Hex

Hex is a debuff that increases the mana cost of all spells by 1 per stack. This makes casting spells progressively more expensive, potentially preventing a unit from casting entirely if it lacks sufficient mana. Hex is persistent and does not decay on its own, making it a lasting hindrance to spellcasting capability. Basic attacks are not affected by Hex, only spell casting.

Multiple stacks of Hex compound the mana cost increase, making even cheap spells prohibitively expensive. A cat with limited mana that accumulates several Hex stacks may find itself unable to cast any spells at all, effectively silenced through resource denial rather than direct spell blocking like Muted. The Insight buff (which reduces mana costs by 1 per stack) directly counteracts Hex, and Free Spell can bypass the increased costs for a single cast.

Hex is particularly disruptive against spellcaster builds that rely on frequent casting, as the increased costs can drain mana reserves rapidly. Builds with high Charisma (which increases maximum mana) or mana regeneration effects are more resilient to Hex. When facing Hex-applying enemies, prioritizing mana-efficient abilities and basic attacks helps manage the increased costs. Hex does not prevent spell casting outright like Muted does; rather, it makes casting more expensive, which allows strategic mana management to partially mitigate its impact.