Releases a cloud of slow-acting toxins engineered to exclusively affect life indigenous to Hoxxes IV. WARNING: HIGHLY FLAMMABLE!
— Item Description
About
The Neurotoxin Grenade is an unlockable Throwable for the Driller. It is a bright yellow canister filled with a toxic gas which is toxic to enemies but perfectly safe to dwarves. The gas is highly flammable, and can be ignited with any kind of fire-based attack to produce a large fiery explosion.
Once thrown, the Neurotoxin Grenade will slowly emit toxic gas in a huge 7.5 meters radius, by far the largest of any Throwable in the game. Enemies who walk through the gas cloud will become poisoned, reducing their movement speed and dealing gradual damage to them over time. the gas will fade away once it has fully propagated. However, a second function of the grenade (despite being cautioned by R&D) is to ignite the gas with the Driller's Flamethrower and make it explode. This heavily damages any enemy inside the gas cloud and gives the grenade a two stage function; let the gas spread as far as possible, then ignite it to kill anything that survives the poison. The combination of these two functions is absolutely lethal.
Despite the high potential damage, the Neurotoxin Grenade has flaws. Most prominently it limits the player in terms of weapons as obviously the Driller's Cryo Cannon can't ignite the gas. While the toxic gas alone is indeed powerful, lacking the final explosion results in significantly lower damage. While teammates can potentially ignite the gas with fire weapons (such as the Gunner's Incendiary Grenade), this is often an awkward and inefficient process - taking the Impact Axe or HE Grenade would be a better idea if one plans to use the Cryo Cannon. Furthermore, the large gas cloud can obscure allies' and one's own vision - and while the gas does no team damage, igniting it to explode does.
Best used in open areas, which allow the gas to propagate as far as possible.
Sticky Flames left behind by the Flamethrower cannot trigger the gas explosion; it must be a direct flame.
Weapons with fire-based modifications, such as White Phosphorous Shells for the Scout's Boomstick or Incendiary Compound for the Engineer's Grenade Launcher can also set off the gas.
Unlocked through a level cap.
