Bouncy

Bouncy is the boss variant of the knockback-on-hit elite buff. When struck by a melee attack, the Bouncy boss knocks the attacker back 1 tile. Additionally, any damage dealt to the boss causes it to be knocked back at least 1 tile. Both effects trigger on every hit, creating a chaotic fight where both the boss and your melee attackers are constantly bouncing apart after every exchange.

On bosses, Bouncy is more disruptive because boss fights are longer, meaning the constant knockback displacement accumulates into significant wasted movement over many rounds. Melee cats spend turns closing the gap only to be bounced back immediately upon attacking. If the boss arena has environmental hazards, the repeated knockbacks can push your cats into dangerous terrain. Bosses that use positional abilities between knockbacks can exploit the displacement to set up devastating attacks while your cats are scattered.

Ranged damage is the cleanest solution, avoiding the melee knockback entirely while the boss still gets knocked around by incoming ranged hits. If using melee, attack with your cat's back against a wall so the knockback has no effect. Anchor or root effects on your cats prevent the displacement. Plan your attacks around the knockback pattern rather than fighting against it. The boss being knocked back by all damage can actually be useful for positioning it where you want it, so use the mechanic offensively by attacking from angles that push the boss into corners or away from your fragile cats.