Spines
Overview
Spines is one of the powersets. It is a Scrapper primary powerset in City of Heroes and a Stalker primary powerset in City of Villains.
Spines protrude from your body and can deal damage in melee or at very short ranges. Spines are hollow and hold a neural toxin that deals additional toxic damage and can slow or immobilize your enemies. The toxin is cumulative, and multiple hits will affect the target more strongly. Very few foes have resistance to Spine poison. All Spine attacks can sometimes land a critical hit for double damage for scrappers, while for stalkers, they can land a critical hit for double damage if they are properly hidden or the target is slept or held.
Power Tables
Scrapper
The Spines powerset is available as a primary set for Scrappers. The following table shows which powers are available and at what level:
Power | Level | Effect | |
Barb Swipe | 1 | Melee, Minor DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Recharge, -SPD | |
Lunge | 1 | Melee, Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Recharge, -SPD | |
Spine Burst | 2 | PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Recharge, -SPD | |
Build Up | 6 | Self +DMG, +To-Hit | |
Impale | 8 | Close, High DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe Immobilize, -Recharge, -SPD, -Fly | |
Confront | 12 | Ranged, Foe Taunt, -Range | |
Quills | 18 | Toggle: PBAoE, Minor DMG(Lethal), Foe -Recharge, -SPD | |
Ripper | 26 | Melee (Cone), High DMG(Lethal), Foe -Recharge, -SPD, Knockback | |
Throw Spines | 32 | Close (Cone), Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Recharge, -SPD |
Stalker
The Spines powerset is available as a primary set for Stalkers. The following table shows which powers are available and at what level:
Power | Level | Effect | |
Barb Swipe | 1 | Melee, Minor DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Recharge, -SPD | |
Lunge | 1 | Melee, Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Recharge, -SPD | |
Spine Burst | 2 | PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Recharge, -SPD | |
Assassin's Impaler | 6 | Melee, Special DMG(Lethal) | |
Build Up | 8 | Self +DMG, +To-Hit | |
Placate | 12 | Ranged, Foe Placate, Self Stealth/Hide | |
Impale | 18 | Close, High DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe Immobilize, -Recharge, -SPD, -Fly | |
Ripper | 26 | Melee (Cone), High DMG(Lethal), Foe -Recharge, -SPD, Knockdown | |
Throw Spines | 32 | Close (Cone), Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Recharge, -SPD |
Powers
The following are powers in the Spines powerset.
Assassin's Impaler
A signature Stalker Attack. This atack does moderate damage on its own as a frontal attack. However, if it is executed while you are hidden, this attack will do temendous lethal damage, as you impale your unsuspecting foe. This attack may be interupted if you move or are attacked while executing this power.
This power is unavailable to Scrappers.
Damage | Special (Lethal) |
Recharge | Slow |
Minimum Level | 6 (Stalker) |
Effects | Melee |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Set Categories | Melee Damage |
Barb Swipe
Shred your opponent with several quick swipes from your spines. Barb Swipe deals minor damage and damage over time. Spine poison slows affected foes.
This power has a small Immobilize component.
Damage | Minor (Lethal) |
Recharge | Very Fast |
Minimum Level | 1 (Scrapper) |
1 (Stalker) | |
Effects | Melee |
Damage over Time(Toxic) | |
Foe -Recharge, -Speed | |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Slow | |
Set Categories | Melee Damage |
Slow Movement |
Build Up
Greatly increases the amount of damage you deal for a few seconds, as well as slightly increasing your chance to hit.
Recharge | Long |
Minimum Level | 6 (Scrapper) |
8 (Stalker) | |
Effects | Self +Damage, +To-Hit |
Enhancements | Reduce Endurance Cost |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance ToHit Buff | |
Set Categories | To Hit Buff |
Confront
Challenges a foe to attack you. Useful to pull a villain off an ally who finds himself in over his head.
This power is unavailable to Stalkers.
