Ball of Yarn

Ball of Yarn is an uncommon trinket that spawns something at the start of every battle — likely a companion or distraction lured in by the irresistible yarn. Like the Tiny Cage it provides a free unit on the field before the first turn, which can absorb hits, contest positioning, or simply give enemies an extra target to deal with. Consistent passive value across every fight.

SpawnOnBattleStart effects are among the most reliably valuable passives in the game because they deliver their benefit before any damage is exchanged. The spawned entity can serve as a meat shield, drawing initial aggro away from your vulnerable cats, or it can fill a support role if the spawned creature has its own abilities. The quality and type of the spawned unit directly determines how impactful this item is.

Works best on any cat you want to protect from early damage, since the spawn can absorb the first round of enemy attacks. Pairs naturally with summoner-style builds that benefit from having additional bodies on the field, and synergizes with mutations or items that buff allied units or trigger effects when allies are on the battlefield. A reliable choice for any strategy that values field presence from turn one.