---
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-13
type: mechanic
id: roguelike--family-13
lang: en
title: 'Damage, status effects and control'
summary: >-
  Damage and status effects change a target’s health, available actions and
  control over combat.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-13/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-13.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-13.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Roguelikes and roguelites
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-7f09c8a736762f4f
sources:
  - id: source-7f09c8a736762f4f
    title: Slay the Spire
    url: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: roguelike
    id: family-13
    title: Roguelikes and roguelites
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/roguelike/#family-13'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: 'Damage, status effects and control'
    description: >-
      Damage and status effects change a target’s health, available actions and
      control over combat.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/slay-the-spire-battle.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Slay the Spire
      sourceUrl: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
      originalUrl: 'https://www.megacrit.com/images/ss8.jpg'
      credit: Mega Crit
      rights: © Mega Crit. All rights reserved.
      caption: A card effect changes the enemy’s state
      alt: A card effect changes the enemy’s state
      markers:
        - x: 51
          'y': 87
          label: The consequences of playing the card
        - x: 70
          'y': 72
          label: The target state affected by the card
    tips:
      - 'Distinguish direct damage, ongoing effects and action restrictions.'
    examples:
      - title: Slay the Spire
        url: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/roguelike
---
# Damage, status effects and control

id: roguelike--family-13
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-13
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-13/

Damage and status effects change a target’s health, available actions and control over combat.

## At a glance

![A card effect changes the enemy’s state](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/slay-the-spire-battle.webp)

[Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/) · © Mega Crit. All rights reserved.

1. The consequences of playing the card
2. The target state affected by the card

- Distinguish direct damage, ongoing effects and action restrictions.

- [Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/)

## How it works

Damage and condition rules change health, action capabilities, and control over the target.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-13-variants"></a>

- Different types of damage: physical, fire, electrical and others <a id="variant-roguelike-13-01"></a>
- Vulnerabilities to certain types of attacks <a id="variant-roguelike-13-02"></a>
- Critical hits <a id="variant-roguelike-13-03"></a>
- Damage over time: poison, burning, bleeding <a id="variant-roguelike-13-04"></a>
- Effect builds up until triggered <a id="variant-roguelike-13-05"></a>
- Summing and updating state durations <a id="variant-roguelike-13-06"></a>
- Slowdown <a id="variant-roguelike-13-07"></a>
- Stun <a id="variant-roguelike-13-08"></a>
- Freezing <a id="variant-roguelike-13-09"></a>
- Immobilization <a id="variant-roguelike-13-10"></a>
- Throwing and pulling <a id="variant-roguelike-13-11"></a>
- Fear and forced flight <a id="variant-roguelike-13-12"></a>
- Provocation and change of target <a id="variant-roguelike-13-13"></a>
- Charm and passing to the other side <a id="variant-roguelike-13-14"></a>
- Silence and ability ban <a id="variant-roguelike-13-15"></a>
- Blinding and limitation of perception <a id="variant-roguelike-13-16"></a>
- Confusion of control or direction of action <a id="variant-roguelike-13-17"></a>
- Reduced performance and destruction of protection <a id="variant-roguelike-13-18"></a>
- Tags that enhance follow-up <a id="variant-roguelike-13-19"></a>
- Interaction of states with each other <a id="variant-roguelike-13-20"></a>

## Context and limits

A wide author's map of classic turn-based roguelikes, modern roguelites and hybrids. Families describe options for organizing a run, and not mandatory features of the genre. Constant metaprogression is not found in all roguelikes. Related systems can be combined; the list is not a closed standard.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/) (id: source-7f09c8a736762f4f)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors