RETURNAL | R_A.0786 Derelict Citadel [100% Complete // Full Level] (HDR) NO DAMAGE, NO HIT?

Two goals guide my approach to the Derelict Citadel this time around: (1) escort my Sparking Leadskin Parasite to level's end unharmed; and (2) find a weapon suitable for the Nemesis encounter.
In theory, surviving the Derelict Citadel with my Sparking Leadskin intact is feasible. However, innumerable threats stand between me and this goal. For instance, the footwork of this area is demanding and pervasive. I face no fewer than eight footwork gauntlets in this recording, meaning that this arrangement of the Derelict Citadel features more footwork than the Overgrown Ruins and Crimson Wastes combined. Beyond that, the Drones of this biome roam freely on the z-axis, making the cover I find (and the safety it provides) questionable at best. This concern is compounded by my wielding a Dreadbound, as errant attacks against these hard-to-hit hostiles will leave me slowed and, at range, defenceless until my Shards return.
Beyond that, a Dreadbound can overcome Nemesis, the biome's boss, but is ill-suited to the task. Consequently, each and every Container I find is opened as I search for a more suitable weapon. I discard those whose Traits will not aid me (anything that bolsters Protection or heals Selene, such as Hardened or Leech Rounds, is worthless to me, as are those Traits designed to handle groups of hostiles, like Retarget or Shrapnel). As I begin the biome's penultimate encounter at 22:21, I am worried: Nemesis is mere moments away and I have yet to find a worthy weapon. The Rotgland Lobber of 1:53 will do, but to shift from a Dreadbound to something that needs Overloading-and has an Enlarged Chamber-is suboptimal. Alternately, the Hollowseeker of 23:40 is appealing, but the visual and auditory pollution it will create when used increases the likelihood of my missing a key detail at a critical moment. As a result, I settle for the Thermogenic Launcher of 24:01; its Full Auto pairs well with my Overload Rush artifact and Trackerswarm works well in the Nemesis fight.
All told, I am satisfied: three biomes completed and my Sparking Leadskin emerges unscathed. To see what happens next, follow me into the Echoing Ruins by clicking • RETURNAL | R_A.0787 Ec...
Chapters
0:00 Initializing…
0:19 Derelict Citadel
0:29 Encounter I
0:49 Portal Room I (Gambling)
1:23 Moving On
1:33 Encounter II
1:48 Encounter II (Cleanup)
1:58 Pressing Ahead
2:10 Encounter III (Part 1)
2:38 Encounter III (Part 2)
3:03 Encounter III (A Fortunate Find)
3:15 Encounter III (Part 3)
3:25 Encounter III (Cleanup)
3:44 Portal Room II (Malformed Hostile)
4:11 Portal Room II (Cleanup)
4:31 Encounter III (Cleanup Concluded) (Violent)
4:55 Seeking the Citadel
5:07 Encounter IV
5:18 Encounter IV (Cleanup) (Violent)
5:34 Encounter IV (Cleanup)
5:50 Encounter V
6:01 Encounter V (Cleanup)
6:16 Portal Room III (Reclaimer)
6:39 Equipment Overview
6:55 Moving On (Again) (Violent)
7:14 Encounter VI (Part 1)
7:34 Encounter VI (Part 2)
7:55 Encounter VI (Cleanup)
8:17 Let's All Go to the... (Violent)
8:28 Lobby (Augmentation)
8:47 Pressing Ahead (Again)
9:02 Treading Lightly
9:17 Encounter VII
9:48 Encounter VII (Cleanup)
10:07 Portal Room IV (Obolite Footwork)
10:50 Seeking the Citadel (Again) (Violent)
11:00 Encounter VIII
11:10 Encounter VIII (Cleanup) (Violent)
11:20 Containment Room (Round 1)
11:47 Containment Room (Round 2)
12:04 Containment Room (Round 3)
12:27 Containment Room (Cleanup)
12:56 From Here to There (Violent)
13:14 Encounter IX (Part 1)
13:24 Encounter IX (Part 2)
14:13 Encounter IX (Part 3)
14:47 Portal Room V (Locked Doors)
15:19 Encounter IX (Cleanup)
15:52 Footwork I (Neglected Containers Remix)
16:02 Onward! (Violent)
16:20 Encounter X
17:04 Encounter X (Cleanup)
17:23 Encounter XI (Part 1)
17:34 Encounter XI (Part 2)
17:56 Encounter XI (Part 3)
18:08 Encounter XI (Cleanup)
18:21 Armoury (Weapon Swap?)
18:50 From Here to There (Again)
19:24 Encounter XII (Part 1)
19:34 Encounter XII (Interlude)
19:44 Encounter XII (Part 2)
19:54 Encounter XII (Cleanup)
20:04 Xeno-archive (Fleeting)
20:15 Footwork II (Violent)
20:28 Footwork III (Violent) (Clumsy)
20:46 Footwork IV
20:56 Footwork V
21:10 Footwork III (Reprise)
21:26 Footwork VI (Bold)
21:45 Locked Doors Galore
22:21 Encounter XIII (Part 1)
22:37 Encounter XIII (Part 2)
22:49 Encounter XIII (Part 3)
23:23 Encounter XIII (Part 4)
23:38 Encounter XIII (Cleanup)
23:59 Weapon Swap?
24:10 Loose Ends
24:20 The Path to Nemesis (Prelude)
24:37 The Path to Nemesis
25:11 Nemesis (Introduction)
25:48 Nemesis: Phase I (Barricaded)
26:11 Transition
26:40 Nemesis: Phase II (Barricaded)
27:07 Nemesis: Phase II
27:24 Transition (Reprise)
27:39 Nemesis: Phase III (Distant)
28:12 Nemesis: Phase III (Mid)
28:25 Nemesis: Phase III (Flung)
28:36 Nemesis: Phase III (Distant Reprise)
28:52 Nemesis: Phase III (Mid Reprise)
29:09 Nemesis: Phase III (Close)
29:29 Nemesis: Phase III (Closer Still)
29:36 Death Throes
29:48 Awakening
30:01 Status + Equipment
30:23 DISTRESS SIGNAL ACKNOWLEDGED
31:21 An Ending

[@canceric]

great video, was actually waiting for the upload, flawless work as ever and boy nemesis had no clue what was coming for him lol

[@returnalarchive]

That's kind of you to say. Thank you!

[@issi529]

This game has maybe one of the best gameplays ever!

[@MrPugwall]

Great run! That dreadbound was doing serious damage!

[@returnalarchive]

Thank you! Expanding Shards is a gamechanger, but Expanding Shards paired with Fourth Shard is devastating.