# \[Reported\] Boost Ratio oddities: Cunning, Rock Squid, etc **URL:** \ **Category:** Bug Reports\ **Created:** [June 19, 2023, 2:03am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258 "2023-06-19T02:03:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stratelier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Stratelier](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Stratelier)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 2:03am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258/1 "2023-06-19T02:03:25Z")
Platform: All? Description: There’s a surprisingly large number of Troops (and a few Weapons) where when you check the spell page, the game displays an incorrect Boost Ratio, or attempts to estimate the result incorrectly (for various reasons). This tends to fall into a few categories (screenshots/videos where applicable): Correct Boost Ratios with meaningless estimates: - Cunning _(effect boosted by enemy Life)_ - Rock Squid _(if there is a tie for most-used Mana Color)_ When viewing these spell pages, the Boost Ratio displays an estimate calculated at random – _literally_. Cunning, for example, strikes a target of choice plus one random target, with each hit boosted by that target’s Life. Unlike almost every other troop who boosts off a target’s stats (Tigraki Warrior, Rakshanin, etc), Cunning’s spell page displays an estimated value picked from a random target, which may NOT necessarily match the actual effect and is therefore meaningless information. Rock Squid, meanwhile, boosts based on the Gem Count of a “most used” Mana Color, which may either be a single color or a tie between several colors (in which case, the estimate picks a color at random). It would be better to display these estimates as a minimum-maximum range (based on all eligible targets), or simply follow the pattern set by most other Troops and remove the estimate entirely. For example, when casting Sapphire Knight (Convert Gems, Blue to Yellow) you have a Gem count _and_ an estimate under the Boost Ratio, but when casting Clockwork Sphinx (Destroy Gems, color of choice) you have only a Gem count and _no_ estimate under the Boost Ratio. “100:1” Boost Ratio shown on spells that don’t actually boost: - Forbidden Tome (weapon), Hive Mind, Illithian Colossus - Sileni Guard Curiously, most of these are “steal and shift” type spells, when _other_ “steal and shift” Troops (Caprinicus, Rubitressa, etc.) instead display a “1:1” boost ratio, when in this context the 1:1 ratio is implicit & probably doesn’t even need a helptext to begin with (e.g. Dark Priestess). Correct Boost Ratios with necessarily incorrect estimates: > **Nereida** > > [Gems of War bug: Nereida - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh_WZcpgDJ8) > > Key moment: With one Submerged ally, Nereida’s spellpage estimates +4 extra damage (total 21), but because that ally is Nereida herself, the extra damage simply does not occur. - Penglong, Spellblade, Tuzi _(boosted by Enchanted allies which MAY include self)_ - Voice of Orpheus _(boosts by Mana level on ALL allies including self)_ - Vanya Soulmourn _(boosts by Blessed allies which MAY include itself)_ - Undine _(boosts by Merfolk allies, which includes self; and Submerged allies, which may include itself)_ Because Mana Level, Enchanted, Blessed and Submerged are _necessarily removed_ upon spellcasting, these spells are always estimated _including_ themselves, when the actual effect is always calculated _without_ them. While this is most significant for Voice of Orpheus (a 21-point discrepancy between estimated and actual damage!) it affects at least all of the above Troops equally. Correct Boost Ratios with improper estimates: - [Sylph](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/sylph-feather-frenzy-boost-amount-incorrectly-displayed/80740) Sylph deals scatter damage “equal to my Attack, boosted by Brown Enemies”. The Boost Ratio is x10 per Brown enemy, but the calculation shown beneath it _also adds Sylph’s own Attack score,_ therefore overstating the effect of the Boost Ratio (even though the actual damage dealt is correct). ---
**Author:** ![DAeron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/daeron/32/89036_2.png) [@DAeron](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/DAeron)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 6:26am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258/2 "2023-06-19T06:26:52Z")
The “enemy’s mana color” thing applies to any mechanic with a similar description. The computer randomly chooses which color out of the 2 or 3 the target has to effect. I wonder if the second part you mentioned can be changed without effecting other mechanics worded similarly. ---
