Worms

                                    

Worms
Category	Offensive Program
Available at	Evolver Level 2
Compilation Statistics
Disk Space	3
Compilation Time	1 minute
Program Statistics
Install Time	1 second
• Dynamic • Delay: 1.0 seconds • Duplicates	Worms attack once every 0.5 seconds

Summary

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Worms primary trait is that they multiply. Install one and you'll soon have many.

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The Worm is a Brute Force Offensive Program which has the special ability to replicate and install itself. Worms will attack connected nodes one at a time, but unlike Beam Cannons, they have a dynamic attack priority and will change their target immediately if an adjacent node with higher Attack Priority is reclaimed by the network.

A Worm has the following action priorities:

1. It attacks an adjacent node with the highest Attack Priority.
2. If all adjacent nodes are captured, it will install duplicates of itself in empty program slots of the current node, until the node is full.
3. If the current node is full, it will install duplicates of itself in the empty program slots of adjacent nodes.

Duplication onto adjacent nodes appears to prioritize the number of empty program slots on adjacent nodes, followed by their attack priority. For example: If one Worm has an empty Core and an empty Compiler as adjacent nodes, first it will install two copies of itself on the Core so both nodes have the same number of empty program slots. Next it will install a copy on the Core because it has a higher attack priority, and then it will install a copy on the Compiler because the Compiler has more empty program slots. It will continue to switch back and forth in this manner until both nodes are full. Note this example assumes the worms installed on the Core and Compiler are busy attacking a hostile node instead of duplicating.

The delay between each duplication takes 3 to 0.5 seconds, depending on level, and the timer is reset when an adjacent node is recaptured by the network.

Statistics

• Notes: While the Worms program is technically allowed to upgrade at the Evolver levels displayed, the Capacity of B-coins that can be held at those levels may not be sufficient to purchase the upgrade.
  More Info here: Max amount of B-coins at Core Level.

Program Stats

Program Level	Strength (DPS)	Damage (per hit)	Duplication Time	Compilation Price
1	12	6	3.0 seconds	B5
2	14	7	2.9 seconds	B10
3	16	8	2.8 seconds	B20
4	18	9	2.7 seconds	B30
5	20	10	2.5 seconds	B40
6	23	11.5	2.4 seconds	B50
7	26	13	2.3 seconds	B60
8	30	15	2.2 seconds	B70
9	34	17	2.0 seconds	B80
10	39	19.5	1.9 seconds	B90
11	44	22	1.8 seconds	B100
12	51	25.5	1.7 seconds	B110
13	58	29	1.5 seconds	B120
14	66	33	1.4 seconds	B130
15	75	37.5	1.3 seconds	B140
16	86	43	1.2 seconds	B150
17	98	49	1.0 seconds	B170
18	111	55.5	0.9 seconds	B190
19	127	63.5	0.8 seconds	B210
20	145	72.5	0.7 seconds	B230
21	165	82.5	0.5 seconds	B250

Research Stats

Program Level	Upgrade Cost	Experience Gained	Research Time	Required Evolver Level
1	B256	250	2 Hours	2
2	B2,048	400	8 Hours	3
3	B4,096	425	10 Hours	3
4	B8,000	450	12 Hours	4
5	B16,000	475	18 Hours	4
6	B32,000	500	24 Hours	5
7	B48,000	575	30 Hours	5
8	B60,000	650	36 Hours	6
9	B80,000	725	42 Hours	6
10	B100,000	800	48 Hours	7
11	B120,000	825	54 Hours	7
12	B140,000	850	60 Hours	8
13	B160,000	875	66 Hours	8
14	B180,000	900	72 Hours	9
15	B200,000	930	80 Hours	9
16	B220,000	960	88 Hours	10
17	B260,000	1,000	96 Hours	10
18	B300,000	1,125	108 Hours	11
19	B340,000	1,250	120 Hours	11
20	B380.000	1,500	144 Hours	12
21	B420,000	1,750	168 Hours	12
Totals	B3,070,400	17,215	1,286 Hours	12

Patch Notes

As of Patch v1.025, Worm's Duplication Time scales with their level. This was previously 3 seconds at every level.

Tips

• Typically, you only need one or two Worms per hack since they will multiply.
• Using Worms to capture weaker and less important nodes can be useful to save programs.
• Placing Worms at the back of the network will give them time to replicate while you focus on your main attack.
• Remember to remove programs from nodes you have captured to give Worms space to move forward.
• Worms work well with the Kraken.
• Be careful around a Code Gate. Worms will always attack when possible, and they always attack the highest priority target (often the gate). This prevents the worms from replicating or attacking more desireable targets until the gate is captured.
• If any Net connection are spread out, consider launching a Worm on on any Net connection that you otherwise weren't planning on using. The worms will engage in an automated attack on their portion of the network while you can focus on your main attack. The worms don't need to get very far to cause useful damage to the network.
• A worm should usually not be placed alone on a Net connection. Adding a single Beam cannon will significantly speed the initial node capture, and therefore significantly speed the initial replication.
• Worms will persistently re-attack, even if they repeatedly lose. Repeated attacks may slowly break down the defenses of a strong node. In some cases it may take a minute or more of repeated attacks for worms to capture a particular node. While that capture may be horribly slow, the value of worms is that they are automated. Every bit of automated progress is essentially "free progress" while you are busy elsewhere.
• If you're not in a hurry to get through a particular Code gate, Worms are generally able to take down a gate at a somewhat reasonable rate if they can attack it from more than one direction.

Hackers Wikia - Programs List
Programs	Nodes	Gameplay
Offensive Programs	Battering Ram   Beam Cannon   Blaster   Kraken   Maniac   Shocker   Shuriken   Worms
Defensive Programs	ICE Wall   Protector
Stealth Programs	Access   Data Leech   Portal   Wraith
A.I. Programs	A.I. Beetle   A.I. Hawk   A.I. Squid