Cortex

The Cortex is - next to the Altered, Augmented, Rewritten and Twisted Distant Memory - one of the five Synthesised Maps. He is the final and hardest encounter of them, introduced during the War of the Atlas Expansion in Patch 3.6 Synthesis League. The Cortex can also be witnessed by the Maven and is part of the Maven's Invitation: The Feared.

Synthesised Maps

• Altered Distant Memory
• Augmented Distant Memory
• Rewritten Distant Memory
• Twisted Distant Memory
• Cortex
• Replica Cortex

The Cortex Synthesised Map drops as a Tier 10 Map but is overwritten by a special Map modifier, making it Monster Level: 83 to prevent monster level modification. Synthesised Maps are not on the Atlas, but can still be modified by the Atlas Passive Tree that affects Synthesised Maps. Note that Atlas Passive Skills cannot modify Maps from Kirac's Atlas missions. The Keystone Memento Mori unlocks the Uber version of the Cortex, described further down below.

Acquisition

The Cortex Synthesised Map has drop restrictions and cannot be chanced. While allocating Vivid Memories on the Atlas Passive Tree, there is a small chance to drop a random Synthesised Map upon killing a Map Boss on Tier 11+. The Cortex can also be accessed as a Kirac Map mission or sometimes sold by Tujen.

The Cortex can also be created by the following Divination Cards:

• A Fate Worse Than Death
• Justified Ambition
• The Void

The Replica Cortex can be obtained in Heist or from the following Divination Cards:

• Eternal Bonds
• The Void

Loot Table

In addition to regular loot, the Cortex has the following boss-specific drops:

• Offering to the Serpent
• Perepiteia
• Garb of the Ephemeral
• Bottled Faith

Additional Drops:

• Imperfect Memories
• Dementophobia
• The Hook

Skills Breakdown

The Fractal Gargantuan plants his arms in to the ground and fires a large frontal laser beam, dealing Physical and Lightning Damage.

The Fractal Gargantuan performs a Leap Slam ability, dealing Physical Damage.

The Fractal Gargantuan launches decelerating projectiles before swiping them with a laser beam, causing the
projectiles to explode on impact, dealing Physical and Lightning Damage.

The Fractal Gargantuan rotates counter-clockwise in place, firing several decelerating projectiles in the process.
He then proceeds to rotate clockwise while firing a laser beam out of both hands, destroying the orbs on impact
which creates an explosion. The projectiles, the occurring explosions as well as the beam itself deal Physical
and Lightning Damage. While stationary, the Fractal Gargantuan creates Lightning Tendrils around him.

The Fractal Gargantuan launches a single decelerating projectile and then proceeds to explode it with an aimed
laser beam, dealing Physical and Lightning Damage.

The Fractal Gargantuan slams the ground, dealing Physical Damage on impact.

The Fractal Gargantuan slams the ground and releases a series of turrets in a V shape. This attack as well as
the turrets deal Physical Damage.

The Fractal Gargantuan charges his hands and slashes twice in a cone in front of him, dealing Physical and
Lightning Damage.

The Synthete Masterpiece charges up and releases a barrage of lasers in front of him, dealing Lightning Damage.

The Synthete Masterpiece fires a couple celestial orbs in front of him and proceeds to shoot a barrage at the
targeted area, dealing Physical Damage.

The Synthete Masterpiece charges up a massive blast ability which he releases after a short period of time,
dealing heavy amounts of Physical and Lightning Damage on impact.

The Synthete Masterpiece channels multiple laser beams at the targeted location, releasing a burst of energy quickly after. This ability deals Physical and Lightning Damage on impact.

The Synthete Masterpiece charges up and launches 4 mortars on a targeted location that spread in an X pattern. The mortars spawn orbs at the end of their movement and expand while floating in circles, dealing Physical and Lightning Damage.

The Synthete Masterpiece goes airborne and fires countless laser beams in a circular pattern. This created
laser storm starts to rotate and decreases in size, while charging up a massive shock wave at the end of their
movement.

The Synthete Masterpiece summons many vortex projectiles which float towards the player, while charging up
a massive slam ability. If the player gets hit by a vortex projectile, he gets teleported next to the boss, making
the slam impact almost unavoidable, but can be blinked away with Flame Dash or Dash if timed properly.

The Decaying Map Device appears in the center of the arena and open four portals. These Portals spawn
synthesis monsters for about 30 seconds.

The Fractal Titan spawns energy pylons at random locations in the boss arena. These pylons charge up on impact and explode when collided again, dealing Lightning Damage in the process.

The Fractal Titan goes stationary and summons a horde of energy pylons that float towards him. These pylons
charge the Titan up once they reach him but can be exploded while walking over them. After a short delay, the
Fractal Titan explodes, releasing a massive lethal shock wave in the process.

