Megabonk Knockback Tome: Effects, Weapons & Unlock

Overview

The Knockback Tome increases the distance enemies are pushed back when hit by your attacks. This effect is weapon-dependent - it only works with weapons that have built-in knockback effects in their upgrade paths.

The exact per-level percentage increase is not publicly documented in official sources. Community analyses suggest that most Tomes (except Damage Tome which uses multiplicative scaling) stack additively rather than multiplicatively.

Critical Note: This Tome is completely ineffective with weapons that lack knockback in their base mechanics or upgrade options. Always verify your weapon has knockback before investing points.

How Knockback Works

                        Weapon Dependency: Only affects weapons that have knockback in their upgrade list or base effects
Distance Scaling: Increases how far enemies are pushed back per hit
Likely Additive Stacking: Based on community analysis, levels stack additively (not multiplicatively)
Crowd Control Tool: Creates space between you and enemies, useful for defensive positioning
Boss Limitations: Developers have mentioned plans to limit maximum knockback on boss enemies

                    

Source: Steam community guides (Sept-Oct 2025) and technical analysis suggest additive stacking for most Tomes except Damage Tome which uses multiplicative scaling.

Verified Compatible Weapons

These weapons have been verified to have Knockback in their upgrade paths, making them compatible with Knockback Tome:

Sword

Shotgun

Aegis

Tornado

Important: Weapons without built-in knockback upgrades/effects will not benefit from this Tome. Check your weapon's "Affected by/Upgrades" list in-game before investing points. This list represents verified examples, not a complete list of all knockback weapons.

Synergy Guide

Agility Tome

Movement speed pairs with knockback for hit-and-run tactics. Push enemies away, then reposition quickly for safety.

Cooldown Tome

Attack speed increases knockback instances per second. More frequent hits means more frequent enemy displacement.

Damage Tome

Combine control with damage. Push enemies away while dealing higher damage per hit for safe, effective DPS.

Cursed Tome

More enemies make knockback more valuable for survival. Essential crowd control mechanism in high-density scenarios.

Size Tome

Larger hitboxes hit more enemies, applying knockback to entire groups at once for wide area control.

Quantity Tome

More projectiles means more knockback instances across the battlefield. Wide area control for projectile weapons.

Strategy Guide

Weapon verification first: Check if your weapon has knockback before investing any points
Defensive playstyles: Great for creating space when overwhelmed by enemies
Melee builds: Essential for creating safe attack windows after each strike
Positioning control: Can protect objectives or funnel enemies into kill zones
Boss fights with adds: Valuable for managing additional enemies during boss encounters
Community strategy note: Commonly discussed in high-density run strategies, though effectiveness varies by build

When to Invest

Using verified knockback weapons - Sword, Shotgun, Aegis, Tornado, or other confirmed weapons
Melee character builds - Create space after each strike for safety
Defensive strategies - Control enemy positioning and flow to survive longer
High enemy density runs - More enemies = more value from crowd control effects
Hybrid builds - Combine offensive power with positioning control for balanced play

Critical Warnings

                        ⚠️ Weapon Dependency - Completely ineffective if your weapon lacks knockback mechanics
⚠️ Check Before Investing - Always verify your weapon has knockback in its upgrade list first
⚠️ Can Backfire - May push enemies into unfavorable positions or spread them too far apart
⚠️ Situational Value - Strong when compatible, but not universally useful like Damage or Health
⚠️ Build Conflicts - Some builds actively avoid knockback to keep enemies grouped for AoE damage
⚠️ Boss Limitations - Developers are implementing limits on maximum boss knockback (recent Reddit discussion)

                    

Developer & Community Notes

                        Recent Developer Note: Plans to limit maximum knockback on boss enemies mentioned in Reddit discussion (October 2025)
Scaling Uncertainty: Exact per-level percentage not publicly documented; community estimates vary
Max Level Debate: Community consensus on Tome level caps is inconsistent; verify in-game pause menu
Stacking Mechanics: Most community analysis suggests additive stacking (unlike Damage Tome's multiplicative scaling)

                    

Version Context: Information based on v1.0.7-v1.0.12 period (Sept-Oct 2025). Mechanics may change in future patches - monitor Steam News and official Discord for updates.

Additional Notes

Considered situational but very effective when properly synergized with compatible weapons. The Tome's value is binary: either incredibly useful or completely wasted depending on weapon selection. Can make melee runs significantly safer by creating breathing room after each strike. Always prioritize verifying weapon compatibility before investing Tome points into Knockback.

💨 Knockback Tome