Firestarter

The **Firestarter** is a Bossbot Manager Boss who was introduced as part of the Hires & Heroes Update. He can be found roaming the streets of The Brrrgh. He was first revealed during the cogs.ink ARG.

## Content Sync

Toons fighting against the Firestarter will have Content Sync applied to them. They will be synced down to the following stats:

* 75 Laff Soft Cap (81 Max)
* Up to Level 7 Gags permitted
* Pink Slips restricted

## Attacks

(Single)
(Single)
(Single)
(All)
 Damage
 Accuracy
 Frequency

\*Indicates a Cheat move.

## Cheats

The Firestarter can only be Lured for 1 round.

At the end of every round, the Firestarter will light up his allies and add a stack of **Backburner** to them. Barnburner triples their maximum health (does not increase with each stack), causes them to take +20 more damage (increasing by +10 with each stack) and take +100% more damage (increasing by +75% with each stack). Additionally, they will take -10% (increasing by 5% each stack) of their max health as damage with each turn and will have negative effects last -2 less rounds (increasing by -1 with each stack).

* Takes +100% more damage
* Negative effects last -2 rounds
 2 stacks of Backburner
* Takes +175% more damage
* Negative effects last -3 rounds
 3 stacks of Backburner
* Takes +250%
* Negative effects last -4 rounds
 4 stacks of Backburner
* Takes +315%
* Negative effects last -5 rounds
* Takes 25% of max HP as damage at the end of each round

Cogs that die with the Backburner effect count towards the Firestarter's Pyromaniac cheat.

The Firestarter gains +8% damage resistance and deals +5 more damage with all attacks for each stack of **Pyromaniac** he has. This caps out at +40% damage resistance and +25 damage. A stack of **Pyromaniac** can be gained when:

* No other Cogs are present at the end of the round
* 2+ Cogs have been destroyed (regardless if they have a stack of Backburner or not)

The Cogs defeated counter will reset if he has gained a stack already from being alone in battle before a second Cog has been defeated.

Every 3 rounds, the Firestarter will deal large damage to all Toons and Cogs, including himself. This damage starts off at 20 base and deals 1 extra damage for every additional Cog present in the fight. If multiple Cogs that have Backburner die to this attack, then the Firestarter gains another stack of **Pyromaniac.** This cheat will remove all negative status effects from every Cog.

## Strategy

The general strategy for the Firestarter's battle involves repeatedly hitting the Firestarter with hard hitting single target Gags such as Throw and Drop, then later, making sure to destroy the side Cogs before their damage boost from Barnburner becomes too overwhelming. If needed, this can be a repeating cycle.

You generally want to kick off the battle with Squirt and 3 Boulders, while making sure at least 1 other Cog is in the battle on the first turn or he will get an easy Pyromaniac stack. From there, the choices are up to your team's discretion and circumstances. For a slightly slower but safer and more consistent start, replace one of the Drop Gags used in the first turn with a Wrecking Ball. Next turn, use Hypno Goggles, activating the Wrecking Ball from the previous turn, keeping Cogs with 1 stack of Backburner lured for 1 round, and preventing the rest from also attacking, and have the rest use Boulders.

Throughout the battle, keep these things in mind:

* You *don't* have to destroy the Cogs as soon they get Backburner. Their damage boost with just 1 stack is tolerable at +20.
	+ Furthermore, if you destroy too many Cogs too often, the Firestarter will gain a lot of Pyromaniac stacks. Avoid allowing him to get more Pyromaniac stacks than necessary by keeping side Cogs in battle for a few turns, then wiping them out all at once with either Sound, Squirt, and/or Zap when their damage boosts start to rack up high.
* While Barnburner gives Cogs increased HP, it also causes them to take increased damage. Use this to your advantage by using high damage multi-target attacks, namely the previously mentioned Sound, Squirt, and/or Zap.
* Plan your attacks (and healing) strategically, as every 3 rounds the Firestarter will perform his Barnburner cheat. This cheat can easily be lethal in combination with the damage from the Cogs.

