Lord Recluse Strike Force

Overview

Future of Freedom
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	Longbow Malta Operatives Freedom Phalanx Vindicators

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 (Hero)
• Numerous Longbow Ballistas (Elite Bosses)

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

• Kronos Class Titan (Monster)
• Slinger (Archvillain)

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

Combat start: needs data
At 75% Health: "Activate attack wave alpha!"
At 50% Health: "Activate attack wave beta!"
At 25% Health: "Activate attack wave gamma!"
Upon defeat: needs data
Defeats a player: needs data

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.

Master of Olympus

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!

Orestes Rifle

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

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

• Numina (Hero)
• Sister Psyche (Hero)
• Back Alley Brawler (Hero)
• Manticore (Hero)

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.

Annihilator

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 (Hero, level 51)
• Luminary (Hero, level 51)
• Mynx (Hero, level 51)
• Valkyrie (Hero, level 51)
• Ms. Liberty (Hero, level 51)

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

• Numina (Hero, level 53)
• Manticore (Hero, level 53)
• Positron (Hero, level 53)
• Synapse (Hero, level 53)
• Citadel (Hero, level 53)
• Back Alley Brawler (Hero, level 53)
• Penelope Yin (Hero, level 53)
• Ms. Liberty (Hero, level 51, NPC)

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.

Archvillain

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

Servant of Recluse

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.

Master of Lord Recluse's Strike Force

You have proven yourself Master of Lord Recluse's Strike Force.

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.

Worthy Opponent

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.

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.

Hero Slayer

Not even the best of the best can stop you!

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.

Master of Olympus

Master of Olympus Badge

Monkeywrencher

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

Completing the fourth mission awards the Annihilator Badge.

Annihilator

Annihilator Badge

Completing the final mission awards the Archvillain Badge.

Archvillain

Archvillain Badge

See Also

• Lord Recluse Strike Force: Strategy
• Strike Force