Explosive Oak

* Normal
* Overworld

The **Explosive Oak** (**Territorial Oak** in its home game) is an enemy that is encountered in Peaceful Rest Valley in ***Section 2 - Oh, Mother***. It is initially disguised as a normal tree, but upon getting in close proximity, it will start move with increasing speed towards Kris. It is the only enemy that doesn't have a direct attack.

It originates from Earthbound.

## Attacks

#### **Side to Side**

* This "attack" is more of a support move of the Explosive Oak's. While it isn't able to deal damage to the SOUL, it will cause the Bullet Box to move side to side as a result. This will make dodging attacks from other enemies much more difficult.
* If the SOUL happens to be pressing against the sides of the Bullet Board, the Soul will be pushed during the Side Side attack.

#### **Overheated**

* This is the only attack the Explosive Oak has that can deal damage. As its name entails, the Explosive Oak will explode and sends out three rings of fire that will expand from where it was currently standing. This attack will only occur if its HP has been reduced to zero.
* Those that are on an Obliteration Route would want to kill the Explosive Oak last to avoid dealing with the explosion during other enemies' attacks.

The screen moving effect.The explosion after being defeated.
## Mercy

### Method

The Explosive Oak can be spared through sequences of ACTs to fill the Mercy Bar to 100%, making it reach Low HP, by using Sleep Mist when it is TIRED, or by making it the last remaining enemy in the battle. Each ACT will affect the Explosive Oak in different ways. What each ACT will do is listed below:

* Hug will cause the Explosive Oak to become TIRED.
* Convince will cause the Explosive Oak to leave the battle, effectively sparing it. **[Requires Susie and Noelle to be present]**
* S-Action will do nothing except bring up dialogue.
* N-Action will do nothing except bring up dialogue.

## Strategy

Excluding the Coil Snake, The Explosive Oak is the easiest enemy to spare in Section 2 and there are a couple of ways to go about it. One strategy is to simply use Convince to make the Explosive Oak leave the battle peacefully, which can easily be done on the first turn.

Another strategy would be to fill the Mercy Bars of the other enemies first and just use the SPARE command. The Explosive Oak will be automatically spared if the other enemies were spared with ACTs. This will not work if Sleep Mist was used.

You can also use the Hug command to make the Explosive Oak TIRED in order to pacify it and other enemies with Sleep Mist.

One final strategy is to simply make the Explosive Oak the last remaining enemy in battle. This will cause it to become spareable when that happens, but you can also use this chance to heal up with Heal Prayer as you will be safe for the battle.

Regarding fighting, Noelle's Ice Shock and Paula's PK Freeze will deal greatly reduced damage to Explosive Oak, while her PK Fire will instead kill it in a single hit.

## Quotes

* Susie: Uhh, the hell do you want me to do? **[S-Action]**
* Noelle: (Isn't it just a tree?) **[N-Action]**

## Flavor Text

* *Very flammable and territorial. Resistant to ICE attacks.* **[Check]**
* *Mobile Sprout and its explosive cohort appeared!* **[Encounter with Mobile Sprout]**
* *The deities of nature ambush you!* **[Encounter with two Mobile Sprouts]**
* *Smorgasbord Strikes Back!* **[Encounter with Spinning Robo and Li'l UFO]**
* *Explosive Oak looks really clueless.* **[Neutral]**
* *Explosive Oak doesn't know why it's here.* **[Neutral]**
* *You hugged the tree. The tree felt more relaxed. It became TIRED.* **[Hug]**
* *Everyone somehow convinced the tree to leave you alone. Explosive Oak left the battle.* **[Convince]**
* Explosive Oak is starting to heat up. **[Explosive Oak at Low HP]**

## Trivia

* Just like in Earthbound, Ice Shock and PK Freeze will do very little damage to the Explosive Oak due to its resistance towards ice.
	+ On the other hand, Paula's PK Fire will deal increased damage.
* The Explosive Oak explodes just like it does in Earthbound.
* The Side to Side attack is a reference to one of its moves in Earthbound, Brainshock a, which makes the screen move side to side in a similar fashion.