 The Paragon Wiki Archive documents the state of City of Heroes/Villains as it existed on December 1, 2012.
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Incarnate System
Overview
The Incarnate System is the name of the end game content, first unveiled in Issue 19: Alpha Strike.
The system features new content, abilities, and rewards for level 50 characters. As player characters work through the content, they will be given rewards to unlock special Incarnate slots and special salvage to craft boosts that will increase the capabilities of Level 50 characters. In turn, these characters will need the added abilities in order to work through subsequent and more difficult content.
A purchase of the Going Rogue expansion is required for players to access the Incarnate System. Initially, the first Incarnate level (called the Alpha Slot) was to be available with implementation of the Going Rogue expansion, but due to feedback from Beta Testers that unlocking the slot without new content made the system feel incomplete, it was pushed back[1].
Issue 19 introduced the Alpha Slot and the first two tiers of Boosts, in addition to two task forces designed for characters who have unlocked the Alpha Slot.
Incarnate System Mechanics
- The effects of the Incarnate System Abilities function exemplared down to Level 45. Under that level, they stop working. At level 45 and higher, they work for all game content, not just Incarnate content.
- With regard to the Tin Mage and Apex Task Forces, a character is prevented by the game from joining if they do not have the Alpha Slot unlocked. If the Alpha Slot is unlocked, but is not slotted with an Alpha Slot Ability, then they can participate, but at a -4 Level Shift. Thus, they will be at eight levels lower than the Level 54 foes, hitting at 5% of their normal damage due to the Purple Patch.
- All Incarnate Components can be crafted from Incarnate Shards; therefore, no one specific Raid or Task Force is required to create a specific Ability.
- The reason why the Incarnate Component Gr'ai Matter can be bought with Vanguard Merits is because the Rikti Mothership Raid doesn't have a reward table for completing it.
- Characters can switch between Abilities by simply equipping a new ability. The old ability is not lost, but simply switched out. There is a 5 minute cool down between equips. Also, equipping an ability is prohibited by being in combat and may require additional cool down time or leaving the mission to equip.
- Higher-tier abilities consume a lower tier ability when crafted. Characters can have several higher-tiered abilities, but if they're in the same 'tree', then they'll have to re-craft the lower tiered ability again for each higher-tiered ability they want to have.
Boost List
All boosts can be seen in the Incarnate System window, though their effects and names could change before their release:
- Alpha: Strengthen a character's strengths or shore up weaknesses with direct enhancement.
- Judgment: Will grant characters new upgradeable area of effect (AOE) powers.
- Interface: Nothing is known about this boost.
- Lore: Nothing is known about this boost.
- Destiny: Nothing is known about this boost.
- Hybrid: Nothing is known about this boost.
- Genesis: Nothing is known about this boost.
- Stance: Nothing is known about this boost.
- Vitae: Nothing is known about this boost.
- Omega: Nothing is known about this boost.
Alpha Slot
The Alpha Slot can be unlocked in several ways:
- By completing Mender Ramiel's arc, which is meant to introduce a character to the Incarnate System by advancing the in-game story-line and lore, and explaining the mechanics of how the Incarnate System works.
- Earning Incarnate Experience, either Physical or Psychic, by running Incarnate Trials.
- Directly purchasing Incarnate Experience, either Physical or Psychic, using Incarnate Threads and Inf.
- Purchasing an Unlock Alpha Slot Voucher from Astral Christy for 5 Astral Merits.
A character can access their Incarnate Abilities Window even before any Incarnate Slots are unlocked, where they can manage all their Incarnate abilities.
Once the Alpha Slot is unlocked, the character:
- can fill the Alpha Slot with an Alpha Slot Ability which can grant universal power aspect enhancements, a level shift, and bonuses to certain in-game tasks.
- starts getting Incarnate Shards as a drop from defeating foes.
- starts getting Incarnate Components or Incarnate Shards as a reward for certain Raids and Task Forces.
- can access a third build.
- can join activities restricted to Incarnates. This includes the Tin Mage and Apex Task Forces.
- If the Alpha Slot is empty, the character suffers from a -4 Level Shift during these activities.
- If the Alpha Slot has an ability slotted, the character does not suffer from the negative shift during these activities.
- can receive the Notice of the Well Incarnate Component from the Weekly Strike Target.
More details can be found on the Alpha Slot Abilities page.
Incarnate Abilities Window
The Incarnate Abilities Window can be found by clicking on Powers over the Power Tray to open up the Powerlist Window. At the top of the Powerlist Window, click on Incarnate Abilities to open the Incarnate Window. Or, use the command /toggle incarnate to open and close the Incarnate Window.
