Hazards

*Just Shapes & Beats* is home to many **hazards** that can be easily predicted once learned. Some common hazards, such as lasers, are only used for their warnings and may not fire since there will likely be something to fill in for them (such as pistons extending in Vindicate Me).

This table shows icons for characters you will find on this page. Superscript (higher small) letters are for all of that hazard in that level, while subscript (lower small) letters are for some of that hazard.

## Common Hazards

Basic hazards that are found in most levels.

### Particle

Particles are small shapes sent out by various attacks, or appear on their own. They are the most common hazard in the game. They also appear in pulse bombs which will spread out a couple of particles. They also appear and sprayed from the side of the screen.

### Black Holes

**Black Holes** are common hazards in *Just Shapes & Beats*. They are large circles and are always forewarned by dotted rings indicating their initial radius. However, they can "overflow" this warning and expand beyond the warning. In some levels, the same black hole can be used several times. Such "recycled" black holes function as moving searchlights in Try This. Despite their name, they do not have any pulling force.

#### Special Variants

##### Searchlight (Special 1)

Searchlights are moving, reused black holes, only appearing in Try This.

##### Giant Bubbles (Special 2)

When a black hole is interacted with by other hazards, such as "popping" when hit with spears or being kicked around by pistons, it is considered a bubble.

### Exploding Spikes

**Exploding Spikes** (Also known as Pulse Bombs) are spiked balls that are thrown in from the edges of the screen. When they explode, they fragment into particles that fly in all directions. Although they do not directly damage nearby players (aside from the particles) when they explode, it's best to keep distance away from them. Dashing through after it exploded is a best way to avoid them.

#### Special Variants

##### Hyper Bomb (Special 1)

A hyper bomb is a exploding spike that continues to inflate for a while before finally unleashing a huge flurry of projectiles. One such bomb is in Chronos.

###### Rod Bomb (Special 1B)

A rod bomb is a exploding spike that detonates into rods that extend and then retract at the site of the "detonation". No other particles are unleashed. This bomb appears in Hype.

##### Pulse Square (Special 2)

Pulse squares are squares that act similar to pulse bombs. Unlike pulse bombs, they can appear anywhere on the screen, detonate without destroying themselves, and release larger squares. They appear in Core and HYPE.

###### Mini Pulse Square (Special 2B)

Mini pulse squares are (needless to say) smaller, destroy themselves, and release squares that are the same size of their circular brethren's particles.

###### Double Pulse Square (Special 2C)

Double pulse squares are similar to normal pulse squares, but when they vanish, they send out a second wave of squares.

##### Invisible Pulse Bombs (Special 3)

Invisible pulse bombs explode without appearing; they are just the particle ring. They do not damage players before detonation, and other hazards often guide players away from where they will detonate. For example, Termination Shock's initial black holes have two locations for repeating particle rings in their centers (one each), and erupt with common blind spots (i.e. their combined eruption areas don't cover the whole screen, even the overflows) to keep players at a safe distance from the rings once they detonate.

##### Pulse Plants (Special 4)

Pulse plants are functionally identical to normal pulse bombs, but are much larger, rise out of water, look like Plant/Cacti heads, and only appear in Lycanthropy.

##### Shovel Bombs (Special 5)

Shovel bombs are squares that get hit by a nearby shovel, then detonate into a ring of large square projectiles.

##### Amoeba Bomb (Special 6)

Amoeba bombs are amoeba that explode. See **Amoeba**.

##### Blister

Blisters are hyper bombs that fire out thornballs. They only appear in Annihilate (original mix).

### Beams and Walls

**Beams** (Also known as Lasers) and similar-acting **Walls** are two types of common hazards in *Just Shapes & Beats*. They cover an entire line across the screen, with walls being frequently thicker. Though they are functionally identical, the differences between the two are as follows:

 Warning animation
* Fades in
 Pre-firing danger
 Firing
 Exit
 Common Purpose

Walls are also slightly thicker than their warning and vibrate for a moment upon firing. Often, walls are used to restrict the play area (or forewarn of such a restriction).

#### Special Beams

##### Monodirectional Beams (Special 1)

Monodirectional lasers fire in only one direction and don't cover a whole line across the screen.

##### Rotating Beams (Special 2)

Rotating lasers spin around an axis point.

##### Beams with static warnings (Special 3)

The warning is immediately at full size upon appearing. Only appears in Annihilate.

##### Moving Beams (Special 4)

The beam moves after firing. Only appears in Close to Me.

##### Vibrating Beams (Special 5)

Vibrate in place, taking up slightly more space.

#### Special Walls

##### Neon Walls (Special 1)

Neon walls have a neon grid-like appearance and only appear in Into the Zone. Their appearance and disappearance are instant, so normal walls mask those.

###### Recoiling Deployer (Special 2B)

Recoiling deployers are sent back slightly when they deploy a sweeper.

