By Quade Leonard
In the world of NomNom, Transformations are one of the most powerful tools available to Champions and Nomsters if you know how to use them! In this article, we’ll break down how Transformations work, what makes them so impactful, and how to wield them effectively in your next dungeoneering adventure.
How Do Transformations Work?
To transform a Champion, pay the listed XP cost and place the new form on top of the compatible Champion. All stats and Genetics are replaced with those of the new form. However, two things carry over:
- If the Champion was resting, it stays resting.
- Any damage taken by the base form carries over.
Example: If Mugi has taken 3 damage and you transform them into Big Red, Big Red enters play at 11 health instead of the full 14.
Some neat tricks, if your Champion hasn’t rested yet and you transform after using all your actions, the transformed Champion gets a fresh set of action points, perfect for mounting immediate pressure!
Also, if a transformed Champion would return to your hand or be sent to the discard pile, the base form follows. For example, using a Tag Team after attacking with Big Red will return both Mugi and Big Red to your hand.
Champion Transformations:
As of this writing, there are three legal Champion Transformations:
- Molediga Ralph (for Ralph)
- Voltaraptor Amos (for Amos)
- Big Red (for Mugi)
Each offers unique abilities and strategic value:
Big Red (Mugi)
- Gains Boost, Quick Reflexes, and Reach
- Massive health pool
- High movement (4) and solid 5 damage per swing
A tanky bruiser, ideal for pushing deep into enemy dungeons
Voltaraptor Amos
- Gains Boost, Quick Reflexes, and Reach
- Always activates Quick Reflexes first
- Ignores Evasive Maneuvers, making it a strong anti-defensive choice
Strong on defense and offence, will always hit back first and can get through more defensive-focused nomsters
Molediga Ralph
- Gains the Dig Genetic, allowing him to tunnel under Nomsters
- Also deals a bit of damage to Nomsters you dig under
Great for unexpected disruption and flanking plays, along with some quick damage
These transformations can swing the tide of a match, but they come with their fair share of tradeoffs:
Drawbacks:
– Big Red loses all item attachments upon transforming.
– Voltaraptor Amos loses one item slot.
Also there is no dedicated search mechanic for Transformations, making them somewhat inconsistent unless your deck includes heavy draw support. The only exception is Mugi, who can search for Big Red at level 3. However, the cost is steep: 6 XP to reach level 3 and another 5 XP to play Big Red—an investment of 11 XP in total.
Now onto the other side of the battlefield: Nomster Transformations.
Nomster Transformations:
There are currently two:
– Alpha Bugadon
– Nomkey Lord
Transforming a Nomster consumes your one Nomster action for the turn. Their stats, abilities, and Dungeon Point cost update to the new form.
Alpha Bugadon
– Gains Long Range and Volley from Above
– Continues the Bugadon family’s explosion-on-death theme
Excellent AOE and ranged threat—forces your opponent to play cautiously (Personal favorite—we love the bugs in this house.)
Nomkey Lord
– A highly defensive Nomster with good staying power
– Only has 1 action, deals 3 damage, and costs 3 Dungeon Points
Tough to justify unless your deck is specifically built around it
While Nomster Transformations offer the same Action Point reset advantage as Champion ones, they can be hard to justify over just summoning a new Nomster. In many cases, releasing a damaged Nomster and playing a fresh one offers better value than transforming.
Final Thoughts:
Transformations are a flexible and potent mechanic in NomNom. They reward planning, creativity, and bold plays—and can completely shift the flow of a match when timed right. From tunneling through lines with Molediga Ralph to bombing enemies from above with Alpha Bugadon, Transformations add thrilling depth to your strategy. So build around them, plan smartly, and you just might find yourself evolving into a whole new kind of Explorer!
Have questions or ideas for what I should cover next?
Reach out on the NomNom Discord: @TheGammer211
Happy dungeon busting!