You’re walking through the Trash Zone, the music gets weird, and suddenly there he is. A short, glitchy salesman in a dumpster who wants your soul—or at least your Kroger Plus card information. Toby Fox really outdid himself with this one. How to fight Spamton isn't just about clicking "Attack" until his HP hits zero; it’s a chaotic exercise in bullet-hell management and psychological warfare. If you’re playing Deltarune Chapter 2 for the first time, you probably weren't expecting a puppet to scream about [Big Shots] while blasting you with tiny versions of his own head.
It’s stressful.
The first encounter is basically a warm-up, but if you’re looking for the real challenge, you’re likely here for the Spamton NEO boss fight. That’s the one that breaks controllers. Whether you’re on the Pacifist route trying to "Snap" his strings or the weirdly dark Snowgrave route where things get... chilling... the mechanics are the same, yet the stakes feel totally different. You need fast fingers and a weirdly specific understanding of how a heart with a soul turns into a yellow laser-blasting machine.
The Basics: Surviving the First Encounter
Before we get into the high-octane NEO stuff, let's talk about the alleyway fight. Honestly, it's more of an introduction to his dialogue patterns than a legitimate threat, but he can still catch you off guard if you're playing sloppy.
Spamton’s attacks in this phase are mostly projectile-based. He’ll throw words at you. Literally. Words like "DEALS" and "VALUE" will bounce around the screen. If you're going for a Pacifist run, you need to use the ACT command to "Deal." You have to keep dealing until his "mercy" meter fills up. However, the catch is that "Dealing" makes his attacks faster. It’s a trade-off. You want out of the fight? You have to endure a more caffeinated version of a mid-90s popup ad.
Pro tip: Don't just spam the button. Watch the trajectory of the floating heads. They move in a predictable diamond pattern. If you stay toward the bottom-center of the box, you can usually micro-dodge most of the "deals" he’s throwing your way. It's short. It's frantic. Then he's gone, retreating to his shop like a weird gremlin.
Understanding the Yellow Soul Mechanics
Once you reach the Spamton NEO fight, the game changes. This is where Deltarune pays homage to Toby Fox's love for Touhou and Mega Man. Your soul turns yellow.
Suddenly, you aren't just dodging; you're shooting.
Pressing the [Z] key or the [Enter] key allows you to fire small pellets. If you hold it down, you charge up a Big Shot. This is crucial. To how to fight Spamton effectively at this level, you have to master the rhythm of "Charge, Fire, Move."
The Big Shot Strategy
Big Shots don't just do damage; they clear the screen. Spamton loves to clutter the interface with bombs, tiny clones, and literal walls of nonsense. A well-placed Big Shot can delete an entire row of obstacles, giving you room to breathe. Some players prefer the "rapid-fire" approach, mash-clicking to get as many hits in as possible. That works for building TP (Tension Points), but if you’re feeling overwhelmed, go for the charged shot. It’s safer.
Snapping the Strings (The Pacifist Route)
If you're playing the "good" way, you aren't trying to deplete his health bar. You’re trying to cut the wires holding him up. This is a long game. You need to use the Snap and SnapAll commands.
Here is how the math works:
- Snap: Cuts about 2-3% of the strings. It costs 0 TP but only uses one character's turn.
- SnapAll: Cuts significantly more, but uses everyone's turn and costs TP.
- X-Slash / FriedPipis: These are distractions. Ignore them unless you are desperate for healing.
The fight is a marathon. You’ll need to survive about 15 to 20 turns of increasingly erratic bullet patterns. Kris should be snapping every single turn. Use Ralsei to heal (Heal Deal) and Susie to either contribute to SnapAll or use items. Honestly, keeping Ralsei alive is your number one priority because without his healing, a single mistake during the "Phone" attack will end your run.
Dealing with the "Phone" and "Pipis" Attacks
Spamton NEO has a few "signature" moves that cause most players to fail.
First, there’s the Phone Call. He’ll turn into a giant telephone and blast sound waves at you. These waves expand as they move. The trick here is to stay as far back as possible. The further you are from the "mouthpiece," the more space there is between the rings. It’s counter-intuitive because you want to get close to shoot him, but for this specific move, hugging the left wall is the only way to survive.