### Tracks

    Tracks are harmful shapes (squares, circles, etc.) that follow a certain path. There are three types: sequencing tracks (shapes appear at the front and vanish at the back), moving tracks (actually move) and hybrid tracks (sequence while moving). Sometimes, these tracks have warnings that they are coming, but other times, they can come without it. Tracks can vary in speeds and can have straight or bent paths.

## Common Projectiles

Projectiles are shapes that go in one direction and come in many speeds, shapes, and sizes. They can be spawned on the edge or on a certain point on the screen.

### Round Spikes

        Round Spikes (Also known as Spikeballs, Shurikens [for Try This and On The Run], Buzzsaws, Sawblades [NEEDED], or Thorn Balls [for Annihilate and Till It's Over]) are one of the first hazards that a player will encounter in the game. They spawn on the far right of the screen, and then travel to the left in varying speeds.

##### Wallspikes (Special 1)

Wall Spikes act the same way as normal round spikes, but are large and travel in different directions. Most of their sprites are offscreen.

**Appearances**

* **Corrupted**
* **Logic Gatekeeper**S1**➡⬅**
* Try This
* On The Run
* **Final Boss**
* **Legacy**
* **Yokuman Stage**
* **Paper Dolls**S1**➡⬅⬆⬇**
* **Commando Steve**
* **Houston**
* **Mortal Kombat**

### Squares

(Pink) Squares spawn on the edges of the screen and go in varying directions. They are usually spawned in groups, due to their tiny size.

**Appearances**

* **Chronos**
* **Logic Gatekeeper**
* **Cascade**
* **Cool Friends**
* **The Lunar Whale**
* **Unlocked**
* **Wicked**
* **Yokuman Stage**
* **Paper Dolls**
* **Houston**
* **Mortal Kombat**
* **Crystal Tokyo**
* **Strike the Earth!**
* **Creatures ov Deception**
* **Deadlocked**
* **Level Editor**
* ----

## Dance floors

Dance floors (Internally referred as "SquareAppear") are hazards that are indicated by a low-opacity shape fading in while flashing pink & white, before popping in and becoming harmful. They then stay for a while before vanishing. These hazards are stationary, and come in various shapes and sizes.

#### **Appearances**

* **Milky Ways** - Squares
* **Cheat Codes**- Squares
* **Spectra** - Spinning hexagons
* **Unlocked** - Squares
* **Wicked** - Outlined squares with filled squares in them
* **Dance Of The Incognizant** - Spinning Shurikens
* **On The Run** - Shurikens
* **Core**- Squares
* **Strike The Earth!**- Rounded Squares
* **La Danse Macabre**- Circles

## Rare Hazards

More unique hazards that appear in only a few levels.

### Irises

**Irises** (Internally known in the editor as "CircleFromEdges") appear in Crystal Tokyo. They are functionally the opposite of black holes; they fill the whole screen except for the circle. A similar-functioning gun barrel view appears in Try This. A special octagonal version appears in Last Tile 海底撈月

Irises are also available in the Level Editor.

### Triangle Shooters

Triangle Shooters (Or Triangle Gunners) will move in from the right edge on the screen, then ease to a stop while turning white. They then shoot out a barrage of circles before leaving by sweeping left.

#### **Appearances**

* **Chronos**
* **Logic Gatekeeper**
* **Level Editor**

### Pistons

Pistons are two squares joined together by a thin rectangle. One end of the piston can extend, covering more space. Sometimes, the squares on the ends can rotate, such as in The Lunar Whale. Pistons can be joined together, with one square acting as the centre. The centre may rotate, making the pistons joined to it rotate with it.

#### Special Variants

##### Piston Crosses (Special 1)

Piston crosses are four pistons with a common center. All four pistons will extend at once.

##### Piston Blocks (Special 2)

Piston blocks are, aptly, 3x3 blocks of pistons, all joined to a common center. The center will pop in, then the heads, and then all nine pistons extend at once and immediately begin a slow retraction and a 90-degree spin during that retraction. When they fully retract, they stop spinning, flash, and vanish. This type of pistons only appears in The Lunar Whale.

###### Super Piston Blocks (Special 2B)

Super piston blocks are similar to normal piston blocks but larger and have more pistons in a different array. They only appear in the Hardcore Mode version of The Lunar Whale.

##### Piston Flowers (Special 3)

Piston "flowers" are twelve pistons with a common center. They "bloom" and retract clockwise, starting with the top piston.

##### Slingshot Pistons (Special 4)

Slingshot pistons act similar to the slingshot pillars from Termination Shock. They pop in, extend, and fling themselves.

##### Scrolling Pistons

Scrolling pistons slowly move across the screen. They can extend and retract.

