Lord Recluse Strike Force: Difference between revisions

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== Overview ==
[[Image:Lord Recluse.jpg|thumb|240px|Lord Recluse]]
Contact: [[Lord Recluse]]<br>
Level Range: 45 - 50<br>
Notes: Requires 8 people<br>
Zone: [[Grandville]]<br>
Location: Chamber, central tower.<br>
Primary Enemy: Freedom Phalanx<br>
Name: Future of Freedom<br>
Badge: [[Servant of Recluse Badge]]<br>
Description:  You have broken Paragon City's 'best.' Let everyone fear you!


= Story Arc =
{{Infobox TF
|name=Future of Freedom
|image=[[File:Lord Recluse.jpg|200px]]
|contact=[[Lord Recluse]]
|zone=[[Grandville]]
|x=
|y=
|z=
|size=8
|levels=45-50
|merits=25
|enemies={{Enemy Longbow}}{{Enemy Malta Operatives}}{{Enemy Freedom Phalanx}}{{Enemy Vindicators}}
|badge=[[Servant of Recluse Badge|Servant of Recluse]]<br />[[Master of Olympus Badge|Master of Olympus]]<br />[[Annihilator Badge|Annihilator]]<br />[[Master of Lord Recluse's Strike Force Badge|Master of Lord Recluse's Strike Force]]
}}


Lord Recluse recruited your Strike Force to publicly defeat the greatest of heroes, the mighty Statesman! His plan involved kidnapping Ms. Liberty to force a controlled confrontation with Statesman. In order to get Ms. Liberty, Statesman [sic] had a plan to storm the Vindicator's [sic] base, which involved getting hold of their security codes to shut down their base defenses. This involved assaulting a Longbow island base, planting explosives destroying their transports, and kidnapping a Longbow technician to access the nessary codes for you. Once this was done, you returned to Lord Recluse.
The '''Lord Recluse Strike Force''' is the fifth of five main [[Strike Force]]s on ''City of Villains''. [[Lord Recluse]] is located in the The Tangle neighborhood of [[Grandville]], within the main building of Spider City, inside the [[Patron]] room.   The '''Lord Recluse Strike Force''' is the premier Strike Force in City of Villains. The Heroes spawn at fixed levels (51 to 53 depending on foe) regardless of team composition, so the majority of your team will need to be level 50 in order to succeed.


The next step was acquiring a weapon to use against Ms. Liberty. Lord Recluse discovered that Malta had developed a weapon known as the Orestes Rifle base [sic] on information they stole from Project FURY. The Orestes Rifle was capable of suppressing magical energies derived from the Well of Furies, such as those Ms. Liberty calls upon from her Liberty Belt. You broke into a Malta weapons lab and stole the Orestes Rifle, but were hit by a Temporal Disrupter during the assault causing you to be drastically weakened.
__TOC__
{{clr}}
{{ArcAward|m=25|component=Essence of the Incarnate}}
== Missions ==


Lord Recluse sent you to speak with Operative Grillo, who told you the temporal disruption you were experiencing was because you were essentially 'split in two', with half of you in the present and half in a future timeline. Grillo tracked the temporal anomaly to the future, and allowed you to travel to this future through the Destiny Portal as long as you won this future for Lord Recluse by defeating the future Freedom Phalanx. You faced down Citadel, Sister Psyche, the Back Alley Brawler and Manticore in this future reality, bringing Lord Recluse's triumph closer to becoming a reality.
=== {{UL|Agree to Form a Strike Force}} ===


Returning to the present, you carried out your plan to kidnap Ms. Liberty.  Assaulting the Vindicators Justice Fortress, you fought Swan and Mynx before facing down Ms. Liberty herself.
'''Briefing'''


= Missions =
I have witnessed your journey through the [[Rogue Isles]]. You have clawed your way to the top, performing all manner of vile act to prove yourself stronger and more capable than the rest of my Destined Ones. You have even bested one of my trusted lieutenants, a feat few have done before. In the end I thought you a liability, having used Project DESTINY to see into the future and witness a possible death of the world - my rightful domain! - at your hands. But you have a depth of villainy and strength more powerful than even I had imagined. You discovered my contingency plans and sent me a very clear warning as to what would happen if I enacted my plans, and it is something I will not forget!


== Agree to Form a Strike Force ==
You know of my plans for Project DESTINY, to engineer my eventual victory by manipulating the timestreams of the future, eliminating unfavorable results until only my ultimate triumph remains! And you know the greatest threat to my goals is that group, the [[Freedom Phalanx]]  Long has he been a thorn in my side, him and his legion of heroes who constantly attempt to thwart my operations at every turn. If you help me deal with the troublesome Freedom Phalanx, I will asure you a place of honor in my future triumph!


'''Briefing'''
'''Mission Acceptance'''


I have witnessed your journey through the Rogue Isles. You have clawed your way to the top, performing all manner of vile act to prove yourself stronger and more capable then [sic] the rest of my Destined Ones. You have even bested one of my trusted lieutenants, a feat few have done before. In the end I thought you a liability, having used Project DESTINY to see into the future and witness a possible death of the world - my rightful domain! - at your hands. But you have a depth of villainy and strength more powerful than even I had imagined. You discovered my contingency plans and sent me a very clear warning as to what would happen if I enacted my plans, and it is something I will not forget!
There is an [[Arachnos]] flyer ready to take you to your destination. As soon as you get there my operatives will start jamming transmissions so they don't let anyone know you have the security codes. We also have an advance force there to assist you in the assault.


You know of my plans for Project DESTINY, to engineer my eventual victory by manipulating the timestreams of the future, eliminating unfavorable results until only my ultimate triumph remains! And you know the greatest threat to my goals is that epitome of follish heroic virtue, Statesman! Statesman. Long has he been a thorn in my side, him and his legion of heroes who constantly attempt to thwart my operations at every turn. If you help me deal with the troublesome Statesman, I will asure you a place of honor in my future triumph!
'''Unnecessary Solicitation'''


'''Mission Acceptance'''
The Arachnos flyer is waiting for you outside of Grandville. Head to the Longbow island base and get those security codes!


There is an Arachnos flyer ready to take you to your destination. As soon as you get there my operatives will start jamming transmissions so they don't let anyone know you have the security codes. We also have an advance force there to assist you in the assault.
{{Mission Objective|Entrance=Find the security codes for the Vindicator's base!|Primary=5 Bombs to set|Secondary=Kidnap Technician
** Defeat [[Longbow#Crimson|Crimson]]
** Destroy 12 Chasers|Additional=|Completion=You got the security codes!}}


'''Mission Objectives'''
'''Enemies'''


* 5 Bombs to set: located in towers and lab; waypoints mark locations
{{Enemy Longbow}}
* Kidnap Technician: spawns randomly in towers and lab; will catch up if left behind
* Defeat Crimson: located in Laboratory
* Destroy 12 Chasers: located randomly above the island's airspace


'''Debriefing'''
'''Notable NPCs'''


With the security codes in hand you should easily be able to overcome the worst of the Vindicator's [sic] base security!
* [[Crimson|Agent Crimson]] ([[Hero]])
* Numerous [[Longbow]] [[Ballista]]s ([[Elite Boss]]es)


You have done well, Strike Force Venom!


=== Strategy ===
{{Cutscene|Text=
'''Agent Crimson:'''
:''Put the base on full alert!  I want those suckers taken down!''


The map for this mission is similar to that of the Longbow base in Nerva.  The team will zone in at a submarine just off the island housing the Longbow.  Three waypoints will be visible on the map, marking the entrances to Tower 1, Tower 2, and the Laboratory, respectively.
:''I spent too long in that Arachnos prison.  It's time for some payback!''}}


This is not a defeat all, and it is possible to complete some of the objectives in parallel.  Especially useful is the fact that the Technician will follow you no matter where you go, even if you outdistance him.  Here we will present a common strategy for completing the mission quickly.


Split the group into two teams, Team A and Team B.  Team A will take out the chasers, which appear randomly throughout the airspace over the base.  Once this is accomplished the team will head to the Laboratory.  If time permits the team may want to take out the Longbow spawn guarding the Laboratory entrance; otherwise head directly inside to regroup.
'''Debriefing'''


Meanwhile, Team B will head first to Tower 1.  Inside are two spawns of Longbow and two bombs; defeat and complete them all, then head to Tower 2 and repeat.  If the Technician appears, ignore him and keep moving.  His capture will spawn an ambush, but unless you dawdle, you should be able to ignore it.  After the Towers are dealt with, Team B heads to the Laboratory to join Team A.
With the security codes in hand you should easily be able to overcome the worst of the [[Vindicators]]' base security!


Inside the Laboratory, regroup, then defeat the Longbow spawn guarding the elevators.  On the next level is the main Laboratory room, where Crimson waits in front of the Technician's computer, on the left side of the back wall.  Work your way carefully around the left side of the room, clearing Longbow as you go so as not to be too outnumbered once Crimson engages.  You do not have to engage the Longbow on the right side of the room at all, unless you accidentally aggravate them.
You have done well, {{blue|Strike Force Name}}!


