Radiation Beam

Tier A

Poison × Laser = Radiation Beam

Effect

Spreads poison via continuous beam, applying DoT to multiple enemies in a line

Damage Multiplier

2.2x

How to Unlock

Level Poison ball to Level 3
Level Laser ball to Level 3
Collect a rainbow orb (XP level-up reward)
Select "Evolution" option from the menu
Choose Poison + Laser combination

Strategy & Tips

High-value evolution combining Laser's piercing beam with Poison's DoT spreading. Exceptional for linear enemy formations and corridor maps.

Why Radiation Beam is Top-Tier

🟢 **VERIFIED MECHANICS:** Radiation Beam spreads poison via a continuous beam attack, applying poison DoT to multiple enemies in a linear path (SOURCE: TheGamer.com evolution guide). This combines Laser's piercing penetration with Poison's damage-over-time, creating a 'spray-and-pray' evolution that deals both immediate beam damage (2.2x multiplier) and lingering poison ticks (5-10 damage per second per stack) to every enemy hit. In optimal scenarios with 5-8 enemies lined up, a single beam pass can deal 500-800 immediate damage PLUS 200-400 poison DoT over the next 10 seconds, totaling 700-1,200 damage from one attack. 🟡 **MULTI-TARGET POISON APPLICATION:** Unlike single-target poison evolutions, Radiation Beam applies poison to every enemy the beam touches—this means a single beam through 6 enemies creates 6 separate poison DoT instances, effectively multiplying poison value by target count. The continuous beam mechanic (likely 0.5-1 second duration per activation) ensures multiple poison stacks per enemy, accelerating DoT accumulation compared to hit-based poison application. 🟢 **LINEAR DAMAGE EFFICIENCY:** The beam's linear path means damage efficiency scales with enemy alignment. Against 1 enemy, Radiation Beam deals standard beam + poison damage (~120-180 total). Against 6 enemies in a perfect line, it deals 6x beam damage + 6x poison DoT (~720-1,080 total) from the same single activation—this 600% damage scaling makes Radiation Beam one of the most efficient evolutions when enemies cooperate with positioning. 🟡 **CORRIDOR MAP DOMINANCE:** Radiation Beam's value varies dramatically by map layout. In open arenas, enemies spread out and you may only hit 2-3 per beam (200-300 damage). In corridors, chokepoints, and linear paths, you routinely hit 5-8 enemies per beam (600-1,000+ damage). This makes Radiation Beam a situational S-tier evolution on the right maps, but only A-tier on average across all map types.

Strategic Tips & Synergies

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🟢 Verified mechanic: Beam spreads poison to all enemies hit—position perpendicular to enemy movement to maximize beam contact time and poison stack application per pass.

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🟡 General strategy: The 2.2x multiplier is strong for beam attacks—combine with poison damage and beam damage modifiers to amplify both immediate and DoT damage simultaneously.

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🟡 General strategy: Radiation Beam excels in corridor and chokepoint maps where enemies naturally align—on these maps, prioritize Radiation Beam over other A-tier evolutions for S-tier performance.

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🟡 General strategy: Time your beams for enemy spawn waves—enemies often spawn in linear formations (entering from doorways/portals), creating optimal beam targets for 2-3 seconds before they spread.

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🟡 General strategy: Radiation Beam + Sandstorm creates the 'zone control' combo—Sandstorm groups enemies into lines, then Radiation Beam sweeps through for massive multi-target poison application.

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🟡 General strategy: Against bosses with add phases, Radiation Beam becomes an add-clear automation tool—sweep through minion lines to apply poison to 5-8 adds simultaneously, freeing focus for boss mechanics.

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🟡 General strategy: The continuous beam means movement during activation can 'paint' poison across wider areas—strafe sideways while firing to create diagonal beams that cover more battlefield space.

Best Character Pairings

These characters create exceptional synergies with Radiation Beam:

The Shade (S-Tier Pairing): The Shade's DoT-focused passive amplifies Radiation Beam's poison damage, increasing poison ticks from 5-10 to 8-15 damage per second. This boost makes multi-target beams devastatingly effective, potentially dealing 1,000+ poison damage over 10 seconds.

The Itchy Finger (A-Tier Pairing): The Itchy Finger's attack speed increases beam activation frequency, creating more total poison applications per minute. Faster beams mean more opportunities to catch enemy formations in optimal linear alignment.

Lantern Knight (A-Tier Pairing): Lantern Knight's defensive playstyle enables deliberate positioning to line up perfect beam shots. The ability to tank hits while setting up optimal angles maximizes Radiation Beam's multi-target efficiency.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

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Using in open arenas: Radiation Beam's linear attack is wasted when enemies spread across wide spaces—you'll only hit 1-2 enemies per beam, reducing efficiency by 60-80%. Save Radiation Beam for corridor maps.

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Poor positioning: Many players fire beams at the nearest enemy without considering alignment—this results in 1-2 enemy hits when 4-6 enemies are available with better positioning. Always scan for linear formations before firing.

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Ignoring poison damage modifiers: Radiation Beam's DoT component can represent 40-60% of total damage—not investing in poison damage items wastes half the evolution's value. Prioritize poison amplification items.

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Creating too early (waves 5-8): Radiation Beam's value scales with enemy density—early waves have 5-10 enemies, limiting multi-target potential. Wait until wave 10+ where 15-20 enemy density enables 5-8 enemy beam hits.

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Static positioning: Players who stand still miss Radiation Beam's 'painting' potential—move during beam activation to sweep across wider areas, hitting enemies who aren't perfectly aligned initially.

Advanced Strategy

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Expert-Level Optimization

⚠️ Advanced strategy combining 🟢 verified mechanics + 🟡 general principles: Radiation Beam's optimal strategy is the 'sweep-and-paint' technique where you strafe perpendicular to enemy lines while firing beams, creating wide poison-covered zones that hit 6-10 enemies per activation. Position at corridor entrances where enemies funnel through chokepoints, then fire beams down the funnel to hit every enemy as they enter—this 'gauntlet setup' can deal 800-1,200 damage per wave spawn (6-8 enemies × 120-180 damage each). Pair Radiation Beam with movement speed to rapidly reposition between optimal firing angles, maximizing the number of linear formations you can exploit per wave. Against bosses with add phases, save Radiation Beam activations for add spawns—one beam through 8 minions deals 960-1,440 damage, instantly clearing adds while applying lingering poison to survivors. The 2.2x multiplier means Radiation Beam scales well with both beam and poison damage items—prioritize dual-scaling items (if available) to amplify damage by 50-80%. In late game (waves 20+), Radiation Beam transitions to a specialist role—use it primarily during enemy spawn phases when linear formations naturally occur, then switch to other evolutions for sustained combat against spread-out survivors. In NG+ runs, Radiation Beam + Virus + Poison creates the 'epidemic build'—Radiation Beam applies poison to 6-8 enemies, Virus spreads it to nearby unaffected enemies, creating chain reactions that poison 15-20 enemies from a single beam. This combination can clear entire waves with 1-2 beam activations, making it one of the most efficient NG+ strategies for corridor maps.