#### **Appearances**

* **Cool Friends** S1
* **The Lunar Whale** ~~N~~ S2. S4 S2B!
* **Vindicate Me** S1 S3
* **Last Tile 海底撈月** S1

### Pill

Pills are hazards that flip to move. They only appear in Vindicate Me.

### Water

    Water is located on the ground. They can be created at the start of the level, or further into the level. Touching water will damage you. Water can be affected by other hazards, such as lasers, therefore creating waves.

#### **Appearances**

* **The Art Of War**
* **Dubwoofer Substep**
* **Lycanthropy**
* **Flowers of Antimony**
* **Level Editor**

### Cavern Spikes

Cavern Spikes act as borders to the map, to keep the player from hiding in a corner. They are usually is associated with water levels. In levels where there is no water, they usually appear when the level is scrolling, forcing the player to move or else they will be caught up in the spikes. Those spikes usually appear on the beat only.

#### Falling Spikes

    When cavern spikes are present, sometimes spikes will fall from it. Falling spikes can affect water. When a spike has fallen, the spike regrows at the top. It's possible for the same spike to fall twice in a row. In the list below, levels where spikes can fall are denoted by asterisks (\*).

#### **Appearances**

* **New Game ⬆**
* **Dubwoofer Substep ⬇\***
* **Lycanthropy ➡⬅⬆⬇\***
* **On The Run ➡**
* **Flowers of Antimony ⬇➡⬅**
* **Level Editor ➡⬅⬆⬇**

### Slingshot Hazards

Slingshot hazards are hazards that initially are immobile before suddenly sweeping in a direction after a short time. They can take different appearances. For example, Termination Shock uses pillars, with some being spiked and sweeping in the direction the spikes point, while The Lunar Whale slings extended pistons.

#### **Appearances**

* **Logic Gatekeeper** - Ball-Point Pens (internally "WallWithRoundTop")
* **Termination Shock** - Pillars
* **The Lunar Whale** - Pistons
* **Paper Dolls** - Columns of squares
* **Yokuman Stage** - Ball-Point Pens

### Rippling Squares

Rippling squares are, as their name suggests, rippling squares. However, they are able to fire rapid sinewaves of particles.

#### **Appearances**

* **Cheat Codes**
* **Clash** S

### Worm-based Hazards

These hazards are shapes with more shapes behind them, they curve around in a specific path.

#### **Appearances**

* **Barracuda**- Triangle Snakes, the head is outlined, while the body is filled
* **Annihilate**- Caterpillars, but they are made to look like a centipede
* **FOX**- Spiked Donuts
* **Crystal Tokyo** - Solid Caterpillars without the spikes
* Barracuda Snakes and Annihilate Caterpillars are available in the **Level Editor**

### Quad Shooter

Quad shooters are four-way hazards that make the directions they face difficult (if not impossible) to pass through without dashing.

#### **Appearances**

* **Try This** - Lasers
* **Wicked** - Square projectiles
* **Deadlocked** - Square projectiles
* **Level Editor** - Both above variants plus a unique radiowave-shooting variant

### Saw

Saws are hazards that appear in the industry overworld, Cool Friends, and Close To Me. They behave in three different manners in each respective level.

    A. Staying stationary. or following simple patterns.

B. Chasing the player on handles (Cool Friends.)

C. Slicing the ground kicking up dust (Cool Friends, Close to Me)

### Spiral

Spirals appear in Cascade, they extend multiple times

### Fired Spikeball

A spikeball that will fire from the sky. It appears in Final Boss.

### Bulls-Eye Bubble

Only appears in Barracuda. It flys to the player

### Bubble Planet

A hazard made to look like Saturn. It only appears in Sevcon.

### Octoshooter

An octoshooter that turns into a Square and shoots projectiles at The Player. It only appears in Deadlocked.

### Egg

A hazard that explodes and releases a Catepillar. It only appears in Annihilate.

### Claw

Claws only appear in Close To Me, which are used as the boss’s arms.

### Piston Plant

A corrupted cacti that stands on a pillar. The pillar rises, thus making the cacti closer to the player. It only appears in Final Boss.

### Blood

A hazard that drips out of the boss's eyes.

### Shockwaves

Shockwaves are often caused by other hazards or bosses. There are two kinds: ground shockwaves which are joined rounded pillars that get "higher" off their wall with more distance, and much rarer aerial shockwaves that only appear in Long Live The New Fresh, New Game, and Final Boss. G stands for ground shockwaves and A stands for aerial shockwaves. B stand for both.

##### Even shockwave (Special 1)

This shockwave is like the ground shockwave, but doesn't get higher and stays the same height as the centre.

#### **Appearances**

For this list, harpoons (half arrows) and single arrows indcate part of the side and straight double arrows indicate the entire side for ground shockwaves, while either an arrow or a circle indicate aerial shockwaves (the circle for safe omnidirectional aerial shockwaves). (↼ shows that waves rise left and are on the top, ↽ for waves from the left and near the bottom, etc.)

