Magnet-shroom

Magnet-shroom only checks for absorption while it is ready. The scan is centered near its own tile and covers a large local area, but it is not map-wide. A candidate must carry a processable metal part, be in an affected state, and belong to the opposing side Magnet-shroom should currently target.

When several candidates are in range, the closest valid target is chosen. Ordinary armor, removable equipment, special board objects, and metal projectiles all compete in the same pass. Once a target is taken, Magnet-shroom plays its absorption action and then rests; charged Wiremoss nearby shortens that rest period.

Absorption is not just damage. Most targets are stripped into an internal metal item, which is then either transferred or thrown. Magnet-truck and hooks are special cases: they are disabled, pulled, or interrupted instead of becoming reusable items.

After metal leaves its original target, it is classified by source. A liquid bucket looks for Hygro Plantago first, and CocoBottle Shine can also receive it when it is in a state that can hold liquid. A firefly lamp looks for Opti-caltrop; a lantern looks for Alloysuckle. Ordinary buckets, iron heads, and charm poles become friendly metal projectiles when no dedicated receiver applies.

The receiving range is much smaller than the absorption range. It is best understood as a short diamond-shaped area around Magnet-shroom. A receiver must be allied, match the metal type, and not already have another metal item flying toward it. If several receivers qualify, the nearest one is selected.

This routing makes Magnet-shroom play different roles by region: more armor removal around the waterfall and snowfield, more resource conversion around swamp and sands interactions where Hygro Plantago, Opti-caltrop, and Alloysuckle can use the stolen equipment.

Since 0.17o, Magnet-shroom can absorb not only metal carried by zombies, but also metal projectiles already in flight. Typical examples include Hypnotic Pole Zombie's charm pole, lantern-type projectiles, and metal already thrown by another Magnet-shroom.

Projectile interception has a side check: the projectile must originally be targeting Magnet-shroom's side. Metal already thrown by an allied Magnet-shroom toward enemies is not stolen back by allies. This keeps interception defensive instead of interrupting friendly counterfire.

An intercepted projectile returns to the normal metal-routing flow. It is transferred if possible and thrown again otherwise. Multiple Magnet-shrooms can therefore create second-pass interceptions, but each metal item still locks onto one valid receiver or resolves as one projectile.

Magnet-truck Zombie is Magnet-shroom's most important special target. It does not provide transferable metal when absorbed; instead, it is temporarily disabled. If it is pulling iron-head zombies from offscreen, disabling it also wastes that summon. This turns Magnet-shroom from an armor answer into rhythm control against a mechanical core.

Fisherman Gargantuar's hook also does not enter the ordinary routing path like a bucket. Magnet-shroom attracts and disrupts the hook, reducing part of the pull pressure, but it should not be read as complete hook immunity for nearby plants.

Charged Wiremoss changes the cycle speed. Magnet-shroom must rest after an absorption; with Wiremoss support, that rest is shorter, making it better at repeated buckets, firefly lamps, lanterns, and other metal pressure. In practice, Magnet-shroom performs best when it sits near both the metal pressure point and its receiving plants.