Panoptes, Infinite Mind

Panoptes, Infinite Mind
Biographical information
Species:	Vex
Faction:	Sol Collective Precursors
Rank:	Axis Mind Ultra
Class:	Hydra
Combat information
Mission:	The Gateway A Garden World Omega
Abilities:	Initial Immunity Unstable Simulation Eye of Panoptes Battle for the Forest Teleportation Midair Levitation High Durability Summon Vex Simulate Cabal Simulate Fallen Simulate Hive

Panoptes, Infinite Mind was a massive, powerful Vex Hydra found within the Infinite Forest on Mercury. It was the Axis Mind that oversaw the simulated realities generated by the Infinite Forest and used them to shape the Vex's strategies in the "real" universe. It was the main antagonist of Curse of Osiris.

Biography

Panoptes was housed within a unique Vex armature, resembling a massive Hydra chassis with an angular "head", two arms resembling those of a bipedal Vex unit, wing-like appendages, and numerous glowing Harpy "tentacles". Many components of its body floated independently of one another. Panoptes was one of the first Vex who came to Mercury and converted it from a garden world to a Vex Machine World. Sagira used this origin point to locate Panoptes' lair by projecting time forward, identifying Infinity's Crown as the location within the Infinite realities that the Vex Mind could be found.

It was Panoptes that directed the Vex's efforts into turning reality into what they desire: a future where the Vex reign supreme, Light and Darkness no longer exist and other lifeforms are destroyed. As such, the exiled Guardian, Osiris, worked continuously to prevent this future but only managed to slow its progress. However, Panoptes' plans entered a new phase after the Traveler's awakening and cornering Osiris, forcing the Exile to spirit his Ghost Sagira to seek aid. That aid turned out to be The Guardian who began to investigate the location of Panoptes' lair.

When Sagira was able to locate its lair, Panoptes had already sprung its trap to capture her Light and remove the Guardian from the Forest. Ultimately, the Guardian still managed to penetrate the Forest and confront the powerful Axis Mind. Even though they were able to defeat legions of its simulated protectors, they were unable to harm Panoptes itself. Just when Panoptes was about to delete the Guardian from the Infinite Forest, Osiris himself and many of his Reflections intervened, stopping the Axis Mind from completing the deletion and provided Arc Charges to disrupt Panoptes' defenses, which forced it to reveal its "eye", its only weak point. With Osiris' aid, the Guardian managed to damage and then destroy the Infinite Mind forever, freeing Sagira and preventing the dark future from ever occurring.

With the Infinite Mind's defeat, Osiris wrested control of the Forest from the Vex. Though crippled and weakened, the Vex remained a threat the Guardians and Osiris continue to fight together across Mercury. Various efforts of the Vex to salvage themselves from Panoptes' defeat have been stopped, thanks to the Guardian's efforts.

Gameplay

Panoptes was completely invulnerable to damage unless shorted out with an Arc charge, upon which it exposed its vulnerable "eye". Although it did not utilize "conventional" Vex weaponry, it was capable of summoning simulated protectors (including simulated Vex, Hive, Fallen and Cabal) for defense, and was able to delete unwanted entities such as Guardians from the Infinite Forest at will, albeit after a lengthy amount of time of uninterrupted focus.

The Infinite Mind wouldn't attack the players directly, besides sending more simulated enemies. Once all of them were defeated, Osiris would prevent Panoptes from deleting the player a total of three times at most. However, the player had to move quickly in delivering the Arc Charge as Panoptes' deletion attack would slowly eat away at their health.

Trivia

• The term "Panoptes" translates from Ancient Greek to "all-seeing".
• The two main Vex Minds seen in the Curse of Osiris expansion, Argos and Panoptes, were named after the same character of Greek mythology. Argus Panoptes was a many-eyed giant who worked as a guardian and spy for the Olympian gods due to his ability to see everything at any time.
• Certain elements of Panoptes' design granted it a strong resemblance to the appearance of Oryx, the Taken King; most notable among these are the "wings" on Panoptes' back, the wide and angular head with three small prongs or spikes, and the clawed arms. Given the Vex's past experience with Oryx, this resemblance may not be coincidental.
• Panoptes was the fourth Axis Mind Vex boss to be called by name. Sekrion, Nexus Mind, Atheon, Time's Conflux, and Brakion, Genesis Mind were first, second, and third respectively, with Quria, Blade Transform being the fifth.
• Panoptes was the first Hydra that has been observed to have arms and additional appendages.
• Panoptes was one of the only enemies encountered in Destiny to have no weapon, instead just abilities.
• Panoptes bore a strong resemblance to Quria, Blade Transform.
  • However their connection beyond being Axis Minds, if any, has yet to be shown.

Gallery

• 

  Panoptes fighting Osiris and his Reflections.

List of appearances

• Destiny 2
  • Curse of Osiris (First appearance)
  • Season of Dawn (Mentioned only)