SILVERBACK SMASH
Active skill - Deals two consecutive attacks of 275% damage to 3 random enemies and has a 20% chance to apply Confusion for 3 rounds. (Confusion: Each attack has a 15% chance to miss completely for each target. The confused attacker can not target more than 3 enemies and has their Hit Chance reduced by 50%). Additionally, if this fighter's HP is under 50%, gain a Gorilla Guard for 3 rounds. If his HP is over 50%, a random ally is granted the shield instead. (Gorilla Guard: Reduces the damage of the next 3 direct attacks by 40%. If the guard is broken, the target's Skill Damage is increased by 30% for 3 rounds, and Gorongo is healed for 20% of his Max HP. Can only apply to targets without an active Gorilla Guard).
Confusion does not work on mech bosses, negating Silverback Smash's control utility. Off-meta option that hits 6 times and provides a shield buff to the adjacent fighter, but dedicated mech carries vastly outperform.
Astro Ape's Crane ally Armor/Speed buff is minor mech value. No meaningful boss damage, no energy generation, no scaling. Mech slot is wasted on Gorongo.
Tanky Crane frontliner for Smash. Astro Ape's +50% HP, +30% Armor, +25% Block, +20% DR make him extremely durable. Raises Armor and Speed of all Crane allies at battle start — useful in faction-locked Smash.
Cosmic Counter's armor-steal targets the highest-armor enemy, reducing their tankiness while boosting his own. Jungle Protector's Gorilla Guard on ally death provides team resilience. Solid frontline but low damage output.
Beast for PvP. Among the strongest true tanks alongside Mazu. Cosmic Counter's armor steal shreds enemy frontliners while boosting his own defenses. 40% counter-attack chance punishes direct attackers.
Jungle Protector's Gorilla Guard activates when allies die, protecting surviving carries. Astro Ape's Crane ally Speed buff at battle start is relevant for arena speed tuning. Durable, disruptive frontline presence.
Not part of the core Crane hard mode team. Confusion doesn't work on HM bosses. Multi-hit attacks go past his shields, making him less effective as a tank in HM content.
Ranked 6th hardest as a boss encounter due to multi-hit and RNG. Passive provides +40 Speed to same-row allies, which has niche value at level 120+. Crane HM slots are better filled by Xeno, Scythe, Locke, and Laguna.
Functional Crane sewer tank. Astro Ape's Crane ally buffs scale with full faction teams. Cosmic Counter's armor steal provides growing tankiness through long sewer runs. Gorilla Guard triggers on ally deaths to protect remaining fighters.
However, not part of the optimal Crane sewer four (Chancer, Scythe, Locke, Laguna). Fills a fifth slot if needed but the faction's core lineup prioritizes damage and control over raw tankiness.
Extremely durable but low damage contribution. Astro Ape's stat buffs keep him alive, but campaign rewards carries who clear waves quickly. Cosmic Counter's single-target armor steal is too slow for wave progression.
Crane campaign teams prefer damage-oriented fighters. Gorongo's tank profile doesn't address the CC-or-oneshot demands of late-game stages. Viable as a survivability anchor in early campaign but outscaled.
