The Collective serves as the final boss encounter for the 'The Park Resonant' mission in Control Resonant. While this battle is a highlight, it is recommended to complete 'The Central Resonant' mission beforehand to unlock a powerful ability that will significantly ease this fight. Additionally, the navigational ability from 'The Incursion Fault' mission is essential.
The Collective Boss Strategy
Unlike previous bosses, The Collective does not offer health regeneration upon reaching certain HP thresholds. Instead, players must heal by defeating the various mold monsters summoned throughout the encounter. Direct attacks on The Collective itself are largely ineffective for most of the fight. Success hinges on targeting specific parts, such as its tentacles or summoned mold creatures, until vulnerable bulges appear on its main body. There are four such bulges: one on the left, two centrally located, and one on the right. Destroying these bulges inflicts substantial damage.
Fire-based attacks are highly effective against both the mold enemies and The Collective, particularly its tentacles, which can be dispatched quickly with this damage type. This requires completing 'The Central Resonant' mission to unlock the necessary Combat Abilities. The Ignite ability, for instance, proves invaluable, allowing for continuous fire damage application while focusing on other objectives.
The boss battle progresses through distinct phases:
Phase One: The fight begins with two tentacles on either side of The Collective. These tentacles launch Infected damage projectiles, necessitating consistent dodging. To defeat them, players must use the Shift ability to reach the wall they are connected to and attack their bases. While they can perform a floor-slamming attack, it is well-telegraphed and avoidable. Once both tentacles are destroyed, the bulges on The Collective's main body become vulnerable. During this phase, The Collective will also launch Infected damage attacks and fill sections of the arena with a yellow, moldy mist.
Phase Two: A large group of mold monsters will emerge from the floor. After clearing these enemies, a bulge will appear on The Collective's main body, allowing for direct damage. The Collective continues its Infected damage attacks and emits yellow mold mist when players get too close. This cycle of defeating mold monsters and attacking bulges repeats until the tentacles reappear.
Phase Three: Three tentacles emerge, requiring players to repeat the strategy from Phase One: destroy the tentacles before returning to attack the main body's bulges. More mold enemies and yellow mist can be expected.
Phase Four: Two tentacles appear directly in front of The Collective. Defeat these while contending with mold enemies and attacks from both the tentacles and the main body. Once these two tentacles are eliminated, the final bulge should be accessible, allowing players to falter and defeat The Collective.
Spore Burst or Growth?
Upon defeating The Collective, players are presented with a choice between two new Combat Abilities: Spore Burst and Growth.
- Spore Burst: Rapidly fires Mold projectiles, building up the Infected status effect on targets. It deals 19-189 damage and 2-19 Falter, costing 200 Power.
- Growth: Summons a Mold Ally that attacks enemies with spores, gradually building up the Infected status effect. It deals 11 damage and 2 Falter, costs 200 Power, and allows for a maximum of 2 summoned allies.
Both abilities are highly beneficial, especially when combined with fire damage, as the Infected status can cause enemies to explode. The Infected status effect is particularly potent against certain late-game enemies.
Opting for Growth allows for a build focused on summoning mold allies. Investing Talent Points to enhance summon strength and capacity creates a powerful support system, enabling players to inflict Infected status while simultaneously dealing fire damage with abilities like Ignite, leading to swift enemy eliminations, especially in late-game boss encounters.
Spore Burst is also a valuable ability, especially considering the likelihood of having a spare Combat Ability slot in the late game. It is ideal for direct application of the Infected status, making it suitable for close-quarters combat, capitalizing on existing fire damage, or delivering a finishing blow. While Growth is recommended as the initial choice due to its significant late-game utility, Spore Burst remains a strong option for filling any remaining ability slots.