Corrupt Area

**Endless Growth** is an external trait belonging to the hunter Axe Boy, Robbie. As with other traits, it's a unique characteristic of the hunter in question, and as such doesn't require Presence to be unlocked. This trait is passive and its effect remains active indefinitely throughout the match.

## Trait Details

### Description

*As time goes by, the Peaceful Pine seedlings will grow and expand their roots to form a Corrupt Area. As the seedlings grow, two Resentful Souls will converge unconsciously in the area. When there are multiple Corrupt Areas formed by Peaceful Pines overlapping, a Restful Road will be formed between every 2 Peaceful Pines.*

#### **Resentful Soul**

*Revolves around Peaceful Pines, but when a Survivor who is still mobile leaves the Corrupt Area, Resentful Souls in the Corrupt Area will fly toward the Survivor and revolve around them for 30 seconds. Each Survivor may have a maximum of 2 Resentful Souls revolving around them.*

#### **Restful Road**

*A road area formed by the intertwining roots of Peaceful Pines. Robbie receives a large increase in Movement Speed and all Interaction Speed when he is on the Restful Road. When any of the Peaceful Pines at either end of the Restful Road is destroyed, the Restful Road will disappear.*

## Gameplay

Corrupt Area is a trait that affects the map, creating round passive areas of effect centered on "Peaceful Pines" (which resemble a spiral of wood surrounded by long roots).

* These areas summon flames ("Resentful Souls") which circle around the tree, and 1 will spawn and circle around any survivor(s) within an area of effect. Axe Boy can pull these flames towards him and put them in an active state:
	+ If a Resentful Soul hits a survivor, it will do the same amount of damage as a regular attack, but will not start an attack animation.
	+ If a Resentful Soul doesn't hit anything but instead reaches Axe Boy, he will receive a brief speed boost.
* If two Peaceful Pines are relatively close to each other, a path will be created between them ("Restful Road"). While on this path, Axe Boy's movement speed will be greatly increased, but it becomes more difficult for him to stop unless he walks off the path.
* Once Robbie reaches full Presence, he gains the ability "Corrupting Breath;" If a Survivor leaves a Corrupt Area without dismantling the tree, roots will wrap around them and they will get a brief movement speed debuff.

### Other Details

**Hunter Tips**

* In early game, it is best to go towards Survivor spawn areas next to already existing Peaceful Pines, so that you start a chase within a Corrupt Area.
* It is best to plant a Peaceful Pine in common kiting areas, near popular Cipher Machines, or close to a Survivor in a Rocket Chair.
* It is best to chase survivors within a Corrupt Area because you can use Resentful Souls to get extra damage or increase your speed.
* If a survivor leaves the Corrupt Area, a purple flame will follow them and circle around them. This can help you find survivors if they're hiding, or simply provide another visual cue while in pursuit.
* Resentful Souls are very good when paired with a normal attack right before or right after, as they injure survivors the same amount as a regular attack. Especially against Contain-type Survivors, it can help you hit or down them from a distance.
	+ Resentful Souls can only be activated and pulled when you are in a Corrupt Area. You can know which flame/soul you are pulling if it is red.
		- You can use Resentful Souls to get a hit on a Rescuer and then down them with a regular attack before they can release.
		- Resentful Souls are also very good at either giving you a speed boost to catch survivors early game, or getting damage on Survivors who are not paying attention to the Souls.
		- You can angle the attack from a soul being pulled by moveing so that the Survivor is between you. The best time to pull a soul and hit someone is when they are in an animation, such as vaulting.
* By using good placement of Peaceful Pines, Axe Boy can connect multiple Restful Roads around a larger area of the map, helping him to gain more pressure on Cipher Machines or rescued Survivors.
* At full presence you can take advantage of survivors you can try chasing them off the circle of effect temporarily so that they get the movement speed debuff and potentially give you an extra hit.

**Survivor Tips**

* In early game, it is best to kite and Axe Boy outside of a Corrupt Area. However, once he gains full presence, and you are being chased within a Corrupt Area, do your best to stay within the circular boundary until you absolutely have to leave, as the slow down from leaving an area can give Axe Boy a free hit.
	+ If you must leave a Corrupt Area in late game, make sure it is not towards an open space, but rather towards a Pallet or window. Though watch for any Resentful Souls that he could pull towards you until you are fully out of the area!
* Always be aware of Resentful Souls while kiting, especially your own personal one. If you do not, it can be easy for the hunter to hit you from behind with a soul.
	+ Axe Boy pulls Souls towards him in a straight line, so if he's directly behind you, watch out for souls that are right in front of you, especially while vaulting or dropping a pallet, which locks you in an animation.
	+ You can see the trajectory of a soul/flame being pulled, as it will have a red line on the ground between the soul and Axe Boy.
* If you spawn in a common kiting area, have a teammate kiting nearby, or are going to work on a dangerous Cipher Machine, it may be good to dismantle the Corrupt Area affecting you or your teammate(s).
	+ If you don't want to notify the hunter of your position by breaking a tree, then fill the dismantling bar by 99% and only finish it when Robbie approaches you.
	+ Trees that have a Restful Road connecting them may also be good to dismantle at least 1 of the pair.

## Trivia

* In previous versions, before his buff, Resentful Souls would float around the map randomly, and the speed debuff for survivors did not exist
	+ Previous Description: *Over time, the Peaceful Pine seedlings will grow and expand its roots to form a Corrupt Area. As the seedlings grow, two Resentful Souls will converge unconsciously in the area. When many Peaceful Pine roots connect with each other, it will create a complete Corrupt Area. Robbie is able to control the Resentful Souls in the Corrupt Area to move them quickly to him in order to absorb them and gain a temporary acceleration effect. During this process, if the Resentful Souls comes in contact with Survivors, it will damage equal to one normal attack to Survivors and disappear. The Resentful Souls will reappear in the vicinity of the Peaceful Pine after 20 seconds.*

## Gallery

* Gameplay
* Costume Changes
* Concept Art

Default Peaceful Pine appearanceResentful Souls outlined - Red is selected, Yellow is notBlue circle outlining the Corrupt AreaRestful road between two Pines, note the blue glow on the cluster of roots

### In-Game

#### Costume

Golden Touch Corrupt Area concept artPrince on Ice Corrupt Area concept artIvan Corrupt Area concept artIvan Corrupt Area concept art