diff --git a/Assets/Code/Scripts/Enemies/LivingRoot/SlowdownArea.cs b/Assets/Code/Scripts/Enemies/LivingRoot/SlowdownArea.cs
index 4bcab53..12666cb 100644
--- a/Assets/Code/Scripts/Enemies/LivingRoot/SlowdownArea.cs
+++ b/Assets/Code/Scripts/Enemies/LivingRoot/SlowdownArea.cs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ public class SlowdownArea : MonoBehaviour
     public float slowSpeed;
     public float timer;
     
-    private float baseSpeed;
+
     private float baseJump;
     private bool isInZone = false;
     private PlayerMovement player;
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ public class SlowdownArea : MonoBehaviour
         if (area.CompareTag("Player")){
             player = area.GetComponent<PlayerMovement>();
             jump = area.GetComponent<PlayerJump>();
-            baseSpeed = player.WalkSpeed;
             baseJump = 5.0f;
             jump.JumpForce = 1.5f;
             isInZone = true;
@@ -32,7 +31,7 @@ public class SlowdownArea : MonoBehaviour
         {
             isInZone = false;
             timer = 0f;
-            player.WalkSpeed = baseSpeed;
+            player.ApplySlow(1f);
             jump.JumpForce = baseJump;
         }
     }
@@ -46,6 +45,6 @@ public class SlowdownArea : MonoBehaviour
         timer += Time.deltaTime;
         float t = Mathf.Clamp(timer * slowSpeed, 0f, 1f);
         float multiplicator = Mathf.Lerp(1f, maxSlow, t);
-        player.WalkSpeed = baseSpeed * multiplicator;
+        player.ApplySlow(multiplicator);
     }
 }
diff --git a/Assets/Code/Scripts/Player/PlayerMovement.cs b/Assets/Code/Scripts/Player/PlayerMovement.cs
index 554fea3..7e1ef2b 100644
--- a/Assets/Code/Scripts/Player/PlayerMovement.cs
+++ b/Assets/Code/Scripts/Player/PlayerMovement.cs
@@ -14,12 +14,17 @@ public class PlayerMovement : MonoBehaviour
 
     private Vector3 moveDirection;
 
+    // used for root enemies
+    private float baseWalkSpeed;
+    private float slowMultiplier = 1f;
+
     private void Awake()
     {
         m_rigidbody = GetComponent<Rigidbody>();
         input = GetComponent<PlayerInputController>();
         animator = GetComponent<Animator>();
         headController = GetComponent<PlayerHeadController>();
+        baseWalkSpeed = WalkSpeed;
 
         if (m_rigidbody != null)
         {
@@ -27,6 +32,11 @@ public class PlayerMovement : MonoBehaviour
         }
     }
 
+    public void ApplySlow(float multiplier)
+    {
+        slowMultiplier = multiplier;
+    }
+
     private void FixedUpdate()
     {
         Vector2 m_moveAmt = input.MoveAmount;
@@ -48,7 +58,7 @@ public class PlayerMovement : MonoBehaviour
         if (headController.isHoldingHead)
         {
             m_rigidbody.MovePosition(
-                m_rigidbody.position + Time.deltaTime * WalkSpeed * moveDirection
+                m_rigidbody.position + Time.deltaTime * baseWalkSpeed * slowMultiplier * moveDirection
             );
         }
         else
@@ -56,7 +66,7 @@ public class PlayerMovement : MonoBehaviour
             if (moveDirection.magnitude >= 0.1f)
             {
                 m_rigidbody.MovePosition(
-                    m_rigidbody.position + Time.deltaTime * WalkSpeed * moveDirection
+                    m_rigidbody.position + Time.deltaTime * baseWalkSpeed * slowMultiplier * moveDirection
                 );
 
                 Quaternion targetRotation = Quaternion.LookRotation(moveDirection);