Comparison: Physical Traps

Physical traps are the first traps that you’ll get in Mousehunt, and serve as the beginner’s version of traps. I put off making a comparison of these traps until last because, to be quite honest, the comparison is pretty unimaginative.
What you really want isn’t a comparison of physical traps. Rather, the burning question is: What do I want to use in Derr? With that in mind, consider this *mostly* a Derr guide, although I’ll address the pre-derr stuff as well as the Seasonal Garden as well.

Pre-Derr trap comparisons

Let’s do this one really quick, shall we?
Tacky Glue > High-Tension Spring
Mary O’Nette > 500-lb spiked crusher
Trebuchet > Rocketine
NVMRC > Mouse Deathbot

So far, so standard. You know all of this from reading the actual guide. If you want more details, consult the first two pages of the walkthrough.

Also of value is a comparison of the few LE traps that are also considered “pre-derr”

Shrink Ray Trap
Stats: 1,000 power, 5% power bonus, 2% attraction bonus, 8 luck, Fresh cheese effect

The Shrink Ray is a special trap- the only way to get it is through donating or the King’s Credits shop. It’s meant to be a gift from older players to the new players, or as a way for a new player to donate and get a nice start.
Statistically, it’s completely inferior to the Swiss Army Mouse Trap in every way, but not by much. Consequently, you could get away with using this trap all the way through the harbour, the mountain and the calm clearing until you get the Venus Mouse Trap and Sinister Portal. I might still get the Swiss Army Mouse Trap if I were you, but it’s really personal preference.

Hitgrab Horsey
Stats: 550 power, 2% power bonus, 0% attraction bonus, 20 luck, Very Fresh cheese effect

Sacrificing a bunch of power for another 10 luck, the Hitgrab Horsey performs very similarly to the Swiss Army Mouse Trap. This trap was released on Mousehunt’s first birthday, which was two years ago at the time of this article, which means that if you have this trap, I certainly hope you managed to get to the point where you can use some of the better traps, and so the use of this trap is mostly irrelevant.

Hunting in Derr- Regular Traps

First, we have to discuss the regular  traps available to a hunter. Namely, the Digby Drillbot, the Onyx Mallet and the Rhinobot. If you intend to hunt in Derr and you don’t have a Limited Edition trap, you must use one of these three- the NVMRC, in all of its might, will get ripped to shreds by the mice in Derr.

Digby Drillbot
Stats: 3,200 power, 18% power bonus, 0% attraction bonus, 5 luck, No cheese effect

As those of you who know me may know, this has always been one of my favorite traps. Something about the glaring red eyes just strikes me as totally awesome- I definitely had one of these things even though I’ve never used it!

Why have I never used it, you may ask. Well, it’s because every trap that we discuss below is a superior trap to the Digby Drillbot. The Drillbot is clearly all about power with an impressive 18% power bonus. However, that’s all it has going for it- the 5 luck grants virtually no benefit towards your catch rate, and there are other more powerful traps that the Digby Drillbot.
While it’s clearly the starting point for hunting in Derr, you’ll want to get a better trap ASAP as it’s murderously difficult without one.

Onyx Mallet
Stats: 3,800 power, 12% power bonus, 0% attraction bonus, 6 luck, Stale cheese effect

The Onyx Mallet is an odd bird; while it’s clearly better than the Digby Drillbot, it’s not much better. And boy is it a pain in the neck to get! First, you need to collect the blueprints, which means you have to catch a Dojo Sensei (no small feat!) and hope that it drops the blueprints. Next, you need 12 onyx stones, which means you have to catch twelve Master of the Dojo mice, also not a simple thing for most hunters.
And finally, it’s expensive as it requires platinum bars at 60,000 gold apiece. Additionally, as my gold guide points out, your onyx stones are extremely valuable in the form of unstable curds, which means that the 12 that you save for your mallet becomes a huge opportunity cost.

And in the end, that makes this trap a cool but useless one. If you happen to have all the ingredients, feel free to make it. As for me, I’ve had the opportunity several times, and I’ve ignored it every time- I’d much rather poke my curds!

Rhinobot
Stats: 4,950 power, 0% power bonus, 0% attraction bonus, 8 luck, Very Stale cheese effect

This one is the motherload. With nearly 5,000 power, the Rhinobot dwarfs the power of every other physical trap in Mousehunt. It is, in every sense, the Digby Drillbot taken to the extreme. As a consequence, the drillbot’s strengths and weaknesses are magnified. While the Rhinobot is the best regular physical trap, you will see below that the high luck of so many Limited Edition traps allows them to outplay the Rhinobot in every situation. Even 5,000 power isn’t enough to overcome the meager 8 luck.

Again, a necessity for most hunters. However, we’re going to look now at some of the other options, and the unfortunate truth is that while this is the top of the ladder in the regular game, it’s quite low on the ladder when Limited Edition traps get involved.

