Slayer

Event Content

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NoobsAreCoolAndCoolerThanCasual/Slayer has been made unobtainable from the game as of the ...I dunno, as it was part of the Haunted Harvest.
Players with the item in question can continue using it, but you cannot obtain this item anymore, outside of limited-time promotional sales.

Ignite the frontlines with relentless malice by crushing foes with a searing mace, chaining explosions as every scorched enemy turns into a living time bomb!
Unlock Cost	Triumph Haunted Harvest on Easy difficulty
Role	Offensive
Placement	Ground
Placement Limit	12
Statistics
Base Cost	$650
Base Selling Cost	$216
Base Damage	3
Damage Method	Single Burn Splash (Malice)
Base Firerate	0.758
Base Range	6
Lead Detection	N/A
Flying Detection	Level 3
Immunities	None
Placement Footprint	Small (1)

Overview

'The Slayer is a unique melee tower awarded upon triumphing Haunted Harvest on easy mode or alternatively bought via gamepass for 199'. Wielding a brutal mace, the Slayer delivers swift, moderate-damage strikes that stack burn effects with every hit. Burn stacks accumulate up to a cap determined by the Slayer's level, and play a central role in his signature playstyle: relentless offense and explosive payoff.

At the core of the Slayer's mechanics is the passive Malice. Whenever the Slayer tags an enemy with a burn stack, that foe becomes “armed.” Once the enemy moves out of the Slayer's range, they are “lit”—and as their burn stacks are consumed, a timer begins. When all stacks are depleted, the target explodes, dealing damage equal to 5× the highest number of burn stacks applied at once (doubled to 10× at maximum level). For example, if an enemy reaches 50 burn stacks, the explosion will deal either 250 or 500 damage depending on the Slayer's level. Additionally, Malice explosions will stun the enemy, with stun time increasing proportional to the maximum amount of stacks applied.

This explosive trait doesn’t end there: if a blasted enemy is near others when it detonates, each adjacent foe is immediately armed with half the burn stacks, primed for their own rapid combustions. This chain-reaction mechanic lets the Slayer trigger devastating crowd clears in tightly packed waves.

Additionally, the Slayer inflicts knockback with every third melee hit, escalating to knockback on every strike at max level, offering powerful control against a variety of enemies.

While the Slayer is relatively affordable and capped at twelve per player, mastering him requires foresight, tactical timing, and synergy with towers such as Freezer. Skilled use rewards patient accumulation—a well-built Slayer setup can turn dense enemy hordes into lethal firestorms, but careless placement may leave his explosive potential untapped.

In summary, the Slayer is an aggressive, crowd-breaking tower best for those who relish chain reactions and thrive on managing risk and reward. With strategic play, even the trickiest waves can be reduced to scorched earth.

Upgrades

Incendiary Integrations

Level 1 • Cost: Incendiary Integrations - $400

0.758 > 0.708 Firerate

+1 Range

3 > 5 Max Stacks

Sell price changes to $350

Vengeful Vanguard

Level 2 • Cost: Vengeful Vanguard - $3,500

0.708 > 0.508 Firerate

+15 Damage

5 > 25 Burn Stacks

+5 Knockback Force

0 > 2s Malice Explosion Stun Time

Sell price changes to $1,516

2f14

File:Eb18342c • Cost: 2f14-4fcc-8fe6-e4b2702d2bf4.sketchpad (4).png

+3 Range

0.508 > 0.308 Firerate

+17 Damage

25 > 50 Burn Stacks

0.1 > 0.05 Tick

+Flying Detection

+Knockback Every Hit

5 > 10x Malice Explosion Damage

+4 Malice Explosion Radius

2 > 5s Malice Explosion Stun Time

Sell price changes to $5,016

Stats Table

To see all the previous statistics of this tower, see the Withers is afraid of Slayer page, while for the statistics without the Firerate Bug, visit the Firerate Bug page.

Level	Total Price	Damage	Burn Damage	Firerate	Knockback Force	Tick	Max Stack	Total Elapsed Damage	Malice Explosion Multiplier	Malice Explosion Radius	Malice Stun Time	Range	DPS	Cost Efficiency
0	$650	3	1	0.758	15	0.1	30	3	5x	6	N/A	6	3.96	$164.14
1	$1,050	3	1	0.708	15	0.1	30	5	5x	6	N/A	7	4.24	$247.64
2	$4,550	18	1	0.508	20	0.1	30	25	5x	6	2s	7	35.43	$128.42
3	$15,050	35	1	0.308	20	0.05	50	50	10x	10	5s	10	113.64	$132.44

Skins

To see all the upgrades of a skin, see the yes page.

