In The First Descendant, Contagion and Venom Synthesis are two transcendent modules that dramatically change how skills interact with enemies. While the argument for Venom Synthesis often highlights its higher damage and mobility, Contagion excels in continuous propagation and chain reactions. Let’s dive into their mechanics and performance to determine which module best suits your playstyle and mission needs.
Skill-by-Skill Breakdown
First Skill: Venom Trauma
- Venom Synthesis/No Mod: Applies Room 0 Trauma (a DoT) and causes Panic (another DoT). Panic is a one-time effect and does not propagate.
- Contagion: Removes Panic, but enables Room 0 Trauma to propagate to nearby enemies upon death, allowing for continuous spreading.
Second Skill: Defense Mechanism
- Venom Synthesis/No Mod: Applies Room 0 Trauma when attacked and inflicts Despair (a unique DoT) on nearby enemies.
- Contagion: Replaces Despair with propagating Room 0 Trauma, prioritizing spread over additional DoTs.
Third Skill: Putrid Venom
- No Mod: Creates a toxic puddle that applies Venom Soaked, leaving footprints that spread Room 0 Trauma and Decay (another DoT).
- Venom Synthesis: Replaces the toxic puddle with the player becoming Venom Soaked, allowing you to track poison directly while gaining +30% movement speed.
- Contagion: Retains the puddle mechanic but enhances it to propagate Room 0 Trauma upon enemy death, ensuring continuous chain reactions.
Fourth Skill: Venom Baptism
- Venom Synthesis/No Mod: A unique gun that applies Room 0 Trauma and spreads Nightmare (a DoT). Spreading is limited to Nightmare.
- Contagion: Focuses on Room 0 Trauma, propagating it upon enemy death, enabling cascading effects across groups.
Passive Ability
- Venom Synthesis/No Mod: When an enemy dies to Room 0 Trauma, a toxic puddle is created, inflicting Room 0 Trauma and Toxic Reaction (another DoT). The spread stops there.
- Contagion: Replaces the puddle mechanic with propagation, spreading Room 0 Trauma to nearby enemies, ensuring continuous damage scaling.
Key Differences Between Modules
| Aspect | No Mod | Venom Synthesis | Contagion |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Skill | Panic DoT; static | Same as No Mod | Removes Panic; spreads Room 0 Trauma |
| Second Skill | Applies Despair DoT | Same as No Mod | Replaces Despair with propagation |
| Third Skill | Toxic puddle and footprints | You become Venom Soaked | Toxic puddle; spreads Room 0 Trauma |
| Fourth Skill | Spreads Nightmare | Same as No Mod | Spreads Room 0 Trauma |
| Passive | Toxic puddle, static spread | Same as No Mod | Continuous Room 0 Trauma spread |
Performance in Missions
Mission: The Shelter
The 400% Invasion Operation in The Shelter provided an excellent testing ground for mobbing performance. Contagion excelled with faster clears and slightly higher damage output due to its propagation mechanics.
| Metric | Contagion | Venom Synthesis |
|---|---|---|
| Average Clear Time | 258 seconds | 276 seconds |
| Average Damage Done | 179.60M | 178.21M |
| Best Clear Time | 230 seconds | 273 seconds |
Mission: The Seed Vault
In today’s Seed Vault Invasion Operation, the larger layout gave Venom Synthesis the edge in clear times, while Contagion delivered higher total damage due to its propagation.
| Metric | Contagion | Venom Synthesis |
|---|---|---|
| Average Clear Time | 517 seconds | 455 seconds |
| Average Damage Done | 375.18M | 367.33M |
| Best Clear Time | 509 seconds | 453 seconds |
Key Insights
Venom Synthesis
- Strengths:
- Consistently applies DoTs and deals reliable damage.
- Superior mobility with +30% movement speed while Venom Soaked.
- Performs well in sparse or single-target scenarios where propagation offers no advantage.
- Weakness:
- Requires manual reapplication of Room 0 Trauma, limiting efficiency in large groups.
Contagion
- Strengths:
- Excels in mob-heavy scenarios with its propagation mechanics, enabling exponential damage scaling.
- The third skill creates a toxic puddle that amplifies area control and propagation.
- Requires less manual reapplication, increasing efficiency.
- Weakness:
- Slightly slower clear times in larger layouts due to setup requirements.
Which Module Should You Choose?
| Scenario | Best Module | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Target Fights | Venom Synthesis | Reliable DoT application without reliance on propagation. |
| Enemy-Dense Areas | Contagion | Propagation amplifies damage across groups exponentially. |
| Fast-Paced Combat | Venom Synthesis | Mobility improves repositioning and survivability. |
| Group Control | Contagion | Toxic puddles dominate stationary clusters of enemies. |
Conclusion
- Choose Venom Synthesis for consistency, mobility, and reliable damage in sparse or single-target encounters.
- Choose Contagion for exponential damage scaling, propagation mechanics, and dominance in mob-heavy scenarios.
Both modules are viable and excel in different contexts. Experiment to find the one that best fits your playstyle and mission needs.
This article was written by Kilfein. If you found it helpful or want to see more content like this, be sure to follow me:
Thanks for reading, and happy hunting in The First Descendant!