Debuffs are a unique gameplay element introduced in Spelunky 2. They can dramatically change gameplay for the player depending on when/where they get one.
Known debuffs include:
The player's heart after with poison effect applied
- Poison: Inflicted by a variety of enemies. This debuff will make the player character appear to have a green tint, with poison bubbles emanating off of them sometimes. The player's health count at the top left will also have poison goop on it. Once the player is poisoned, they will take 1 damage every 30 seconds. This effect can only be stopped by receiving health (from damsels, cooked turkeys or the elixir). If an arrow hits a poisonous arrow, the poison affect will be applied to the arrow denoted by a green tip. Whatever is hit by the arrow will be poisoned as well. Tun's arrows are also all poisonous.
- Sources: Hermit Crabs; Pangxie; Scorpions; Cobras; poison-tipped Arrows
The player's heart with curse effect applied
- Curse: Inflicted by fewer enemies but can be considered more dangerous than poison. This debuff leaves the player tinted dark grey, akin to stone. The health count will also turn dark grey. When applied, the debuff causes the player to immediately drop to 1 health, and for every cursed player, the time until the ghost arrives is reduced by 30 seconds. This can end a player's run quickly if received. The curse lasts until the player dies, obtains the Elixir from the Stars Challenge in the Temple of Anubis, or until the player is rewarded by Kali via sacrifices (keep in mind this replaces the reward with a curse removal), so if the player is revived with the ankh, they will no longer be cursed. The curse debuff also allows the player to see ghosts, notably the Ghist shopkeeper in 1-4, and a ghist that always spawns in 4-2 at the bottom of the pool.
- Sources: Curse Pot; Witch Doctor; Cat Mummy; destroying the Altar twice
Some enemies are also able to receive debuffs and will assume the same effects. This can make killing high HP bosses like Quillback or Anubis easier if you throw a Curse Pot at them, for example, but this of course comes with the cost of having to deal with the Ghost.
All debuffs can be cured with the Elixir.