**Author:** ![Stratelier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Stratelier](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Stratelier)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 7:14am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258/3 "2023-06-19T07:14:00Z")
Correct, this isn’t about the spell effect itself, just the tooltip being useless for the spell it appears on. There’s one more troop with a bad tooltip – Illithian Colossus, which inexplicably displays a “100:1 Boost Ratio” despite that its spell effect (which, again, functions correctly) doesn’t even utilize a boost to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![DAeron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/daeron/32/89036_2.png) [@DAeron](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/DAeron)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 8:13am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258/4 "2023-06-19T08:13:24Z")
The weapon Memories of Stone has the same completely irrelevant Boost Ratio, 100:1. Misplaced tooltips wont go away though. If they did that then Zuul would make even less sense than he does now (check the discrepancy between the tooltips and the spell description) To be clear, i agree with you completely, im not arguing 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Stratelier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Stratelier](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Stratelier)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258/5 "2023-06-19T15:41:45Z")
> [@DAeron](#): > > The weapon Memories of Stone has the same completely irrelevant Boost Ratio, 100:1. This weapon? _“Drain 2 Mana from all Enemies, boosted (1:1) by Stone Blocks. Destroy # Gems of a chosen color.”_ Or did you mean Forbidden Tome? (Illithia Faction weapon) _“Steal # Magic from an Enemy and shift it to Attack. Then Enrage myself.”_ > [@DAeron](#): > > If they did that then Zuul would make even less sense than he does now (check the discrepancy between the tooltips and the spell description) Apparently that also affects Daemon Gnome (guaranteed kill) and Festival Cow (kill self). Lethal Damage itself does not have a helptext. ---
**Author:** ![Bramble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@Bramble](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Bramble)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 2:57am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258/6 "2023-06-20T02:57:44Z")
Hello 🙂 Just quickly acknowledging this thread: Please send all screenshots available for investigation! ---
**Author:** ![Stratelier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Stratelier](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Stratelier)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 6:31am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258/7 "2023-06-20T06:31:46Z")
I’ve … actually found quite a few more Troops with similar issues, but it’s late in my timezone right now so I’ll add my screenshots in tomorrow. I can however sort them into groups: Correct Boost Ratios with meaningless estimates: - Cunning _(estimated using a random enemy’s Life)_ - Rock Squid _(if there is a tie for most-used Mana Color, estimated using a random color)_ _It would be better to display these estimates as a minimum-maximum range. Or simply show the Boost Ratio itself, minus any estimated value at all. For comparison, when casting Sapphire Knight (Convert Gems, Blue to Yellow) you have a Gem count **and** an estimate under the Boost Ratio, but when casting Clockwork Sphinx (Destroy Gems, color of choice) you have only a Gem count and **no** estimate under the Boost Ratio._ Correct Boost Ratios with (necessarily) INCORRECT estimates: - Nereida _(boosts by Submerged Allies which MAY include itself)_ - Penglong, Spellblade, Tuzi _(boosted by Enchanted allies which MAY include self)_ - Voice of Orpheus _(boosts by Mana level on ALL allies including self)_ - Vanya Soulmourn _(boosts by Blessed allies which MAY include itself)_ - Undine _(boosts by Merfolk allies, which includes self; and Submerged allies, which may include itself)_ _Because Mana Level, Enchanted, Blessed and Submerged are necessarily removed upon casting, these spells are always estimated **including** themselves, when the actual effect is always calculated **without** them. This is most visible if they are the sole remaining Troop on their side, in which case the actual boost is +0 regardless of the estimate shown prior to casting._ “100:1” Boost Ratio shown (on spells that don’t actually boost): - Forbidden Tome (weapon), Hive Mind, Illithian Colossus - Sileni Guard _All of these have one thing in common: they “Steal and shift” a stat from an Enemy to an Ally. Other “steal and shift” Troops (mostly Wildfolk like Faunessa, Rubitressa, etc.) instead display a “1:1” boost ratio, when in these contexts the 1:1 ratio is implicit & probably doesn’t even need a helptext to begin with._ Curiously strange Boost Ratio: - Minogor: Boost Ratio says “20:3” - _why not round it to 7:1 or 6:1? This is the only boost ratio that is not specified relative to :1._ “Dispel” helptext shown on certain Lethal Damage spells but not others: - Daemon Gnome, Zuul’Goth _(kills enemy of choice)_ - Festival Cow _(kills self – when other sacrificial Troops like Sunbird and Princess Elspeth do NOT similarly show this helptext)_ _Lethal Damage should probably get a helptext of its own, e.g:_ > [@suggested helptext](#): > > “Instantly destroys a Troop. Any positive effects are dispelled.” ---
