Spines

Overview

Spines is a standard power set that is a primary set for Scrappers, Brutes, and Stalkers, and a secondary set for Tankers.

"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."

Power Tables

Brute

The Spines power set is available as a primary set for Brutes. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:

Power	Level	Effect
Barb Swipe	1	Melee, Light DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD
Lunge	1	Melee, Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD
Spine Burst	2	PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD
Build Up	6	Self +DMG, +To-Hit
Impale	8	Ranged, High DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe Immob, -Rech, -Fly
Taunt	12	Ranged (Targeted AoE), Foe Taunt
Quills	18	Toggle: PBAoE, Minor DoT(Lethal), Foe -Rech, -SPD
Ripper	22	Melee (Cone), High DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD, Knockback
Throw Spines	26	Ranged (Cone), Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD

Scrapper

The Spines power set is available as a primary set for Scrappers. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:

Power	Level	Effect
Barb Swipe	1	Melee, Light DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD
Lunge	1	Melee, Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD
Spine Burst	2	PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD
Build Up	6	Self +DMG, +To-Hit
Impale	8	Ranged, High DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe Immob, -Rech, -Fly
Confront	12	Ranged, Foe Taunt
Quills	18	Toggle: PBAoE, Minor DoT(Lethal), Foe -Rech, -SPD
Ripper	22	Melee (Cone), High DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD, Knockback
Throw Spines	26	Ranged (Cone), Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD

Stalker

The Spines power set is available as a primary set for Stalkers. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:

Power	Level	Effect
Barb Swipe	1	Melee, Minor DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD
Lunge	1	Melee, Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD
Spine Burst	2	PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -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	Ranged, High DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe Immob, -Rech, -Fly
Ripper	22	Melee (Cone), High DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD, Knockback
Throw Spines	26	Ranged (Cone), Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD

Tanker

The Spines power set is available as a secondary set for Tankers. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:

Power	Level	Effect
Barb Swipe	1	Melee, Light DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD
Lunge	1	Melee, Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD
Spine Burst	4	PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD
Taunt	10	Ranged (Targeted AoE), Foe Taunt
Ripper	16	Melee (Cone), High DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD, Knockback
Build Up	20	Self +DMG, +To-Hit
Impale	24	Ranged, Moderate DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe Immob, -Rech, -Fly
Quills	28	Toggle: PBAoE, Minor DoT(Lethal), Foe -Rech, -SPD
Throw Spines	30	Ranged (Cone), Light DMG(Lethal), DoT(Toxic), Foe -Rech, -SPD

Powers

Assassin's Impaler

A signature Stalker Attack. This attack does superior lethal damage on its own as a frontal attack and cannot be interrupted. However, if it is executed while you are hidden, this attack will do tremendous damage, as you impale your unsuspecting foe. This attack may be interrupted if you move or are attacked while executing this power and are hidden. Using this power while not hidden has a chance to critically hit equal to 33.3% times the number of stacks of Assassin's Focus. Using Assassin's Impaler when not hidden will remove all stacks of Assassin's Focus regardless if you critically hit or not.

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 Universal Damage

Barb Swipe

Shred your opponent with several quick Swipes from your Spines. Barb Swipe deals Light Lethal damage and a minor amount of additional Toxic damage over time and Slows affected foes.

Damage Light(Lethal) Recharge Very Fast Minimum Level 1 (Brute) 1 (Scrapper) 1 (Stalker) 1 (Tanker) Effects Melee, Minor Damage Over Time(Toxic) Foe -Recharge, -Speed Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Enhance Slow Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) Set Categories Melee Damage Slow Movement Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) Universal Damage

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 (Brute) 6 (Scrapper) 8 (Stalker) 20 (Tanker) 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 themselves in over their head. A To Hit check is required to Taunt enemy players, but is not needed against critter targets.

Recharge Fast Minimum Level 12 (Scrapper) Effects Ranged Foe Taunt 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 only moderate lethal damage, but carries a large amount of the Spine toxin. A successful attack can completely Immobilize most foes, as well as Slowing them and dealing Toxic poison damage. Impale can also bring down flying entities.

Damage High(Lethal) Tankers only: Moderate(Lethal) Recharge Moderate Minimum Level 8 (Brute) 8 (Scrapper) 18 (Stalker) 24 (Tanker) Effects Ranged, Minor Damage over Time(Toxic) Foe Immobilize, -Recharge, -Fly Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Immobilization Duration Enhance Range Increase Attack Rate Enhance Slow Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) Set Categories Ranged Damage Immobilize Slow Movement Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) Universal Damage

Lunge

You can lunge forward, stabbing and poisoning a foe with the large Spine on your arm. Lunge deals moderate lethal damage. Spine poison deals additional Toxic damage and Slows affected foes.

