Mail-Cheeked Fish

Mail-cheeked fishes, also known as Scorpaeniformes or mail-cheek fishes, are a guild which includes some of the premier venomous osteicthyan builds in the game, the Lionfish and the Stonefish. They usually specc into sharp spines, giving them a high Defense stat. Some guild analysts have considered them to be Perciforms.

## Notable Builds

### Stonefish

Along with the Lionfish, the Stonefish is one of the most popular Mail-cheeked fish builds in the game. Although the Lionfish specced into venomous spines,this build takes it even further and specced into the [Death (Medium Animals)] trait for its venom.Since venom is an active ability, it can easily specc into [Textured Camouflage].However, when its Defense and Stealth stats fail, it certainly meant a game over due to its low Mobility and Health (for a defensive build).

### Lionfish

The most famous Mail-cheeked fish build, aside from the Stonefish. It is native to the Indo-Pacific servers but have been playable in Atlantic servers as well. It speccs into bright colors to increase its Intimidation along with its venomous spines, garnering it a high Defense stat. It is capable of channeling [Water Jet], diverting many players into its mouth and easily scoring kills. They can easily creat powercreep, since many fish mains will not recognize this build as a ganker. Neverethless, aiming at the head is a good way to counteract the defenses of this build. It is a good build, being B-tier.

### Lingcod

This build, also known as buffalo cod or cultus cod, is found in the west coast of the North American Server.While it still speccs into sharp spines, these do not give as much Defense as either the Lionfish  or the Stonefish, It makes up for it with increased Health and Power. It also specced into decent camouflage for good Stealth. B-tier at best.

### Blobfish

This Mail-cheeked fish buildis playable in The Abyss. This build speccs into [Gelatinous Skin] and [Acid Skin] to make up for its lack of sharp spines. However, with moderate stats, this build is only a C-tier.

## Referrences

1. ↑ https://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:4a969e27-3c4a-485d-a53a-6e3f7a969e6e
2. ↑ http://portugal.inaturalist.org/taxa/47286-Scorpaeniformes
3. ↑ https://www.invasive.org/browse/subinfo.cfm?sub=12249
4. ↑ https://oceana.org/marine-life/ocean-fishes/stonefish
5. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/animal/scorpaeniform/Reproduction
6. ↑ https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Perciformes
7. ↑ https://fishingbooker.com/blog/scorpionfish-lionfish-stonefish/
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/stories/lionfish/lion04\_biology.html
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 https://www.leisurepro.com/blog/explore-the-blue/stonefish/
10. ↑ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/67171/what-difference-between-venom-and-poison
11. ↑ https://myanimals.com/animals/wild-animals-animals/fish-wild-animals-animals/the-stonefish-master-of-camouflageabitant/
12. ↑ https://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/stonefish\_facts/480/
13. ↑ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/r/red-lionfish/
14. ↑ https://www.sailorsforthesea.org/programs/ocean-watch/lionfish-invasion
15. ↑ https://www.ducksters.com/animals/lionfish.php
16. ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pacific-red-lionfish-blows-jets-of-water\_n\_1302264
17. ↑ https://www.livescience.com/why-lionfish-invading-atlantic.html
18. ↑ https://lionfish.co/why-are-lionfish-a-problem/
19. ↑ https://www.hakaimagazine.com/features/taming-lionfish/
20. ↑ https://www.fishwatch.gov/profiles/lingcod
21. ↑ https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/lingcod
22. ↑ https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=SOMaEEL-4FAC&pg=PT21&lpg=PT21&dq=do+ling+cod+have+sharp+spines&source=bl&ots=s8DdMouFK1&sig=ACfU3U0tcfQ7K4GPIHltxwlmiAp0q7A9Sw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi3uoeyxLDpAhVFeXAKHaDUA4kQ6AEwDHoECAYQAQ#v=onepage&q=do%20ling%20cod%20have%20sharp%20spines&f=false
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 https://thisfish.info/fishery/species/lingcod/
24. ↑ https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ophiodon\_elongatus/
25. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/12/blobfish-world-ugliest-animal
26. ↑ https://untamedscience.com/biodiversity/blobfish/
27. ↑ https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2020/01/10/an-ode-to-the-blobfish/
28. ↑ https://www.surfertoday.com/environment/what-is-a-blobfish
29. ↑ https://www.weekendnotes.com/blobfish-worlds-most-ugliest-animal/