Finish the Laboratory objectives in this order: defeat Crimson first, then lead the Technician to the computer, and finally set the last bomb.  The last bomb spawns an ambush, but in this order it also completes the mission, so you can exit rather than fighting.
==== {{UL|Strategy}} ====


Two things of note: first, there are prisons in this mission, so if defeated try to resurrect rather than going to the hospital.  Second, occasionally the Technician will stand still and cower rather than heading to the computer.  This means that he saw the ambush spawn for his capture, and has decided he can't do anything until the matter is resolved.  In this case the team needs to head back to his capture point and deal with the ambush.
The map for this mission is similar to that of the Longbow base in Nerva.  The team will zone in at a submarine just off the island housing the Longbow.  Three waypoints will be visible on the map, marking the entrances to Tower 1, Tower 2, and the Laboratory, respectively.


A good team can finish this mission in ten minutes, leaving everyone still fresh for the more challenging content ahead.
Longbow Chasers are randomly placed over the map, which can be found fairly easily to anyone with travel powers.


== Assault Malta Base ==
Bombs are located in both the Towers, and the Laboratory.  Setting the final bomb will spawn an ambush.


'''Briefing'''
The Technician is located within one of the Towers, and will spawn an ambush containing a Longbow Ballista upon rescue.  The Technician will not follow the team if stealth powers are turned on (especially group stealth powers), so remember to turn them off.


Now that we have the security passcodes, we can continue with the next stage of our plan! Malta has proven to be an important asset to Arachnos. Their advanced weaponry and skilled personnel are excellent, and they are the perfect mercenaries to use when Arachnos wants to disassociate themselves from a delicate operation. However, they sometimes overstep their bounds, especially when it comes to acquiring knowledge aiding them in the defeat of super-powered beings. Not long ago, we found a Malta infiltration team in one of our Project FURY research labs, downloading information on the project. Some of their infiltration team must have escaped with the data, because some of our Arachnos spies have discovered Malta has developed a very interesting weapon based on Project FURY theoretical technology - the Orestes Rifle! This potent techno-magical weapon is designed to dispel mystical enchantments derived from the Well of Furies, such as those derived by Ms. Liberty's magical belt! This should prove very useful in the upcoming battle.
Crimson awaits with a retinue of Longbow Ballistas inside the Laboratory. Depending on the team, it is usually wise to take out all the Ballistas before engaging Crimson, as Ballistas are Elite Bosses while Crimson is a Hero.


Malta has developed a robots and weapons manufacturing base in Warburg, a hotspot for armed conflict between heroes and villains. The base is headed up by a robotics engineering genius known as Slinger. While the main goal is to obtain the Orestes rifle, Slinger must be punished for his involvement in theft from Arachnos. Head to the Malta base, destroy their research databanks, steal the Orestes Rifle and take down Slinger!
=== {{UL|Assault Malta Base}} ===


'''Mission Acceptance'''
'''Briefing'''


Malta has many secret training enclaves spread throughout the Rogue Isles. Because of the theft from Arachnos they chose to develop this weapon on the mainland. There's an Arachnos flyer waiting to take you there. Once you have acquired the Orestes Rifle you will need to hurry - once it is removed from it [sic] special Malta power feed, it will lose power quickly.
Now that we have the security passcodes, we can continue with the next stage of our plan! Malta has proven to be an important asset to [[Arachnos]]. Their advanced weaponry and skilled personnel are excellent, and they are the perfect mercenaries to use when Arachnos wants to disassociate themselves from a delicate operation. However, they sometimes overstep their bounds, especially when it comes to acquiring knowledge aiding them in the defeat of super-powered beings. Not long ago, we found a Malta infiltration team in one of our Project FURY research labs, downloading information on the project. Some of their infiltration team must have escaped with the data, because some of our Arachnos spies have discovered Malta has developed a very interesting weapon based on Project FURY theoretical technology - the Orestes Rifle! This potent techno-magical weapon is designed to dispel mystical enchantments derived from the Well of Furies, such as those derived by [[Ms. Liberty]]'s magical belt! This should prove very useful in the upcoming battle.


'''Mission Objectives'''
Malta has developed a robots and weapons manufacturing base in [[Warburg]], a hotspot for armed conflict between heroes and villains. The base is headed up by a robotics engineering genius known as Slinger. While the main goal is to obtain the Orestes rifle, Slinger must be punished for his involvement in theft from Arachnos. Head to the Malta base, destroy their research databanks, steal the Orestes Rifle and take down Slinger!


* Steal Orestes Rifle: located in back room inside compound
'''Mission Acceptance'''
* Defeat Slinger: located in back room inside compound
* Steal keycard: obtained by defeating Kronos Titan
* Destroy main frame and guards: located just outside Slinger's room


'''Debriefing'''
Malta has many secret training enclaves spread throughout the [[Rogue Isles]]. Because of the theft from Arachnos they chose to develop this weapon on the mainland. There's an Arachnos flyer waiting to take you there. Once you have acquired the Orestes Rifle you will need to hurry - once it is removed from the special Malta power feed, it will lose power quickly.


The Orestes Rifle! Use it well, Strike Force Venom. It is a powerful weapon!
'''Unnecessary Solicitation'''


You say that you got hit by some sort of experimental weapon? We will need to fix that before you fight Statesman. Though I despise that foolish hero, I know he is powerful, and how [sic] you will not survive against him while you are in this weakened state.
Steal the Orestes Rifle from Malta!


You are indeed a worthy ally of Arachnos!
{{Mission Objective|Entrance=Once the Orestes Rifle is in your hand, you will be unstoppable!|Primary=Assault Malta base|Secondary=Steal Orestes Rifle
** Defeat Slinger
** Steal keycard
** Destroy main frame and guards|Additional=|Completion=You got the Orestes Rifle!}}


=== Badge ===
'''Enemies'''


Defeating Kronos Class Titan awards the [[Master of Olympus Badge]].
{{Enemy Malta Operatives}}
{{BadgeBox|badge_villain_malta.png|Master of Olympus|You have destroyed the Kronos Titan, showing Malta that you are a force to be reckoned with.}}


=== Temp Power ===
'''Notable NPCs'''


{{PowerBox|Icon=Temp Ranged Moderate.png|Name=Orestes Rifle |Effect=Special dmg vs. Ms. Liberty ''(Temporary Power)''|Desc=''Exact text needed'' This rifle will disrupt magical energies derived from the Well of Furies. The rifle's power will last 5 hours.}}
* [[Kronos Class Titan]] ([[Monster]])
* [[Slinger]] ([[Archvillain]])


=== Strategy ===


The team will have zone into a section of Warburg.  There is one waypoint marking the entrance to the building where Slinger waits, with the mainframe and rifle nearby. In order to gain access to the building the team must first defeat the Krotos Titan.
{{Cutscene|Text=
'''Slinger:'''
:''They're destroying our base! I bet they're after the Orestes Rifle!''


Place the team in the water facing Kronos, and taunt or pull him out into the water away from the other Malta spawns. Note that Kronos has a very long range area of effect attack, so be prepared to draw farther away to pull him than you would normally.
:''I've got to stop them! But how?''


Once the team has defeated Kronos, clear the Malta spawn in front of the building entrance.  You should have gained an access keycard; if not clear any stragglers that may have escaped Kronos' spawn.
:''I know!  I'll use the Temporal Disrupter!  Even if it doesn't stop them, it'll show them what happens to people who mess with Malta!''


The inside of the base may be familiar from the Ernesto Hess task force in Striga Isle.  Slinger is located in a back room, down a hallway containing an angled delivery truck.  Ideally, the team should stealth past the Malta spawns, down the hallway to the sliding door at the end; fighting through is possible but slower.  Beyond this door is an L-shaped hallway surrounding Slinger's room.  Gather the team, open the door, and defeat the spawn to the left.  If the mainframe is here, you can skip the spawn to the right; otherwise clear that spawn as well and prepare to engage Slinger.
:''Take that, ya varmints!''}}


Inside the last room are two Malta spawns in addition to Slinger; you may be able to draw or taunt them into the hallway to take them out. Then move on Slinger.
{{NPC Text|title=Slinger dialogue|text=
'''Combat start:''' {{orange|needs data}}<br />
'''At 75% Health:'''  ''"Activate attack wave alpha!"''<br />
'''At 50% Health:'''  ''"Activate attack wave beta!"''<br />
'''At 25% Health:'''  ''"Activate attack wave gamma!"''<br />
'''Upon defeat:'''  {{orange|needs data}}<br />
'''Defeats a player:'''  {{orange|needs data}}}}


As his health drops, Slinger will prepare a massive pet summons of MasterMind robotics pets.  To avoid having to defeat this entire pet spawn, have one teammate retrieve the Orestes rifle from the wall safe behind Slinger. Meanwhile, have the rest of the team focus on defeating Slinger, then mop up any of the original Malta spawn (not the summoned pets) - when the last of the Malta falls the mission will complete.
{{Ambush|There will be an ambush of Battle Drones when Slinger reaches 75% health.<br />
''"DESTROY ALL INTRUDERS!"}}
{{Ambush|There will be an ambush of Battle Drones when Slinger reaches 50% health.<br />
''"DESTROY ALL INTRUDERS!"}}
{{Ambush|There will be an ambush of Battle Drones when Slinger reaches 25% health.<br />
''"DESTROY ALL INTRUDERS!"}}
{{Ambush|There will be two ambushes of Battle Drones when Slinger reaches 0% health.<br />
''"DESTROY ALL INTRUDERS!"''<br />''"DESTROY ALL INTRUDERS!"''}}


== Speak with Operative Grillo ==
Defeating Kronos Class Titan awards the [[Master of Olympus Badge]].
{{BadgeBox|Master of Olympus}}


'''Mission Briefing'''
'''Debriefing'''


The Orestes Rifle should prove most effective against Ms. Liberty, but the condition the Malta Temporal Disrupter left you with may jeopardize our eventual goal of defeating Statesman! I have spoken with Operative Grillo at Project DESTINY, and he has related some interesting information regarding your current state. Go speak with Operative Grillo, then follow his orders necessary to removing the temporal disruption!
The Orestes Rifle! Use it well, {{blue|Strike Force Name}}. It is a powerful weapon!


