diff --git a/core/src/main/assets/interfaces/status_pane.png b/core/src/main/assets/interfaces/status_pane.png
index 7a4daf723..1e409a3a0 100644
Binary files a/core/src/main/assets/interfaces/status_pane.png and b/core/src/main/assets/interfaces/status_pane.png differ
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/actors/buffs/ChampionEnemy.java b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/actors/buffs/ChampionEnemy.java
index b4d23a4ff..e5af04590 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/actors/buffs/ChampionEnemy.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/actors/buffs/ChampionEnemy.java
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ public abstract class ChampionEnemy extends Buff {
 	}
 
 	protected int color;
+	protected int rays;
 
 	@Override
 	public int icon() {
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ public abstract class ChampionEnemy extends Buff {
 
 	@Override
 	public void fx(boolean on) {
-		if (on) target.sprite.aura( color );
+		if (on) target.sprite.aura( color, rays );
 		else target.sprite.clearAura();
 	}
 
@@ -114,6 +115,7 @@ public abstract class ChampionEnemy extends Buff {
 
 		{
 			color = 0xFF8800;
+			rays = 4;
 		}
 
 		@Override
@@ -150,6 +152,7 @@ public abstract class ChampionEnemy extends Buff {
 
 		{
 			color = 0x8800FF;
+			rays = 4;
 		}
 
 		@Override
@@ -178,6 +181,7 @@ public abstract class ChampionEnemy extends Buff {
 
 		{
 			color = 0x00FF00;
+			rays = 5;
 		}
 
 		@Override
@@ -196,6 +200,7 @@ public abstract class ChampionEnemy extends Buff {
 
 		{
 			color = 0x0088FF;
+			rays = 5;
 		}
 
 		@Override
@@ -224,6 +229,7 @@ public abstract class ChampionEnemy extends Buff {
 
 		{
 			color = 0xFFFF00;
+			rays = 6;
 		}
 
 		@Override
@@ -235,7 +241,8 @@ public abstract class ChampionEnemy extends Buff {
 	public static class Growing extends ChampionEnemy {
 
 		{
-			color = 0xFF0000;
+			color = 0xFF2222; //a little white helps it stick out from background
+			rays = 6;
 		}
 
 		private float multiplier = 1.19f;
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/actors/buffs/Invulnerability.java b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/actors/buffs/Invulnerability.java
index ccbbe356e..f9ef2dd92 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/actors/buffs/Invulnerability.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/actors/buffs/Invulnerability.java
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public class Invulnerability extends FlavourBuff {
 	@Override
 	public void fx(boolean on) {
 		if (!target.buffs(ChampionEnemy.class).isEmpty()) return;
-		if (on) target.sprite.aura( 0xFFFF00 );
+		if (on) target.sprite.aura( 0xFFFF00, 5 );
 		else target.sprite.clearAura();
 	}
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/effects/Flare.java b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/effects/Flare.java
index f8ed1e20f..f194f5c83 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/effects/Flare.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/effects/Flare.java
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ public class Flare extends Visual {
 		
 		super( 0, 0, 0, 0 );
 
-		int gradient[] = {0xFFFFFFFF, 0x00FFFFFF};
+		int gradient[] = {0xFFFFFFFF, 0xBBFFFFFF, 0x88FFFFFF, 0x00FFFF, 0x00FFFFFF};
 		texture = TextureCache.createGradient( gradient );
 		
 		this.nRays = nRays;
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/CharSprite.java b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/CharSprite.java
index 6fde92721..6e59a4955 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/CharSprite.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/CharSprite.java
@@ -373,11 +373,13 @@ public class CharSprite extends MovieClip implements Tweener.Listener, MovieClip
 	}
 
 	private int auraColor = 0;
+	private int auraRays = 0;
 
-	//Aura needs color data too
-	public void aura( int color ){
+	//Aura needs color and ray count data too
+	public void aura( int color, int nRays ){
 		add(State.AURA);
 		auraColor = color;
+		auraRays = nRays;
 	}
 
 	protected synchronized void processStateAddition( State state ) {
@@ -450,7 +452,7 @@ public class CharSprite extends MovieClip implements Tweener.Listener, MovieClip
 				if (aura != null)   aura.killAndErase();
 				float size = Math.max(width(), height());
 				size = Math.max(size+4, 16);
-				aura = new Flare(5, size);
+				aura = new Flare(auraRays, size);
 				aura.angularSpeed = 90;
 				aura.color(auraColor, true);
 				aura.visible = visible;
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/RatKingSprite.java b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/RatKingSprite.java
index 08a70da92..6aa9ea88b 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/RatKingSprite.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/RatKingSprite.java
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ public class RatKingSprite extends MobSprite {
 
