Spiff: The Fox Who Dodges Taxes and Special Skills

Overview

Spiff arrived in Empires & Puzzles in late 2024 as part of the Fox family within the Covenant Summon. He is a Fast mana speed Paladin who specializes in one thing: hitting hard and refusing to be hit back. With a kit built entirely around self-preservation and single-target elimination, Spiff is the kind of hero who survives the apocalypse just to say "I told you so." While he lacks the flashy "hit-all" mechanics of newer heroes, his unique "Lasting" buffs make him a sticky threat that demands a dispeller.

max

lb2

Hero Art & Visuals

Let's address the elephant—or rather, the fox—in the room. Spiff looks like he just speed-ran a platformer game from the late 90s. With his manic grin, oversized ears, and dynamic pose, he bears more than a passing resemblance to a certain crate-smashing marsupial. It's a refreshing, energetic design that stands out amongst the grimdark warriors and ethereal elves. He looks like he's about to spin-attack his way through your gem stash.

General Info

Hero Stats

Stat Analysis: As of early 2026, Spiff's stats are beginning to show their age. With a base power of 1148 and stats hovering around the 1225 mark for Attack and Defense, he falls significantly behind the latest modern behemoths (who are pushing 1300+ Attack and 2200+ HP). However, his stat distribution is perfectly balanced, and his Paladin class gives him that extra tankiness he needs to utilize his dodge mechanics effectively. While not "top-tier" in raw numbers anymore, his kit mitigates this lower stat ceiling.

Special Skill: Fierce Pierce

Skill Analysis: "Fierce Pierce" is a selfish but highly effective skill.

1. Lasting Bypass: This is the crown jewel. Unlike standard bypass that lasts for a few turns, this never expires unless dispelled. This means once Spiff fires, he ignores Defensive Buffs (like Defense Up, Counterattack, Elemental Defense Up) for the rest of the match or until an enemy specifically strips it.
2. 585% Damage: A 585% snipe at Fast speed is respectable. It ensures he remains a threat to key targets, even with slightly outdated attack stats.
3. Lasting Dodge: Similar to the bypass, this +50% Dodge against Special Skills stays on him indefinitely until dispelled. Combined with his family minion, Spiff becomes incredibly annoying to target.

Important Note: The "Lasting" effect creates a pressure game. If the enemy lacks a dispeller, Spiff eventually becomes a permanent piercer with a coin-flip chance to ignore their biggest nukes.

By the Numbers

Let's break down the math behind the madness.

• Mana Speed: Fast. With a level 29 Mana troop or a level 23 Magic/Styx troop, he charges in 7 tiles. This 7-tile breakpoint is crucial for any sniper.
• Damage Potential:
  • At ~1511 LB2 Attack (without troops), a 585% hit deals approx 8,839 raw damage value (before defense reduction).
  • Against a modern hero with ~1500 Defense, this translates to a solid snipe, likely dealing around 1100-1300 actual HP damage. It won't one-shot a full HP tank in 2026, but it will cripple a flank or finish a wounded wing.
• Healing Reduction: The passive applies a global -50% healing to enemies. If an enemy healer would normally heal for 1000 HP, they now only heal for 500. This is a massive net swing in total HP delta over a long match.

Family Bonus, Passives, Aether Power & Unique Abilities

Spiff's true power lies not just in his special, but in the passive pressure he exerts simply by existing.

Family Bonus

Analysis: The Fox minion is one of the best "starter" minions in the game. It’s not about the damage; it's about the 80% Dodge.

• Turn 0 Survival: Even before you make a match, Spiff has an 80% chance to dodge the first few hits or abilities thrown at him.
• Buff Stealing: If the minion dodges, it steals a buff. This turns Spiff into a passive dispeller/buffer.

Passives

Analysis: This is arguably his strongest feature. -50% Healing for ALL enemies.

• This is not a status ailment; it is a constant field effect while he is alive.
• It cripples heavy healer teams, makes "Boosted Health" much harder to stack, and turns attrition wars in your favor. It essentially acts as a permanent "soft" anti-healing ailment.

Aether Power

Analysis:Attack Up is the perfect choice for a sniper. Getting that +20% Attack for the first 6 turns ensures his first snipe (which should happen quickly at Fast speed) hits with maximum impact, helping to secure that crucial first kill.

Legacy & Modern Relevance

• Historical Context: Upon release, Spiff was seen as a solid, if somewhat "selfish," sniper. He didn't break the game like some multi-hitters, but his passive healing reduction was immediately recognized as a powerful tool for War depth.
• Power Creep Analysis: The damage dealers have evolved to hit everyone for 450%+, making a single-target 585% hitter feel a bit quaint. However, the utility of infinite Bypass and infinite Dodge keeps him relevant. He doesn't need to out-damage the new heroes; he just needs to out-last them and deny their healing.
• Modern Viability Verdict: Viable niche pick. He is no longer a top-tier defense hero due to his stats, but on Offense, he is a superb counter to heavy support teams. In specific metas (like Rush wars where healers are prevalent, or against heavy buffer teams), he shines.