'''Mission Acceptance'''
You say that you got hit by some sort of experimental weapon? We will need to fix that before you fight the [[Freedom Phalanx]]. Though I despise those foolish heroes, I know they are powerful, and you will not survive against them while you are in this weakened state.


Operative Grillo said his people discovered something rather interesting in his investigations into Project DESTINY.
You are indeed a worthy ally of Arachnos!


'''Debriefing'''
{{PowerBox|Icon=Temporary_ScrollofRuin.png|Name=[[Orestes Rifle]] |Effect=Ranged, Special ''(Temporary Power)''|Desc=The Orestes Rifle was created as an experimental weapon by Malta as part of their ongoing agenda to control the heroes of the world. It is designed to nullify enchantments granted by the Well of the Furies.  Once removed from the power feed in Malta it will only be effective for a period of 5 hours.


None - this mission leads directly to the next task below.
Expires in 5:00:00 of real time}}


== Defeat Future Freedom Phalanx ==
=== {{UL|Speak with Operative Grillo}} ===
==== {{UL|Speak with Operative Grillo}} ====


'''Mission Briefing'''
'''Mission Briefing'''


''Need text from speaking to Operative Grillo''
The Orestes Rifle should prove most effective against [[Ms. Liberty]], but the condition the Malta Temporal Disrupter left you with may jeopardize our eventual goal of defeating the [[Freedom Phalanx]]! I have spoken with [[Operative Grillo]] at Project DESTINY, and he has related some interesting information regarding your current state.  '''Go speak with Operative Grillo, then follow his orders necessary to removing the temporal disruption!'''
 
'''Mission Acceptance'''


'''Mission Objectives'''
Operative Grillo said his people discovered something rather interesting in his investigations into Project DESTINY.


* Defeat future Freedom Phalanx: located at City Hall entrance
'''Unnecessary Solicitation'''


'''Debriefing'''
Do not delay!


Excellent! You have shifted my eventual victory that much closer to becoming reality!
{{Mission Objective|Entrance=|Primary=Speak with Operative Grillo|Secondary=|Additional=|Completion=}}


These 'H-Boosters' you found in this future reality are most interesting. I will put my top scientists onto unlocking their secrets.
{{Mission Briefing|Type=Briefing|Contact=Operative Grillo|Text=
Ah, you must be {{blue|Strike Force Name}}!  Lord Recluse told me to expect you.  You have a most interesting condition which I can explain.  The Temporal Disrupter the Malta agents hit you with caused your team to be weakened considerably by causing you to be 'split in two' along the timestream.  That is, part of you is here in the present, while part of you is in a possible future.  The reason we know this is we recorded a temporal anomaly in one of the future timestreams and further investigation showed us your team in this future with a temporal 'trail' leading to the present!  Fascinating, isn't it?


=== Badge ===
In any case, you're probably wanting to be rid of your condition.  While it doesn't have an immediate effect upon you, the longer you go without fixing it, the more chance of it causing irreparable damage to you.  Lord Recluse gave his command to do whatever is necessary to remove the temporal disruption.  We have the coordinates queued up in the Destiny Portal to the future timestream where your other half is.  Going to this future and returning to our timeline will allow you to 'sync up' with your future selves and then with the present, thus removing the temporal disruption.  There is a catch however.  In this future, the [[Freedom Phalanx]] are putting up a strong resistance to Lord Recluse's plans.  As part of Project DESTINY, we need to remove this future possibility.  Enter into the Destiny Portal and eliminate the Freedom Phalanx resistance from this future reality!}}


Completing this mission awards the [[Annihilator Badge|Annihilator]] badge.
==== {{UL|Defeat future Freedom Phalanx}} ====
{{BadgeBox|V badge FreedomPhalanxBadge.png|Annihilator|Nice smackdown of the Freedom Phalanx. Lord Recluse is please with your performance.}}


=== Strategy ===
{{Mission Objective|Entrance=You feel yourself starting to synchronize with your future self. Now to win this future for Arachnos!|Primary=Defeat future Freedom Phalanx|Secondary=|Additional=|Completion=You defeated the future Freedom Phalanx!}}


The team zones in through a portal to a future Atlas Park, similar to the layout of Recluse's Victory when the villains have control.  The team will see City Hall in ruins with the Atlas Globe cut in half.
{{EdNote|note=All enemy groups will be hostile to each other, including the Villains.}}


Note:  There is a random "phase shift" effect that drifts around the map, trapping you in between the future and present time; this will make you intangible at random for a given amount of time. 
'''Enemies'''


This will be your first real big challenge in the Strikeforce.  In this mission you will have to defeat a subset of the present day [[Freedom Phalanx]], located around the main door to city hall.  The roster in standard defeat order is:
{{Enemy Longbow}}
{{Enemy Council}}
{{Enemy Malta Operatives}}
{{Enemy Arachnos}}


* [[Numina]]
'''Notable NPCs'''
* [[Sister Psyche]]
* [[Back Alley Brawler]]
* [[Manticore]]


Some teams prefer to rush this mission; while fighting multiple heroes at once is challenging, it is much, much easier than the last map, and rushing this group can make the strike force as a whole go faster.  On the other hand, the phase shift effect seems to hit more frequently on the ground, and this author is more familiar with the more standard divide-and-conquer method used below.
* [[Numina]] ([[Hero]])
* [[Sister Psyche]] ([[Hero]])
* [[Back Alley Brawler]] ([[Hero]])
* [[Manticore]] ([[Hero]])


When rushing, the defeat order above can be varied to place Manticore above Back Alley Brawler; otherwise it is fairly fixed.  Numina goes first because she can buff teammates if not otherwise occupied; Sister Psyche's psi damage makes her too dangerous to leave alone; and Manticore's lack of travel power makes him easy to leave until last, as we'll see.


'''Divide and Conquer'''
{{Cutscene|Text=
'''Manticore:'''
:''Keep fighting!  We need to survive!''


Move the team to the top of the globe; this is a very tactical advantage for you since only 3 out of the 4 can get to the top of the globe. A villain on your team with –fly powers will make things easier, but is not required.  You will need a team member that is able to draw agro, survive, and jump/fly to the top part of the globe.  All heroes are going to follow but Manticore because he does not have any travel powers that can get him to the top of the globe.
'''Sister Psyche:'''
:''Manticore, we can't hold out much longer!''


Place your team back towards the head of the Atlas Globe statue, hopefully this will bring Numina next to the team (once the puller joins with you) and also have Sister Psyche just outside the ledge of the globe.  If you have them, you can use -fly powers on Sister Psyche and drop her back down to the ground.  You may need to adjust your position on the globe to make sure as Sister Psyche is flying up that you can get her back down to the ground.  Doing this will buy you a few seconds to finish off Numina.
'''Manticore:'''
:''I know, Sister Psyche.  We're out of H-Boosters, and they're the only reason we've held out this far.''


By this time Back Alley Brawler has made his way up to the top of the globe. If you can continue to keep Sister Psyche down from –fly power continue to work on Back Alley Brawler.  If you can’t keep Sister Psyche away from you defeat her next. Her psychic powers and holds are harder to deal with than Back Alley Brawler's power sets.
'''Sister Psyche:'''
:''Justin, how did it come to this? Statesman dead, Synapse and Citadel missing, Positron powering Lord Recluse's ultimate weapon...''


Once you have defeated all three of these heroes you can proceed to Manticore where he waits on the ground.  To complete the mission, you need to defeat both Manticore and his associated Longbow spawn, which is scattered around him on the steps.
'''Manticore:'''
:''It doesn't matter now, Shalice.  All that matters is we survive and keep fighting...''


== Assault Vindicators Base ==
'''Back Alley Brawler'''
:''Stay frosty, folks.  We got some trouble.''


'''Mission Briefing'''
'''Numina:'''
:''It looks like more of Recluse's villains!''


