Cobalt Protocol

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**Cobalt Protocol** is a fast-paced battle-oriented 4v4 Game Mode in *Eternal Return*.

At the start of each test, two teams with four Test Subjects are dropped into **Cobalt Protocol** combat laboratory to fight for survival against other Test Subjects. This game mode is only available to players at Account Level 15.

## Main Gameplay Changes

Here is a list of changes compared to the main game mode, Lumia Island:

* The Route/Catalog UI is not available, instead items a set of items is selected from a random pool at the beginning and additional items can be rolled with  Credits.
* In addition to items, players can also spend their credits on Infusions, which grant strong passive effects.
* All test subjects start the game at level 9, with all masteries starting at level 6.
* Players earn XP over time.
* Despite being a team mode, there is no “downed” state, instead respawning after a set period of time back at their spawn rooms.
* There are safe rooms at the opposing corners of the map where players can quickly restore HP and SP. These rooms are protected by Defense Turrets (Attack Speed: 1.8).
* For balance, cooldowns of ultimate(R) skills have been scaled per character/weapon.
* Heal Packs spawn all over the map that restore HP and SP for the first character that touches them. Once used they go on a 75s cooldown.
* Equipment cannot be dropped onto the ground.

## Game Preparation: Test Subject Draft

The game randomly selects one test subject for each player from the ones they own and/or from Cobalt's free rotation.

Apart from this, a draft pool of 6 different characters will also be made available for selection for each team. The draft pool is shared within each team. Each player can swap their current character with one from the pool by selecting their portrait. There's a 2s cooldown after switching a test subject before another can be selected. Players can only select test subjects they own.

After a time, the 6 unchosen characters in the pool are swapped with those from the opposing team's, becoming available for pick.

## Equipment Draft

Since there is no looting and crafting in this game mode, the players will draft their equipment instead. They will get to choose from 3 options for each equipment type. The equipment is drafted in the following order: weapon → chest → head → arm → leg → accessory.

Each item has a main tag describing the item's playstyle characteristics. Equipment options in the rest of the draft will differ based on the main tag of the player's chosen weapon. Bellow the item's main tag there is a sub-tag that indicates the equipment's secondary characteristics. Recommended items for that character will have a "Thumbs Up" icon next to them.

Players can spend 30  to roll for one of three random items of a chosen category (weapon, chest, head, arm, leg, accesspry). Unwanted items can be sold back for credits (Epic: 6 ). Selling 6 items (legendary items count as selling 3) will automatically grant the ability to choose one of three random legendary items of the selected category.

## Phase System

 Phase 1
 Phase 2
 Phase 3
 Phase 4 (Sudden Death)

## Life Points

In Cobalt Protocol, each team starts with 40 Life Points. For a team to win, they must either deduct the enemy team's points to 0 or to a value lower that theirs before the match time is up.

Players can deduct the enemy team's Points by:

* Killing enemy players: 5 points (lowers to 1 point during Phase 3)
* Having control of the Power Beacons (2 point every few seconds per beacon)
* Killing adroid bosses:
	+ Gamma: 8 points

## Earning Credits

* Credits are earned through the following:
	+ Time-based Income (4  every 15 seconds)
	+ Test Subject Kill
	+ Test Subject Kill Assist
	+ Killing Spree
	+ Killing Spree Shutdowns
	+ Hunting Wild Animals

In addition, there is a 1.5x bonus to credits obtained that is triggered when there's a 9-point difference between both teams.

## Infusions

* Infusions can be purchased at the Synthesizer, and can be thought of as Cobalt Protocol-exclusive Augments.
* Each player can purchase and equip up to 3 Infusions. Most Infusions can be upgraded, but some provide unique passive abilities that cannot be upgraded.

For a list and more information about available Infusions in Cobalt Protocol, please see Infusions.

## Power Beacons

Power Beacons are devices found in Cobalt Protocol. There are 3 beacons spread evenly across the map. When a player captures a beacon (by interacting with it until the progress bar is full), that player and their allies are granted a buff, with each beacon granting a different buff. This buff increases in potency on each phase change. In addition, retaining control over a beacon for a period of time deducts the opposing team's Life Points by 1.

 Power Beacon (Northeast)
 Power Beacon (Middle)

## Mode-Specific Balancing

* There is a Cobalt Protocol-specific scaling for each character-weapon combination. damage dealt, damage received, and other stats.
* Scaling applied to damage dealt, damage received, shield effectiveness, recovery effectiveness, and ultimate (R) skill cooldown.

## Character-Specific Changes for Cobalt Protocol

* Some test subjects' skills, passives, or other quirks can’t function properly in Cobalt Protocol, so they’ll be changed as described in the table below:
* The following issues are stuff that we're aware of and will be improved or fixed in the future.
* Examples:
	+ Some characters (e.g. Daniel) have Passives that don’t make sense in the context of Cobalt Protocol.
	+ Silvia cannot gain fuel.
	+ Mai cannot acquire her exclusive equipment.
	+ Echion cannot acquire his legendary weapon. Etc

 Hart
 Xiukai
 Silvia
 Daniel
-Out of Combat Movement Speed increased by 10%.
 Luke
 Echion
 Priya
 Alex