SlightlyDepressing

SlightlyDepressing is the boss-tier version of the reduced Depression Aura, applying a 1-tile range aura that reduces all stats of adjacent cats by 1 stack. This is the weaker companion to the full Depressing buff, typically appearing on minions or summoned adds of a Depressing elite boss. The aura only affects your cats and does not debuff the enemy's allies. Its limited range means only melee-engaged cats suffer the stat penalty.

When a boss has the full Depressing buff and its minions carry SlightlyDepressing, the battlefield becomes layered with overlapping stat-reduction zones. Even if you spread out to avoid the boss's global aura, individual minions with SlightlyDepressing can still debuff cats that engage them in melee. Multiple SlightlyDepressing minions near each other create localized dead zones where your cats suffer stacking stat penalties, making melee combat in those areas extremely unfavorable.

Handle SlightlyDepressing minions at range whenever possible to avoid the aura entirely. If you must fight them in melee, do not let multiple SlightlyDepressing enemies surround a single cat, as the overlapping auras compound the stat loss. Clear these minions quickly with area-of-effect damage to remove the aura sources. Stat-boosting effects can counteract the -1 penalty, but the most efficient solution is simply maintaining distance. Prioritize the parent Depressing elite to prevent more SlightlyDepressing minions from being created.