Dread Mirror
Used by Garuda
Dread Mirror
Rip the life force from an enemy and use it as a shield that captures damage, this kills significantly weakened enemies instantly. Charge to channel the captured damage into an explosive projectile.
Introduced in Update 24.0 (2018-11-08)
Ability stats
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- Rip the life force from an enemy and use it as a shield that captures damage, this kills significantly weakened enemies instantly.
Info
- Dread Mirror is Garuda’s ability 1.
- Rip the life force from an enemy and use it as a shield that captures damage, this kills significantly weakened enemies instantly.
- Use it with the rest of the kit — especially Blood Altar, Bloodletting — instead of casting it in isolation.
- Ability Strength, Duration, Range, and Efficiency each matter differently; check Mod Scaling below before dumping all four.
Augment
Dread Ward
Dread Mirror Augment: Become unkillable for 8s when Dread Mirror kills a target by ripping its life force.
GarudaDread Mirror Augment: Become unkillable for 8s when Dread Mirror kills a target by ripping its life force.
Max rank drain ~9; see rank table on the augment page.
Cast Changes
- Modifies Dread Mirror with: Dread Mirror Augment: Become unkillable for 8s when Dread Mirror kills a target by ripping its life force.
- Rank up the augment to unlock the full effect values.
- Costs a mod slot (and capacity) — only equip it when the change matters for your loop.
Worth the Slot?
- Worth it when the augment’s change is central to how you play Garuda.
- Skip it if the base Dread Mirror already does what you need and you’d rather keep the slot for survivability or strength.
Tips & Tricks
- Read the battlefield first — cast Dread Mirror when it actually solves the room, not on cooldown habit.
- Pair Dread Mirror with movement and energy economy so you’re not stranded after a big spend.
- On Steel Path, confirm whether Dread Mirror still carries without strip, Viral, or a squad buff.
- If you never press 1, it’s the first Helminth candidate on Garuda.
Ability dossier · Dread Mirror
Synergies
- Dread MirrorBlood Altar
Use Dread Mirror to set up Blood Altar, or follow Blood Altar with Dread Mirror while enemies are vulnerable.
- Dread MirrorBloodletting
Use Dread Mirror to set up Bloodletting, or follow Bloodletting with Dread Mirror while enemies are vulnerable.
- Dread MirrorSeeking Talons
Use Dread Mirror to set up Seeking Talons, or follow Seeking Talons with Dread Mirror while enemies are vulnerable.
Mod Scaling
Strength
- Improves Dread Mirror’s damage or effect potency where Strength is listed on the ability.
Duration
- Duration is low priority on Dread Mirror unless an augment or lingering effect needs it.
Range
- Range is usually dumpable on Dread Mirror unless you feel the hitbox is too tight.
Efficiency
- Dread Mirror costs energy each cast — Efficiency (or strong regen) keeps the loop comfortable on long missions.
Priority
Stack the stats that actually move this ability’s needle, then Efficiency for uptime.
Mission Use Cases
| Mission | How to Use It |
|---|---|
| Steel Path Survival / Defense / Disruption | Test whether Dread Mirror still clears or enables clear when enemies are dense and overlevelled. |
| Mobile Defense / Excavation | Use Dread Mirror to control or delete the swarm on the objective, then reposition. |
| Exterminate / Capture Speed Runs | Cast Dread Mirror only when it saves time — skip it on empty tiles. |
| Spy / Rescue / Quiet Routes | If Dread Mirror is loud or forces combat, save it for after the vault; if it’s stealth-friendly, use it to stay safe. |
Comparisons
- VS
Vs similar tools on other frames — Dread Mirror is tuned for Garuda’s loop — don’t judge it as a standalone subsume without the rest of the kit.
Blood Altar
Bloodletting
Seeking Talons