Now that you have recovered from the temporal disruption, it is time now to obtain the bait for the cursed Statesman! You have the Orestes Rifle and the security codes to the Vindicator's [sic] base. Go now and kidnap Ms. Liberty!
'''Manticore:'''
:''Great. Just what we need.''


'''Mission Acceptance'''
'''Sister Psyche:'''
:''Will they ever stop?''


Ms. Liberty is the leader of the Vindicators and will not be taken down easily, especially in the defense of her base. Proper use of the Orestes Rifle should suppress the more powerful of the enchantments granted by the Well of Furies!
'''Manticore:'''
:''Keep it together, Shalice!''


'''Mission Objectives'''
:''The Freedom Phalanx is not about to let the world fall to these scum!''}}


* Steal access code: defeat Vindicators to obtain
* Find base key: found in south room of second level
* Defeat Ms. Liberty: found in east room of second level


'''Debriefing'''
'''Debriefing'''


Excellent! Now that we have Ms. Liberty, we can force the final confrontation with Statesman!
Excellent! You have shifted my eventual victory that much closer to becoming reality!


=== Strategy ===
These 'H-Boosters' you found in this future reality are most interesting. I will put my top scientists onto unlocking their secrets.


The team enters an indoor tech complex housing many Longbow.  Fairly close to the entrance the team will come to a room holding the Vindicators: Malaise, Swan, Luminary, Mynx, and Valkyrie.  The team must defeat them in order to advance.
Completing this mission awards the [[Annihilator Badge|Annihilator]] badge.
{{BadgeBox|Annihilator}}


The room with the heroes is behind a door; it's the first door on the map, so it's fairly easy to recognize.  Many teams stealth/tp to this point, although this is not critical.  Set up around the corner from the hallway leading to this door, or just inside the hallway itself, before opening the door - this is a good place to summarize strategies and coordinate the sequence of events.
=== {{UL|Assault Vindicators Base}} ===


The Vindicators spawn at level 53 no matter what level and reputation your leader has, and the battle may at first seem overwhelming.  Keep in mind that this is still a warmup act for the final mission, and while you can consider using shivans here, doing without makes for good practice for strategies you'll need later.
'''Mission Briefing'''


Here is a roster for the Vindicators in the usual defeat sequence:
Now that you have recovered from the temporal disruption, it is time now to obtain the bait for the [[Freedom Phalanx]]! You have the [[Orestes Rifle]] and the security codes to the [[Vindicators]]' base.  '''Go now and kidnap [[Ms. Liberty]]!'''


* [[Malaise]]
'''Mission Acceptance'''
* [[Swan]]
* [[Luminary]]
* [[Mynx]]
* [[Valkyrie]]


The defeat sequence is fairly fixed. Malaise goes first because he is the most dangerous, between his psi damage, pets, and fear-inducing powers.  Next is Swan, who also does psi damage.  Luminary comes before Mynx and Valkyrie, who each have powers that make them time consuming to defeat: Mynx with Elude, and Valkyrie with self-resurrection.
Ms. Liberty is the leader of the Vindicators and will not be taken down easily, especially in the defense of her base. Proper use of the Orestes Rifle should suppress the more powerful of the enchantments granted by the Well of Furies!


This battle is difficult but possible for just about any team makeup this author has used.  Buffs must be kept fresh, inspirations used freely; debuffs to resistance and regeneration are going to be key, while pets can be used to spread aggro and add some damage.  As difficult as it seems, try if at all possible to avoid using shivans here; you'll need them more in the last battle than now.
'''Unnecessary Solicitation'''


Once you have defeated all of the Vindicators, open the door leading deeper into the base.  Your next target is the key to unlock Ms. Liberty's final room, which is located up the western elevators, through the intersection to a room in the south quadrant.  If you have a teammate with stealth and TP, they can sneak past the Longbow to this room and summon enough people to defeat the room and gain the key.  Then sneak back through the intersection to the north, where the door to Ms. Atlas awaits.  Again teleportation can be used to summon the team into battle to clear the area before the door.  If you have no stealth, then you can fight your way through, which is time consuming but not overly difficult.  Keep in mind an ambush will arrive after you take the key.
It is only a matter of time before the Vindicators discover their base is vulnerable.  Assault the base at once!


You are ready to buff up for the final battle of the mission. Use the Orestes Rifle on Ms. Liberty to weaken her as soon as you engage. She is not exactly a pushover, but compared to fighting five Vindicators she should go down rather quickly.
{{Mission Objective|Entrance=The security codes you stole from the Longbow island fortress work perfectly, {{sic|allowing you to get past|allowing you get past|date=October 2024}} the worst of the Vindicators base defenses. Now to take down Ms. Liberty!|Primary=Assault Vindicators base|Secondary=Steal access code
** Find base key
** Defeat Ms. Liberty|Additional=|Completion=You have kidnapped Ms. Liberty!}}


== Destroy Statesman and Freedom Phalanx ==
'''Upon Exit of Mission'''


'''Mission Briefing'''
''Arachnos operatives arrive to take away Ms. Liberty!''


The final confrontation with Statesman is at hand! I have sent word to my arch-enemy in Paragon City, setting the terms for the conflict. He is to clear Atlas Park so only true heroes and villains may clash! He will show up with some Longbow agents to cordon off the area so citizens would not get hurt. I also allowed the Freedom Phalanx to aid him - it will make his eventual defeat all the more satisfying! Go now and defeat the greatest of heroes, the mighty Statesman and his precious Freedom Phalanx!
'''Enemies'''


'''Mission Acceptance'''
{{Enemy Longbow}}


This will be a great triumph! To have Statesman publically [sic] defeated will be a glorious victory!
'''Notable NPCs'''


'''Mission Objectives'''
* [[Swan]] ([[Hero]], level 51)
* [[Luminary]] ([[Hero]], level 51)
* [[Mynx]] ([[Hero]], level 51)
* [[Valkyrie (Hero)|Valkyrie]] ([[Hero]], level 51)
* [[Ms. Liberty]] ([[Hero]], level 51)


* Defeat Statesman and Freedom Phalanx: located underneath Atlas Globe


'''Debriefing'''
{{Cutscene|Text=
'''Swan:'''
:''We all know what's going down.  One of our Longbow island bases was attacked by a gang of viscious criminals from the Rogue Isles, and they got hold of our security codes!''


''Need text''
:''By the look of it, they've already breached the base.  What's more, one of our Warburg warzone operatives reported they might be after Ms. Liberty with some sort of special weapon!''


=== Strategy ===
'''Valkyrie:'''
:''Do not worry, Swan.  The Vindicators will not let these villains get to Ms. Liberty!''''}}


In this mission an Arachnos Flyer has landed on a corner of the Atlas Park map - essentially the same map as the fourth mission, but present day.  The area is surrounded by Longbow with City Hall and the Atlas Globe in the center of the map.  Below the globe will be Ms. Liberty defeated, with the [[Freedom Phalanx]] around her ready to rumble.


No matter what level and reputation your team leader has, the Freedom Phalanx always spawn at level 54. This is +4 to the team at best, and +5 to any lackeys.  Taking even one of these heroes down can prove challenging; defeating all eight is without question the most difficult task in the game.
{{Cutscene|Text=
'''Ms. Liberty:'''
:''Those Rogue Isles villains are fools to break into the Vindicators stronghold! This is where the power of my Liberty Belt is the strongest!''


The full roster of the [[Freedom Phalanx]], listed in a common defeat order, is:
:''For Liberty!''}}


* [[Numina]]
* [[Sister Psyche]]
* [[Citadel]]
* [[Positron]]
* [[Back Alley Brawler]]
* [[Synapse]]
* [[Manticore]]
* [[Statesman]]


Consulting their individual profiles to gain an understanding of their damage types, travel powers, and resistances will give you an edge in this battle.
'''Debriefing'''


The defeat sequence should always start with Numina, because she can resurrect teammates. If left unengaged, she can also give her team empathy buffs (including Fortitude), which make her too dangerous to leave alone.
Excellent! Now that we have Ms. Liberty, we can force the final confrontation with the Freedom Phalanx!


After Numina the sequence is up for debate.  Some teams (particularly those with buffed shivans) immediately close in on the hero who took the most damage during the assault on Numina, based on the idea that that hero will drop most quickly.  Other teams consider Sister Psyche as the mandatory next target because her psi damage is not resisted well by many defensive sets, including /stone for brutes.
=== {{UL|Defeat the Freedom Phalanx}} ===


Most teams finish with Statesman, because he has the highest resistance and base HP, and therefore takes the longest to kill; however, this author has heard that if there is some other hero alive when Statesman goes down, Statesman will not activate Unstoppable.  So there is an argument for leaving someone else alive (often Manticore or Synapse, since their stealth and speed respectively make them difficult to target early) while taking States down.  Regardless, Statesman does not seem to have the highest threat level since his damage is almost all smashing, which most brute sets should be able to handle with a reasonable amount of healing/buffing support.
'''Mission Briefing'''


Whatever defeat order you use, the team should designate one person to call targets and focus fire.  The rest of the team (save only the taunt brute, if applicable, and his/her healer/buffer) should attack only that target. Doing otherwise spreads damage unnecessarily and prevents the team from penetrating the huge regeneration the Phalanx has.
The final confrontation with the Freedom Phalanx is at hand! I have sent word to the group in [[Paragon City]], setting the terms for the conflict. They are to clear [[Atlas Park]] so only true heroes and villains may clash! He will show up with some [[Longbow]] agents to cordon off the area so citizens would not get hurt. '''Go now and defeat the greatest of heroes, the Freedom Phalanx!'''


