Cerberus Vangaurd & Adept
Continuing a storied history of secret Cerberus projects eventually turning on their masters in unexpected and often violent ways, Project Phoenix was an attempt to enhance human biotic talents. When the Illusive Man began to turn toward using the indoctrination technology derived from the Reapers, he faced resistance. The entirety of the Project Phoenix team abandoned Cerberus, taking with them all of their enhanced soldiers and the technology with which they had made them. The Cerberus Defectors are available in the Adept and Vanguard classes, equipped with the class-defining Singularity and Biotic Charge powers, respectively. Their Smash and Lash powers, however, are what give the Defectors their unique style.
Smash allows the Defector to use a pair of energy whips mounted on their forearms by infusing them with biotic power and slamming them into the ground with incredible force. Any victim hit by this attack is sent flying into the air, vulnerable to any other small arms fire or special powers that get sent flying their way. There's a significant wind-up to this attack, but it can be used to fling entire groups of enemies into the air.
The Lash power is a biotic talent similar to Pull, but it yanks victims toward the user at a high speed while causing damage, and then leaves them temporarily stunned and prone on the ground. This is great for pulling unshielded Phantoms, Nemeses, and Marauders out of cover and into range for Heavy Melee attacks.
Phoenix operatives use an electrified baton to strike at their enemies in melee combat, but are incapable of using combination melee attacks. Their basic strike is also quite slow, which does not make it a particularly safe bet in tight quarters. The Heavy Melee attack uses both energy whips to strike every target surrounding the character, making it a good crowd clearer on the Bronze difficulty, but its set up time makes this attack less useful on higher difficulties.
Project Phoenix Cerberus Defector Adept:
- Singularity
- Smash
- Lash
Project Phoenix Cerberus Defector Vanguard:
- Biotic Charge
- Smash
- Lash