The use of sniffing is also quite informative and helps with detecting not only multiple nearby sources of water and food and their qualities, but also nearby no-hidden-scent creatures, nests and territories, blood trails and which creatures some abilities like grab and latch will work with, which helps with hunting and avoiding getting hunted. However, there will be times when this ability is diminished or entirely blocked for one reason or another, usually because of weather or some specific natural disaster, which makes visual observation even more vital. Apart from that, hearing is extremely useful, since it will not only detect creature sounds while calling, moving or using abilities, but also some important ambience sounds, like volcanic eruption sounds, sea sounds on a dry area (which may indicate an incoming flood), strong winds (which may be a signal of the Oncoming Storm and tornadoes), etc. Additionally, being observant may allow you to find situational advantages and disadvantages that may balance any possible fight to one side or another - for example, if an incoming natural disaster arrives, some useful tactics and strategies are important:
It is unadvised to fight close to a tornado - if a creature unsuccessfully escapes it, it will inflict quite several debuff status that may prevent flight and injuries that will reduce speed. Also, during this natural disaster, sniffing is disabled so it is harder to detect a creature. However, if you manage to lure your opponent towards one, you may gain a few precious seconds to escape... if you manage to avoid being taken by the tornado itself. During fog and tornadoes, sniff range decreases considerably or is gone, either. During a volcanic eruption, it is easiest to hide - and sometimes predators and prey make a truce to stay sheltered. However, when that truce does not happen, it is extremely advisable to lure the opponent into meteors while avoiding them yourself, at the same time that you collect fallen shooms currency. During a flood or high tide, it would depend on if your creature can swim well or not, and on how severe the flood or how spring the tides are.