The Synthete Nightmare teleports around the arena, firing projectiles towards the player.

The Cortex - Synthesised Map

The Cortex is a Laboratory Map tile set with a 5 Phase Boss Encounter. The Map itself comes with randomized modifiers that can only be seen once entering the Map. It is highly recommended to fully clear the Map due to its valuable loot and high level Synthesised Items.

Once you enter the Boss Arena at the end of the Map, you see Venarius' spirit hovering above a central map device. After a short dialogue, the first boss spawns and Phase 1 begins.

Area Modifiers

Synthesis Global Modifiers

Phases

• Phase 1 - The Fractal Gargantuan
• Phase 2 - Synthete Masterpiece
• Phase 3 - Intermission (Minion Phase)
• Phase 4 - Fractal Titan
• Phase 5 - Synthete Nightmare

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Once entering the boss arena, Venarius spirit hovers above a Decaying Map device. After a short dialogue he then proceeds to summon a Fractal Gargantuan which indicates the start of the Cortex encounter.

The Fractal Gargantuan is similar to the Rewritten Synthete of the Rewritten Distant Memory Map. While fighting the Gargantuan, Void zones spawn and last until this phase is over.

If you want to learn more about his abilities, make sure to check out the skills breakdown section.

Once you have defeated the Fractal Gargantuan, Venarius spawns a Synthete Masterpiece which indicates the start of Phase 2.

The Synthete Masterpiece is similar to the Altered Synthete of the Altered Distant Memory Map. While fighting the Synthete, Energy Pylons spawn which charge up on impact and explode after another collision. These Pylons de-spawn when the Phase 2 ends.

If you want to learn more about its abilities, make sure to check out the skills breakdown section.

Once you have defeated the Synthete Masterpice, a Decaying Map Device appears at the center of the boss arena which indicates the start of Phase 3.

In this intermission, four Portals appear around the Decaying Map Device which spawn synthesis Monsters for about 30 seconds before Phase 4 begins.

Once you defeated all synthesis monsters spawning out of the Decaying Map Device Portals, Venarius spirit summons a Fractal Titan which indicates the start of Phase 4.

The Fractal Titan is an empowered version of the Fractal Gargantuan and has extra abilities alongside all Phase 1 abilities.

If you want to learn more about his abilities, make sure to check out the skills breakdown section.

Once you have defeated the Fractal Titan, Venarius spawns a Synthete Nightmare which indicates the start of Phase 5.

The Synthete Nightmare is an empowered version of the Synthete Masterpiece and has extra abilities alongside all Phase 2 abilities.

If you want to learn more about its abilities, make sure to check out the skills breakdown section.

Once you defeat the Synthete Nightmare, the Cortex encounter ends and your loot spawns after a short delay.

Atlas Passive Tree

The newly revamped Atlas Passive Tree provides us with additional ways to enhance the Pack Size and drop chances of synthesized Maps:

Notables

• Vivid Memories

Nodes

• Synthesis Monster Pack Size

Uber Cortex

In addition to the regular Cortex encounter, there is also an Uber version available by opening 5 Synthesising Fragments in your Map Device. This makes the fight much harder in several ways:

In addition to massively increased life and damage, the Uber version also has the following new mechanics:

• Each unique Phase spawns an additional unique Synthete
• Fractal Gargantuan - Altered Synthete
• Synthete Masterpiece - Augmented Synthete
• Fractal Titan - Twisted Synthete
• Synthete Nightmare - Rewritten Synthete
• Energy Pylons spawn in all four unique phases

In addition to the regular Cortex loot, the Uber Cortex has the following boss-specific drops:

• Mask of the Tribunal
• Nebulis
• Rational Doctrine
• Circle of Ambition
• The Apostate
• Forgotten Reliquary Key

Additional Drops:

• Imperfect Memories
• Dementophobia
• The Hook

Summary

• The Cortex encounter is the final and hardest of the 5 Synthesised Maps.
• It is part of the Maven's Invitation: The Feared and can be witnessed by the Maven.
• The Map has a Laboratory tile set and comes random with different Map and Synthesis Modifiers.
• It is highly recommended to clear the entire Map due to its valuable loot and high level synthesis item bases.
• The Cortex Encounter is split into 5 Phases:
  • Phase 1 - The Fractal Gargantuan
  • Phase 2 - The Synthete Masterpiece
  • Phase 3 - Decaying Map Device Portals (intermission)
  • Phase 4 - The Fractal Titan
  • Phase 5 - The Synthete Nightmare
• Upon defeating the specific Phase Boss, the next Phase starts and the encounter continues.
• Once you have defeated the Synthete Nightmare, the Cortex encounter ends and the Loot spawns shortly after.

Credits

Written by mbXtreme
Reviewed by TriPolarBear, Facefoot