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Power-up Bonuses

Bonuses are temporary power-ups that drop from killed creatures. They provide instant effects (Nuke, MediKit) or timed buffs (Energizer, Shield). Strategic bonus usage is critical for survival.

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Bonus System

From src/crimson/bonuses/ids.py:11-27: 
class BonusId(IntEnum):
    UNUSED = 0
    POINTS = 1
    ENERGIZER = 2
    WEAPON = 3
    WEAPON_POWER_UP = 4
    NUKE = 5
    DOUBLE_EXPERIENCE = 6
    SHOCK_CHAIN = 7
    FIREBLAST = 8
    REFLEX_BOOST = 9
    SHIELD = 10
    FREEZE = 11
    MEDIKIT = 12
    SPEED = 13
    FIRE_BULLETS = 14

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Bonus Spawning

Drop Chance: Varies by bonus type and game state Pistol Boost: While holding Pistol:
  • 75% of bonuses forced to be weapon pickups
  • Overall bonus drop rate increased ~50%
Bonus Magnet Perk: Second chance roll on kills that don’t spawn bonuses My Favourite Weapon Perk: Disables weapon bonuses entirely Boss Creatures: Flag 0x400 guarantees bonus drop

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Pickup Mechanics

Collision: Walk over bonus to collect Telekinetic Perk: Aim at bonus within 24 units for 650ms to collect remotely Expiration: Bonuses despawn after 15-20 seconds if not collected

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Complete Bonus List

All bonus types with stats from src/crimson/bonuses/ids.py:39-169.
Instantly gain +500 XPDescription: “You gain some experience points.”Effect: Adds 500 XP to score immediatelyIcon ID: 12Duration: InstantStrategy: Always collect. Free XP toward next level.
Monsters run from you, walk through them to killDescription: “Suddenly monsters run away from you and you can eat them.”Effect:
  • Creatures flee from player for 8 seconds
  • Touching fleeing creatures kills them instantly
  • Awards normal XP for kills
Icon ID: 10Base Duration: 8 secondsWith Bonus Economist: 12 seconds (8 × 1.5)Strategy:
  • Best used when surrounded
  • Chase fleeing enemies for mass kills
  • Combo with Speed bonus for maximum kills
Pac-Man Reference: This is Crimsonland’s power pellet mechanic
Grants random weaponDescription: “You get a new weapon.”Effect: Assigns random weapon (type determined by bonus spawn config)Icon ID: -1 (varies by weapon)Default Weapon ID: 3 (often overridden)Duration: Permanent (until next weapon pickup)Strategy:
  • Early game: Always collect
  • Late game: Evaluate if better than current weapon
  • Can’t “uncollect” - be careful near bad weapons
Fire rate and reload speed 2x fasterDescription: “Your fire rate and load time increase for a short period.”Effect:
  • Fire rate ×2 (shot_cooldown ×0.5)
  • Reload speed ×2 (reload_time ×0.5)
Icon ID: 7Base Duration: 10 seconds (internal timer value)With Bonus Economist: 15 secondsStrategy:
  • Massive DPS boost
  • Use during high-density enemy waves
  • Combo with high-damage weapons (Plasma Cannon, Ion Cannon)
  • Reload weapons just before duration ends
Massive explosion clears screenDescription: “An amazing explosion of ATOMIC power.”Effect:
  • Large explosion centered on player
  • Kills or heavily damages all on-screen enemies
  • Screen shake and visual effects
  • Awards XP for kills
Icon ID: 1Damage: Massive (kills most non-boss enemies)Radius: Full screenDuration: InstantStrategy:
  • Emergency “panic button”
  • Use when overwhelmed
  • Don’t waste on 2-3 enemies
  • Save for dense swarms (15+ enemies)
All XP ×2 for durationDescription: “Every experience point you get is doubled when this bonus is active.”Effect: XP gains multiplied by 2Icon ID: 4Base Duration: 6 secondsWith Bonus Economist: 9 seconds (6 × 1.5)Strategy:
  • Collect immediately
  • Kill as many enemies as possible during duration
  • Combo with Energizer for massive XP gains
  • Synergizes with Bloody Mess (+30% XP) for 2.6x total multiplier
Lightning chains between enemiesDescription: “Chain of shocks shock the crowd.”Effect:
  • Spawns chained lightning projectiles (type 0x15)
  • Lightning jumps between enemies
  • Multiple damage ticks
Icon ID: 3Damage: Moderate per tick, devastating to groupsDuration: Instant (but chain effect persists briefly)Strategy:
  • Best against grouped enemies
  • Lightning follows enemy proximity
  • Can clear entire screen if enemies bunched
Ring of fireballs radiates from playerDescription: “Fireballs all over the place.”Effect: Spawns radial burst of projectiles (type 9) from player positionIcon ID: 2Projectile Count: 16-24 (radial pattern)Damage: Moderate per projectileDuration: InstantStrategy:
  • Similar to Nuke but less powerful
  • Good for moderate crowds
  • Don’t save it - collect when available
Game slows down 10%Description: “You get more time to react as the game slows down.”Effect: Game time scale ×0.9 (10% slower)Icon ID: 5Base Duration: 3 secondsWith Bonus Economist: 4.5 secondsStrategy:
  • Gives time to reposition
  • Easier aiming
  • Synergizes with Reflex Boosted perk (20% slow total)
  • Use during tricky situations
Note: Affects ALL game elements (enemies, projectiles, you)
Force field absorbs damageDescription: “Force field protects you for a while.”Effect:
  • Absorbs all incoming damage
  • Visual shield effect around player
  • Breaks after duration expires
Icon ID: 6Base Duration: 7 secondsWith Bonus Economist: 10.5 seconds (7 × 1.5)Strategy:
  • Best defensive bonus
  • Use to wade into crowds safely
  • Collect during low HP emergencies
  • Prevents Veins of Poison from activating (no contact damage)
All enemies frozen in placeDescription: “Monsters are frozen.”Effect:
  • All creatures stop moving and attacking
  • Enemies still take damage
  • Allows safe repositioning
Icon ID: 8Base Duration: 5 secondsWith Bonus Economist: 7.5 seconds (5 × 1.5)Strategy:
  • Emergency repositioning
  • Reload all weapons safely
  • Thin out frozen crowds
  • Combo with AoE weapons to maximize damage
Restore healthDescription: “You regain some of your health.”Effect: Restores 10 HP per tick (multiple ticks in quick succession)Icon ID: 14Healing Amount: 10 HP per application (can trigger multiple times)Duration: Instant (but multi-tick)Strategy:
  • Critical for sustain
  • Don’t collect at full HP (wasted)
  • Life-saving in dire situations
Note: Death Clock perk prevents MediKit spawns
Movement speed increasedDescription: “Your movement speed increases for a while.”Effect: Movement speed multiplier bonusIcon ID: 9Base Duration: 8 secondsWith Bonus Economist: 12 seconds (8 × 1.5)Strategy:
  • Great for kiting
  • Escape surrounded situations
  • Combo with Energizer to chase fleeing enemies
  • Synergizes with Long Distance Runner perk
Projectiles become fire typeDescription: “For a few seconds — make them count.”Effect:
  • All player projectiles become Fire Bullets (type 0x2d)
  • Pellet count from current weapon
  • Fire visual effects
Icon ID: 11Base Duration: 5 secondsWith Bonus Economist: 7.5 seconds (5 × 1.5)Strategy:
  • Converts any weapon to fire type
  • Synergizes with Pyromaniac perk (+50% fire damage)
  • Best with multi-pellet weapons (Shotgun, Plasma Shotgun)
  • Use aggressively during duration

