Regular Toon
Squirm
A nervous bookworm who copes with stress by eating books and struggles with his own identity!
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Squirm |
|---|---|
| Type | Regular Toon |
| Role | Extractor |
| Pronouns | He/Him |
| Release Date | 02/27/2026 |
| Unlock | 50% Research on Twisted Squirm |
Squirm Stats
| Health | 3 Hearts |
|---|---|
| Skill Check | 3/5 |
| Movement Speed | 3/5 |
| Stamina | 2/5 |
| Stealth | 2/5 |
| Extraction Speed | 5/5 |
| Walk Speed | 15 |
| Sprint Speed | 25 |
Skill Check
- Chance: 25%
- Size:
- Value:
Movement Speed
- Walk Speed: 15
- Sprint Speed: 25
Stamina
- Value:
Stealth
- Value:
Extraction Speed
- Value:
Stat Summary
- Squirm is a strong extractor with above-average machine pressure.
- Squirm needs careful stamina management during long chases.
Abilities
Distressed Delicacy
ActiveHold down your ability to eat books, gaining 100% extraction speed for 10 seconds. Proximity to a bookshelf makes this Toon's cooldown recover twice as fast. Cooldown of 80.
How To Unlock Squirm
- 50% Research on Twisted Squirm
- Own 3+ Titles
- 3000 Ichor
Strategy
Squirm is best understood as a extractor.
His active ability is Distressed Delicacy.
Squirm stands as one of the strongest non-Main, non-Event extractors available in Dandy's World, combining a 5-star Extraction Speed rating with a solid 3-star Skill Check. His stat profile makes him a specialist in Machine completion, and his active Ability pushes his extraction capabilities even further beyond what most other Toons can achieve. Players who prioritize efficient Floor progression and fast Machine completion will find Squirm to be one of the most rewarding picks in the entire roster, though his below-average Stealth and Stamina require careful positioning and awareness to compensate for.
His active Ability, Distressed Delicacy, is the centerpiece of Squirm's gameplay identity. After a wind-up period during which he eats a book, Squirm gains 100% bonus Extraction Speed for 10 seconds, effectively doubling his already exceptional extraction rate and reducing the standard Machine completion time from roughly 23.68 seconds to approximately 19.69 seconds. This makes him arguably the fastest extractor in the game when his Ability is active. The key to maximizing Distressed Delicacy lies in its environmental interaction with bookshelves: standing near a bookshelf causes the 80-second cooldown to deplete at twice the normal rate. This gives Squirm a pronounced advantage on Floors with plentiful bookshelves, such as the Library Floor and Rainbow Rooms, while Floors lacking bookshelves (particularly the Diner Floors and Sprout's Floor) offer less benefit. However, players should avoid wasting time idling next to bookshelves unnecessarily. The default full cooldown reduction requires approximately 40 seconds of bookshelf proximity, reduced to 37.5 or 35 seconds with one or both cooldown-reducing Cards. Stick near bookshelves for only a fraction of that time unless all other Machines are currently being extracted. It is possible to eat bookshelves from the side or back, as well as through certain walls, allowing you to hide from Twisteds while still reducing your cooldown. For optimal timing, activate the Ability just before starting a Machine so the extraction boost lasts through the entire process, rather than using it partway through when you are nearly finished anyway.
Squirm's primary weaknesses are his 2-star Stealth and 2-star Stamina, both of which can create problems when fleeing from Twisteds or trying to avoid distractors. While there are few direct remedies for low Stealth, Stamina issues can be mitigated through the Well-Paced or Endurance Cards, completing Dyle's Floor for the TIME'S UP bonus, or equipping Trinkets like Cooler or Speedometer (though these are not always the best use of Trinket slots). His below-average defensive stats are rarely a critical issue outside specific scenarios, so the best general approach is to maintain awareness of your surroundings and nearby threats. An important mechanical note: winding up Distressed Delicacy reduces Squirm's Movement Speed by 50%, dropping him to 7.5 Walk Speed and 12.5 Run Speed during the wind-up animation. This makes timing crucial, particularly when ranged Twisteds or fast Twisteds are present on the Floor. Never begin a wind-up in the open if a Twisted is nearby, and always ensure you have a safe position before committing to the animation.
For Trinket combinations, Squirm benefits from several complementary loadouts depending on the situation. Mobility-focused builds pair Pink Bow with options like Speedy Shoes for raw run speed, Vanity Mirror to outrun nearly all Twisteds during Panic Mode, or Diary to avoid disturbing 2-star Stealth distractors. Extraction-focused builds center on Magnifying Glass to maximize his 5-star Extraction Speed and 3-star Skill Check, paired with Vee's Remote for faster Floor progression, Participation Award for maximizing Skill Check extraction output, or Train Whistle to extract without being slowed by Twisted Finn. For Ability-focused builds, Sweet Charm reduces Distressed Delicacy's cooldown to 73.6 seconds (36.8 seconds near bookshelves), and adding Ghost Snakes In A Can pushes it further down to 68.6 seconds (34.3 seconds near bookshelves). The Stress Ball paired with Participation Award combination is also noteworthy, as it speeds up Machine completion by stacking the 5% Extraction Speed gain from each successful Skill Check.
