Welcome to the Overgrown Ruins, the first biome in Returnal. This guide covers every enemy you’ll encounter, along with their attack patterns, weaknesses, and the best strategies to defeat them. Mastering these early foes will prepare you for the biome’s boss, Phryke, and everything that comes after.
1. Kerberon
Appearance: A feline-like alien with two primary attacks.
Attacks:
- Horizontal Barrage – Fires a wave of bullets horizontally.
→ Jump or dash through the pattern. - Close-Range Bite – A lunge attack at melee range.
→ Dash backwards to evade.
Strategy:
- Use ranged weapons like the pistol to stay safe.
- For quick kills, close in and melee for a one-hit KO.
- In groups, stay aggressive—jump, dash, and pick off one enemy at a time while monitoring your suit HUD.
2. Strixera
Appearance: Large flying creatures that appear in swarms.
Attack:
- Lock-On Laser Shot – A brief wind-up before firing a powerful single laser.
Strategy:
- Interrupt the laser by shooting the Strixera targeting you.
- Switch targets quickly to avoid being overwhelmed.
- Avoid melee—they often float above voids or gaps.
3. Lamiadon
Appearance: Small, fast-moving creatures that attack in packs.
Attack:
- Orange Glow Lunge – Charges up visually before leaping.
Strategy:
- Dodge late, right after the orange glow.
- Shoot while glowing to interrupt their attack.
- Avoid melee unless facing only one or two at a time.
4. Atropian Turrets
Appearance: Stationary sentry units that fire slow-moving projectiles.
Attack:
- Projectile Barrage – Slow but continuous fire.
Strategy:
- Stay mobile—jump or dash through fire.
- If they have a red shield, melee is the fastest way to destroy them.
5. Mycomorph
Appearance: Fungus-like enemies with tricky projectile attacks.
Attacks:
- Sticky Orb – Slows movement.
→ Dash or jump out to shake it off. - Delayed Bullets – Projectiles spawn and then seek you.
Strategy:
- Keep your distance and stagger them with gunfire.
- Once staggered, move in for melee to finish the fight.
6. Infected Scout
Appearance: A corrupted version of Selene (online-only enemy).
Attacks:
- Bullet Counter – Fires a wave after taking damage.
- Homing Projectile – Follows you slowly.
Strategy:
- Keep moving and attack steadily.
- Watch for the explosion on death.
- Rewards Ether, so they’re worth taking down.
7. Kerberonyx
Appearance: A tougher Kerberon variant, often with a red shield.
Attacks:
- Bite Attack – Same as Kerberon, but stronger.
→ Dodge + counter with melee. - Red Bullet Stream – Lasts ~3 seconds.
→ Use cover, or jump and dash through carefully.
Strategy:
- Use terrain to your advantage and counter when safe.
- Against Malformed Kerberonyx (purple), go all in: alt-fire, consumables, and heavy weapons.
8. Titanops
Appearance: Large, slow, tentacled brute.
Attacks:
- Ground Slam – High damage AOE.
→ Dodge sideways. - Tackle Dash – Signals with glowing tentacles.
→ Dash away when it charges.
Strategy:
- Stay at range and deal damage from a distance.
- The Malformed Titanops uses purple beams that must be jumped, not dashed through.
Biome 1 Survival Tips
- Master Movement
- Combine jumps with dashes to evade complex attacks.
- Dash timing is crucial—don’t spam it blindly.
- Prioritize Smartly
- Take down ranged threats (Strixera, Turrets) before dealing with melee enemies.
- Melee Wisely
- Melee is powerful but risky. Use it against staggered or isolated targets.
- Stay on the Offensive
- Movement plus pressure keeps enemies from overwhelming you.
- Save Resources for the Big Fights
- Use alt-fire and consumables for elites or malformed enemies.
Conclusion
The Overgrown Ruins teach you how Returnal works—and punish you for not learning quickly. But with the right strategies, you’ll take control of combat, adapt to threats, and push forward with confidence. Defeat these enemies, and you’ll be ready for your first major challenge: Phryke.
Explore more guides, boss tips, and advanced tactics in our Returnal walkthrough hub. Stay sharp and good luck out there, Scout.
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