## Loot

* Firestarter Sticker
* Firestarter Helmet
* Firestoker

Firestarter StickerFirestarter HelmetFirestoker

* 24 Gumballs
* 825 Jellybeans
* 1750 Toon Experience

## Dialogue

* "It's tradition you know..."
* "Gentlemen..."
* "I need a good smoke..."
* "Smoking is a dirty habit..."
* "Sigh... It's a good day for me to have a smoke."
* "I have the occasional cigar... sometimes..."
* "Take a breath of this."
* "These fumes are, uh... pretty toxic."
 Fired
* "You should probably stop, drop, and roll."
* "I hope you brought some marshmallows, heh heh."
* "Can you say ouch...?"
* "I do hope you wore sunscreen."
* "Heh... I just sparkle, don't I?"
* "I hope you're um... cold blooded."
* "Oh look, a crispy critter...!"
* "It's going to get rather... warm around here."
* "Hot, hot and hotter...!"
* "You're outta here, I think."
 Hot Air
* "Always remember, uh... where there's smoke, there's fire...!"
* "We're having a... heated discussion...."
* "Uh, um, Air Raid..!?"
* "I have some glowing remarks for you...!"
* "I hate to grill you, but, uh..."
* "You're looking a little... burned out..."
* "I've reached my boiling point..."
* "Can I kindle a working relationship...?"
 Power Trip
* "Oh, uh, sorry to trip you up there...!"
* "How was your trip...?"
* "Pack your bags, we're um... taking a little trip."
* "Heh, who's got the power now?"
* "Now you see who's in power, I think!"
* "I am pretty sure I am much more powerful than you."
* "Power corrupts... especially in my hands..."
* "You can't fight the power."
 Backburner
* "Let's crank up the heat."
* "Now we're cooking with gas..."
 Barnburner
* "Feeling hot? Heh heh."
* "Sorry if you're getting heated..."
* "I love the smell of arson in the morning."

* "Didn't your guardians tell you to not play with fire?"
* "You aren't going to like it when I'm heated..."
 Defeated
* "I didn't expect to get burnt out so soon..."
* "Ouch, ouch, ouch...! Too hot, too hot...!!"
 Defeated by Barnburner
* "...Oops."
* "Hm! Ironic."
 Death Taunts
* "That really went up in smoke..."
* "Couldn't take the heat?"
 Friend Request Denials
* "Um, I'm fueling enough friendships as is," the Firestarter pushes his fingers together.
* "Graham said I should stop letting people walk all over me, so..." the Firestarter trails off.
 Attempt to Sue
 Attempt to Fire

## Version History

v1.4.0 BETA
* The Kudos managers have some new tricks up their sleeve!
	+ Firestarter has simmered down a little... sort of.
		- The Firestarter deals 50% less damage across all attacks.
		- Backburner now increases damage taken rather than reduces.
		- Additional damage dealt is now a flat number rather than a percentage.
		- Barnburner damage begins at 20 rather than 25.
		- Pyromaniac's cheat description removed.
			* Pyromaniac will now trigger when 2 or more Cogs are defeated under any circumstances rather than only Cogs with the Backburner effect.

v1.3.0 BETA
* The temperatures of streets are rising throughout the Brrrgh.
	+ The Firestarter was added to the game.

## Trivia

* The Firestarter's employee ID is likely a reference to the Great Chicago Fire which took place in 1871.
* On the cogs.ink website, the Firestarter's username is "bonpyreflint" and his password is "andst33l"
	+ The password was revealed in accordance to a very specific route. Toons would have to go to Used Firewood in Walrus Way, using the "Fire a Cog" strategy phrase, then going to the trolley and playing the Cannon Game. It is here that the Toon would be in a smoky color with flames surrounding them, and the password would reveal itself when the minigame is over.
		- While the full name was revealed manually by Mac Opsys, the Pacesetter previously referenced his name.
* The Firestarter is canonically in a relationship with the Pacesetter as confirmed in a tweet posted by Lead Writer Maven.
* When the Firestarter is soaked, he loses the flame on top of his head in a similar matter to the Litigator.
	+ Unlike the Litigator, however, there is no consequence for soaking the Firestarter.
* The Firestarter has a custom animation when using the attack Cigar Smoke.
* The Firestarter has posters featuring himself in the Pace Place and Cut to the Chase! Logging Co,.
	+ Interestingly, the Cut to the Case! poster has him sport the Executive Bossbot suit instead of his current suit.
* If a Toon pulls Firestarter into an existing battle, his Barnburner cheat will react depending on the current round of that fight.
	+ For example, if a Cog battle has been around for 2 rounds, and then the Firestarter joins, he will immediately use Barnburner when it is his turn.
* Cogs taking lethal damage from Barnburner, including the Firestarter himself, will sink into the ground as the attack plays.
* The Firestarter's battle theme is composed by both himself and the Pacesetter.
	+ The actual composer is Duke Trickyflip.
* A Firestarter is a slang term for an employee who intentionally or unintentionally causes trouble wherever they go.

## Gallery

* Official Artwork
* Screenshots/Misc. Images
* Renders

Official art of the Firestarter from the Hires & Heroes key artA poster of the Firestarter and the Pacesetter that's hung up above the Pace Corner

Apprehensive ArsonistThe Firestarter's profile picture on cogs.inkA reference image of the Firestarter's model, created by Clash Crew Member MailmanA Valentoon's Day card from the FirestarterThe Firestarter featured in a teaser for the 2023 Summer UpdateFirestarter poster seen in the building Cut to the Chase! Logging Co.The Firestarter performing his Barnburner cheatThe Firestarter with an extinguished flame

The Firestarter's unique Cigar Smoke animationAn unused Firestarter death animation