Shift At Midnight Gnome Guide: Should You Shoot or Spare Norbert?

Surviving the late hours in Bun Muen's co-op horror game requires a sharp eye and quick reflexes, especially when dealing with the creepy Shift At Midnight Gnome. Known as Norbert, this bizarre doppelganger will test your patience and your strategy during your late-night retail duties. Deciding whether to pull the trigger on the Shift At Midnight Gnome or leave him alone can completely change the course of your gameplay, directly affecting your shop ratings and your ability to unlock the best endings.

In this guide, we will break down Norbert's behavior, explain the consequences of shooting him, and detail how to handle his escalating pranks.

Who Is the Shift At Midnight Gnome?

Norbert is one of the many entities you will encounter while managing the store. Unlike standard customers who simply buy their items and leave, Norbert is classified as a doppelganger. According to player experiences, he makes his very first appearance during your third shift. After this initial encounter, his subsequent visits to the storefront become completely random.

When Norbert enters the shop, he does not act like a normal customer. He will spend a significant amount of time wandering through the store aisles. If left to his own devices, he will eventually walk behind the counter and begin acting as if he is the employee on duty. He will even ask you if that is everything you need and offer to scan your items for you.

Norbert's Character Profile

To help you identify this strange visitor, here is a quick breakdown of his profile:

Identifying the Gnome: Doppelganger Verification

Because Norbert looks highly suspicious, you must verify his identity using the store's systems. When you interact with him, he will present an identification card for you to scan. However, the store's security system will quickly flag him.

Once scanned, the computer system will display a "Fake ID. Scan Unsuccessful" message. Furthermore, once your shift is complete, the customer report will officially list Norbert as a doppelganger.

ID Scan vs. Anomaly Lens Verification

Depending on how Norbert approaches your store, you will need to use different methods to verify his identity.

What Happens if You Shoot the Gnome?

When players first realize that the Shift At Midnight Gnome is a doppelganger, the natural instinct is to draw their weapon and shoot him. However, pulling the trigger carries long-term consequences for your shop.

If you shoot Norbert, he does not die permanently. Instead, he will return to your shop every few days, and he will be highly motivated to prank and annoy you. Player reports indicate that shooting him actually escalates his behavior, introducing new obstacles that can disrupt your workflow, lower your shop's ratings, and prevent you from securing the best endings.

The Cycle of Escalation

If you decide to shoot Norbert, you must prepare for his return. The table below outlines how the cycle of shooting and returning works in the game:

Norbert's List of Pranks and Tricks

Once Norbert has been shot, he will begin executing a variety of pranks to disrupt your shifts. These pranks range from simple store disruptions to hazards that directly damage your health.

The Bicycle Prank

Norbert will ride a bicycle directly through the aisles of your shop. This creates immediate chaos inside the store and disrupts the environment.

The Car Prank

Norbert will arrive at the store in a car and park it directly outside the entrance. This blocks the front of your store and acts as a major nuisance for your daily operations.

The Customer Disguise

Norbert will occasionally attempt to blend in by disguising himself as a regular customer. During these visits, you cannot identify him by his default appearance. You must look at him through the Anomaly Lens to reveal that the customer is actually Norbert in disguise.

The Poisoned Lemonade Stand

Perhaps his most dangerous trick is the lemonade stand. Norbert will set up a stand right outside your shop. While it may look like a harmless interactable object, the lemonade is poisoned. Drinking it will immediately drain a massive chunk of your HP.

Prank Summary and Countermeasures

Should You Kill or Spare Norbert?

For players aiming to optimize their playthrough, the community recommendation is clear: leave Norbert alone. Sparing the gnome prevents him from launching his cycle of pranks.

Because his pranks actively hurt your shop's ratings and can drain your HP, keeping him calm is the safest path to a successful run. If you have already shot him and triggered the pranks, you will have to repeatedly shoot him whenever he returns to keep your shop clear.

Strategy Comparison: Sparing vs. Shooting

Shift at Midnight Game Overview

Shift at Midnight is an indie multiplayer horror game that challenges players to manage a convenience store while dealing with supernatural anomalies and doppelgangers. Below are the official release and platform details for the game:

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Shift At Midnight Gnome first appear?

Norbert the Gnome makes his first appearance during the third shift of the game. After the third shift, his visits to the convenience store occur at completely random intervals.

What happens if you drink the lemonade from Norbert's stand?

The lemonade offered at Norbert's outdoor stand is poisoned. Drinking it will instantly take away a large chunk of your character's HP, putting you at severe risk during your shift.

How do you detect Norbert when he is disguised as a normal customer?

If Norbert attempts to enter the store disguised as a standard customer, you must view him through the Anomaly Lens. The lens will bypass his disguise and reveal his true identity.

Sources

• Shift at Midnight: What to Do With Norbert the Gnome?