You’ve probably seen them. Those spindly, nightmare-fueled white sticks that look more like a Tim Burton fever dream than actual cats. If you’ve spent any time in the PONOS universe, you know the Battle Cats Nekoluga family is basically the weirdest thing in the game. They start out as these pathetic, useless lumps called Unknown Cat or Kubilan Pasalan. Honestly, they’re depressing to look at. But then you evolve them, and suddenly you have a unit that towers over the entire battlefield, screen-shakingly huge, with range that makes your other snipers look like they’re fighting with toothpicks.
It’s a weird gamble.
Most players pull their first Luga and think they hit the jackpot because of the sheer size. Then they realize the cooldown is five minutes long. They see the health bar of a wet paper towel. It’s frustrating. But if you know how to use the Battle Cats Nekoluga family, you realize they aren't just "units." They are specialized tools. They are the surgical scalpels—or sometimes the heavy sledgehammers—of the late-game meta. You don't bring a Luga to a casual fight; you bring them when the game feels impossible.
The Reality of Using the Battle Cats Nekoluga Family
Let’s be real for a second: the Lugas are the definition of "glass cannons," though some of them don't even have the "cannon" part. They have the lowest health-to-cost ratio in the entire game. If a Squirrel so much as sneezes on Shishilan Pasalan, he’s probably going to die. Okay, maybe not a Squirrel, but any decent boss? One hit and they’re gone. This is why the Battle Cats Nekoluga family is so divisive among the community.
You have to protect them. It's not optional. If you can’t maintain a perfect meatshield line, don’t even bother summoning them. You’re just throwing 4,500+ cents into a bonfire.
The Standouts: Tecoluga and Shishilan
When people talk about the "good" ones, they usually start with Tecoluga (Lufalan Pasalan). This guy is a boss killer. Period. He hits a single target, which sounds like a drawback until you realize he deals hundreds of thousands of damage in one slap. He has a critical hit chance too. Imagine a Metal Cyclone or a high-HP Bore just... disappearing. That's the Lufalan magic.
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Then there’s Shishilan Pasalan. Shishilan is the edgy cousin of the Battle Cats Nekoluga family. Unlike the others, Shishilan actually wants to get hit once. He has a "Strengthen" ability that kicks in after he takes some damage. Plus, he has a wave attack and knockback immunity. He’s one of the few Lugas that feels genuinely versatile in a general lineup because he hits hard, hits often, and covers a decent area.
The Weird Middle Child: Piccolan Pasalan
Piccolan (the evolved form of Balaluga) is fascinating because he does zero damage. Literally zero. If you're looking for DPS, look elsewhere. But in the Battle Cats Nekoluga family, Piccolan is the king of crowd control. He freezes and weakens every single enemy on the screen. It’s a massive support move. It buys your other attackers time to actually do their jobs. He’s the guy who stays in the back, looks terrifying, and just makes the enemies stop moving. It’s niche, but in stages like "Floor 30" of the Heavenly Tower, that freeze is a lifesaver.
Why Do People Keep Calling Them Bad?
It’s the "C-Tier" stigma. If you look at old tier lists from 2019 or 2020, people were obsessed with Uberfest exclusives like Mitama or Gao. Compared to those gods, the Battle Cats Nekoluga family looks clunky. They take forever to attack. Their "TBA" (Time Between Attacks) is legendary for being slow.
If Shishilan misses his swing because a Cat CPU-controlled A-Bahamut knocked the enemy back? You’re waiting another ten seconds for him to try again. That’s painful.
Also, some Lugas are just... bad. Let’s talk about Papaluga. Honestly, what was PONOS thinking? He’s supposed to be the "Grandpa" of the family, but his abilities (Curse) are so limited compared to the cost and the fragility of the unit. In a world where Dasli exists, Papaluga is basically a decorative piece for your user rank.
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The Complexity of the True Forms
You haven't really seen the Battle Cats Nekoluga family until you’ve invested the Catfruit into their True Forms. This is where the game changes.
- Ultima Nekoluga gets a massive range boost and better survival.
- E. Kubilan Pasalan gains a Level 8 Wave, which is insane for clearing out those pesky "peons" (small enemies) that block your big hitters.
- Legeluga, the Legend Rare of the family, is a whole different beast. He’s fast. He warps. He doesn't play by the Luga rules. But even he suffers from that "one-hit-and-I'm-dead" syndrome.
How to Actually Win with the Battle Cats Nekoluga Family
If you want to use these guys effectively, you have to change how you play the game. You aren't playing an offensive game anymore; you're playing a "protect the VIP" game.
- Dual Wall Strategy: Use both Eraser Cat and Crazed Eraser Cat. You need a constant stream of HP in front of your Luga.
- Timing the Boss Spawn: Don't spawn your Luga until the boss is out or you've cleared the initial rush. If they reach the enemy base too early, they'll get shredded by the boss's shockwave.
- Research Combos: Use combos that decrease recharge time or increase knockback. Anything to keep the enemies away.
The Battle Cats Nekoluga family is about patience. It's about waiting for that one perfect hit. When Lufalan Pasalan lands a critical hit on a 1,000,000 HP boss and it just dies? That’s the most satisfying feeling in the entire game.
Understanding the Range Meta
Range is the currency of Battle Cats. Most "long-range" units sit around 400-450. The Lugas? They laugh at that. Many of them sit at 600, 700, or even more. This allows them to outrange bosses that would normally wipe your whole team. If a boss has a range of 500, your Bahamut Cat is useless. But your Battle Cats Nekoluga family member? They’re sitting safely in the back, throwing rocks or slaps from a distance where the boss can't touch them.
Final Verdict: Are They Worth Your Cat Food?
If you’re a beginner, maybe wait. You need generalists first. You need the "Sesshoumaru" or the "Kasa Jizo" types—units you can bring to every stage. The Battle Cats Nekoluga family is for the player who has hit a wall. When you’re stuck on a stage because the boss has too much health or the enemies are pushing too hard, that’s when the Lugas shine.
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They are weird, they are ugly, and they are incredibly fragile. But they are also some of the most unique and powerful specialists in the game. Don't let the low health fool you; in the right hands, they are absolute monsters.
Practical Next Steps for Players
Check your current lineup for range gaps. If you find yourself losing because your attackers keep getting hit before they can swing, it’s time to look at your Lugas.
Start by prioritizing Lufalan Pasalan (Tecoluga) if you have him. Focus your XP and Catfruit on him first. He provides the most "bang for your buck" in terms of raw boss-killing power. If you have Shishilan, get him to level 30 immediately; his survival through "survive a lethal strike" makes him much more forgiving for casual play.
Avoid sinking all your resources into Papaluga or Nobiluga unless you’ve already maxed out your other Ubers. They simply don't provide the same utility in the current 2026 meta. Keep an eye on the "Luga Fest" banners and only pull if you’re missing the big three: Teco, Shishi, or Picco.