	ACE I SWEAR TO GOD, IF YOU GAMBLE ONE MORE TIME I'LL KILL YOU MYSELF!
Skin	Vanguard
Rarity	Event
Obtained From	Haunted Harvest Season

Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

Strong and cost-effective melee damage dealer when properly supported. At max level, flail attacks can strike enemies slightly beyond the Slayer’s melee radius, making it likely that each enemy in its lane is tagged with at least one hit before exiting range. Every third hit applies knockback, and every hit at max level does so, providing frequent displacement and extra time for burn and Malice to work. Burn stacks decay very quickly once an enemy leaves range, allowing Malice explosions to trigger in rapid succession. Burn stacks from multiple Slayers combine, reaching up to 600 stacks on a single enemy (up to 6,000 Malice explosion damage). Burn stacks also increase when paired with other burn-based towers such as the Pyromancer, dramatically amplifying Malice explosion damage when coordinated correctly. Synergizes strongly with Hallow Punk, combining frontline control with high-risk, high-reward burst. Malice explosions apply powerful stuns in a large radius, disrupting multiple enemies at once. Malice reverb enables chain reactions that can sweep through dense crowds, dealing massive cumulative damage. Malice explosions stack with the Toxic Gunner’s Biohazard detonations, creating layered on-death effects for overwhelming wave clear. Hard-counters necromancer-type enemies, as their summons become additional bombs that detonate near the summoner. Placement limit of 12 allows for high aggregate damage while remaining relatively affordable for an event tower. Has higher base range than most melee towers, giving it more uptime and better coverage in chokepoints. Gains flying detection at max level, granting rare anti-air capability for a short-range hybrid tower. When multiple burn towers are present, the highest burn stats are preserved on Malice explosions, letting the Slayer “supercharge” stronger burn effects such as bottom-path Annihilator. Malice chain reactions can theoretically hit an unlimited number of enemies, making the Slayer especially effective against on-death summoners like Breakers. High-impact Malice effects compensate for the Slayer’s otherwise mediocre raw cost efficiency. Being unlocked by triumphing Haunted Harvest on easy mode gives players relatively accessible access to a complex, high-ceiling tower. Base stats are comparable to Assassin, making Slayer a viable melee alternative even before Malice is fully utilized.

Somewhat expensive for a 3‑level tower, especially considering its reliance on synergy. Only average at stalling compared to dedicated slow or stun towers. Strongly dependent on other towers to reach full potential; performs poorly in isolation. Accumulative design encourages building an entire loadout around burn stacking, similar to Swarmer, which can reduce flexibility. Requires substantial investment and setup before noticeably benefiting the player. Underwhelming in pure single-target situations compared to dedicated boss killers. Although Malice has a large explosion radius (exceeding Mortar), only half of the applied stacks are passed on, causing its wave-wide damage to fall off quickly. Extremely vulnerable to stuns and disruptions, creating a situation similar to Slasher where stunners can completely cripple performance. Without Malice considered, raw cost efficiency is poor compared to more straightforward melee towers. Lacks hidden detection, and lead enemies are only affected by its burn damage and Malice explosions, not direct hits. Performs poorly as a sub-DPS or “filler” tower, being outclassed in accessibility and consistency by options like Minigunner. Less effective in solo and duo matches, where placement limits can heavily cripple performance. Struggles heavily if paired without stalling or grouping tools to keep enemies within its reach. Can miss swings due to weapon arc and enemy movement, causing occasional gaps in burn application. Level 1 performance is very weak, heavily incentivizing a rush to max level before it feels impactful. Highly reliant on support towers such as Commander to build and maintain sufficient burn stacks in time. Struggles against high-defense enemies due to relatively low direct hit damage. While capable of becoming one of the strongest crowd-control options, the number of conditions required (synergy, stalling, support, and positioning) makes the Slayer difficult to use effectively. Functionally overlaps with Sledger in the elemental debuff niche, forcing players to choose between similar roles. Practically useless against enemies with Burn immunities. Outclassed in straightforward melee roles by simpler alternatives such as Brawler when Malice mechanics are not fully exploited.

Lore

The Slayer is not just a brawler with a mace; he is half of a broken duo.

