Remnant 2 is filled with NPCs asking you for help. The Custodian, found on N’Erud, can ask you to track down the Shining Essence Echo. He needs it for his own alien purposes, but it will not be easy to get.
Where to get the Shining Essence Echo in Remnant 2
The Shining Essence Echo is an item that will drop from Tal’Ratha, the world boss of N’Erud. There are two different versions of this boss: Tal’Ratha and Tal’Ratha (Metaphysical). The one you fight depends on whether or not you let him consume you, but either one will drop the Shining Essence Echo you need.
You can bring the Shining Essence Echo back to The Custodian, the strangely dressed creature who asks you for it, after you track down and beat Tal’Ratha.
Where to find Tal’Ratha on N’Erud in Remnant 2
Finding Tal’Ratha is quite the process. You originally meet him at the start of certain instances in the N’Erud Realm. He is locked away in a strange vapor chamber, and he asks you to find the Soul Sparks that he needs to help save his world.
The N’Erud you play through will be randomly generated, so it is hard to guide you. Below is how my N’Erud looked—you will always need to find The Forgotten Prison to get access to Tel’Ratha. The Souls Sparks can be found in a yellow-lit abandoned mine. You simply take an elevator down to a lower level to get them.
- 1 – The Putrid Domain exit/entrance
- 2 – The Forgotten Prison
- 3 – The Dormant N’Erudian Facility
- 4 – The Spectrum Nexus tower
- 5 – The strange red mine where I found the Stasis Core
- 6 – The Vault of the Formless
- 7 – The strange yellow mine where I found the Soul Sparks
How to defeat Tal’Ratha in Remnant 2
Once you have the Soul Sparks, you can return to Tal’Ratha and prepare to fight the big lug. It’s not a particularly difficult fight—it took me a couple of tries but once you learn his attack patterns, he really isn’t as tough as he looks.
Tal’Ratha (Normal)
- Throughout the fight, enemy mobs will be spawned that deal low damage to you, but can block you from moving away from Tal’Ratha. Eliminate them quickly.
- Tal’Ratha will grab a vial of acid from behind him, then throw it at you, dealing heavy damage and leaving a slowing field where it impacts.
- Tal’Ratha will leap into the air and land, sending out a wave of yellow energy. Avoid the wave.
- Tal’Ratha will spit purple poison at you and the ground around you, slowing you and afflicting you with Curse.
- Tal’Ratha will open his mouth, then charge at you on all four legs, dealing heavy damage if he hits you. Strafe and dodge early to avoid his charge.
- Tal’Ratha will suck in the air ahead of him and attempt to eat you. Keep your distance before this suction effect begins or you’ll be instantly killed. Rolling away from his suction will dodge this.
- If you are standing on either side of Tal’Ratha, he will roll in your direction. Try and keep him facing forward to you.
- At 50 percent health, Tal’Ratha will create purple and white orbs that track to your position and deal heavy damage and increase your Curse meter. Destroy these orbs before they hit you. They have little HP, so a high-fire-rate weapon is recommended.
Tal’Ratha (Metaphysical)
- Tal’Ratha will charge a yellow orb of energy in his hand and then fire it at you, dealing heavy damage. A simple dodge left or right will avoid getting hit.
- Tal’Ratha will charge a black hole and summon a wave of yellow energy that spawns on the edge of the map. He’ll teleport into the black hole, sucking the wave in, then reappearing, sending the wave back out. Avoid both waves.
- Tal’Ratha will scream, firing black energy bolts in random areas around you. Strafe in one direction and roll on occasion to i-frame the blasts.
- Tal’Ratha will teleport to melee range and swing twice with his arms at you. A long roll away should see you dodge both swipes.
- He will drop to all fours and open his mouth, then charge at you. Dodge in one direction to avoid the charge. He will then teleport from behind you to directly ahead and continue to charge at you twice more. After the third charge, he’ll teleport above you and slam the ground, sending out a yellow wave.
- At 50 percent health, Tal’Ratha will summon an assortment of stars he will fire around the arena in a pattern. After four sets of stars are fired in a circle, he will cover the air above the arena with stars and drop them onto the ground, where they’ll explode.
Remember to keep your distance so you have time to react to his rolls and jumps and use any fire damage that you might have access to in order to deal maximum damage.
The Custodian location in Remnant 2
Much like everything else, The Custodian’s location is pretty random. You should be able to find The Custodian in the first area of N’Erud that you arrive in. This area, much like the quest The Custodian gives you, appears to be random. He will always appear at a node called The Ascension Spire, where you can talk to him.
What is the Shining Essence Echo used for in Remnant 2?
There are two main uses for the Shining Essence Echo, depending on whether you give it to The Custodian or keep it for yourself and craft something on your own.
Related: How to defeat the Corruptor in Remant 2: Twisted Arbalest gun
If you give the Shining Essence Echo to The Custodian, he will give you a Siphon Heart, a Relic that grants 10 percent Lifesteal for 10 seconds. Alternatively, if you opt to keep the Shining Essence Echo, you can take it to the Drzyr Replicator and combine it with Hardened Iron and Scrap to create the Void Idol Amulet, which increases Reload Speed by 20 percent.
Should you give the Shining Essence Echo to The Custodian?
You can, if you choose, keep almost any item in the game and are usually able to use it to craft a weapon or a mod. In my current game, I gave The Custodian the soul, and he was grateful and went about his business and I was free to continue exploring the world.
A colleague who got the Seeker Keys quest option to use the drop from the world boss he encountered to make a weapon instead. This caused The Custodian to pretty much close off N’Erud to him. I don’t know at this point if this will happen if you do the same, but it is worth mentioning so you have been warned.
