Root

## Overview

**Roots** are bizarre humanoid creatures typically found in natural areas. They resemble moderately decayed corpses infested with tendrils of parasitic plant life. Their heads are encased in wispy, rotting bark. They are the earliest enemies encountered by Hunters, in the opening passage of the Far West American Basin (present variations being the skele-root, baby root, li'l root, and tough root; the first standard route is encountered after the first clearing containing magnetic norths). They drop crafting woods, small amounts of chemicals and elements (including arcanum), body parts and rotten flesh, and various low level useful items. Some even drop assembled weaponry.

## Varieties

### Standard

Roots are simple, easy to combat enemies. Their attacks, though powerful, are slow and predictable, and limited to simple melee capabilities. Their regen may be difficult to outpace without a weapon which deals at least 3 damage on a standard strike, but will likely not put up much of a fight against such a weapon. Since standard roots appear to be more developed than most other varieties of root, crafting woods cannot be harvested from them as it has become too decayed. It is generally considered a good idea to farm roots in the early game, as they may drop a perfect condition wooden halberd, which is very useful for dealing with enemies like golems and ursus arcanis.

#### Drops

* 1-2x rotten flesh, commonly
* 1x maggot, uncommonly
* 1x wooden halberd, perfect condition, rarely
* 1x stick, commonly
* 2x wooden shard, commonly
* 1x one-cent coin, uncommonly
* 1x five-cent coin, uncommonly

### Baby root

The first enemy encountered in the game, the baby root typically proves to be a more formidable opponent than its name suggests; though its attacks are slightly weaker than the standard root's, they are quicker and harder to avoid. Their regen capabilities are easily outpaced even by an empty-handed Hunter, so long as the Hunter lands their attacks. Since their drops lack much value and they are uncomfortable enemies to fight, baby roots are considered more of a hindrance than an asset in all ways. However, they may drop weak poison which can be valuable in the early game.

#### Drops

* 1x bone, commonly
* 1x rotten flesh, commonly
* 1x potion of poison, rarely
* 1x phosphorus, uncommonly
* 2x stick, commonly

Some baby roots have access to an additional drop table, containing the following:

* 1x snapapple leaf, rarely
* 1x tomato soup\*, rarely
* 1x pretzel bread, uncommonly
* 1x chlorine dioxide (elemental), uncommonly
* 2x strontium nitrate (elemental), rarely
* 1x spruce log, rarely
* 1x rotten apple, rarely
* 2x silicone, uncommonly
* 1x arcanum, rarely

\*tomato soup is dropped by a single baby root found in the easternmost clearing of the Far West American Basin, at a 1/100 rate; this drop is considered highly valuable because it enables players to obtain a bowl earlier on than would typically be possible otherwise.

### Li'l root

The li'l root is tremendously similar to the baby root; it is nearly identical in almost every regard, boasting only slightly increased hitpoints and suffering from only slightly slower speed. However, unlike the baby root, the li'l root may drop crafting wood in the form of a spruce log. The li'l root also may drop poison, however, it seems to be even less likely than a baby root.

#### Drops

* 1x spruce log, rarely
* 1x bone, commonly,
* 1x rotten flesh, commonly
* 1x potion of poison, rarely
* 1x phosphorus, uncommonly
* 2x stick, commonly

### Tough root

The tough root is a variety of root which acts as a sort of stepping stone between li'l root and standard root; while its hitpoints are more in the range of the li'l root, its regen and damage output are on par with those of the standard root, though its speed is slightly slower than the li'l root, it is still faster than the standard root. As well as being able to drop a spruce log like the li'l root, the tough root may drop a blackjack, a useful weapon in the early game.

#### Drops

* 1x spruce log, rarely
* 1x bone, commonly,
* 1x rotten flesh, commonly
* 1x potion of poison, rarely
* 1x phosphorus, uncommonly
* 2x stick, commonly
* 1x blackjack, rarely

Some tough roots have access to an additional drop table, containing the following:

* 1x corn kernel, rarely
* 1x hunter's charm, rarely
* 1x spruce log, uncommonly

### Skele-root

The skele-root is much different than the other varieties of root; as it lacks any melee capabilities, its attacks are entirely range-based. The skele-root "wields" a rootbow, a parasitic growth on their left arm which functions as a bow, from which they fire standard arrows. As the ranged capabilities of low-level hunters are typically poor, skele-roots can prove to be challenging foes, as their arrows will slow oncoming attackers, giving them time to stay out of melee range. However, as they lack any regen, they are as good as dead once an attacker manages to get into melee range. Additionally, skele-roots are a good way for Hunters to improve their ranged capabilities in the early game, by utilizing the skele-roots plentiful ranged equipment drops.

A much bigger skele-root lives in a cavern within the walls of the Far West American Basin, sporting increased drop rates on rootbows and arrows, increased ranged damage, more than doubled health, and a melee attack.

#### Drops

* 1x rootbow, fair condition, rarely
* 1x rootbow, poor condition, rarely
* 1x rootbow, very poor condition, uncommonly
* 1x bone, commonly
* 2x bone, commonly
* 2x arrow, rarely
* 3x arrow, rarely
* 1x stone rod, uncommonly