignette exclusive to The Gorge. Wes in a comic for Winter's Feast 2018. Wes in a loading screen for Winter's Feast 2018. Wes with his fellow cohorts in a promotional image for DST. Wes as seen in the Year of the Gobbler update poster.

References

1. ↑ http://www.officialdickvandyke.com/biography/ "In 1947, Van Dyke was persuaded by Phil Erickson to form a comedy duo with him called “Eric and Van—the Merry Mutes.” The team toured the West Coast nightclub circuit, performing a mime act and lip synching to old 78 records."