**Author:** ![Dank](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/dank/32/74470_2.png) [@Dank](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Dank)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 6:52am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258/8 "2023-06-20T06:52:18Z")
If developer time is to be given to this, perhaps Voice of Orpheus and Vanya Soulmourn can be looked at too, as described in [Damage done by Voice of Orpheus is not correct](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/damage-done-by-voice-of-orpheus-is-not-correct/56887). In short, the preview boosts are misleading because Voice of Orpheus has its mana set to zero before the damage boost is calculated when cast, and Vanya loses bless before the damage boost is calculated when cast. ---
**Author:** ![DAeron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/daeron/32/89036_2.png) [@DAeron](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/DAeron)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 10:16am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258/9 "2023-06-20T10:16:12Z")
Yep, forbidden tome was the one i meant lol ---
**Author:** ![Stratelier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Stratelier](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Stratelier)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258/10 "2023-06-20T17:33:12Z")
> [@Dank](#): > > If developer time is to be given to this, perhaps Voice of Orpheus and Vanya Soulmourn can be looked at too, as described in [Damage done by Voice of Orpheus is not correct](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/damage-done-by-voice-of-orpheus-is-not-correct/56887). > > In short, the preview boosts are misleading because Voice of Orpheus has its mana set to zero before the damage boost is calculated when cast, and Vanya loses bless before the damage boost is calculated when cast. You can also add Nereida and Undine to this list (boosted by Submerged allies, when Submerged expires upon spellcast). Edit: And also Troops that boost by Enchanted (Spellblade, Penglong, Tuzi). ---
**Author:** ![Bramble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@Bramble](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Bramble)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 2:19am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258/11 "2023-06-21T02:19:14Z")
Hello, 🙂 Just a quick heads up that we are aware of this boost ratio issue and the causes. As it is purely a display issue, and not breaking the game itself, it is considered a more low priority task. ---
**Author:** ![Tibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@Tibo](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Tibo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 6:35am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258/12 "2023-06-22T06:35:20Z")
These are cosmetic problems, but there are wrong boost ratios wich affect the spell. Voice of orpheus boosted by all ally mana, except his own, but it shown on the spell tooltip befor cast Boosted by blessed or submerged allies, cast removes the positive effect before the actual spell execution, making it less effective. ---
**Author:** ![Jeto](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/jeto/32/101682_2.png) [@Jeto](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Jeto)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258/13 "2025-07-09T22:06:25Z")
Thank you for this super detailed report by the way @Stratelier ---
**Author:** ![Jeto](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/jeto/32/101682_2.png) [@Jeto](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Jeto)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2025, 1:40am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-boost-ratio-oddities-cunning-rock-squid-etc/80258/14 "2025-07-10T01:40:42Z")
Late update here. For these two… > [@Stratelier](#): > > “100:1” Boost Ratio shown (on spells that don’t actually boost): > [@Stratelier](#): > > Correct Boost Ratios with improper estimates: Brought it up again with the team, and this happens as a byproduct of the way the spells are set up. Without totally gutting the spell to a whole new spell or changing it completely, this can’t be changed. _Did I pass on feedback already about that being an issue, yes_ And then these ones.. > [@Stratelier](#): > > Correct Boost Ratios with necessarily incorrect estimates: > [@Stratelier](#): > > Correct Boost Ratios with meaningless estimates: I have re-reported them to the team as actual bugs. But not really much more updates other than, they have been properly reported. Sorry it took so long.