Elite Buff: Spiky (Boss)

Internal engine status effect. Boss-specific variant of the Spiky elite buff. Spiky grants the enemy Thorns, causing them to deal retaliation damage to melee attackers and units that collide via knockback. The boss version grants +1 Thorns instead of the standard +2.

Despite the lower Thorns count compared to the standard elite version, the boss's naturally higher threat level means the retaliation damage compounds with the boss's other attacks. Melee cats will take 1 Thorns damage per melee attack against the boss, which adds up over a long fight. Knockback collisions also trigger Thorns damage on both units.

Ranged attacks bypass Thorns entirely, making ranged builds the natural counter. If melee engagement is necessary, cats with high health and self-healing can absorb the Thorns damage sustainably. Avoid knockback effects against Spiky bosses since the collision triggers additional Thorns damage. The standard version, Elite Buff: Spiky, grants +2 Thorns to non-boss elites.