suggestions

As I see it, there is a balancing act between gaining energy easily (relatively) and also being able to hold on to it.

I would like to know why the same amount of energy is not being exchanged for losses/wins. If your opponent is offline, does this mean the bot becomes dumb and therefore loses more energy?

I suggest making it equal, i.e. making it a little harder to gain energy.

it is based on a combination of xE and potentially the dark energy buff. Your xE must be high.

It's to encourage players to attack other players and to discourage dumping(to a degree)

When the time comes that people don't all have the same build, maybe your suggestion will work.

Same build? We can solve that...

The items in the shop can be used for that. Why not generate truly unique items... i.e make a few list of words, for example:

A = {Huge, Glittering, Purifying, Golden} B = {Dagger, Mace, Sword, Spike}

...use this for the naming by choosing random words. The naming should probably be based on the stats as well, otherwise you may get a 300 damage Huge Dagger and one with 7 damage.

...and then, define minimum and maximum damage, combined with minimum and maximum stat modifiers, required str/dex. The chance of seeing a good item will then be a function of these parameters. Then randomise, something like minDamage = randomrandom1000 (this will result in a very low chance for high damage... but that's details and can be worked out.)

...same for armour.

For example, a function may generate:

Glittering Golden Spike, +4str -2dex -2int, damage: 67-111, required str=111, dex=99, chance=0.78%.

of course, seeing this kind of weapon again, will be practically zero.

This will result in different bots, a very dynamic game and a more rewarding experience in the shop.

Randomized item generation has been suggested dozens of times already. And Ender has already stated his thoughts and gameplan concerning it many times as well.

Well, I'm sorry... I should have searched first. Did not know.