Before Haunted Harvest, the Slayer and his older sister, the Hallow Punk, roamed from town to town as a two‑person squad. She was the mind, he was the muscle. Hallow Punk crafted gadgets, traps, and weapons, while the Slayer threw himself headlong into danger with reckless joy. Together, they kept remote villages safe from stray horrors left behind by god cube activity, earning a quiet reputation.

Their partnership crystallized in the Slayer’s weapon. Hallow Punk forged him a heavy, iron mace with a hidden twist: each strike injected thermal charges—bombs keyed to body heat and motion—into whatever he hit. Enemies that escaped his range would eventually detonate, shredding their own ranks in the process. The siblings jokingly called the effect “Malice,” but it became the cornerstone of their fighting style; she would herd and stall, he would mark enemies, and falling back was never safe for their targets.

That all changed when Pumpking Ominous set his sights on the region.

During one raid, the siblings were ambushed by Ominous' forces, led by Withers, the Harvester, one of the king’s necromantic Gourdians. What began as a standard defense turned into a desperate stand. The Slayer fought with brutal efficiency, detonating wave after wave of gourd constructs and undead. In the climax of their duel, he hammered Withers so hard that all four of the necromancer’s limbs were blasted apart, forcing Withers to rely on grafted, artificial replacements from that day on.

But victory came at a cost. Snarling through the pain, Withers used what remained of his shard‑charged power to tear open a rift beneath the Slayer’s feet, hurling him into the Nightmare Realm—an echoing pocket dimension of Night 2 Hexscape, warped by Conserver’s influence and god cube residue. The portal snapped shut before Hallow Punk could reach him. Brother and sister were separated in an instant.

The Nightmare Realm was not built for mortals. Time bent strangely, landscapes reset like broken records, and twisted echoes of enemies stalked ruined streets. Armed only with his original mace and fading hope, the Slayer survived by sheer stubbornness. He learned to fight half‑real phantoms, unstable constructs, and creatures that reformed after death, relying on Malice detonations to clear space and steal precious moments of rest. Every loop of the realm taught him new patterns, but it also wore him down; the longer he remained, the more the realm tried to claim him.

Eventually, his path crossed the realm’s warden: the Conserver.

To the Conserver, the Slayer was just another invader tampering with a fragile ecosystem of sealed threats and recycled nightmare energy. The two clashed in a grinding, attritional battle, each testing the other’s limits. The Slayer’s Malice bombs disrupted the Conserver’s careful balances; the Conserver’s reality‑bending counterstrikes forced the Slayer to adapt or die. When neither could easily break the other, they reached an uneasy stalemate.

Recognizing the Slayer’s determination and the fact that he did not come seeking power, the Conserver proposed a bargain: if the Slayer could survive a final trial and prove he would not abuse what he had learned, he would open him a path home—but warned that any future intruder would not be treated so kindly. The Slayer accepted, fought through the trial, and barely prevailed. True to his word, the Conserver allowed him to leave, but the scars remained. From that day forward, the Conserver viewed any new arrivals—such as the T.D.S. Organization during Hexscape—as dangerous meddlers threatening to repeat the damage the Slayer’s presence had already done to the realm’s delicate structure.

Cast back into the mortal world, the Slayer emerged exhausted, disoriented, and alone in a region already reshaped by Ominous' raids. His first instinct was simple: find his sister. He followed rumors of a rebellious "punk" gourd, helped defend vulnerable towns, and traded his strength for information. Each victory left behind charred craters and stories of a flaming mace that turned monsters into walking bombs, but every lead about Hallow Punk ended with the same answer—she had moved on, or vanished, just before he arrived.

Eventually, the Slayer settled temporarily in a modest town on the outskirts of Trick‑or‑Retreat’s influence, using his skills to shield civilians from roaming gourd patrols. For a brief moment, it seemed he might carve out a new purpose: protect others until he could track his sister down for good.

Ominous had other plans.

The Pumpking launched a full raid on the town, amused by the tales of a “bomb‑mace warrior” wrecking his scouting parties. The Slayer confronted him head‑on, Malice detonations ripping through wave after wave of gourds. Yet against Ominous' full power and the accumulated force of multiple shards, his efforts weren’t enough. The Pumpking toyed with him, shrugging off hits, mocking his persistence, and ultimately overpowering him. Instead of killing the Slayer outright, Ominous saw an opportunity: a melee specialist whose very presence turned enemies into explosives would make an entertaining defender—especially if broken and repurposed.