= Strategies =
'''Mission Acceptance'''


== Strategies for the Freedom Phalanx ==
This will be a great triumph! To have the Phalanx publicly defeated will be a glorious victory!


'''Pull:''' Some teams use a pull strategy, but this author has never seen it work.  Apparently there were some changes to the stances of the heroes after issue 7 was released, which made pulling harder.  Still, forum users claim to be able to pull the group into 4 and 4, which is certainly an improvement.  Hopefully someone who has this strategy mastered can edit this post to provide tips.
'''Unnecessary Solicitation'''


'''Rush:''' Many teams start the last battle with the following sequence: teammate suicide, buff, summon pets, summon shivans, vengeance everything, resurrect teammate, and rush.  If you do this, make sure to have the teammate suicide against a side spawn, not the heroes - once aggroed, Numina will buff her teammates, and you don't want that stacked against you from the start.
Why do you delay?  The defeat of the Phalanx is so close I can taste it!


If you plan to rush, you should also rush the Vindicators in the fifth mission - and to have any hope of succeeding in the end, you should do the fifth mission without shivans and without nukes.  Yes, the last mission is just that much harder.  If you need shivans against the Vindicators, the Freedom Phalanx will most likely prove impossible.
{{Mission Objective|Entrance=It is time for the final confrontation with the Freedom Phalanx!|Primary=Defeat the Freedom Phalanx|Secondary=|Additional=|Completion=You have defeated the Freedom Phalanx!}}
 
'''Mission Objectives'''


'''Warhead Rush:''' Recently this author has been running teams with a very specific strategy based on Warburg temporary powers (see below for descriptions).  This strategy has been very effective, to the point where it appears that any team build should be able to succeed with it, in a very short amount of time.
* Defeat the Freedom Phalanx: located underneath Atlas Globe


This strategy requires, at a minimum, that everyone on the team have both Shivans and Chemical Burn.  In addition, if the team lacks damage buff potential (from Corruptors or MasterMinds) the team may need a number of Biological Mutagens.  Also required is a team member with Vengeance, and before starting everyone should buy inspirations from St. Martial.
'''Enemies'''


Gather the team together on the steps in front of the Freedom Phalanx.  Notice that they are already grouped fairly closely - close enough for a Chemical Burn to hit them all.  This is key to the strategy.  Have someone suicide against a Longbow spawn.  Then begin buffing teammates while everyone prepares themselves mentally.
{{Enemy Longbow}}


''As quickly as possible'' do the following in exactly this order:
'''Notable NPCs'''


  1. Summon all pets and Shivans
* [[Numina]] ([[Hero]], level 53)
  2. Cast Vengeance
* [[Manticore]] ([[Hero]], level 53)
  3. Resurrect teammate, who summons Shivan
* [[Positron]] ([[Hero]], level 53)
      a. If anyone has Biological Mutagens use it now
* [[Synapse]] ([[Hero]], level 53)
  4. Team pops the following inspirations:
* [[Citadel]] ([[Hero]], level 53)
      a. 4 Lucks
* [[Back Alley Brawler]] ([[Hero]], level 53)
      b. 7 Sturdies
* [[Penelope Yin (Freedom Phalanx)|Penelope Yin]] ([[Hero]], level 53)
      c. 1 Breakfree
* [[Ms. Liberty]] ([[Hero]], level 51, NPC)
  5. Team moves onto platform ''together''
  6. Team drops all Chemical Burns into the center of the Freedom Phalanx
      a. If anyone has Nuclear Warhead use it after Chemical Burn
  7. Team targets through team leader, who attacks Heroes in defeat order


This author has seen the entire Freedom Phalanx destroyed within thirty seconds to a minute using this strategy. Combat logs reveal that the Shivans' damage outclasses the team's significantly, making even step 7 of questionable importance - the critical parts of this strategy are the Shivans, buffed with Vengeance, pounding on heroes crippled by Chemical Burns. If all the warheads are deployed correctly the only thing the team needs to do is survive long enough for the Shivans to do their work - hence the use of inspirations to max everyone's defense and resistance to start.
{{Cutscene|Text=
'''Positron'''
:''No... Ms. Liberty!''
:''She believed in Recluse... and he had you all do THIS!''
:''How could you do this?!''
:''The Phalanx won't let you get away with this!''
}}


Much fuss has been made on the forums regarding the relative value of Dominators and Stalkers on this strike force as compared with Brutes and Corruptors.  By publishing this sequence, this author hopes to encourage Dominators and Stalkers to run the strike force on teams that might otherwise fly in the face of conventional wisdom.
'''Debriefing'''


== Time Saving Tips ==
The Freedom Phalanx are defeated!  It was a great and glorious battle - you have proven yourself to be a true Archvillain! Let it be known that Lord Recluse does not forget services rendered to him.  My scientists have finished analyzing the 'H-Boosters' you acquired in the future timeline. They are temporary power boosters created from the being known as the [[Hamidon]]! [[Arachnos]] science managed to stabilize the temporary synthetic compound, making them permanent.  These I give to you for carrying out my task - use them well!


'''Spawn levels:'''  Recluse' contact should have his/her reputation set to Villainous.  Additionally, the team might also consider using the lowest level teammate for this role.  The heroes will spawn at defined levels, but the Longbow and Malta agents key off the leader's level.


'''Zone time:'''  Another option is to have the teammate with the fastest zone time be Recluse' contact, so that (s)he can reach Recluse and grab the next mission as quickly as possible.  The rest of the team can meet directly at the launch point for the mission without having to head into Grandville's center.
Completing this mission awards the {{BadgeLink|Archvillain}} and {{BadgeLink|Servant of Recluse}} badges.
{{BadgeBox|Archvillain}}


== Critical Powers ==
{{BadgeBox|Servant of Recluse}}


There are certain powers that many teams won't consider starting the strike force without.  Again their necessity is a subject of much debate on the forums.  It is quite possible to finish the mission without any given powerset in this list, but this author has never done it without the majority.
== Master of Lord Recluse's Strike Force ==


'''Stone brutes:'''  They have the highest resistance of any brute defensive set, and have the highest survivability against heroes.
If you successfully complete the Lord Recluse Strike Force with challenge settings of zero defeats (no one on the team can be defeated throughout the entire strike force), no Incarnate Powers and no Temporary Powers (other than the [[Orestes Rifle]] power a player obtains), you will receive the following achievement badge.


'''Kinetics corruptors:'''  Stone brutes move incredibly slowly, and they in particular need kinetics to help them out.  In addition, kinetics heals have a -regen component and speed boost is widely regarded as one of the best buffs in the game.


'''Radiation corruptors:'''  The debuffs in this set are amazingly strong, and given the huge regen and resistance base that the Freedom Phalanx starts with, they are in high demand.  Many teams won't consider running the RSF without at least two of these (though I've done it with none).  The debuffs in this set can be partly made up for by chemical nukes from Warburg (see below).
{{BadgeBox|Master of Lord Recluse's Strike Force}}


'''Thermal corruptors:'''  The buffs and heals in this set are nice, and particularly if you have a non-stone brute for holding aggro on the last map, you may need them for sheer survivability.  The debuffs are also welcome although not held to be as critical as Radiation's.


'''Dark corruptors or masterminds:'''  Tar patch is a great AoE resistance debuff, and resistance debuffs seem to be a critical component for succeeding against the ridiculously high hit point and regen base of the Freedom Phalanx.
Completing the Lord Recluse Strike Force with these settings on will also grant any accepted Synthetic [[Hamidon Origin Enhancements]] at their capped level (53).


'''Vengeance:''' This is a critical component of rush strategies that require huge initial buffs (see above).  This is the one power this author has never done the RSF without.
== Old School Challenge ==


While vengeance does not, by design, stack (i.e. subsequent casts after the first have no effect), it is possible to exploit a timing bug to stack it nonetheless, by casting simultaneously. Apparently the window for stacking is the length of the cast time for Vengeance, which, while small, is nonzero.
The [[Flashback]] version of the Lord Recluse Strike Force (titled 'The Future of Freedom', found under the 'Made - Level 50' Category on the [[Pillar of Ice and Flame]]) brings it back to its original, un-nerfed version. Per the patch notes for [[Issue 27 Page 3]], Mission 4's Vindicators fight has all five heroes returned to their original level of 54, and Mission 5's Freedom Phalanx fight has all eight heroes returned to their original level of 54.