Mid-Level Limited Edition Traps

Now we move on to the Limited Edition traps. I’ve divided them into two subcategories. For this first group, they can best be described in the following way: These traps are better than the Digby Drillbot and the Onyx Mallet, but they are not better than the Rhinobot. Some of these traps may be equal to the Rhinobot, but no matter which of these traps that you own, you’re going to want to buy a Rhinobot at some point.

Hitgrab (Rainbow) Rockin’ Horse
Stats: 1,250 power, 2% power bonus, 10% attraction bonus, 25 luck, No (Über Fresh) cheese effect

These two traps are virtually identical, only differing in the cheese effect. This trap has the lowest power of all of the traps here, but it also has the highest luck of all of them. The higher luck and the lower power offset one another and you’re left with a trap that is somewhat better (though not significantly) than the Digby Drillbot. The nice part, of course, is that this trap is a heck of a lot cheaper.

As was true with the Hitgrab Horsey, these traps are so old that it’s probably a non-issue by now. Still, it is interesting to look back on this trap. It was a true testament to how enough luck can outdo power every time.

Birthday Candle Kaboom
Stats: 2,400 power, 30% power bonus, 20% attraction bonus, 14 luck, Very Stale cheese effect

This trap has a couple of really impressive stats attached to it. Namely a 30% power bonus and 20% attraction bonus. And while the 2,400 power and 14 luck is impressive, it’s ultimately just a fancy upgrade to the NVMRC Forcefield. It’s viable enough to hold its own against some of the weaker mice in Derr but can’t match up with the Rhino’s sheer power when facing the toughest Derr mice.
Given the high price associated with this trap, it’s ultimately a completely forgettable addition to this list.

Snowglobe Trap
Stats: 2,350 power, 12% power bonus, 10% attraction bonus, 16 luck, No cheese effect

A NVMRC clone in both stats and appearance, the Snow Globe was a collectible, through and through. It was released at the same time as the Christmas Cracker Trap and the Chrome Drillbot, and so those who own it really only got it for the aesthetics.
Statistically? It’s mediocre. It will get you by in Derr, but you’ll definitely need the Rhinobot at some point.

Pneumatic Tube Trap
Stats: 2,300 power, 20% power bonus, 5% attraction bonus, 18 luck, No cheese effect

Now here’s an interesting one. The extra two luck of the tube allows it compete with the Rhinobot pretty effectively. When collecting Delicious Stones in Derr, or trying to build your amplifier in the Seasonal Garden, this trap is actually a better option.  However, up against the top Derr mice, the Rhinobot is still the best option.
Still, this is an effective trap for hunters who don’t intend to spend much time in Derr and are trying to conserve their gold.

Elite Limited Edition Traps

And now we come to the top traps. All of the traps listed below are better than the Rhinobot in every situation. Their combination of power and luck completely crushes the Rhinobot, which means that owners of these traps never need to buy a Digby Drillbot or craft the Rhinobot.

Christmas Cracker Trap
Stats: 3,000 power, 15% power bonus, 5% attraction bonus, 24 luck, Very Fresh cheese effect

The Christmas Cracker trap was the steal of a lifetime; not only is it one of the best physical traps in the game, but it was also free! Hunters who participated in the 2009 Great Winter Hunt got this trap as a reward for completing the event. It was a terrific way for all of the hunters in Mousehunt to get an awesome trap.

What’s there to say, really. Tons of power and a nice helping of 24 luck makes it an excellent choice. Of course, the ironic thing is that as awesome as this trap is, it’s not as good as the next traps on this list.

Partybot
Stats: 2,850 power, 15% power bonus, 15% attraction bonus, 25 luck, Stale cheese effect

This trap was the original game-breaker. Released on Mousehunt’s first birthday for a measly 15,000 gold, the Partybot completely wreaked all other traps at the time. Hunters were using this trap in Furoma against the tactical mice and in the Mousoleum against the shadow mice, and they were pretty successful at it!
As for Derr, this trap sacrifices 150 power against the Cracker in favor of an extra point of luck, and so their catch rates are roughly the same. However, the Partybot has something else that the Cracker does not- a 15% attraction bonus. This bonus makes it the golden standard for hunters who are using regular store-bought cheese. Hunting in the Seasonal Garden? Use the partybot to minimize how much your amp drops. Trying to get that Shelder? The less FTAs, the better! And, relevant to our discussion, that 15% attraction bonus helps a bunch when using gouda to collect stones in Derr. The Partybot is a jack-of-all-trades and continues to be used by all of its owners in almost any location that they hunt.
Of course, if attraction isn’t your need, then there’s another trap that might suit your needs.