Taken captive and bound by Ominous' shard‑augmented control over gourds and shard‑touched beings, the Slayer was forced into service as one of the Pumpking’s defenders during Haunted Harvest. He retained his combat instincts, but his agency was buried under layers of mental chains and command signals. Worse still, Ominous had access to remnants of Hallow Punk’s original designs thanks to his Gourdian of ingenuity.

When Jennifer Lennox (Jackie Lantern) defected to the T.D.S. Organization, she recognized the engineering style in the Slayer’s gear. Horrified at how Ominous had twisted the siblings’ work, she secretly began designing an upgrade—a way to both restore the Slayer’s edge and potentially break Ominous' grip if the moment arose. The result was the Slayer’s Mace MK II: twin chained flails that used a more advanced, bio‑mechanical variant of Malice, which can be seen at the Slayer's maximum level.

Instead of injecting simple charges, the MK II flails delivered volatile microorganisms engineered to respond to rising body heat and energy concentration. The longer enemies remained active—and the more stress they endured—the closer they came to catastrophic, chain‑reaction explosions. In practice, this amplified the Slayer’s old style: where Hallow Punk’s original mace planted bombs, Lennox’s flails turned enemies into walking reactors.

During Haunted Harvest, the Slayer fights on Ominous' side under compulsion, his upgraded flails lashing out and sowing devastation among T.D.S. forces. Yet beneath the control, his core desire never changed: find his sister and fight by her side again. Every Malice detonation, every shattered wave, every narrow survival is another step in a journey he never chose—but one he endures in the hope that, if the Pumpking falls and the shards’ influence breaks, he might finally walk free.

In the end, as Ominous' ambitions collide with the T.D.S. Organization and Lennox’s plans, the Slayer’s fate hangs in the balance. Will the chains binding him to the Pumpking’s will be severed, granting him the chance to continue his search for Hallow Punk? Or will he remain a weapon on someone else’s stage, his dream of reunion lost beneath the roar of Haunted Harvest’s final chorus?

Trivia

• The Hallow Punk is the Slayer’s older sister, acting as the “brains” to his “brawn.”
  • She originally forged his mace to inject explosive charges into enemies, which later evolved into his Malice passive.
    • After the events of Haunted Harvest and Hexscape, the siblings are finally reunited, bringing their frontline duo back together.
• Following Haunted Harvest, the Slayer and Sledger become close comrades, bonding over their shared role as aggressive, melee‑range crowd control specialists.
• Lore-wise, the Slayer has fought and survived encounters with high-tier bosses such as Withers and the Conserver, both of whom possess hundreds of thousands of health.
  • His reduced strength in-game is explained by Ominous siphoning a large portion of his power during captivity.
• The Slayer and the Annihilator maintain a friendly rivalry, frequently arguing over who should control the frontlines during operations.
  • The Rifleman is notably fond of the Slayer, as the Slayer’s recklessness and determination remind him of his own older brother.
• According to the Medic, the Slayer is one of her most frequent visitors, largely due to his preference for up-close combat and the collateral damage from his own Malice explosions.
  • Ironically, because the Slayer turns enemies into walking bombs, he often ends up taking chip damage from his own detonations.
• In terms of development, the Slayer was the final event tower designed for Haunted Harvest and was largely conceived late in production.
  • Early concepts portrayed the Slayer as a more straightforward, Warden-like single-target melee tower that simply applied burn. This idea was scrapped for being too bland compared to other event towers.
• The Slayer once had a planned secret fourth level, unlocked by triumphing Haunted Harvest’s Encore wave.
  • This concept was removed to avoid overlap with the Reaper’s unlock method and to prevent an exclusive “hidden” level on a three-level tower from complicating balance.
• In one of the earliest drafts, the Slayer’s working name was “Macer,” inspired by Mar blox star’s fanmade TDS Skeleton Event video.
• The Vanguard skin for the Slayer is based on the creator’s OC, Spade—a shell-shocked war veteran who weaponizes his own blood.
  • The skin’s description directly references Spade’s conversations with the creator’s main OC, Ace, in which Spade criticizes Ace’s risky “Wager” ability.
• The Slayer’s favorite game franchise is the DOOM series, which he enjoys for the simple reason that it involves “slaying demons non-stop."

Update History

For previous cosmetic variations, see the OMG NO NOT OMINOUS! page.

Even through heaven or hell, we will be reunited, some day...