Bubbles: The Fast-Mana Catastrophe and Gaillard's Favorite Pet

Overview

Bubbles is a 5-star Legendary Ice hero from the Mighty Pets family, originally released in late 2022. In a game full of terrifying dragons and undead warlords, Bubbles stands out by being... well, an adorable cat in a mage robe. But don't let the whiskers fool you; this kitty has claws. He was one of the first heroes to introduce the "Shifting" ailment mechanic, making him a terror in wars and raids. While his stats have aged like milk left out in the sun, his special skill remains one of the most mechanically potent controls in the game.

There is currently no costume available for Bubbles. This review focuses on the base hero.

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Hero Art & Visuals

Bubbles is undeniably one of the most charming designs in Empires & Puzzles. He looks like a Sphynx cat (or maybe a Cornish Rex?) dressed in ornate, teal mage robes that perfectly match his Ice element. He wields a staff that looks suspiciously like a toy he'd chase around the living room. The "Spectral Vision" floating behind him adds a touch of spooky magic, reminding us that he is indeed the "Copycat of the Illusionary Arts."

The community has affectionately dubbed him "Gaillard's Cat" due to the similar color palette and stony aesthetic of the Gargoyles, which pairs hilariously well with the idea of a stone gargoyle keeping a soft, squishy pet.

General Info

Hero Stats

Stat Analysis: Here is the hard truth: Bubbles is suffering from significant "stat rot."

• Attack (869): In 2022, this was high. In 2026, where modern attackers boast 1300+ attack, it's underwhelming.
• Defense (830) & Health (1538): These numbers are now comparable to modern 4-star heroes. A modern 5-star tank like Telonius C1 has nearly double the survivability.

Bubbles relies entirely on his Fast mana speed and the disruptive nature of his skill to stay relevant. He cannot trade blows with modern stats; he must control the board before he gets hit.

Special Skill: Spectral Visions

Analysis: This skill is a masterpiece of design. It does three things, and two of them are excellent:

1. 480% Damage: Respectable sniping damage, though limited by his older attack stat.
2. -44% Defense: A massive defense down for a Fast hero. This sets up the target for a kill by your other heroes.
3. Shifting Mindless Attack: This is the crown jewel. If the target reaches full mana within 4 turns, they attack their own ally and drain their mana to zero. Crucially, the effect then jumps to the ally they hit and refreshes the duration.

The Strategy: Unlike most snipers, you often do not want to kill the target immediately with Bubbles. You want them to survive, reach full mana, trigger the Mindless Attack, and pass the virus to a teammate. It creates a chaotic chain reaction that can shut down an entire wing of the enemy defense.

By the Numbers

• Mana Speed: Fast (7 tiles). With a lvl 23 mana troop (or lvl 11 magic/styx), he charges in 6 tiles (Ghost mode) or easily in 3 matches.
• Damage Potential: 480% x 869 Attack = ~4171 Raw Damage.
  • Comparison: A modern sniper like Turundh deals 525% x 1320 Attack = ~6930 Raw Damage plus a second hit. Bubbles hits about 40% softer than the current meta.
• Defense Down: -44% is significant. It essentially increases all subsequent damage on that target by ~50-60%.
• Passives:
  • Minion Hunter: 85% damage to all enemies when a Fiend is summoned on them.
  • Minion Lover: +5% HP/Mana when an ally summons a minion. This can act as a pseudo-mana boost, potentially cutting a tile off his charge requirement in minion-heavy teams.

Family Bonus, Passives, Aether Power & Unique Abilities

Family Bonus

The Mighty Pets family bonus is niche. It buffs allied minions (+Health/Attack) and debuffs enemy minions/fiends on the hero. It's nice if you run a "Zoo" team (e.g., with Toto or Furdinand), but it's not a game-changer on its own.

Passives

• Wrath of Pets: Deals damage to all enemies if you dump a Fiend on them. This pairs beautifully with heroes like Ulius or Viscaro.
• Friend of the Familiars: Gains Mana and Health when an ally gets a minion. This is the stronger passive. Pairing Bubbles with a fast minion summoner (like Ginger or even Motega) can keep Bubbles topped up and firing constantly.

Aether Power

Attack Up: A generic boost. While more damage is always good for a sniper, a defensive Aether power like "Damage Reduction" or "Dodge" would have helped him survive in the modern era significantly better.

Legacy & Modern Relevance

• Historical Context: Upon release, Bubbles was a menace. The "Shifting" mechanic was new and terrifying. He was a staple in top-tier defenses and a priority target for cleansers.
• Power Creep: The stat gap is undeniable. Bubbles is squishy. A single hit from a modern sniper like Adelitza will likely vaporize him.
• Modern Viability Verdict: Niche / Offensive Specialist. He is too fragile for defense in the top meta. However, on offense, his control is still S-tier. If you can protect him (Taunt, Dodge) or fire him off quickly, he can single-handedly win a raid by locking down key threats like revivers or healers. He is still a superstar in Rush Wars and Tournaments where his mana control loops can spiral out of control.