'''Stealth or Grant Invisibility + Teleport:'''  There are several opportunities to stealth and TP through parts of the first five missions - particularly the middle of the second and fifth missions. Using a stealth + teleport strategy can help keep the team moving quickly and the faster you reach the last mission, the fresher and more alert you will be.
An additional option when beginning the Flashback version of Lord Recluse Strike Force is titled 'Old School Challenge'. This disables Incarnate powers, Enhancement Set Bonuses and Super Inspirations.  


== Temp Powers ==
If you successfully complete the Lord Recluse Strike Force via the Flashback version with the Old School Challenge enabled, you will receive the following accomplishment badge, with all other rewards being standard.


'''Shivans:''' These are very useful and everyone should have a set of these before the Strikeforce gets started.  If no one has them, spend about 10 minutes in Bloody Bay doing the meteor extraction to get them.  You have 5 charges for an elite boss Shivan pet with about 30K hit points.  They not only help mitigate some of the hits and team deaths, they dish a large amount of damage while debuffing at the same time, and can be buffed/healed. 


'''Warburg Weapons:'''  These are quite powerful, but extremely tedious to gather; the instructions are detailed in the article [[Missile Launch Mission]].  It's easiest to use teams of three, where you grab three technicians at once and trade them off to whoever is getting the nuke at the time.  Gathering these in advance is highly recommended, since large teams getting techs all at once just get in each others' way, and overall, more time is wasted before the strike force proper can start.
{{BadgeBox|Worthy Opponent}}


Here are the possible nukes and there capabilities, listed in order of desirability:
== Souvenir ==


* [[Temporary Powers#Chemical Burn|Chemical Burn]] - Ranged AoE Foe -Res(All), -DEF:  These are critical for lowering the Freedom Phalanx resistances so that your damage output exceeds their regeneration.
'''Statesman's Helmet'''


* [[Temporary Powers#Biological Mutagens|Biological Mutagens]] - PBAoE, Ally +Regeneration, +Dam.  These can help buff the damage from shivans as well as teammates. This author does not know what the shivan damage buff cap actually is, but it's huge.
Lord Recluse recruited your Strike Force to publicly defeat the greatest of heroes, the [[Freedom Phalanx]]! His plan involved kidnapping [[Ms. Liberty]] to force a controlled confrontation with the Phalanx. In order to get Ms. Liberty, Lord Recluse had a plan to storm the [[Vindicators|Vindicators']] base, which involved getting hold of their security codes to shut down their base defenses. This involved assaulting a [[Longbow]] island base, planting explosives destroying their transports, and kidnapping a Longbow technician to access the necessary codes for you. Once this was done, you returned to Lord Recluse.


* [[Temporary Powers#Nuclear Blast|Nuclear Blast]] - Ranged AoE, Extreme DoT(Energy), EMP, Foe -End, -Recovery. Combined with Bio and Chem, these can dish out a huge amount of damage all at once.  This author, however, has never had a team with the patience to gather eight of them on top of the 16 others the team will have accumulated.
The next step was acquiring a weapon to use against Ms. Liberty. Lord Recluse discovered that [[Malta Operatives|Malta]] had developed a weapon known as the [[Orestes Rifle]] based on information they stole from [[Project FURY]]. The Orestes Rifle was capable of suppressing magical energies derived from the [[Well of the Furies]], such as those Ms. Liberty calls upon from her Liberty Belt. You broke into a Malta weapons lab and stole the Orestes Rifle, but were hit by a Temporal Disrupter during the assault causing you to be drastically weakened.


The nukes really shine when they are stacked, and the bio nuke shines when it buffs the shivans. Chemical nukes are such a huge debuff stacked that they can cut the time to defeat an individual hero down into half or less of the length of time a set of inspirations lasts - meaning you can max your defenses with inspirations and get a good part of the way through the Freedom Phalanx before they wear off. For teams with no other concentration of resistance debuffs, I believe chem nukes are critical.  (What this says about the strike force's balance is an issue of heavy debate on the forums.)
Lord Recluse sent you to speak with [[Operative Grillo]], who told you the temporal disruption you were experiencing was because you were essentially 'split in two', with half of you in the present and half in a future timeline. Grillo tracked the temporal anomaly to the future, and allowed you to travel to this future through the Destiny Portal as long as you won this future for Lord Recluse by defeating the future Freedom Phalanx. You faced down [[Citadel]], [[Sister Psyche]], the [[Back Alley Brawler]] and [[Manticore]] in this future reality, bringing Lord Recluse's triumph closer to becoming a reality.


'''Essence of Serafina:''' A team buff awarded to the leader of a successful Ice Mistral Strikeforce. If you are planning on doing the Recluse Strikeforce in the future and can buy the time for a few hours one day, by all means do the Ice Mistral Strikeforce.  Activation not only grants resistance to psychic damage, it also adds psychic damage to all attacks. The buff has 10 charges.
Returning to the present, you carried out your plan to kidnap Ms. Liberty. Assaulting the Vindicators Justice Fortress, you fought [[Swan]] and [[Mynx]] before facing down Ms. Liberty herself.


== Accolades ==
Lord Recluse set the terms of the battle. You set out to [[Atlas Park]] to face the entirety of the Freedom Phalanx! Returning to Recluse, he gifted you with stabilized synthetic Hamidon boosters, taken from the future Freedom Phalanx you fought earlier on the other side of the Destiny Portal.


[[Demonic Badge|Demonic]] is very commonly used by aggro brutes to increase survivability.
== Rewards ==


[[High Pain Threshold Badge|High Pain Threshold]] and [[Born in Battle Badge|Born in Battle]] are desired for any character to help survive the high burst damage from the Freedom Phalanx.
Upon completion of the last mission, each member of the team will be presented with a reward choice table. Players may choose either 25 [[Reward Merits]] or a Synthetic [[Hamidon Origin Enhancements|Hamidon Origin Enhancement]].  Players who have unlocked the [[Alpha Slot]] will also have the option of choosing an [[Essence of the Incarnate]] salvage item as a reward.


== Inspirations ==
{{ComponentBox|Essence of the Incarnate}}


You will definitely need to use [[Inspirations]] throughout the whole Strikeforce.  You can get them from the Arena in St. Martial or from base storage.  Most useful are going to be defense, resistance, and life inspirations.
To prevent "farming" for Hamidon Origin Enhancements, the option to take the enhancement may be selected only once every 24 hours.


With the issue 7 changes, characters with no other defensive powers will max their damage mitigation from purple inspirations on the 4th small luck.  After that characters should start using orange inspirations.  Brutes and stalkers may have additional defense that makes the 4th or even 3rd luck wasted.  Both purple and orange inspirations are recommended for the final encounter because it is so brutal.
Because of the high number of hero opponents, running this strike force is a great way to earn the [[Hero Slayer Badge]], which is a prerequisite for the [[Force of Nature Badge|Force of Nature Accolade]].
{{BadgeBox|Hero Slayer}}
{{BadgeBox|Force of Nature}}


= Rewards =
Defeating the Kronos Titan in the second mission awards the [[Master of Olympus Badge]], along with [[Monkeywrencher Badge]] progress from the numerous Zeus Titans.
{{BadgeBox|Master of Olympus}}
{{BadgeBox|Monkeywrencher}}


Because of the high number of hero opponents, running this strike force is a great way to earn the [[Hero Slayer Badge]], which is a prerequisite for the [[Force of Nature Badge|Force of Nature Accolade]].
Completing the fourth mission awards the [[Annihilator Badge]].
{{BadgeBox|Annihilator}}


Completing the third mission awards the [[Annihilator Badge]].
Completing the final mission awards the [[Archvillain Badge]].
{{BadgeBox|Archvillain}}


Completing the [[Strike Force]] from Lord Recluse awards the [[Servant of Recluse Badge]].
== See Also ==
* Lord Recluse Strike Force: [[Lord Recluse Strike Force/Strategy|Strategy]]
* [[Strike Force]]


{{BadgeBox|V badge TaskForceBadge3.png|Servant of Recluse|You have broken Paragon City's 'best.' Let everyone fear you!}}


In addition, each member of the team will receive a Synthetic [[Hamidon Origin Enhancements|Hamidon Origin Enhancement]] when the last member of the Freedom Phalanx is defeated.  Currently the team should make sure to keep several slots open to receive this drop at the end of the battle, as random SO drops by the FP heroes may fill the enhancement slots.  An update is planned to change the drop to a selection table, which will allow the team to clear slots before accepting the drop, but until then it is recommended to keep at least three and possibly four slots open before fighting the last FP hero.




{{Navbox Trials and Task Forces}}
[[Category:Trials and Task Forces]]
[[Category:Trials and Task Forces]]

Latest revision as of 21:04, 22 October 2024

Overview

Task Force
Future of Freedom
Lord Recluse.jpg
Contact Lord Recluse
Zone Grandville
Suggested Team Size 8 players
Level Range 45-50
Merits 25
Badge Servant of Recluse
Master of Olympus
Annihilator
Master of Lord Recluse's Strike Force
Enemy Groups
v • d • e

The Lord Recluse Strike Force is the fifth of five main Strike Forces on City of Villains. Lord Recluse is located in the The Tangle neighborhood of Grandville, within the main building of Spider City, inside the Patron room. The Lord Recluse Strike Force is the premier Strike Force in City of Villains. The Heroes spawn at fixed levels (51 to 53 depending on foe) regardless of team composition, so the majority of your team will need to be level 50 in order to succeed.