One often-overlooked aspect of Squirm's kit is his Tape generation. His Ability grants 5 Tapes per successful use rather than the standard 3 on first use per Floor, meaning Squirm can farm Tapes efficiently by earning 5 every 40 to 80 seconds depending on cooldown management. This makes him particularly valuable on extended runs where Tape accumulation matters. Combined with his environmental bookshelf interaction and top-tier extraction, Squirm offers a unique gameplay loop that rewards map knowledge, careful positioning, and cooldown management. Overall, he is an outstanding extractor with minimal downsides, making him an excellent choice for players who want to drive Machine completion and Floor progression for their team.
Appearance
Personality
Squirm is a deeply pessimistic, anxious, and openly self-deprecating Toon. His immaturity manifests in a more sorrowful way compared to the spirited or composed attitudes displayed by most other characters. He suffers from persistent anxiety that can escalate to screaming or crying when his emotions run high, a tendency reflected in his frequent sniffling during elevator conversations and his own descent dialogue. He is also prone to awkward moments, such as when Goob hugs him or Flyte invites him to scrapbook.
During his interaction with Shelly, Squirm labels himself as "useless," teetering on the verge of tears at the slightest upset. He even agrees with Shrimpo's insults during their exchange. His appetite for books is noteworthy and likely the reason behind his ban from Brightney's book club, with book-eating apparently serving as his coping mechanism. Squirm is also extremely sensitive to unintentional insults, as demonstrated in his conversation with Yatta.
On a deeper level, Squirm appears to struggle with an identity crisis. His interaction with Flutter and Dyle's Gossip about him reveal that he views himself as a caterpillar, a notion Flutter seems to support (likely due to her own insect background). However, Arthur designated him as a bookworm, and Squirm misinterprets "bookworm" as a literal type of worm rather than larvae. Shrimpo's mockery about his appearance not resembling a worm only amplifies this internal conflict.
Squirm tends to hesitate before attempting anything uncertain, as shown in his exchange with Gigi. His constant tension also leads to overthinking, particularly evident in his floor descent dialogue where he anticipates increasingly dangerous threats, and in his conversation with Looey.
Mastery
Mastery Requirements
- Use this Toon's Active Ability 100 times
- Finish 100 Machines
- Eat from 100 Bookshelves
- Survive 30 Floors
- Survive 5 Floors with Brightney in your round
- Travel 60000 Meters
Mastery Reward
Vintage Squirm skin
Interactions
Trivia
- The name 'Squirm' refers to wriggling the body from side to side, fitting his worm-like design.
- In certain definitions, squirming is associated with nervousness or discomfort, which aptly reflects his anxious personality.
- The word 'Worm' can be heard within 'Squirm,' further connecting to his bookworm identity.
- Squirm holds the distinction of being the first Toon released in 2026.
- He is the first Toon to cry during his dialogue lines, and the first character in the game to do so overall.
- Although Dazzle appears to be crying, those marks are more likely makeup or a natural feature of his design.
- Despite his caterpillar-like appearance (caterpillars being part of a lepidoptera life cycle), Squirm is officially classified as a bookworm. He is not related to Flutter or Flyte and is an adult.
- Interestingly, his Twisted counterpart can be seen encased in a cocoon, representing the third stage of a lepidoptera life cycle.
- The term 'bookworm' is an umbrella term for insects or larvae that damage books, including certain moth caterpillars. This means Squirm could technically be a caterpillar, or specifically a moth caterpillar.
- His interaction with Flutter and Dyle's Gossip imply he may truly be a caterpillar or simply believes himself to be one, despite Arthur having designated him as a bookworm.
- Squirm is the first Toon whose initial Stickers were created by someone other than Qwel, being made by Ramblesnake instead.
- He is the first Toon with an Ability that can interact with environmental decorations on certain Floors.
- He was formerly a member of Brightney's book club but was likely removed due to his compulsive book-eating habit. The reveal video thumbnail showing Brightney catching him at the library implies this was the final straw.
- Despite the ban, they remain on good terms, and Brightney actively tries to help him manage his stress and curb his book-eating compulsion.
- Squirm appears to share a close friendship with Flutter, who validates his caterpillar identity. He is also friends with Dazzle (and possibly Razzle), finding comfort in their company and wanting to reconnect after his book club expulsion. Flyte is another good friend, acting warmly toward him and suggesting they scrapbook together.