 		if (Dungeon.hero != null && Dungeon.hero.armorAbility instanceof Ratmogrify){
 			c = 24;
-			if (parent != null) aura(0xFFFF00);
+			if (parent != null) aura(0xFFFF00, 5);
 		}
 
 		texture( Assets.Sprites.RATKING );
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ public class RatKingSprite extends MobSprite {
 	public void link(Char ch) {
 		super.link(ch);
 		if (Dungeon.hero != null && Dungeon.hero.armorAbility instanceof Ratmogrify){
-			aura(0xFFFF00);
+			aura(0xFFFF00, 5);
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/ui/HealthBar.java b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/ui/HealthBar.java
index e176694a2..fc3ff7d05 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/ui/HealthBar.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/ui/HealthBar.java
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ public class HealthBar extends Component {
 
 	private static final int COLOR_BG	= 0xFFCC0000;
 	private static final int COLOR_HP	= 0xFF00EE00;
-	private static final int COLOR_SHLD = 0xFFBBEEBB;
+	private static final int COLOR_SHLD = 0xFFCCFFCC;
 	
 	private static final int HEIGHT	= 2;
 	
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/ui/InventorySlot.java b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/ui/InventorySlot.java
index e034e7c66..df6fbaa2b 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/ui/InventorySlot.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/ui/InventorySlot.java
@@ -89,12 +89,16 @@ public class InventorySlot extends ItemSlot {
 			if (item.cursed && item.cursedKnown) {
 				bg.ra = +0.3f;
 				bg.ga = -0.15f;
+				bg.ba = -0.15f;
 			} else if (!item.isIdentified()) {
 				if ((item instanceof EquipableItem || item instanceof Wand) && item.cursedKnown){
-					bg.ba = 0.3f;
+					bg.ba = +0.3f;
+					bg.ga = +0.06f;
+					bg.ra = -0.06f;
 				} else {
-					bg.ra = 0.3f;
-					bg.ba = 0.3f;
+					bg.ra = +0.3f;
+					bg.ba = +0.3f;
+					bg.ga = -0.1f;
 				}
 			}
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/windows/WndJournal.java b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/windows/WndJournal.java
index f4745a3d6..34cd28a0c 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/windows/WndJournal.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/windows/WndJournal.java
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ public class WndJournal extends WndTabbed {
 				gridItem.addSecondIcon(secondIcon);
 			}
 			if (!seen) {
-				gridItem.hardLightBG(2f, 1f, 2f);
+				gridItem.hardLightBG(2f, 0.8f, 2f);
 			}
 			grid.addItem(gridItem);
 		}
@@ -1001,7 +1001,7 @@ public class WndJournal extends WndTabbed {
 				}
 			};
 			if (!seen) {
-				gridItem.hardLightBG(2f, 1f, 2f);
+				gridItem.hardLightBG(2f, 0.8f, 2f);
 			}
 			grid.addItem(gridItem);
 		}
@@ -1055,10 +1055,10 @@ public class WndJournal extends WndTabbed {
 				text.measure();
 				gridItem.addSecondIcon( text );
 				if (!read) {
-					gridItem.hardLightBG(1f, 1f, 2f);
+					gridItem.hardLightBG(0.9f, 0.9f, 2f);
 				}
 			} else {
-				gridItem.hardLightBG(2f, 1f, 2f);
+				gridItem.hardLightBG(2f, 0.8f, 2f);
 			}
 			grid.addItem(gridItem);
 		}
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/windows/WndRanking.java b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/windows/WndRanking.java
index 1a06ecccc..a9047f0a4 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/windows/WndRanking.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/windows/WndRanking.java
@@ -32,8 +32,10 @@ import com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon.ShatteredPixelDungeon;
 import com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon.Statistics;
 import com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon.actors.hero.Belongings;
 import com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon.actors.hero.HeroSubClass;
+import com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon.items.EquipableItem;
 import com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon.items.Item;
 import com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon.items.trinkets.Trinket;
+import com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon.items.wands.Wand;
 import com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon.messages.Messages;
 import com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon.scenes.PixelScene;
 import com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon.sprites.HeroSprite;
@@ -482,11 +484,19 @@ public class WndRanking extends WndTabbed {
 			
 			slot.item( item );
 			if (item.cursed && item.cursedKnown) {
-				bg.ra = +0.2f;
-				bg.ga = -0.1f;
+				bg.ra = +0.3f;
+				bg.ga = -0.15f;
+				bg.ba = -0.15f;
 			} else if (!item.isIdentified()) {
-				bg.ra = 0.1f;
-				bg.ba = 0.1f;
+				if ((item instanceof EquipableItem || item instanceof Wand) && item.cursedKnown){
+					bg.ba = +0.3f;
+					bg.ga = +0.06f;
+					bg.ra = -0.06f;
+				} else {
+					bg.ra = +0.3f;
+					bg.ba = +0.3f;
+					bg.ga = -0.1f;
+				}
 			}
 		}