Merit Rewards: This activity awards 25 Reward Merits.

Incarnate Component: Level 50 characters may choose 1 Essence of the Incarnate instead of Reward Merits.

Missions

Agree to Form a Strike Force

Briefing

I have witnessed your journey through the Rogue Isles. You have clawed your way to the top, performing all manner of vile act to prove yourself stronger and more capable than the rest of my Destined Ones. You have even bested one of my trusted lieutenants, a feat few have done before. In the end I thought you a liability, having used Project DESTINY to see into the future and witness a possible death of the world - my rightful domain! - at your hands. But you have a depth of villainy and strength more powerful than even I had imagined. You discovered my contingency plans and sent me a very clear warning as to what would happen if I enacted my plans, and it is something I will not forget!

You know of my plans for Project DESTINY, to engineer my eventual victory by manipulating the timestreams of the future, eliminating unfavorable results until only my ultimate triumph remains! And you know the greatest threat to my goals is that group, the Freedom Phalanx Long has he been a thorn in my side, him and his legion of heroes who constantly attempt to thwart my operations at every turn. If you help me deal with the troublesome Freedom Phalanx, I will asure you a place of honor in my future triumph!

Mission Acceptance

There is an Arachnos flyer ready to take you to your destination. As soon as you get there my operatives will start jamming transmissions so they don't let anyone know you have the security codes. We also have an advance force there to assist you in the assault.

Unnecessary Solicitation

The Arachnos flyer is waiting for you outside of Grandville. Head to the Longbow island base and get those security codes!

Mission Objective(s)

Find the security codes for the Vindicator's base!

  • 5 Bombs to set
    • Kidnap Technician
    • Defeat Crimson
    • Destroy 12 Chasers

You got the security codes!

Enemies

Longbow

Notable NPCs


Agent Crimson:

Put the base on full alert! I want those suckers taken down!
I spent too long in that Arachnos prison. It's time for some payback!


Debriefing

With the security codes in hand you should easily be able to overcome the worst of the Vindicators' base security!

You have done well, Strike Force Name!

Strategy

The map for this mission is similar to that of the Longbow base in Nerva. The team will zone in at a submarine just off the island housing the Longbow. Three waypoints will be visible on the map, marking the entrances to Tower 1, Tower 2, and the Laboratory, respectively.

Longbow Chasers are randomly placed over the map, which can be found fairly easily to anyone with travel powers.

Bombs are located in both the Towers, and the Laboratory. Setting the final bomb will spawn an ambush.

The Technician is located within one of the Towers, and will spawn an ambush containing a Longbow Ballista upon rescue. The Technician will not follow the team if stealth powers are turned on (especially group stealth powers), so remember to turn them off.

Crimson awaits with a retinue of Longbow Ballistas inside the Laboratory. Depending on the team, it is usually wise to take out all the Ballistas before engaging Crimson, as Ballistas are Elite Bosses while Crimson is a Hero.

Assault Malta Base

Briefing

Now that we have the security passcodes, we can continue with the next stage of our plan! Malta has proven to be an important asset to Arachnos. Their advanced weaponry and skilled personnel are excellent, and they are the perfect mercenaries to use when Arachnos wants to disassociate themselves from a delicate operation. However, they sometimes overstep their bounds, especially when it comes to acquiring knowledge aiding them in the defeat of super-powered beings. Not long ago, we found a Malta infiltration team in one of our Project FURY research labs, downloading information on the project. Some of their infiltration team must have escaped with the data, because some of our Arachnos spies have discovered Malta has developed a very interesting weapon based on Project FURY theoretical technology - the Orestes Rifle! This potent techno-magical weapon is designed to dispel mystical enchantments derived from the Well of Furies, such as those derived by Ms. Liberty's magical belt! This should prove very useful in the upcoming battle.

Malta has developed a robots and weapons manufacturing base in Warburg, a hotspot for armed conflict between heroes and villains. The base is headed up by a robotics engineering genius known as Slinger. While the main goal is to obtain the Orestes rifle, Slinger must be punished for his involvement in theft from Arachnos. Head to the Malta base, destroy their research databanks, steal the Orestes Rifle and take down Slinger!

Mission Acceptance

Malta has many secret training enclaves spread throughout the Rogue Isles. Because of the theft from Arachnos they chose to develop this weapon on the mainland. There's an Arachnos flyer waiting to take you there. Once you have acquired the Orestes Rifle you will need to hurry - once it is removed from the special Malta power feed, it will lose power quickly.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Steal the Orestes Rifle from Malta!

Mission Objective(s)

Once the Orestes Rifle is in your hand, you will be unstoppable!

  • Assault Malta base
    • Steal Orestes Rifle
    • Defeat Slinger
    • Steal keycard
    • Destroy main frame and guards

You got the Orestes Rifle!

Enemies

Malta Operatives

Notable NPCs


Slinger:

They're destroying our base! I bet they're after the Orestes Rifle!
I've got to stop them! But how?
I know! I'll use the Temporal Disrupter! Even if it doesn't stop them, it'll show them what happens to people who mess with Malta!
Take that, ya varmints!
Slinger dialogue

Ambush! There will be an ambush of Battle Drones when Slinger reaches 75% health.
"DESTROY ALL INTRUDERS!"

Ambush! There will be an ambush of Battle Drones when Slinger reaches 50% health.
"DESTROY ALL INTRUDERS!"

Ambush! There will be an ambush of Battle Drones when Slinger reaches 25% health.
"DESTROY ALL INTRUDERS!"

Ambush! There will be two ambushes of Battle Drones when Slinger reaches 0% health.
"DESTROY ALL INTRUDERS!"
"DESTROY ALL INTRUDERS!"

Defeating Kronos Class Titan awards the Master of Olympus Badge.

Badge
Hero
You have destroyed the Kronos Titan, showing Malta that the Heroes of Paragon City defend their turf.
Villain
You have destroyed the Kronos Titan, showing Malta that you are a force to be reckoned with

Debriefing

The Orestes Rifle! Use it well, Strike Force Name. It is a powerful weapon!

You say that you got hit by some sort of experimental weapon? We will need to fix that before you fight the Freedom Phalanx. Though I despise those foolish heroes, I know they are powerful, and you will not survive against them while you are in this weakened state.

You are indeed a worthy ally of Arachnos!

Power

Ranged, Special (Temporary Power)

The Orestes Rifle was created as an experimental weapon by Malta as part of their ongoing agenda to control the heroes of the world. It is designed to nullify enchantments granted by the Well of the Furies. Once removed from the power feed in Malta it will only be effective for a period of 5 hours.

Expires in 5:00:00 of real time

Speak with Operative Grillo

Speak with Operative Grillo

Mission Briefing

The Orestes Rifle should prove most effective against Ms. Liberty, but the condition the Malta Temporal Disrupter left you with may jeopardize our eventual goal of defeating the Freedom Phalanx! I have spoken with Operative Grillo at Project DESTINY, and he has related some interesting information regarding your current state. Go speak with Operative Grillo, then follow his orders necessary to removing the temporal disruption!

Mission Acceptance

Operative Grillo said his people discovered something rather interesting in his investigations into Project DESTINY.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Do not delay!

Mission Objective(s)

  • Speak with Operative Grillo

Briefing

Ah, you must be Strike Force Name! Lord Recluse told me to expect you. You have a most interesting condition which I can explain. The Temporal Disrupter the Malta agents hit you with caused your team to be weakened considerably by causing you to be 'split in two' along the timestream. That is, part of you is here in the present, while part of you is in a possible future. The reason we know this is we recorded a temporal anomaly in one of the future timestreams and further investigation showed us your team in this future with a temporal 'trail' leading to the present! Fascinating, isn't it?

In any case, you're probably wanting to be rid of your condition. While it doesn't have an immediate effect upon you, the longer you go without fixing it, the more chance of it causing irreparable damage to you. Lord Recluse gave his command to do whatever is necessary to remove the temporal disruption. We have the coordinates queued up in the Destiny Portal to the future timestream where your other half is. Going to this future and returning to our timeline will allow you to 'sync up' with your future selves and then with the present, thus removing the temporal disruption. There is a catch however. In this future, the Freedom Phalanx are putting up a strong resistance to Lord Recluse's plans. As part of Project DESTINY, we need to remove this future possibility. Enter into the Destiny Portal and eliminate the Freedom Phalanx resistance from this future reality!

Defeat future Freedom Phalanx

Mission Objective(s)

You feel yourself starting to synchronize with your future self. Now to win this future for Arachnos!

  • Defeat future Freedom Phalanx

You defeated the future Freedom Phalanx!

Editor's Note:

All enemy groups will be hostile to each other, including the Villains.

Enemies

Longbow
Council
Malta Operatives
Arachnos

Notable NPCs


Manticore:

Keep fighting! We need to survive!

Sister Psyche:

Manticore, we can't hold out much longer!