Emblem Path Analysis

This is a point of contention. Do you embrace his role as a sniper, or build him to survive?

The Glass Cannon (Attack Path)

• Path: Attack > Defense > Health
• Pros: Maximizes his 480% hit. Makes him a threat to actually kill weaker enemies.
• Cons: He dies. Fast. A stiff breeze or a slash attack from a Titan might end him.

The Nine Lives (Defense/Health Path)

• Path: Defense > Health > Attack
• Pros: Keeps him alive long enough to cast his skill. Increases the chance the Mindless Attack "virus" has time to spread.
• Cons: His snipe becomes a "tickle." He relies entirely on the utility of the skill rather than the damage.

Final Recommendation

For modern play, the Defense/Health (Shield) path is highly recommended. Bubbles' value is in his -44% Defense Down and the Mindless Attack loop. If he's dead, he can't cast. If he kills the target outright with a high-attack snipe, the Mindless Attack doesn't shift, wasting the best part of his kit. You want the enemy to survive the hit so they can infect their friends.

Strengths

• Top-Tier Mana Control: Shifting Mindless Attack is arguably better than regular Mindless Attack because it can refresh and move.
• Dual Threat: Defense Down + Control in one skill is rare at Fast speed.
• Passives: Excellent synergy with minion-heavy teams (Waterpipe, Hulda, M&M).
• Titan Utility: High defense down makes him a solid choice for Red Titans if you lack a dedicated specialist like Frida or King Arthur.

Weaknesses

• Paper Armor: extremely outdated stats make him a liability against high-damage AoE heroes.
• Kill-to-Stop: If the target dies (either from Bubbles' hit or tile damage) before they reach full mana, the Mindless Attack effect ends and does not shift.
• Modern Immunities: Many modern heroes (Monks, Clerics, Toons) have high chances to resist ailments, and newer heroes like Hathor or Aramis provide ailment immunity, rendering Bubbles useless.

Best Game Modes

• PvP Offense: Precision control. Use him to shut down the left wing or a dangerous tank.
• Rush Attack: Very Fast speed makes him a machine gun of ailments.
• Red Titans: The -44% defense down is significant for high scores.
• Bloody Battle: Minion passives and direct damage excel here, and stopping healers via Mindless Attack is key.

Advanced Strategy & Team Compositions

Synergy: The "Zoo" Strategy

Pair Bubbles with Fast Minion Summoners.

• Team: Bubbles + Ginger (or Waterpipe) + Miriam & Midnight.
• Why: Every time minions are summoned, Bubbles gets 5% mana. With a cascade of minions, he can charge in ghost mode speed, firing repeatedly.

Synergy: The "Debuff Doom"

• Team: Bubbles + Gestalt (or any heavy hitter).
• Why: Bubbles applies -44% Defense. Gestalt follows up on the softened target for a guaranteed kill.

Counters & Anti-Synergies

• Counters: Monks/Clerics (Resist), Garnet/Hathor (Ailment Block), Toon Costumes (Passive Resist).
• Anti-Synergy: Heavy Snipers. If you pair him with someone who instantly kills his target, the Mindless Attack never triggers.

Advice for New Players

If you pulled Bubbles, celebrate! He is a game-changer for clearing map stages (bosses kill themselves) and winning raids you shouldn't be able to win. Prioritize his Defense path so he survives. He will carry you through most of Season 4 and 5.

Advice for Veterans

Bubbles is a "scalpel" in a world of hammers. He requires finesse. Don't put him on defense; he's food for modern attackers. On offense, use him specifically to counter slow, devastating heroes (like Alfrike or Rush tanks). He is worth Limit Breaking (LB1) for the stats, but think twice about LB2 (Alpha Aethers) unless you use him daily—his Aether power (Attack Up) isn't defensive enough to save him.

Community Corner: Hot Takes & History

• "Is it just me or is this hero kind of crazy…fast defence down AND shifting mindless attack…my goodness." - An early forum reaction that perfectly captured the hype.
• "This damn hero will be my undoing…the only one I wanted! but instead too much money later I get 3 hamsters…" - The classic Mighty Pets summoning experience.
• "I definitely agree... This hero should be all shields in emblem-path... I would want the opponent to survive a little bit, so it gets transferred." - Strategic consensus from the pros.
• "Bubbles looks like Gaillards cat dressed up for Halloween." - The definitive lore interpretation.

Final Thoughts

Bubbles is the definition of "aging gracefully" thanks to a mechanic that breaks the rules. While his stats may look like a typo compared to the monsters of 2026, the ability to turn an enemy team against itself is timeless. He's not a brute force hero; he's a trickster. Treat him like one, and he'll be the purr-fect addition to your roster.

Verdict: Still viable on offense, excellent for Titans, but keep him away from your Defense Team.