Costume & Costume Bonus

As of this review, Spiff does not possess a costume. If one is released, it will likely need to address his stat deficiency to bring him back to the top of the meta.

Emblem Path Analysis

As a Paladin, Spiff enjoys a natural defense boost, but his role is to kill things.

The Aggressive Fox (Recommended)

• Path: Attack > Defense > Health
• Pros: Maximizes the damage of "Fierce Pierce." Since he relies on Dodge for survival, raw Defense is slightly less critical than ensuring his snipe actually secures a kill.
• Cons: Slightly squishier if RNG fails you and he gets hit.

The Immortal Pest

• Path: Defense > Health > Attack
• Pros: Makes him incredibly hard to kill when combined with his Paladin talent, Dodge, and Minions. Great if you are using him primarily for the -50% Healing passive.
• Cons: His snipe might fail to finish off enemies, leaving them with slivers of health.

Final Recommendation

For most players, the Attack Path is recommended. You bring a sniper to snipe. Rely on his Dodge and Minions for survival, and use emblems to ensure his bite hurts.

Strengths

• Healing Denial: The -50% passive healing reduction is game-changing against sustain teams.
• Sticky Buffs: "Lasting" Bypass and Dodge mean he requires zero maintenance once fired. He just keeps working.
• Survivability: Between Paladin defense, innate Minion dodge (80%), and Special dodge (50%), he is a nightmare to pin down.
• Counter-Meta: Permanent bypass ignores the ubiquitous Taunt, Counterattack, and Defense buffs.

Weaknesses

• Single Target: In a world of hit-all nukers, hitting one enemy feels slow.
• Dispellers: A timely dispel strips his "Lasting" buffs, leaving him exposed as an average-stat sniper.
• RNG Dependent: If the 50% dodge fails, he dies like any other hero. He relies on luck.
• Stat Creep: His survivability relies on mechanics (dodge) because his raw stats can no longer tank hits from modern 5-star snipers.

Best Game Modes

• War Attack: Excellent for dismantling healer-heavy defenses or tanky setups where you need to pierce through buffs.
• Buff Booster Tournament: His lasting buffs count towards the attack boost, and he bypasses enemy defensive buffs.
• Bloody Battle: Paradoxically, he is worse here because his main passive (-50% healing) is useless. However, his snipe and survivability remain good.
• Titans: Decent due to high attack stat (with emblems) and fast speed, but lacks defense down or elemental defense down.

Advanced Strategy & Team Compositions

Spiff works best when he is protected from Dispels and allowed to whittle down the enemy while they struggle to heal.

Sample Team Ideas

1. The "No Heals For You" Club:
   • Composition: Spiff - Anti-Heal Hero like G. Hippo or a Fiend summoner - Healer - Support - Sniper
   • Why: Combine Spiff's -50% healing with Fiends or other healing reduction ailments to make enemy healers effectively useless.
2. The Dodgeball Team:
   • Composition: C. Kadilen - Spiff - Constance - Healer - Dodge Hero
   • Why: Stack dodge heroes. It frustrates the opponent to no end. (Note: Dodge percentages usually don't stack directly, but having multiple dodge sources ensures coverage).

Counters & Anti-Synergies

• Counters: Dispellers (Sabina, Melendor, etc.) are his worst nightmare. They remove his "Lasting" edge. Sure-Hit Heroes (like the new Owls or anyone with "Never Miss") completely negate his dodge.
• Anti-Synergy: Do not pair him with other heroes who overwrite his buffs, though his are unique enough this is rarely an issue.

Advice for New Players

If you pulled Spiff early, rejoice! He will carry you through map stages and raids. The minion he spawns at the start is a massive safety net for difficult PvE levels. Focus on timing his special to finish off bosses or dangerous enemies.

Advice for Veterans

Spiff is a luxury tool. You don't need him, but you will want him when facing a timeout defense with 3 healers. Don't prioritize him over top-tier support heroes, but he is worth the tonics if you lack a reliable Green sniper or need specific anti-healing tech. Do not use Alpha Aethers on him unless you absolutely love his playstyle; there are better candidates for the LB2 materials.

Community Corner: Hot Takes & History

The community reaction to Spiff was mixed but affectionate.

• Many players immediately pointed out the visual similarity to Crash Bandicoot, leading to nicknames like "The Wumpa Warrior."
• A common sentiment was that while his stats were great at launch, he was "impact self" rather than "impact team," which limited his appeal compared to support heroes.
• One YouTuber noted, "He looks like he is hiding something," referring to his sneaky dodge mechanics.
• Another player summed it up perfectly: "Mediocre special skill but the passive is amazing."

Final Thoughts

Spiff is a hero who lives and dies by his passive utility. The damage is good, the dodge is fun, but the -50% healing aura is what keeps him on the roster in 2026. He's the pest that won't go away, the sniper that ignores your defenses, and the reason your healer is crying in the corner. While he may not be the king of the jungle, this fox is definitely cunning enough to steal a win.

Verdict: A solid B+ hero who ages gracefully thanks to unique mechanics, even if his biceps aren't as big as the new guys.