Spines

Overview

Spines is a primary powerset in City of Heroes for both the Scrapperand Stalker archetypes.

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 Melee AoE 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 Melee AoE 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 Melee AoE 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 Ranged AoE Damage Slow Movement

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.

External Links

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