Shock Criticals

Shock Criticals are special negative effects that result when a player receives shock damage from weapons fire or a charge attack. Players with low health or who are charged from behind are more likely to receive shock criticals.

A player's chance of getting a crit varies based on their position (Forward, Halfback, Fullback, or Goalie), the amount of shock damage they suffer that instant, and the percentage health they have remaining. A banged-up player is more likely to suffer a crit, heavier positions are less likely. There are four kinds of criticals:


 * A Hook Drop makes the player drop their grappling hook, if it is connected. They can't fire it again until they touch the ground.
 * A Fumble causes the player to lose control of the ball. It flies away from them in the opposite direction they were hit from.
 * A Knockout causes the player to collapse in a broken heap for a few seconds. They lie there prone on the ground in an uncomfortable position until they come to their senses.  The duration of the knockout is based on the skills of the victim and the attacker.

This first video shows how getting shot can cause all three of these criticals.

Knockouts, Crunches, and Death

 * Death, your team has to play shorthanded until the clock can be stopped either by a score or the end of the round, at which point your coach will crack open a cloning vat and send another you onto the field. Don't get too comfortable though, they can only fit so many vats on the sidelines...

The chance that a knockout will turn into a death depends on how many knockouts you have suffered since the last stoppage of play (a score or end of round). This is indicated by a line of skulls across the lower middle of your screen, each skull representing a 10% chance that your next knockout will be a death. The Rocky Balboa perk will halve that to 5%, as well as making you get up from knockouts faster.