Narcissists. We‘ve all encountered these energy-draining boss battles, determined to exploit our psyche HP. And their offensive onslaught often includes summoning flying monkey minions to assist their psychological attacks.
As a passionate gamer who has supported friends facing abuse, I know this manipulation firsthand. So I’ve developed strategies to help fellow gamers defend themselves against narcissistic bosses and their unwitting MKs.
This power-up guide shares essential techniques to PWN flying monkeys and safeguard your mental health. I’ll provide insider knowledge into this griefing tactic, then key binds to set boundaries, manage your guild, respond wisely in chat, and focus on your main quests.
Understanding Gamer Griefing 101
Before diving into the strat guides, let’s analyze the flying monkey phenomenon.
The term draws from The Wizard of Oz cheat code, where winged primates swarmed targets as the Wicked Witch’s auto-aim bots. Similarly, narcissists enchant and exploit friends, guildmates and even family members into being their griefing accessories by:
- Spying and gathering intel
- Spreading lies, rumors and smear campaigns in public chat
- Undermining your cred in the community and enforcing the narcissist’s dom
- Isolating you from your support squad
These master manipulator bosses are highly skilled at projecting a likable facade to strangers. Their flying monkey minions become pawns, believing they’re defending the person behind the avatar—not realizing the true toxic griefer.
Narcs manage their mind control through denial, flattery, guilt trips and other psyops. Once lured into their party, flying monkeys display alarming behaviors:
- Echoing the narcissist’s false narratives without question
- Making unreasonable demands to comply with their bidding
- Engaging in threats, harassment, stalking or streamsniping
- Spying on you stealthily IRL and reporting intel back to the narc
So how do you break this cycle? By ID’ing these abusive patterns, establishing solid boundaries, and /ignoring any winged monkeys who remain banished for good.
Essential Strats for Protecting Your HP
When neutralizing flying monkeys, your top priority is safeguarding your mental and emotional health bars. This may require making hard choices on who participates in your active quests—even if they were once trusted allies. However, purging toxicity requires courage and wisdom.
The following guides provide clutch techniques to uphold your boundaries among manipulation, while managing your community:
1. Vet Who Has Access to You
A narcissist’s smear campaign aims to sabotage relations with those who know you best—spreading propaganda designed to make you seem unstable, vindictive or untrustworthy.
While painful, avoid over-explaining to flying monkeys attempting to bait reactions. Defensive responses often backfire by adding credence to the narc’s claims. Instead, implement ignore/block and share information judiciously.
Exercise caution with squadmates demonstrating flying monkey modules. Red flags include:
- Pressuring you to group again with your abuser
- Downplaying or denying your experiences
- Chronically doubting or blaming you
- Evidence of being charmed by the narc
Establish clear expectations around respecting your boundaries. If certain friends align with your abuser despite the facts, consider a guild kick.
2. Lock Down Your Social Media Security
Online spaces allow narcissists to further exploit flying monkeys—whether by alt profiles, tracking your activity, or dispersing propaganda.
Comb through your friends lists, keeping only those who respect your boundaries. Run background checks on any suspicious friend requests, which may be MKs posing as randos.
Enable your privacy settings. Avoid oversharing personal details publicly. Narcs crave access to your thoughts, feelings and activities for future griefing.
3. Maintain Positive Vibes Against Slander
Should the narcissist launch a smear campaign, refuse to engage emotionally or get hooked defending yourself. Explain your truth judiciously to key people, then walk away.
Attempting to reason with most flying monkeys is a waste of mental resources, usually resulting in flame wars, abusive language, or further betrayal. Avoid this stress when possible.
Meanwhile, respond with gentleness towards winged minions, expressing good faith despite their accusations. This contrasts any toxicity, potentially awakening pawns over time.
4. Issue Bans for Ongoing Harassment
Issue clear warnings through words and actions that contact from the narc and his/her flying monkeys now constitutes harassment.
Consult authorities on legal rights regarding unwanted messages, cyberbullying, stalking or threats. Demand cessation then follow up with protective measures like blocks, mutes and restraining orders.
You have every right to exist free from manipulation or fear. Treat boundary crossing attempts as unacceptable.
5. Respec Your Emotional Build
To fully counter a narcissist’s dom, strive to respec your emotions away from their drama and those of their puppets. These attacks originate from their own pathologies—not truths.
See flying monkeys as victims of exploitation. But limit time and mental bandwidth given to them, instead focusing on self-care among supportive allies.
Over time, narcissists and winged minions will discredit themselves as their griefing proves ineffective. Allow this as you purposefully rebuild your life free from their toxicity. Your main quests now involve releasing emotional investment rather than attacking back.
Claiming Your Destiny
Breaking the shackles of narcissistic abuse requires insight, conviction and wisdom. By understanding manipulation tactics, upholding boundaries, and protecting your mental space, you reclaim authority over who participates in your adventure.
My hope is this guide helped unlock clutch techniques to conquer flying monkeys with confidence. You deserve peace and power on your journey ahead despite unhealthy guildmates who may desire otherwise. Know there are always ethical squads willing to battle by your side.
For additional strats and support, see the following:…