Here’s Something Returnal Absolutely Doesn’t Tell You

Navigating Returnal’s labyrinthine biomes demands understanding its color-coded barrier system. While the Atropian Blade sword handles red force fields immediately, orange barriers present a distinct challenge requiring specialized equipment.

Your initial melee weapon, the Atropian Blade, serves as the foundation for barrier breaking. This versatile tool slices through crimson energy shields blocking pathways and enemy defenses with ease. However, the paler orange variants resist standard blade attacks, creating strategic decision points throughout your exploration.

Unlike progression-locked permanent upgrades, orange barriers employ a different mechanic entirely. These obstacles don’t require defeating bosses or accessing new biomes—they demand tactical artifact management instead.

The exclusive solution for orange barrier penetration is the Balanced Blade artifact. This gear-shaped enhancement boosts melee damage while enabling orange field destruction through simple slashing motions. Behind these barriers typically lie treasure troves of health items, weapon enhancements, and suit upgrades that significantly improve run viability.

You’ll need to upgrade your Atropian Blade with the Balanced Blade artifact to open these doors.

You’ll need to upgrade your Atropian Blade with the Balanced Blade artifact to open these doors.

As a temporary artifact, Balanced Blade vanishes upon death or return to Helios, necessitating rediscovery each cycle. It most frequently appears in four-item fabricators within biome hub areas, making these locations priority checkpoints when beginning new attempts.

Though seemingly optional, this artifact’s barrier-breaking capability makes it a high-value acquisition. The upgrades concealed behind orange fields typically provide returns exceeding the artifact’s cost, especially when encountered in early biomes where resources are scarce.

Strategic acquisition of Balanced Blade depends heavily on orange barrier frequency in your current biome. When these obstacles appear consistently in early areas, prioritize the artifact immediately. However, if orange fields are sparse, consider delaying acquisition until they become more prevalent.

Always maintain situational awareness regarding Balanced Blade’s location within each biome. This knowledge provides flexibility to acquire it quickly when needed, without wasting resources searching during critical moments.

Advanced players should note that orange barriers often conceal rooms containing parasites, datacubes, or consumables that can dramatically alter run trajectory. Weigh the potential rewards against current obolite reserves and health status before investing.

For comprehensive survival strategies on Atropos, consult our extensive Complete Guide covering core mechanics and progression systems.

No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Here’s Something Returnal Absolutely Doesn’t Tell You Master Returnal's orange barrier mechanics with strategic artifact acquisition and path optimization techniques