Powder Boxes are volatile explosive crates largely found in the Volcana, but will also rarely spawn on the backs of Hermit Crabs and as part of the lava trap in Tide Pool.
Mechanics[]
Powder Boxes will detonate if (almost) anything hits them, such as a thrown object. However, they are more durable than their HD counterparts, as they are able to withstand blood, debris, and even fire dispensed from Fire Bugs.
They can be walked on top of safely, and can even be pushed like push blocks, but will explode if they fall off a ledge and land more than one block down. They will explode immediately if they hit a monster in midair. Pushing a powder box through a skeleton or a pot on the floor triggers its explosion. Breaking treasures through pushing it with a powder box against a wall also triggers its explosion.
Nearby explosions will also set off Powder Boxes. This often causes chain reactions when several Powder Boxes spawn in close proximity.
Some powder boxes are remotely triggered from an entity disturbing a Golden Idol, as seen in traps set up in Volcana and as part of the lava trap in 4-3 of Tide Pool.
A Golden Idol trap in Volcana, rigged to Powder Boxes.
Disarming[]
Powder Boxes cannot be rendered safe, so the best strategy for dealing with them is to set them off from a distance.
An object may be thrown at them from afar, but be mindful that the explosion may propel it back at you. If possible, use an item that shatters on impact, such as a pot or skull, or an item that causes no damage (such as a broken arrow shaft or a critter). If you use a rock or arrow, it is liable to bounce back at you and inflict damage.
If no safe and free method of triggering it is available, a Bomb may be placed nearby, using the fuse time to run away from the explosion. Do not place the Bomb directly against the Powder Box or it will explode immediately like when hit by any other object.
If the Powder Box lies on a ledge above a tall shaft, it is safe to push the box off the edge so that it explodes at the bottom of the pit.
Bugs[]
Due to Powder Boxes appearing much less frequently compared to their original appearances in Spelunky HD, they do not interact with nearly as many objects as they previously did. Most notably, Sliding Walls that are violently sent downward into a Powder Box will not explode it, despite much less intense forces being able to trigger them.
| Spelunky 2 Traps | |
| Journal Entries | Spikes • Arrow Trap • Totem Trap • Log Trap • Spear Trap • Thorny Vine • Bear Trap • Powder Box • Falling Platform • Spikeball • Lion Trap • Giant Clam • Sliding Wall • Crush Trap • Giant Crush Trap • Boulder • Spring Trap • Landmine • Laser Trap • Spark Trap • Frog Trap • Sticky Trap • Bone Drop • Egg Sac |
| No Journal Entry | Push Block • Bone Block • Web • Bush Block • Conveyor Belt • Generator • Lava • Tentacle • Quicksand • Thin Ice • The Abyss • Forcefield • Elevator • Regenerating Block • Floating Orb |
| See also | Idol Traps |