Recharge | Fast |
Minimum Level | 12 (scrapper) |
Effects | Ranged |
Foe Taunt, -Range | |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Range | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Taunt Effectiveness | |
Set Categories | Taunt |
Impale
You can throw a single large Spine at a targeted foe. This Spine does minor damage, but carries a large amount of the Spine toxin that can completely Immobilize most foes, as well as slowing them.
Damage | High (Lethal) |
Recharge | Moderate |
Minimum Level | 8 (Scrapper) |
18 (Stalker) | |
Effects | Close |
Foe Immobilize, -Recharge, -Speed, -Fly | |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Enhance Immobilization Duration | |
Enhance Range | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Slow | |
Set Categories | Ranged Damage |
Immobilize | |
Slow Movement |
Lunge
Lunge forward stabbing and poisoning a targeted foe with a large Spine on your arm. Lunge deals moderate damage. Spine poison slows affected foes.
This power has a small Immobilize component.
Damage | Moderate (Lethal) |
Recharge | Fast |
Minimum Level | 1 (Scrapper) |
1 (Stalker) | |
Effects | Melee |
Damage over Time(Toxic) | |
Foe -Recharge, -Speed | |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Slow | |
Set Categories | Melee Damage |
Slow Movement |
Placate
Allows you to trick a foe into no longer attacking you. A successful Placate will also hide you. This hide is very brief, and offers no defense bonus, but it will allow you to deliver a Critical Hit or an Assassin's Impaler. However, if you attack a placated foe, he will be able to attack you back.
This power is unavailable to Scrappers.
Recharge | Long |
Minimum Level | 12 (Stalker) |
Effects | Ranged |
Foe Placate | |
Self Stealth/Hide | |
Enhancements | Enhance Range |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Set Categories | None |
Quills
When you activate this power, you will constantly fire dozens of Quills in all directions. These Quills do minor damage, but can poison all foes in close range. Spine poison slows affected foes.
This power is unavailable to Stalkers.
This power has a small Immobilize component.
Damage | Minor Damage over Time(Lethal) |
Recharge | Slow |
Minimum Level | 18 (Scrapper) |
Effects | Toggle: Point Blank Area of Effect |
Foe -Recharge, -Speed | |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Slow | |
Set Categories | PBAoE Damage |
Slow Movement |
Ripper
You can unleash a spectacular slashing maneuver that attacks all villains in a wide arc in front of yourself. Ripper deals massive damage and poisons multiple targets. It can even knockdown foes. Spine poison slows affected targets.
Damage | Moderate (Lethal) |
Recharge | Slow |
Minimum Level | 18 (Scrapper) |
26 (Stalker) | |
Effects | Melee (Cone) |
Damage over Time(Toxic) | |
Foe -Recharge, -Speed, Knockdown | |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Enhance Knockback Distance | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Slow | |
Set Categories | PBAoE Damage |
Slow Movement | |
Knockback |
Spine Burst
You can fling dozens of Spines in all directions. These Spines only travel a short distance, but they can deal moderate damage and poison any target close to you. Spine poison slows affected foes.
This power has a small Immobilize component.
Damage | Moderate (Lethal) |
Recharge | Slow |
Minimum Level | 2 (Scrapper) |
2 Stalker) | |
Effects | Point Blank Area of Effect |
Damage over Time(Toxic) | |
Foe -Recharge, -Speed | |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Slow | |
Set Categories | PBAoE Damage |
Slow Movement |
Throw Spines
You can throw dozens of Spines in a wide cone in front of you, impaling foes caught within the range. Spine throwing deals moderate damage, and poisons any targets it hits. Spine poison slows affected foes.
Damage | Moderate (Lethal) |
Recharge | Slow |
Minimum Level | 32 (Scrapper) |
32 (Stalker) | |
Effects | Close (Cone) |
Damage over Time(Toxic) | |
Foe -Recharge, -Speed | |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Enhance Range | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Slow | |
Set Categories | Targeted AoE Damage |
Slow Movement |
Historical
- This set has been in the game for Scrappers since Issue 0.
- This set was included with the original release of Stalkers in Issue 6.