The medicine the host throws at you.
When an infection makes someone sick enough, they see a doctor: antivirals, vaccines and immune-boosting drugs all help the body clear a virus.
In the game
Once Detection passes 75, the host may seek treatment (a 30% roll every 10s, never in a boss room). A coloured warning pulses for 2 seconds, then one of three doses floods the room. Survive or clear the whole dose and it pays out nucleotides, shards and sometimes a chaperone or Dormant Virion. Each dose is stronger than the last and the next one takes longer to come. Walking out of the room escapes it.
Fun fact: Most viral infections have no cure; treatment usually helps the immune system win or slows the virus down while it does.
Appears inWorld Responses & WeatherThe Codex
Antiviral drugs stop a virus copying itself: Tamiflu (oseltamivir) blocks flu's neuraminidase, tenofovir blocks HIV's reverse transcriptase.
In the game
Floods the room with drug capsules (Tamiflu for Influenza, tenofovir for Retrovirus) plus antibodies and neutrophils. While the dose is in the blood you fire 20% slower everywhere, and much slower (and move slower) inside a capsule's cloud. Destroy the capsules first.
Fun fact: Antivirals work best early: the sooner they're taken, the fewer copies of the virus there are to stop.
Appears inShared Virus RulesTreatments & Vaccines
Vaccines train the immune system to recognise a virus in advance. For HIV, there's no vaccine yet; PrEP pills protect people before exposure instead.
In the game
Brings vaccine vials (PrEP for Retrovirus), a big wave of antibodies, B cells and plasmablasts. Every cell takes 20% less damage while the dose lasts, and cells near a vial take only about a third of your damage. Kill the vials first.
Fun fact: Boosters top up immunity that fades over time, which is why flu shots are given every year.
Appears inTreatments & Vaccines
Interferons are the body's alarm signals; given as a drug, they put every nearby cell into an antiviral state and rally natural killer cells.
In the game
Calls in NK cells, antibodies, neutrophils and monocytes. While it lasts, every hit you take deals 25% more damage. Keep moving and thin out the NK cells.
Fun fact: Interferon was one of the first drugs made by genetic engineering, and was long used to treat hepatitis B and C.
Appears inTreatments & Vaccines
High-energy radiation aimed at a tumor damages its DNA so the cancer cells stop dividing and die; healthy tissue nearby gets hit too.
In the game
When cancer metastasizes into a new organ, there's an even chance the host gets radiation. The tumor drops a stage, but you lose a fifth of your max HP and get radiation sickness for 30 seconds: 20% less damage and slower movement.
Fun fact: About half of all people with cancer get radiation therapy at some point in their treatment.
Appears inTreatments & VaccinesMetastasis
An antiviral drug that blocks influenza's neuraminidase, so new virions stay stuck to the cell that made them.
In the game
A capsule (Influenza runs, area 2 onward) that hides behind the nearest crowd of immune cells. Inside its wide cloud you fire half as fast and move slower, and every 2.5s it HEALS the immune cells in it by 10%. The more cells inside its cloud, the tougher it is; caught alone it pops almost instantly, so pick off its crowd or catch it in the open.
Fun fact: It works best if taken within 48 hours of symptoms starting, while the virus is still multiplying fast.
Appears inTreatments & Vaccines
A yearly shot that trains the immune system to recognise that season's hemagglutinin, so antibodies are ready before infection.
In the game
A vaccine vial (Influenza runs, area 2 onward) that follows the crowd from behind. It PROTECTS: immune cells inside its large ring take only about a third of your damage, and the more of them are inside, the tougher the vial gets. Alone, it is very frail.
Fun fact: The strains in each year's vaccine are chosen months ahead by the WHO, based on worldwide surveillance.
Appears inTreatments & VaccinesHosts & GenomeWorld Responses & Weather
A nucleotide reverse-transcriptase inhibitor: HIV mistakes it for a building block, and copying of its genome stops.
In the game
A capsule (Retrovirus runs, area 2 onward) that hides behind the nearest crowd of immune cells. Inside its wide cloud you fire much slower and move slower, and it BOOSTS the immune cells in it: they move 40% faster. The more cells inside its cloud, the tougher it is; alone it pops almost instantly.
Fun fact: Combination antiretroviral therapy turned HIV from a death sentence into a manageable chronic condition.
Appears inTreatments & Vaccines
Pre-exposure prophylaxis: antiretroviral drugs taken before possible exposure to stop HIV from establishing infection. There is still no approved HIV vaccine.
In the game
A protective capsule (Retrovirus runs, area 2 onward) that follows the crowd from behind. Every 5s it SHIELDS the immune cells inside its large ring with a shield worth a quarter of their health, and the more of them are inside, the tougher it gets. Alone, it is very frail.
Fun fact: Taken as prescribed, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV through sex by about 99%.
Appears inTreatments & Vaccines