Manticore:

I know, Sister Psyche. We're out of H-Boosters, and they're the only reason we've held out this far.

Sister Psyche:

Justin, how did it come to this? Statesman dead, Synapse and Citadel missing, Positron powering Lord Recluse's ultimate weapon...

Manticore:

It doesn't matter now, Shalice. All that matters is we survive and keep fighting...

Back Alley Brawler

Stay frosty, folks. We got some trouble.

Numina:

It looks like more of Recluse's villains!

Manticore:

Great. Just what we need.

Sister Psyche:

Will they ever stop?

Manticore:

Keep it together, Shalice!
The Freedom Phalanx is not about to let the world fall to these scum!


Debriefing

Excellent! You have shifted my eventual victory that much closer to becoming reality!

These 'H-Boosters' you found in this future reality are most interesting. I will put my top scientists onto unlocking their secrets.

Completing this mission awards the Annihilator badge.

Badge
Heroes

After the beating you handed them, the Freedom Phalanx is very glad that you're on their side now.

Villains

Nice smackdown of the Freedom Phalanx. Lord Recluse is pleased with your performance.

Assault Vindicators Base

Mission Briefing

Now that you have recovered from the temporal disruption, it is time now to obtain the bait for the Freedom Phalanx! You have the Orestes Rifle and the security codes to the Vindicators' base. Go now and kidnap Ms. Liberty!

Mission Acceptance

Ms. Liberty is the leader of the Vindicators and will not be taken down easily, especially in the defense of her base. Proper use of the Orestes Rifle should suppress the more powerful of the enchantments granted by the Well of Furies!

Unnecessary Solicitation

It is only a matter of time before the Vindicators discover their base is vulnerable. Assault the base at once!

Mission Objective(s)

The security codes you stole from the Longbow island fortress work perfectly, allowing you to get pastallowing you get past the worst of the Vindicators base defenses. Now to take down Ms. Liberty!

  • Assault Vindicators base
    • Steal access code
    • Find base key
    • Defeat Ms. Liberty

You have kidnapped Ms. Liberty!

Upon Exit of Mission

Arachnos operatives arrive to take away Ms. Liberty!

Enemies

Longbow

Notable NPCs


Swan:

We all know what's going down. One of our Longbow island bases was attacked by a gang of viscious criminals from the Rogue Isles, and they got hold of our security codes!
By the look of it, they've already breached the base. What's more, one of our Warburg warzone operatives reported they might be after Ms. Liberty with some sort of special weapon!

Valkyrie:

Do not worry, Swan. The Vindicators will not let these villains get to Ms. Liberty!''


Ms. Liberty:

Those Rogue Isles villains are fools to break into the Vindicators stronghold! This is where the power of my Liberty Belt is the strongest!
For Liberty!


Debriefing

Excellent! Now that we have Ms. Liberty, we can force the final confrontation with the Freedom Phalanx!

Defeat the Freedom Phalanx

Mission Briefing

The final confrontation with the Freedom Phalanx is at hand! I have sent word to the group in Paragon City, setting the terms for the conflict. They are to clear Atlas Park so only true heroes and villains may clash! He will show up with some Longbow agents to cordon off the area so citizens would not get hurt. Go now and defeat the greatest of heroes, the Freedom Phalanx!

Mission Acceptance

This will be a great triumph! To have the Phalanx publicly defeated will be a glorious victory!

Unnecessary Solicitation

Why do you delay? The defeat of the Phalanx is so close I can taste it!

Mission Objective(s)

It is time for the final confrontation with the Freedom Phalanx!

  • Defeat the Freedom Phalanx

You have defeated the Freedom Phalanx!

Mission Objectives

  • Defeat the Freedom Phalanx: located underneath Atlas Globe

Enemies

Longbow

Notable NPCs

Positron

No... Ms. Liberty!
She believed in Recluse... and he had you all do THIS!
How could you do this?!
The Phalanx won't let you get away with this!

Debriefing

The Freedom Phalanx are defeated! It was a great and glorious battle - you have proven yourself to be a true Archvillain! Let it be known that Lord Recluse does not forget services rendered to him. My scientists have finished analyzing the 'H-Boosters' you acquired in the future timeline. They are temporary power boosters created from the being known as the Hamidon! Arachnos science managed to stabilize the temporary synthetic compound, making them permanent. These I give to you for carrying out my task - use them well!


Completing this mission awards the Archvillain and Servant of Recluse badges.

Badge

You have claimed victory over the greatest heroes of Paragon City, the Freedom Phalanx!

Badge

You have broken Paragon City's 'best.' Let everyone fear you!

Master of Lord Recluse's Strike Force

If you successfully complete the Lord Recluse Strike Force with challenge settings of zero defeats (no one on the team can be defeated throughout the entire strike force), no Incarnate Powers and no Temporary Powers (other than the Orestes Rifle power a player obtains), you will receive the following achievement badge.


Badge


Completing the Lord Recluse Strike Force with these settings on will also grant any accepted Synthetic Hamidon Origin Enhancements at their capped level (53).

Old School Challenge

The Flashback version of the Lord Recluse Strike Force (titled 'The Future of Freedom', found under the 'Made - Level 50' Category on the Pillar of Ice and Flame) brings it back to its original, un-nerfed version. Per the patch notes for Issue 27 Page 3, Mission 4's Vindicators fight has all five heroes returned to their original level of 54, and Mission 5's Freedom Phalanx fight has all eight heroes returned to their original level of 54.

An additional option when beginning the Flashback version of Lord Recluse Strike Force is titled 'Old School Challenge'. This disables Incarnate powers, Enhancement Set Bonuses and Super Inspirations.

If you successfully complete the Lord Recluse Strike Force via the Flashback version with the Old School Challenge enabled, you will receive the following accomplishment badge, with all other rewards being standard.


Badge

You have taken advantage of the Pillar of Ice and Flame to defeat Statesman and the Freedom Phalanx at their strongest.

Souvenir

Statesman's Helmet

Lord Recluse recruited your Strike Force to publicly defeat the greatest of heroes, the Freedom Phalanx! His plan involved kidnapping Ms. Liberty to force a controlled confrontation with the Phalanx. In order to get Ms. Liberty, Lord Recluse had a plan to storm the Vindicators' base, which involved getting hold of their security codes to shut down their base defenses. This involved assaulting a Longbow island base, planting explosives destroying their transports, and kidnapping a Longbow technician to access the necessary codes for you. Once this was done, you returned to Lord Recluse.

The next step was acquiring a weapon to use against Ms. Liberty. Lord Recluse discovered that Malta had developed a weapon known as the Orestes Rifle based on information they stole from Project FURY. The Orestes Rifle was capable of suppressing magical energies derived from the Well of the Furies, such as those Ms. Liberty calls upon from her Liberty Belt. You broke into a Malta weapons lab and stole the Orestes Rifle, but were hit by a Temporal Disrupter during the assault causing you to be drastically weakened.

Lord Recluse sent you to speak with Operative Grillo, who told you the temporal disruption you were experiencing was because you were essentially 'split in two', with half of you in the present and half in a future timeline. Grillo tracked the temporal anomaly to the future, and allowed you to travel to this future through the Destiny Portal as long as you won this future for Lord Recluse by defeating the future Freedom Phalanx. You faced down Citadel, Sister Psyche, the Back Alley Brawler and Manticore in this future reality, bringing Lord Recluse's triumph closer to becoming a reality.

Returning to the present, you carried out your plan to kidnap Ms. Liberty. Assaulting the Vindicators Justice Fortress, you fought Swan and Mynx before facing down Ms. Liberty herself.

Lord Recluse set the terms of the battle. You set out to Atlas Park to face the entirety of the Freedom Phalanx! Returning to Recluse, he gifted you with stabilized synthetic Hamidon boosters, taken from the future Freedom Phalanx you fought earlier on the other side of the Destiny Portal.

Rewards

Upon completion of the last mission, each member of the team will be presented with a reward choice table. Players may choose either 25 Reward Merits or a Synthetic Hamidon Origin Enhancement. Players who have unlocked the Alpha Slot will also have the option of choosing an Essence of the Incarnate salvage item as a reward.


File:Salvage StrandofFate.png Essence of the Incarnate

A shred of power from a living Incarnate.

To prevent "farming" for Hamidon Origin Enhancements, the option to take the enhancement may be selected only once every 24 hours.

Because of the high number of hero opponents, running this strike force is a great way to earn the Hero Slayer Badge, which is a prerequisite for the Force of Nature Accolade.

Badge

Not even the best of the best can stop you!

Badge
Force of Nature (requires rogue/villain)

Paragon City felt your wrath; you are a true Force of Nature!

Defeating the Kronos Titan in the second mission awards the Master of Olympus Badge, along with Monkeywrencher Badge progress from the numerous Zeus Titans.

Badge
Badge

You have crushed Malta's Zeus Titans, the combination of two damaged Hercules Titan robots.

Completing the fourth mission awards the Annihilator Badge.

Badge

Completing the final mission awards the Archvillain Badge.

Badge

See Also



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