Damage Moderate(Lethal) Recharge Fast Minimum Level 1 (Brute) 1 (Scrapper) 1 (Stalker) 1 (Tanker) Effects Melee, Minor Damage over Time(Toxic) Foe -Recharge, -Speed Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Enhance Slow Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) Set Categories Melee Damage Slow Movement Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) Universal Damage

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.

Recharge Long Minimum Level 12 (Stalker) Effects Ranged Foe Placate Self Stealth/Hide Enhancements Enhance Range Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness Set Categories Taunt

Quills

While this power is active, you will constantly fire dozens of Spines in all directions. These Spines do minor damage, but can poison all foes in close range. Spine poison Slows affected foes.

Editor's Note:

Quills is unaffected by Radius changes.

Damage Minor Damage over Time(Lethal) Recharge Slow Minimum Level 18 (Brute) 18 (Scrapper) 28 (Tanker) Effects Toggle: Point Blank Area of Effect Foe -Recharge, -Speed Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Enhance Slow Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (except Scrapper) Set Categories Melee AoE Damage Slow Movement Universal Damage

Ripper

You can unleash a spectacular slashing maneuver that attacks all foes in a wide arc in front of you. Ripper deals massive lethal damage and poisons multiple targets. It can even knock foes down. Spine poison Slows affected targets and deals additional Toxic damage. If executed while hidden, all affected targets have a chance to be hit with a Critical Hit for extra damage (Stalkers only).

Damage High(Lethal) Recharge Slow Minimum Level 22 (Brute) 22 (Scrapper) 22 (Stalker) 16 (Tanker) Effects Melee (Cone), Minor Damage over Time(Toxic) Foe -Recharge, -Speed, Knockback (Knockdown for Brutes) Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Knockback Distance Increase Attack Rate Enhance Slow Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) Set Categories Melee AoE Damage Knockback Slow Movement Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) Universal Damage

Spine Burst

You can fling dozens of Spines in all directions. These Spines only travel a short distance, but they can deal moderate lethal damage and poison any target close to you. Spine poison deals additional Toxic damage and Slows affected foes. If executed while hidden, all affected targets have a chance to be hit with a Critical Hit for extra damage (Stalkers only).

Damage Moderate(Lethal) Recharge Slow Minimum Level 2 (Brute) 2 (Scrapper) 2 (Stalker) 4 (Tanker) Effects Point Blank Area of Effect, Minor Damage over Time(Toxic) Foe -Recharge, -Speed Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Enhance Slow Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) Set Categories Melee AoE Damage Slow Movement Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) Universal Damage

Taunt

Taunt foes to attack you. Useful to pull enemies off allies and keep them attacking you to raise your Fury. A To Hit check is required to Taunt enemy players, but is not needed against critter targets.

Editor's Note:

Tanker: Taunts a foe, and some nearby foes, to attack you. Useful for pulling villains off an ally who find themselves in over their head. Taunted foes tend to ignore other Heroes and focus on you for quite a while, so use this power cautiously. A To Hit check is required to Taunt enemy players, but is not needed against critter targets.

Recharge Fast Tanker only: Slow Minimum Level 12 (Brute) 10 (Tanker) Effects Ranged (Targeted Area of Effect) Foe Taunt Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Range Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness Set Categories Taunt

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 lethal damage, and poisons any targets it hits. Spine poison deals additional Toxic damage and Slows affected foes. If executed while hidden, all affected targets have a chance to be hit with a Critical Hit for extra damage (Stalkers only).

Editor's Note:

Throw Spines is unaffected by Arc changes.

Damage Moderate(Lethal) Tankers only: Light(Lethal) Recharge Slow Minimum Level 26 (Brute) 26 (Scrapper) 26 (Stalker) 30 (Tanker) Effects Ranged (Cone), Minor Damage over Time(Toxic) Foe -Recharge, -Speed Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Range Increase Attack Rate Enhance Slow Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) Set Categories Ranged AoE Damage Slow Movement Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) Universal Damage

Historical

This section contains information about changes that took place in City of Heroes/Villains. It is provided for historical purposes.

• 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.
• This set was proliferated to Brutes and Tankers in Issue 25.

External Links

• Spines for Brutes at City of Data v2.0
• Spines for Scrappers at City of Data v2.0
• Spines for Stalkers at City of Data v2.0
• Spines for Tankers at City of Data v2.0