Combat
Combat in Grow is generally quite simple, with emphasis on tactic and creative use of character capabilities. Most critters attack through a simple, physical action. For example, Growl attacks by biting. For these critters, being near an enemy is necessary to deal damage. Other critters - more specifically those who grow from eating fruit and gaining skill - are capable of ranged attacks. Ranged attacks are aimed and are controlled by the mouse. The direction of the critter will fire is indicated by a small target on screen.
Combat mostly comes down to the critter's statistics. The battle statistics are attack power, attack rate and health. Attack power determines how much damage is dealt when a hit lands on an opposing player. Attack rate determines the pause between attacks and thus how many attacks a critter can land in any period of time. Health, of course, determines the amount of damage a player can take before dying and needing to respawn.
Damage will not cause critters to flinch, but will simply cause the critters to temporarily glow red and make a short sound. Of course, the health meter will also decrease.
As well as physical and ranged attacks there is also a third method of combat: abilities. Abilities are unique talents made available to each critter. These resemble bonuses that players would typically, in other games, receive from pickups. Use of abilities is limited by a 'moxie' meter. Some abilities slowly diminish the moxie meter until it depletes entirely and the ability switches off. An example of this is Dart's camouflage, which will be active for only a short time before needing to replenish or 'cool down'. Other abilities instantly use up the whole meter, like Toot's sharp shoot, using the moxie for a single, powerful attack.
Nom
Health: 25
Regular Attack:
Nom chomps at the air and does very low damage to anybody directly in front of him.
Damage: 10
Growl
Health: 100
Regular Attack:
Growl uses his powerful jaws to deal considerable damage to enemies in front of him.
Damage: 40
Scamper
Health: 60
Regular Attack:
Scamper performs a super speedy headbutt that causes him to charge forward for about a second, dealing low to moderate damage to anybody he makes contact with.
Damage: 20
Newt
Health: 70
Regular Attack:
Newt spits a speedy projectile from his mouth dealing moderate damage to his target.
Damage: 20
Grumble
Health: 200
Regular Attack:
Grumble takes a massive bite devouring almost anything that gets in his way.
Damage: 100
Dart
Health: 120
Regular Attack:
Dart performs a blindingly fast headbutt causing serious damage to anybody he collides with.
Damage: 60
Bubbles
Health: 140
Regular Attack:
Bubbles shoots a large slower moving projectile from his mouth that has a large area of effect.
Damage: 50
Toot
Health: 80
Regular Attack:
Toot can acurately snipe enemies from long range for high damage.
Damage: 100
Pokey
Health: 120
Regular Attack
Pokey performs a super powerful charge attack, taking control away from the player but dealing massive damage and sending foes flying.
Damage: 80
Spiral
Health: 90
Regular Attack
Spiral attacks by loading it's cannon for a few seconds before firing a projectile which has a massive area of attack.
Damage: 60
