## Bombs
Bombs no longer run on emerald pickups. They have a fixed charge pool that regenerates on a cooldown.
- **Bombs start with 2 charges** and regenerate every **12s**
- **Emeralds no longer grant bomb charges**
## Gems and economy
All gold dropped from ore and enemies increases by 1.25x after every stage to keep up with shop costs. Gems are no longer tracked in the inventory. Gold is the only thing you hold.
- **Rubies** still heal on pickup.
- **Emeralds** convert to **5 gold** each.
- **Diamonds** convert to **25 gold** each.
## Meta progression
- **Diamonds as meta currency are gone.** Completing a quest unlocks the reward directly.
## Characters
- **Cowboy** — no longer has -20% shop cost; Now starts with **2 credit cards**.
- **Spelunker** — no longer has flashlight; Now **chests and shrines glow**.
- **Chef** — replaces bombs with **cleavers** and starts with **3 bison burgers**.
## Guns
- **Squid Gun** — magazine size 6 → **8**, fire rate 0.4 → **0.375**.
- **Flame Thrower** — magazine size 24 → **28**.
## Artifacts
- **Emerald Scanner** and **Ruby Scanner** merged into **Gem Scanner** — ruby and emerald ore glow.
- **Shiny Penny** — gold lost when taking damage 4 → **2**, but now scales **x2 per stage**.
- **Veggie Pizza** removed.
## Item balance
- **Cluster Bomb** (back as a rare) — **+2 bomb charges** and **-20% bomb cooldown** per stack.
- **Propane Tank** — moved from rare → **common**. Was +15% bomb radius / emerald-on-explode chance; now **-15% bomb cooldown** per stack.
- **Headphones** — no longer scales off held emeralds. Now **-15% dash cooldown** and **+20% move speed** per stack.
- **Lollipop** — no longer scales off held rubies. While at full health, each ruby pickup grants **+4 max health** per stack, up to **+200** per stack.
- **Ramen Bowl** — immediately grants **10 rubies** (was 4). No longer gives max shield; empty bowl is just empty.
- **Pearl Earrings** — no longer drops more gems; now enemies drop **20%** more gold.
- **Cash Stack** — gain **+2% damage** for every **5 gold** you have. Cap was removed, but gold amount now scales **x2 per stage**.
- **Coin Pouch** — gold on hit now scales **x2 per stage**.
- **Microscope** — bonus gold chance now scales **x1.25 per stage**.
- **Sledge Hammer** — crit chance for first stack 10% → **5%**.
- **Hypodermic Needle** — crit chance per extra stack 0% → **5%**, healing per extra stack 2 → **1**.
- **Hunting Knife** — crit chance per extra stack 0% → **5%**, fire speed buff 5% → 4% (+2% per extra stack), max fire speed per extra stack +40% → +20%.
- **Lumberjack Axe** — damage 300% → **200%**, damage interval 0.125s → **0.0625s** (33% buff to DPS).
- **Cardboard Box** — damage interval 0.125s → **0.15625** (25% nerf to DPS), drops **~50% more gold**.
- **Toaster** — bomb radius +20% → **+15%**.
**Removed:** Chocolate Bar, Flip Flops, Emerald Candy.
## Enemies, hazards, and difficulty
- Enemy damage scales up **~50% faster**.
- Time between enemy spawns 0.5s → **0.4s**.
- **Iron** & **Sliver** difficulties were combined, and **Gold** & **Hellstone** difficulties were combined.
- **Chest health reduced ~20%** across the board — common 500 → **400**, rare 1000 → **800**, boss 2000 → **1600**.
- **Brain Boss** / **Sheen Boss** worlds are temporarily disabled.