Then there are the Pipis. These are small blue eggs.
They look harmless. They are not.
If they hit the edge of the box, they explode into a shower of "Spamton faces" that are almost impossible to dodge perfectly. You have to shoot the eggs before they reach you. This is where the yellow soul’s fire rate matters. If you see an egg, make it your primary target. Don't even worry about hitting Spamton himself during this phase; just clear the eggs.
The Snowgrave Struggle
If you chose the Snowgrave route (the "Genocide" equivalent of Chapter 2), the fight is different. You are alone. No Susie. No Ralsei. Just Kris and a very, very angry puppet.
Since you don't have a healer, your only way to survive is through the X-Action which allows you to "FriedPipis" for a small heal, but it's risky. In this version, you have to be much more aggressive. You aren't snapping strings; you are fighting for your life.
👉 See also: Why Amnesia: The Dark Descent Still Ruins Your Sleep 15 Years Later
The biggest tip for Snowgrave? Learn the "Pipis" pattern until it’s muscle memory. Since you’re the only target, the density of the projectiles feels much higher. You also have a hidden mechanic: the "Big Shot" glitch (though many patches have addressed this, the core strategy remains the same). Focus on building TP so you can use your healing abilities, but don't stop firing. Not even for a second.
Equipment and Preparation
You wouldn't go into a boss fight without the right gear, right? If you're struggling with how to fight Spamton, check your inventory.
- The BounceBlade: Great for defense.
- The MechaRobe: If you managed to craft this, it’s a lifesaver.
- CD Bagels: They aren't the best healing items in the game, but they’re cheap and effective for the mid-game.
- The ShadowPurse: Increases your defense based on how much money you have.
Actually, if you have the Egg from the secret room, it doesn't do anything in the fight, but it feels good to have, doesn't it? Seriously though, focus on items that heal the whole party. "Choco Diamonds" or "Lancer Cookies" are decent, but by the time you hit NEO, you should have some "S.Action" or "Tea" items tailored to your party members' likes (like Susie Tea for Kris).
Why This Fight is a Masterclass in Design
A lot of people get frustrated because Spamton feels "random." He isn't. He’s actually one of the most strictly patterned bosses in the game. Every move has a "tell."
When his eyes turn into [Sssnakes], he’s going to do the bouncing attack. When he grows giant limbs, he’s going to try and crush you from the top and bottom. The difficulty comes from the visual noise. There is so much "glitch" aesthetic happening that it’s hard to see the hitboxes.
Try to look "past" the graphics. Focus on the center point of your yellow heart. That’s your only actual hitbox. The rest of your soul can overlap with projectiles as long as that center pixel stays clear. This is a classic bullet-hell trick used in games like Ikaruga or Mushihimesama.
Actionable Strategy Checklist for Your Next Attempt
- Master the Double Tap: Practice switching between rapid shots and charged shots. Use rapid shots for the "Heart" attack and charged shots for the "Wall" attacks.
- Watch the Strings: If you're going Pacifist, keep track of which strings are turning red. Focus your "Snap" actions on the ones with the most tension.
- Manage Your TP: Don't waste TP on attacks if you're low on health. Save it for Ralsei's "Heal Deal." It's more efficient than using items most of the time.
- Corners are Traps: Never get backed into a corner. Spamton’s attacks are designed to "pinch" the player. Stay in the middle-left of the box whenever possible to give yourself a 360-degree escape route.
- Stay Calm During the Final Phase: When Spamton starts growing and shrinking rapidly, he’s almost defeated. This is when people panic and make mistakes. Keep your rhythm.
Fighting Spamton is essentially a test of patience and pattern recognition. It’s meant to feel unfair—he’s a "cheater" character, after all—but the mechanics are remarkably solid. Once you stop looking at the flashing lights and start looking at the gaps in the projectiles, the fight becomes a dance. A weird, glitchy, terrifying dance with a man who just wants your [Kromer].
Go back in there. Watch the eyes. Shoot the Pipis. And whatever you do, don't answer the phone.