Tall Tumor

The Tall Tumor is a Core and Rift enemy with 16 HP, 4 damage, and 2 movement that punishes mana-reliant cats through a vampiric drain mechanic. It starts each encounter at only half health (8 out of 16 HP), appearing weakened, but its mana-draining ability allows it to rapidly restore itself to full while simultaneously crippling your casters. For spell-heavy parties, the Tall Tumor represents one of the most disruptive enemies in the late game.

At the end of each enemy cat's turn, the Tall Tumor drains all unspent mana from nearby cats, deals damage equal to the amount of mana drained, and heals itself for the same amount. This triple-threat mechanic means every point of unspent mana becomes a weapon against your own party: you lose the mana, take damage from the drain, and the Tall Tumor recovers health. On top of this, the Tall Tumor counterattacks with a spin attack whenever it takes damage, punishing direct assaults with immediate retaliation.

The key to fighting the Tall Tumor is mana management: spend all your mana each turn so there is nothing left to drain. Cats without mana pools or with mana immunity are completely immune to the drain effect, making them ideal for these encounters. Physical-focused cats that do not rely on spells naturally avoid the drain penalty. When attacking, be prepared for the spin counterattack and position cats so the counter hits as few allies as possible. Champions have 32 HP (starting at 16), 5 damage, and 3 movement, with the same drain-and-counter mechanics making them even more dangerous to leave alive.