Panoptes, Infinite Mind

Panoptes, Infinite Mind
Panoptes-infinite-mind.jpg
Biographical information

Species:

Vex

Faction:

Sol Collective

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 Vex
Simulate Cabal
Simulate Fallen
Simulate Hive

 

Panoptes, Infinite Mind is a massive, powerful Vex Hydra found within the Infinite Forest on Mercury. It is the Axis Mind that oversees the simulated realities generated by the Infinite Forest and uses them to shape the Vex's strategies in the "real" universe. It is the main antagonist of Curse of Osiris.[1]

Biography

Panoptes is 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 float 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.[2]

It is Panoptes that directs 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, has worked continuously to prevent this future but only managed to slow its progress. However, Panoptes' plans enters 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 begins to investigate the location of Panoptes' lair.[3]

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 manages to penetrate the Forest and confront the powerful Axis Mind. Even though they are able to defeat legions of its simulated protectors, they are unable to harm Panoptes itself. Just when Panoptes is about to delete the Guardian, Osiris himself and many of his Reflections intervene, stopping the Axis Mind from completing the deletion and provides Arc Charges to disrupt Panoptes' defenses, forcing it to reveal its "eye", its only weak point. With Osiris' aid, the Guardian manages to damage and then destroy the Infinite Mind forever, freeing Sagira and preventing the dark future from ever occurring. [4]

With the Infinite Mind's defeat, Osiris wrested control of the Forest from the Vex. Though crippled and weakened, the Vex remain a threat the Guardians and Osiris continue to fight together. Various efforts of the Vex to salvage themselves from Panoptes' defeat have been stopped, thanks to the Guardian's efforts.[5]

Gameplay

Panoptes is completely invulnerable to damage unless shorted out with an Arc charge, upon which it will expose its vulnerable "eye". Although it does not utilize "conventional" Vex weaponry, it is capable of summoning simulated protectors (including simulated Vex, Hive, Fallen and Cabal) for defense, and can delete unwanted entities such as Guardians from the Infinite Forest at will.

The Infinite Mind won't attack the players directly, beside sending more simulated enemies. Once all of them are defeated, Osiris will prevent Panoptes from deleting the player a total of three times at most. However, the player has to move quickly in delivering the Arc Charge as Panoptes' deletion attack will slowly eat away at their health.[6]

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, are 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 grant 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 is 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 is the first Hydra that has been observed to have arms and additional appendages.
  • Panoptes bears a strong resemblance to Quria, Blade Transform.
    • However their connection beyond being Axis Minds, if any, has yet to be shown.

Gallery

List of appearances

References

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