Phrike

**Phrike** is the first boss in Returnal, found at the end of the Overgrown Ruins area. Players receive the trophy A Shadow in the Fog when Selene defeats Phrike.

Phrike has three phases. It dashes and teleports around a circular arena while attacking Selene.

## Description

Phrike was formerly a part of the sentient Hivemind, before becoming Severed and being cast out. It was further changed by visions of something all-powerful lurking in the Abyss below. Upon return, Phrike and its fellow "Ascended" Severed were feared by the rest of the Hivemind and imprisoned throughout Atropos, in its case what would later become the Overgrown Ruins. However, these Ascended continued to transmit nightmarish thoughts into the minds of the sentients and other Severed from the power given to them by the Creator/Destroyer.

This ultimately led to violence, with the Severed storming the Citadel and being attacked in turn by the only recently fitted weaponry installed on the Automatons. Mass suicide further whittled down the population, leaving only the Ascended, the Severed, and Nemesis alive. Phrike remained sealed in its crypt before Selene awakened and fought it in the Overgrown Ruins.

## Attacks

Phrike's base attacks during all phases are:

* Fires barrage of fast-moving **RED ORBS** from its hands. This is usually chained together several times and is aimed at where the player is currently going (based on their movement), not where the player currently is.
* Releases a wave of slow-falling **PURPLE ORBS** in an area around itself.
* Shoots 3 blasts of **PURPLE ORBS** out of its hands.
* Charges and then fires an energy beam in a rising line towards Selene.
* Melees Selene if she happens to get too close.

In its second phase, Phrike's attacks get more intense, and new attacks are added:

* Dashes towards Selene and slashes with a melee attack.
* Blasts the ground and creates a circular red energy wave from its location. This attack is always followed by a dash melee.
	+ In the third phase, this attack creates a second red energy wave after the first.
* Fires an energy beam in a 180º sweep (from left to right) in front of itself.

In its third phase, Phrike's previous attacks become more intense and quicker. Phrike also tends to melee more frequently in this phase. In addition, it gains a new attack:

* Releases sustained waves of slow-moving **PURPLE ORBS** along the ground in a circle around itself. While this attack is active, Phrike also summons and fires **BLUE TRACKERS** at Selene.

## Rewards

After defeating Phrike, the player is rewarded with 5 Ether and the Crimson Key, which clears the way for the second biome of Atropos.

## Databank Entries

### Research Level 1

[UNDEFINED TERROR] sent an encrypted signal.

obtained once defeated.

SMOTHERED \*\*\* MEMORIES \*\*\* ESCAPE \*\*\* GAZING \*\*\* IN HER \*\*\* BEATING HEART \*\*\* OF DISGRACE \*\*\*

### Research Level 2

Signal partially decrypted.

"Smothered fire. Suffocating memories. Promised places. Terminal escape. Gehenna. Helheim. Tartarus."

### Research Level 3

Signal fully decrypted.

-=|#\;the last thing." Gazing around the innermost chamber, now cold and silent; yet in her feverish imagination she could close her eyes and witness it as a beating heart. A heart that beat others out of existence. Philosophical and yet very real abomination. He was about to make a theological remark to her, but the air of disgrace/;^=