* **Long Live The New Fresh**- B (G↾↿; A ➡⬅⬆⬇)
* **New Game** - B (G ⇈; A ◯)
* **Termination Shock** - G ⇉⇇
* **Cheat Codes** - G ⇈
* **Close To Me** - G ⇈
* **Into The Zone** - G ~~N~~ S1 ⇈ ⇊
* **Final Boss** - B (G ⇈; A ◯)
* **Flowers of Antimony**- G ⇈

### Patrolling Shapes

    Patrolling shapes move randomly around the screen and have a trail behind them. They can be either circles or squares.

#### Appearances

 Tokyo Skies |  | ✓
 Creatures Ov Deception | ✓

### Rotary Cannon

Rotary Cannons are obstacles appearing in Core. They appear out of nowhere and fire shots rapidly in a spiral pattern.

### Spears

Spears are pillars that are capped with a spike.

#### **Appearances**

* **On The Run**
* **Last Tile 海底撈月**

### Cannon

Cannons are hazards that fire patrolling shapes. They only appear in Clash, however, The Boss has a cannon form that behaves much differently.

### Fired Arm

In Long Live The New Fresh, the Boss attacks by **firing its arm**, which flies to the wall and tunnels in, triggering an aerial shockwave and digging out debris.

### Orbiting Squares

Near the end of New Game, tiny squares begin to orbit around the center of the screen.

### Parabolic Spikeballs

In Lycanthropy, the boss summons **spikeballs that follow a large arc**.

### Spike Rain

In Barracuda, after the boss executes its final attack, this hazard begins. Tiny spikes slowly descend from the top of the screen in vast numbers.

### Fighters

Fighters are pink-colored sprites of **Liu Kang** from the video game *Mortal Kombat*. They only appear in the level of the same name that acts as a tribute to said game, Mortal Kombat. They either do the kick attack, quickly launching themselves from the right side of the screen to the left side, the bicycle kick attack, which launch themselves in an arc, and the upper cut attack, which fires several beams upon use.

### Shovels

Pink shovels that can fire from any direction. They only appear in Strike the Earth!

### Beakers

Large beakers with a pattern similar to water in them, that let out lethal bubbles. Exclusive to Flowers of Antimony.

### Flasks

Explosive flasks that either fall onto the bottom of the level or slam into either side of the level, causing an explosion in the process. These projectiles only appear in Flowers of Antimony.

### Florence Flask

A large, round-bodied flask that spawns on either side, and slowly drifts to the opposite side while rotating. It only appears in Flowers of Antimony.

### Scythes

Pink scythes that spin while traveling across the screen. They only appear in La Danse Macabre.

### Fireballs

Fireballs are obstacles seen only in La Danse Macabre. They appear at the start to form the Wisp Boss, and the first phase redux, where they orbit

around said boss.

### Royal Trumpets and Confetti

Royal trumpets will appear on the side of the screen, and then fire a flurry of lethal confetti. These only appear in In the Halls of the Usurper.

### Cauldrons

Cauldrons appear near the top of the screen, and will tip over after a short delay, pouring out their lethal contents. Exclusive to In the Halls of the Usurper.

### Amoeba

A cluster of circle outlines that sit largely in place, exclusive to Granite. Some send out 8 "tentacles" at 45 degree angles - others explode like pulse bombs.

### Voice Wave

Only appearing in Born Survivor, the voice waves follow the beat of the song, as well as the vocals. They emerge from the middle.

## Custom Level-Only Hazards

These are hazards that can be used in the level editor (exclusive only to a few). These may be implemented in future updates.

### Shockwave Bomb

The Shockwave Bomb is a bomb that is thrown to the floor and detonated, releasing a shockwave to one side. There is text above it saying "BOOM!"

### Triangle Jellyfish

The triangle jellyfish is able to swim around the screen, as if it was swimming around in water.

## World Map Hazards

Hazards that appear on the world map, what sequences they appear in, and the closest in-level equivalent

### Water

Closest in-level counterpart: Itself. Square must hop onto the Boat in order to traverse through water.

### Punch Press

Closest in-level counterpart: Pistons. They make an appearance in Industry, acting as hazards that the Square and the Helicopter must avoid.

### Gear

Gears are rotary obstacles that are found in the factory. They rotate with several other small objects, akin to a firebar from the Mario series.

### Stalactite

These obstacles appear during the chase from the corrupted plant.

### Corrupted Plant Head

These obstacles appear during the chase from the corrupted plant.

### Ring Rack Gear

Ring Rack Gears rotate and the players can use the holes in the to escape it

## Uncategorized Hazards

Hazards that have not been added to any of the above categories yet.

### Cube’s gear

A giant gear summoned by The Big Cube in Close To Me. However there are normal gears in Try This.