Understanding Damage

In SnapCats, understanding the types of damage and how different weapons interact with armor resistances is key to mastering combat. Here’s a breakdown of the damage types, weapon types, armor resistances, and how targeting specific areas of your opponent affects their Health, Action, and Mind pools (HAM pools). Properly using this knowledge can maximize your damage output and incapacitate your enemies faster.

Types of Damage

There are various types of damage in SnapCats, and each weapon deals one or more types of damage. Damage types interact differently with various armor types, meaning that using the right weapon for the situation is crucial. The most common damage types include:

1. Kinetic Damage:

   • Source: Melee weapons, bullets, physical projectiles.
   • Effect: Kinetic damage is common, and many armor types provide moderate to high resistance against it.
   • Best Use: Effective against lightly-armored targets or unarmored sections of the body, such as legs or arms.

2. Energy Damage:

   • Source: Energy-based weapons such as blasters, lasers, or plasma rifles.
   • Effect: Energy damage is less affected by traditional armor but can be mitigated by specialized energy shields or armor with energy resistance.
   • Best Use: Good against targets with minimal energy resistance. Focus on areas where the target lacks energy-resistant armor.

3. Thermal Damage:

   • Source: Flamethrowers, plasma weapons, and heat-based attacks.
   • Effect: Thermal damage burns through light armor and can cause additional damage over time (DoT).
   • Best Use: Effective against lightly-armored targets and weak spots in heavy armor. Thermal attacks can bypass some physical armors but may struggle against heat-resistant armor.

4. Explosive Damage:

   • Source: Grenades, rockets, or other explosive devices.
   • Effect: Explosive damage affects a large area and can be devastating to clusters of enemies. Armor may absorb part of the blast, but unarmored sections will take significant damage.
   • Best Use: Effective for dealing large bursts of damage, particularly to groups or exposed body parts.

5. Void Damage:

   • Source: Voidblade Vanguard’s void-infused attacks or certain specialized weapons.
   • Effect: Void damage ignores most physical defenses and causes both direct damage and wound damage. It is highly effective against all armor types but can be resisted by characters or enemies with void-specific resistance.
   • Best Use: Use Void damage on targets that have high physical or energy resistances.

6. Electrical Damage:

   • Source: Shock weapons, tasers, and lightning-based attacks.
   • Effect: Electrical damage can bypass most armors but may struggle against technology-enhanced armor with electrical resistance. It is particularly effective against robotic enemies or targets using technology-heavy armor.
   • Best Use: Ideal for disabling technology-dependent enemies or armor, as well as dealing damage to exposed parts of the body.

Weapon Types and Their Damage Profiles

Each weapon type is suited for different situations based on the type of damage it deals and how it interacts with armor.

• Melee Weapons: Deal mostly kinetic damage, effective at close range, and good against lightly-armored sections. Heavier melee weapons (like hammers) can penetrate weaker armor, while lighter weapons (like daggers) excel at striking unarmored parts.

• Ranged Ballistic Weapons: Fire bullets and deal kinetic damage. Heavily resisted by strong physical armor but excellent against light or unarmored sections like limbs.

• Energy Weapons: Deal energy or thermal damage. These are useful against targets with low energy resistance but may struggle against specialized energy shields.

• Explosive Weapons: Deal a mix of kinetic and explosive damage, ideal for bypassing cover and damaging multiple targets or body sections at once.

• Void Weapons: Deal void damage, which is powerful against nearly any armor but can be countered by void-specific defenses. Void weapons are perfect for taking on high-resistance targets.

Understanding Armor Resistances

Different armor types provide varying levels of resistance to each type of damage. Here’s a basic rundown:

• Heavy Armor:

  • Resistances: Strong against kinetic and physical damage. Heavy armor is built to absorb the impact of melee and ballistic attacks.
  • Weakness: Vulnerable to energy, electrical, and void damage. These attacks can bypass the physical bulk of the armor.

• Light Armor:

  • Resistances: Offers minimal resistance to most damage types but provides greater mobility and flexibility.
  • Weakness: Easily penetrated by kinetic, thermal, and explosive damage.

• Energy Shields:

  • Resistances: Primarily protects against energy and thermal attacks.
  • Weakness: Vulnerable to kinetic and explosive damage.

• Specialized Armor:

  • Some armors are designed to resist specific damage types, such as flame-resistant suits or electrical-insulated gear. Understanding the enemy’s armor will help you select the right weapon type to counter it.

Targeting Body Sections and HAM Pools

In SnapCats, where you target an opponent matters just as much as the type of damage and weapon you use. Different sections of the body correspond to different HAM pools:

• Headshots (Mind Pool):

  • Attacking the head targets the Mind pool, which represents a character’s mental resilience and focus. Headshots are typically highly effective but may require precision.
  • Heavy Head Armor: Will heavily reduce damage to the Mind pool, but if the target has light or no head protection, it becomes a vulnerable spot for ranged killing blows.

• Body Shots (Health Pool):

  • Attacking the chest or torso targets the Health pool. This represents the character’s physical vitality and is the most commonly targeted area.
  • Heavy Chest Armor: Offers strong protection against physical attacks, so you might notice your damage being heavily reduced when targeting the body. If you encounter this, focus on other unarmored areas like arms or legs.

• Leg/Arm Shots (Action Pool):

  • Targeting the legs or arms affects the Action pool, which represents a character’s stamina and ability to move. Depleting the Action pool will exhaust the target, making them easier to incapacitate.
  • Light Arm/Leg Armor: Many characters wear lighter armor on their arms and legs for mobility, making these areas vulnerable to kinetic or energy-based attacks. If your damage is being reduced by heavy chest armor, switch to attacking the arms or legs to deplete the Action pool.

Combat Strategy: Exploiting Armor Weaknesses

1. Assessing the Target:

   • Take note of what type of armor your opponent is wearing. If they are heavily armored on their torso and head but lightly armored on their arms and legs, focus your attacks on their extremities to bypass the heavier protection.

2. Switching Weapons Based on Resistance:

   • If you notice your attacks are being heavily reduced, it’s likely the target’s armor is resisting your weapon type. For example, if you’re using a melee weapon against an enemy in heavy kinetic-resistant armor, switch to an energy weapon or target their unarmored legs or arms.

3. Aiming for Specific Pools:

   • Mind (Head): Use ranged weapons to target the head and deplete the Mind pool for quick incapacitation.
   • Health (Body): Heavy chest armor may reduce your damage, so aim for exposed or lightly armored parts.
   • Action (Legs/Arms): Target the limbs with kinetic or energy weapons to reduce the target’s stamina and exhaust them, making it easier to incapacitate them.

By understanding how damage types, armor resistances, and targeting specific body sections interact, you can maximize your effectiveness in combat and exploit weaknesses in your opponents’ defenses. Knowing when to switch weapons, where to aim, and which damage type to use will make you a formidable force on the battlefield in SnapCats.