The Lunar Cycle affects the behavior of both occults and regular Sims. Occults feel the most effects. Werewolves are particularly affected by the phases of the moon. The full moon will make them go wild.
Here’s how the Lunar Cycle feature works in The Sims 4 base game, and Werewolves in particular.
Lunar phases in The Sims 4
There are eight lunar phases in The Sims 4:
- New Moon
- Waxing Crescent
- First Quarter
- Waxing Gibbous
- Full Moon
- Waning Gibbous
- Third Quarter
- Waning Crescent
There are five Lunar Cycle Length options:
- 2 days
- 4 days
- 8 days
- 16 days
- 24 days
The default lunar cycle length is set to 8 days. You can change the settings to make it longer or shorter.
The lightning of each night changes depending on the phases of the moon. Full moons produce the brightest nights. New moons produce the darkest nights.
How to change Lunar Cycle settings in The Sims 4
- Go to Game Options
- Select Environment
- Then, go to to Lunar Cycle Length
- Click on the drop-down menu
- Select a different cycle length
You can select a new Lunar Cycle of 2, 4, 16 or 24 days. The longer the lunar cycle, the less frequently your Sims will experience its effects.
Set a permanent phase or disable lunar effects
You can also set a permanent lunar phase. This particular lunar phase will be carried out throughout the game. You can give your Sims a permanent Full Moon.
If you don’t want any of those pesky lunar effects on your Sims, you can disable lunar effects altogether.
The Lunar Cycle greatly affects Werewolves
Specific moon phases will affect werewolves more than other Sims. The full moon makes werewolves go through the roof. Their Fury reaches maximum intensity under the full moon forcing them to transform.
A Waxing Crescent moon helps your werewolves gain more skill from fitness activities.
The Wildfangs love working out, so maybe they should keep this detail in mind when scheduling their workout sessions.
How do you experience a full moon in The Sims 4?
To experience a full moon in The Sims 4, make sure Lunar Effects are enabled in your game options. Head over to Lake Lunvik and you’ll notice a beautiful and enchanting sparkle on the water.
If you’re lucky, you might just catch a glimpse of a rare Luna Fish swimming by.
It’s a magical sight you won’t want to miss!
How to check the phases of the moon
There are three ways to check the phases of the moon in Sims 4: click on the moon icon at the bottom of your screen, check your calendar, or use the Lunar Dial if you have Werewolves installed.
The Lunar Dial is a special tool that Sims and werewolves can use to check the phases of the moon. The dial is located in Moonwood Mill.
Everyone can use the Lunar Dial to tell what part of the lunar cycle they’re currently in. This feature works in a similar manner to monitoring your eco-footprint or the seasons.
Toddlers and the moon
Toddlers can ask questions about the moon to their caregivers. They can also learn to howl at the moon, say “Goodnight Moon” and have special Moon dreams.
There are also some particularly cute new interactions for toddlers. They have special questions that they can ask during each phase and they can also say goodnight to the moon. This will grant them special moon dreams, which may change depending on the particular moon phase that night. Prepare for cuteness overload!
How the moon phases affect occults
The full moon also affects other occults, including aliens, mermaids, vampires, and spellcasters. Their powers are greatly boosted or decreased depending on the current moon phase.
As EA explains, Spellcasters can cast spells more successfully, Aliens get a special moodlet when moon bathing, Mermaids have less hydration loss, and Vampires recharge their power slower.
What to do during the Full Moon
The full moon makes Lake Lunvik look really magical. The elusive Lunar Fish are typically more active under the full moon.
The Moonpetal flower blooms only under the full moon. You can find this flower near the Howling Point which is located near the lake.
As EA explains:
During the full moon, you might notice crescent-shaped Lake Lunvik has a magical shimmer to it, making it the perfect time to try to catch the elusive Luna Fish and to climb up to the Howling Point that looms over the lake to pluck the even rarer Moonpetal flower.
If you really want to catch the Lunar Fish and harvest the Moonpetal flower, make sure to check the moon phase regularly so that you don’t miss your window of opportunity.
What do you think about the Lunar Cycle feature? Are you planning to use a longer lunar cycle or a shorter one? Let me know in the comments below.
Note: This guide was updated in June 2023.
What happens if the sim eats the moon petal?