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Round Phases and Timer Explained

Every round of Meccha Chameleon follows the same rhythm: gather, hide, hunt, reveal. Knowing exactly what happens in each phase, and what you can and cannot do during it, makes you better in both roles. It also explains many of the small rules that confuse new players, from why Hunters cannot crouch while waiting to how the whole lobby can skip a phase with a single vote. This guide walks through a round from start to finish.

A Round at a Glance

Phase Hiders Hunters
Lobby Wait, chat, adjust settings Wait, chat, adjust settings
Hiding Move, choose a spot, paint, pose Wait for the hunt
Hunt Stay still, watch, taunt if forced Teleport in, search, shoot
Answer reveal See where everyone hid See who they missed

Phase 1: The Lobby

Players gather on a server, either by joining a public game or by entering a five-character join code. The host chooses the map or lets the map lottery pick one and sets the rules for the round, including Hunter ammo, allowed body sizes and forced taunts. Roles are assigned before the round begins.

If you join a public game that is already running, you will usually wait until the next round. By default, games in progress are hidden from public search so that new players do not land in the middle of a match.

Phase 2: Hiding

This is the Hiders’ time. Everyone spreads across the map, picks a spot, opens paint mode and tries to blend in before the timer runs out. It is the most active part of the round for Hiders and the quietest for Hunters, who simply wait.

Some small rules exist to keep this phase fair. For example, since fix 4.0.1 Hunters cannot crouch while waiting. The change was made because crouching could stop Hunters from using their teleport at the start of the hunt.

How to use this phase well:

  • Go straight to your spot instead of exploring.
  • Finish the base colour early, then add light, shadow and lines.
  • Leave time for the pose and a final check from the Hunters’ angle.

Phase 3: The Hunt

When hiding time ends, the Hunters teleport onto the map and the real game begins. Hunters play in first person without a flashlight and have to shoot a Hider to eliminate them. Their ammo is limited, so every miss counts.

During the hunt, Hiders should stay completely still. They can still use the camera, including a free camera, to follow the action without moving their body. If forced taunts are enabled, every Hider whistles at regular intervals, which gives Hunters an audio clue and stops rounds from turning into endless standoffs. Update 4.1.0 set the minimum forced taunt interval to 5 seconds and added a 1-second cooldown on taunts to stop spam.

Players who get caught become spectators. They can follow other players, and on controller the spectator target can be switched with the shoulder button again after a fix in update 4.1.1.

How the Hunt Ends

A round ends in one of several ways:

  • The Hunters find and hit every Hider: the Hunters win.
  • The timer runs out with at least one Hider still hidden: the Hiders win.
  • All Hunters run out of ammo: the Hiders win.
  • The number of Hunters drops to zero while they are still waiting to start, for example because they left the server: the round ends automatically. This rule was added in update 4.1.0.

Phase 4: The Answer Reveal

After the hunt, the game shows where every surviving Hider was hiding. This is often the best moment of the round. Hunters find out how close they came, Hiders show off their work and everyone learns something about the map. Treat the reveal as free training: note the spots, poses and colours that survived.

Skipping Phases With “Mo Eeyo”

Update 3.8.0 added a feature called “Mo Eeyo”, which roughly means “that’s enough already”. It lets players skip the rest of the hiding time or the answer reveal by vote. The vote must be unanimous, so a single player can keep the timer running if they need it. It is perfect for groups where everyone finishes painting early or wants to move quickly to the next round.

How Other Modes Change the Rhythm

Mode What changes
Infection Caught Hiders join the Hunters, so the hunt phase gets harder for Hiders as it goes on
Double Everyone hides first, then everyone hunts; the player who finds the most wins
Reverse Chicken Race Everyone paints, their paint jobs are displayed on pedestals, and players try to identify who is who after an observation period

Tips for Each Phase

  • Lobby: agree on rules and voice chat before the first round.
  • Hiding: manage your time; a finished simple paint job beats an unfinished detailed one.
  • Hunt: Hiders stay still, Hunters look before they shoot.
  • Reveal: watch it every time, even if you won.

Keep reading: How to Play: Beginner's Guide and Hunter Guide: How to Find Every Hider.