- When using his Ability, Squirm can consume one of six possible books, five based on Main Characters and one on Dandy: Astro Bedtime Stories, Dandy Stories, Pet Rock Care Guide, Fossils, Cook Book, and Vee-Mail Console. A seventh book simply titled 'Squirm' also exists.
- In the Lobby and Roleplay Mode, the book model uses a unique lavender texture with a light blue spine and a drawing of Squirm with his name underneath.
- He is the second Toon to possess 6 limbs, following Astro. While Squirm has 4 legs, Astro has 4 arms, creating an interesting contrast.
- He is the first Toon capable of reducing his Ability cooldown without relying on Trinkets or Cards.
- Squirm is the second Toon with an active Ability requiring a wind-up period before activation (after Ginger), though he is the first whose Ability was designed this way from the start, as Ginger's was reworked in v0.14.1.
- He is also the first Toon whose wind-up Ability requires no Tapes and only affects himself.
- Squirm appears to be under significant stress, likely stemming from an identity crisis hinted at in Dyle's Gossip. Evidence includes his burst Stress Ball Trinket, his stress-eating of books across multiple interactions, and his consistently negative outlook and tendency to assume the worst.
- His chronic need for books, habit of eating others' belongings, and book club expulsion have likely compounded his stress further.
- At release, Squirm had 30% Skill Check Chance and 135 Skill Check Size. His Chance was later reverted to 25%, though his Skill Check Size remained until adjusted in a subsequent version. Similar inconsistencies have occurred with Yatta (20% at launch), Bassie (150 Skill Check Size), and Shrimpo (50% at launch).
- He is the eighth non-Main Character Toon to achieve 5 stars in a stat.
- Squirm is the fourth Toon to be released as a solo addition.
- He is the first Toon to have 2 Floor Dialogues: one in his Jr. Reading Nook area on the Library Floor, and another in the Trading Card area of the Gift Shop.
- The book page texture visible when Squirm eats a book or bookshelf displays the same poem each time, titled 'STILL GOING': 'The caterpillar was always late. When it tried to climb, it fell. When it dreamed of flying, someone laughed. While the others moved on, it stayed behind, thinking it was made wrong. One day it built its cocoon. It broke. Like everything else. But from the ground, for the first time, no one was looking down on it. When it came out, it didn't fly high. Or beautifully. But it kept going. And for it, that was enough.'
- The poem appears to allude to Squirm's transformation into a Twisted, referencing how no one looks down on Twisted Squirm (since he hangs from the ceiling), how his cocoon is broken, and how he neither flies nor emerges 'beautiful.'
- It is possible Squirm attempted to form a cocoon at some point but was attacked by another Twisted or encountered some other interference, triggering his transformation.
- His favorite pie is apple pie, as mentioned during his interaction with Sprout.
- If you have not yet redeemed a title in the Journal and visit the Titles section, a sticky note reads 'Did Squirm eat them?'
- Squirm is the third insect Toon, following Flutter and Flyte. He is the only one of the three whose name does not begin with 'F,' since Flutter and Flyte's names reference butterfly flight and groupings, while Squirm's name describes caterpillar movement.
- He is the first Toon to have a dedicated Achievement named after him, that being Fine Dining.
- Squirm is the first and currently only Toon with the letter Q in his name.
- When positioned next to a bookshelf during his eating animation, the texture suggests he eats the spines of books from the shelf rather than consuming whole books one at a time, which differs from his standard Ability animation.
- Squirm and Yatta share several notable parallels: nearly identical stat distributions (Squirm trades Movement Speed for higher Stamina), Abilities that boost extraction and interact with the surrounding environment, status as the first base-game Toons released in their respective years, high Ichor costs with 50% Twisted research requirements, and personality contrasts (Yatta being hyperactive and positive versus Squirm's distressed negativity).
- His Ability grants 5 Tapes per successful use rather than the standard 3 on first use per Floor, enabling Squirm to farm Tapes efficiently by earning 5 every 40-80 seconds.
- Squirm is the third Toon with a non-standard body shape (neither default, chubby, nor slim), following Pebble and Coal.
- Squirm is the Toon with the fewest skins at release, having only 3.
- All three insect Toons (Flutter, Flyte, and Squirm) coincidentally belong to the lepidoptera order.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Squirm released in Dandy's World?
Squirm was released on 02/27/2026.
How do you unlock Squirm in Dandy's World?
To unlock Squirm, you need 50% Research on Twisted Squirm, Own 3+ Titles, 3000 Ichor.
What is Squirm's ability in Dandy's World?
Distressed Delicacy (Active): Hold down your ability to eat books, gaining 100% extraction speed for 10 seconds. Proximity to a bookshelf makes this Toon's cooldown recover twice as fast. Cooldown of 80.
What are Squirm's stats in Dandy's World?
Squirm has 3 Hearts, 3-star Skill Check, 3-star Movement Speed, 2-star Stamina, 2-star Stealth, and 5-star Extraction Speed.