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Bonus Economist Perk

From perk 32, timed bonuses last 50% longer: Affected Bonuses:
  • Energizer: 8s → 12s
  • Weapon Power Up: 10s → 15s
  • Double Experience: 6s → 9s
  • Reflex Boost: 3s → 4.5s
  • Shield: 7s → 10.5s
  • Freeze: 5s → 7.5s
  • Speed: 8s → 12s
  • Fire Bullets: 5s → 7.5s
Not Affected (instant bonuses):
  • Points, Weapon, Nuke, Shock Chain, Fireblast, MediKit

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Bonus Priority Guide

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Always Collect

  1. MediKit (if damaged)
  2. Weapon (if significantly better)
  3. Points (free XP)
  4. Double Experience (always beneficial)

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Situational - Save for Emergencies

  1. Nuke (best panic button)
  2. Freeze (reposition/reload)
  3. Shield (tank through danger)
  4. Energizer (escape + kills)

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Situational - Use Tactically

  1. Weapon Power Up (high DPS moments)
  2. Shock Chain (grouped enemies)
  3. Fireblast (moderate crowds)
  4. Speed (kiting/escaping)
  5. Reflex Boost (aiming/dodging)
  6. Fire Bullets (DPS burst)

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Bonus Combos

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Maximum XP Gain

Combo: Double Experience + Energizer + Bloody Mess perk Effect: 2.6x XP multiplier while chasing fleeing enemies Duration: 6-9 seconds

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Maximum DPS

Combo: Weapon Power Up + Fire Bullets + Pyromaniac perk Effect: 3x fire rate + fire conversion + 1.5x damage Duration: 5-7.5 seconds

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Maximum Safety

Combo: Shield + Freeze Effect: Invulnerable + enemies can’t move Duration: 12-18 seconds total

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Speed Run

Combo: Speed + Energizer + Long Distance Runner perk Effect: Extreme movement speed while enemies flee Duration: 8-12 seconds

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Spawn Rate Mechanics

Base Drop Rate: ~10-15% per kill (varies by game mode) Pistol Multiplier: ~1.5x drop rate, 75% forced to weapons Bonus Magnet Perk: Second roll on failed spawns (~30-40% effective increase) Boss Guarantee: Creatures with flag 0x400 always drop bonus Spawn Weights: Some bonuses rarer than others (Nuke, Shield rarer than Points, Fireblast)

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Source Code References

  • src/crimson/bonuses/ids.py - Bonus ID definitions and metadata
  • src/crimson/bonuses/apply.py - Bonus application logic
  • src/crimson/bonuses/selection.py - Bonus spawn selection
  • src/crimson/bonuses/pool.py - Bonus object pool management

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