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 Damage (Lethal), Damage over Time(Toxic), -Speed, -Recharge
Lunge	1	Melee, Moderate Damage(Lethal), Damage over Time(Toxic), -Speed, -Recharge
Spine Burst	2	Point Blank Area of Effect, Moderate Damage(Lethal), Damage over Time(Toxic), -Speed, -Recharge
Build Up	6	Self +Damage, +Accuracy
Impale	8	Ranged, High Damage (Lethal), Damage over Time(Toxic), Immobilize, -Recharge, -Fly
Confront	12	Ranged, Foe Taunt
Quills	18	Toggle: Point Blank Area of Effect, Minor Damage (Lethal), -Speed, -Recharge
Ripper	26	Melee Cone, High Damage (Lethal), -Speed, -Recharge, Knockback
Throw Spines	32	Ranged Cone, Moderate Damage (Lethal), Damage over Time(Toxic), -Speed, -Recharge

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 Damage (Lethal), Damage over Time(Toxic), -Speed, -Recharge
Lunge	1	Melee, Moderate Damage(Lethal), Damage over Time(Toxic), -Speed, -Recharge
Spine Burst	2	Point Blank Area of Effect, Moderate Damage(Lethal), Damage over Time(Toxic), -Speed, -Recharge
Assassin's Impaler	6	Melee, Special Damage(Lethal)
Build Up	8	Self: +Damage, +Accuracy
Placate	12	Ranged, Foe Placate, Self Stealth/Hide
Impale	18	Ranged, High Damage (Lethal), Damage over Time(Toxic), Immobilize, -Recharge, -Fly
Ripper	26	Melee Cone, High Damage (Lethal), -Speed, -Recharge, Knockback
Throw Spines	32	Ranged Cone, Moderate Damage (Lethal), Damage over Time(Toxic), -Speed, -Recharge

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 Recharge Slow Minimum Level 6 (Stalker) Effects Melee Special Damage (Lethal) Enhancements Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Recharge Speed Enhance Damage Enhance Accuracy

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.

Damage Minor Recharge Very Fast Minimum Level 1 (Scrapper) 1 (Stalker) Effects Melee Damage (Lethal) Damage over Time (Toxic) -Speed -Recharge Enhancements Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Recharge Speed Enhance Damage Enhance Slow Enhance Accuracy

Build Up

Greatly increases the amount of damage you deal for a few seconds, as well as slightly increasing your accuracy.

Recharge Long Minimum Level 6 (Scrapper) 8 (Stalker) Effects Self +Damage, +Accuracy Self +Defense (Melee, Lethal) Enhancements Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Recharge Speed Enhance ToHit Buffs

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 Enhancements Enhance Taunt Enhance Range Enhance Recharge Speed

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 Recharge Moderate Minimum Level 8 (Scrapper) 18 (Stalker) Effects Ranged Damage (Lethal) Immobilize -Recharge) -Fly Enhancements Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Recharge Speed Enhance Range Enhance Immobilize Enhance Damage Enhance Accuracy

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.

Damage Moderate Recharge Fast Minimum Level 1 (Scrapper) 1 (Stalker) Effects Melee Damage (Lethal) Damage over Time (Toxic) -Speed -Recharge Enhancements Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Recharge Speed Enhance Damage Enhance Slow Enhance Accuracy

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 Strike. 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 Enhance Recharge Speed

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.

Damage Minor Recharge Slow Minimum Level 18 (Scrapper) Effects Point Blank Area of Effect Toggle Damage over Time (Lethal) -Speed -Recharge Enhancements Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Recharge Speed Enhance Damage Enhance Slow Enhance Accuracy

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) Moderate Damage Over Time (Lethal) Recharge Slow Minimum Level 18 (Scrapper) 26 (Stalker) Effects Melee Cone Damage (Lethal) Damage over Time (Toxic) Knockback -Speed -Recharge Enhancements Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Recharge Speed Enhance Knockback Enhance Damage Enhance Slow Enhance Accuracy

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.

Damage Moderate Recharge Slow Minimum Level 2 (Scrapper) 2 Stalker) Effects Point Blank Area of Effect Damage (Lethal) Damage over Time (Toxic) -Speed -Recharge Enhancements Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Recharge Speed Enhance Damage Enhance Slow Enhance Accuracy

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 Recharge Slow Minimum Level 32 (Scrapper) 32 (Stalker) Effects Ranged Cone Damage (Lethal) Damage over Time (Toxic) -Speed -Recharge Enhancements Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Recharge Speed Enhance Range Enhance Damage Enhance Slow Enhance Accuracy