There are loads of gun in Returnal, but they’re all temporary. When you die, you will end up back at the start with just a measly pistol. However, the Atropian Blade is a weapon that stays with you no matter what.
This guide will cover what the Atropian Blade is and how you can find it in Returnal.
What Is The Atropian Blade In Returnal?
The Atropian Blade is an alien weapon that allows Selene to perform melee attacks. These are incredibly powerful, as they can kill most enemies in one hit.
Melee attacks also break through shields and barriers that you might find whilst exploring Atropos, so they also help you uncover useful items.
Where Do You Find The Atropian Blade In Returnal?
The Atropian Blade is unlocked in the Overgrown Ruins, which is the first biome in Returnal. To find the blade, you must follow your objective to the Crimson Gateway. This is the teleporter that will take you to the next biome.
When you arrive at the teleporter, you will find a destroyed Automaton on the floor. Interact with it to trigger a short cutscene in which Selene will take the blade from its hand. This will unlock the Atropian Blade, permanently adding it to your inventory.
Tips For Using The Atropian Blade In Returnal
The Atropian Blade is extremely useful as it has a very high damage output. However, using melee attacks means that you need to get closer to your enemies, which will potentially make you vulnerable.
To avoid taking damage, make sure that you always combine melee attacks with a quick dash. This will allow you to quickly get close to the enemy so that you can use your melee attack to kill them. Whilst you are dashing, you will be invincible to any damage from enemy attacks. This will only last a second or so, but it is helpful if you are about to take damage.
Unlike firearms in Returnal, the Atropian Blade does not have weapon traits or an alt-fire mode. You only get one type of melee attack throughout the game, and the blade will not receive any permanent upgrades.
However, you are able to temporarily buff the Atropian Blade by finding the Blade Balancer Artefact. This increases your melee damage, so you can kill harder enemies and break through yellow shields, which are stronger than red shields. When you reach Adrenaline level 3, your melee attacks will also have reduced cooldown. Combining these buffs can make the Atropian Blade a very reliable weapon.