Chrome Drillbot
Stats: 3,900 power, 20% power bonus, 0% attraction bonus, 26 luck, Insanely Stale cheese effect

Wow. The stats speak for themselves, here. This is, without question, the most powerful physical trap. With 1,000 more power than the two previous traps while also boasting 26 luck of its own, there is no better trap for catching tough physical mice. If you’re hunting the Monster or the Big Bad Burroughs, equip this trap to get the absolute best chance of catching them. It’s also unparalleled when you’re hunting the Big 3 in Derr for red seeds.
The only drawback is the lack of attraction, which is why this trap, while the most powerful, is not the best. That award belongs to…

Deathbot (Chrome Edition)
Stats: 2,800 power, 20% power bonus, 20% attraction bonus, 30 luck, Very Stale cheese effect

Take everything you love about the Partybot. Now magnify it. Congratulations, you now have Mousehunt’s best physical trap, the Chrome Deathbot. With an eye-popping 30 luck (the most of any trap in Mousehunt), this trap has a terrific catch rate against all mice. In addition, the phenomenal 20% attraction bonus makes it unmatched when using regular cheese such as brie or gouda. There’s a reason why the top hunters use this trap almost exclusively in situations where a physical trap is required: it is truly unmatched, and is the best.

Ranking the Physical Traps

Of course, this is what most people who ask for this page are specifically looking for: What’s the best physical trap, and how does trap X compare with trap Y? The problem, of course, is that everything is relative- what traps are best depends entirely on what you’re doing. So I’ve got several lists for you; hopefully your question is answered in one of these lists.

Regular traps (that is, non-Limited Edition traps) are bolded for easier reference.

When hunting weak mice using regular cheese (Events & King’s Gauntlet)
Chrome Deathbot > Birthday Candle Kaboom > Partybot > Snowglobe > Hitgrab Rockin’ Horse > NVMRC Forcefield > Christmas Cracker > Pneumatic Tube > Chrome Drillbot > Rhinobot > Onyx Mallet > Digby Drillbot

See the pattern? It’s pretty simple- use the highest attraction bonus that you can, and after that focus on your power. Mice in these situations are weak- they’ll fall to anything. Attraction and avoiding FTAs is the most crucial part of hunting. The King’s Gauntlet in particular is an area where FTAs are far more detrimental to your success than the chance of a FTC. Consequently, you’ll see the Chrome Drillbot waaaaay down near the bottom of the list, while the NVMRC actually ranks quite high.

When hunting for stones in the Derr Dunes & Hunting in the Seasonal Garden
Chrome Deathbot > Partybot > Chrome Drillbot > Christmas Cracker > Pneumatic Tube > Rhinobot > Birthday Candle Kaboom > Snowglobe > Hitgrab Rockin’ Horse > Onyx Mallet > Digby Drillbot > NVMRC Forcefield

This list serves as a solid benchmark of the value of physical traps, as the list is comprised of a hybrid of good attraction and power. The Chrome Deathbot and Partybot both have high attraction along with great power and luck, so they top the list. The Chrome Drillbot may have a ton of power, but the lower attraction makes it slightly less desirable. From there it moves pretty logically down the list.
I have heard it argued that the Birthday Candle Kaboom’s 20% attraction bonus makes it better than the Rhinobot; I haven’t seen evidence one way or the other about it, but the mediocre stats make it seem doubtful (to me) that it could compete with the higher catch rate of the rhinobot, even with a 20% attraction bonus. The 20% attraction bonus is more important in the seasonal garden, so in that case, one may be better off using the Kaboom instead of the Rhinobot.

One point of difference: If you decide to use SB+ in either situation, equip the Chrome Drillbot. Otherwise, the list remains the same.

When hunting tougher physical mice (Crunchy & Limelight)

Chrome Drillbot > Chrome Deathbot > Partybot > Christmas Cracker > Rhinobot > Pneumatic Tube > Birthday Candle Kaboom > Snowglobe > Hitgrab Rockin’ Horse > Onyx Mallet > Digby Drillbot > NVMRC Forcefield

The list doesn’t change too much- the Chrome Drillbot firmly plants itself atop of the list, but the other elite LE traps remain in the same order. The Rhinobot also overtakes the Pneumatic Tube, but all other traps remain in the identical positions on the list.

In conclusion, the simplest way to explain this list is: The Chrome Deathbot/Drillbot, Partybot and Christmas Cracker Trap are all superior to the Rhinobot. However, while the other LE traps are better than the Drillbot, you should still purchase a Rhinobot for when you’re hunting with Crunchy cheese.

For those who are wondering “How is it that weaker traps can be better than the Rhinobot?”

The simple way to answer that question is to say that high luck provides a hidden power bonus. If you want a more detailed answer, please check Mousehunt Analytics, where they have a crash course in explaining how luck affects your trap’s catch rate.

And that is how the physical traps fare against one another. I hope this helps!