Preserving Shell

Ability2

Energy25

Preserving Shell

Citrine guards herself and nearby allies with a crystalline shell that gradually decays. Kills and assists increase the defensive power of the shell.

Introduced in Update 32.3 (2023-02-15)

Strength

Duration

Range

Misc

Citrine guards herself and nearby allies with a crystalline shell that gradually decays.

Info

Preserving Shell is Citrine’s ability 2.
Citrine guards herself and nearby allies with a crystalline shell that gradually decays.
Use it with the rest of the kit — especially Fractured Blast, Prismatic Gem — instead of casting it in isolation.
Ability Strength, Duration, Range, and Efficiency each matter differently; check Mod Scaling below before dumping all four.

Read the battlefield first — cast Preserving Shell when it actually solves the room, not on cooldown habit.
Pair Preserving Shell with movement and energy economy so you’re not stranded after a big spend.
On Steel Path, confirm whether Preserving Shell still carries without strip, Viral, or a squad buff.
If you never press 2, it’s the first Helminth candidate on Citrine.

Ability dossier · Preserving Shell

Verified 2026-07-22

Preserving ShellFractured Blast
Use Preserving Shell to set up Fractured Blast, or follow Fractured Blast with Preserving Shell while enemies are vulnerable.
Preserving ShellPrismatic Gem
Use Preserving Shell to set up Prismatic Gem, or follow Prismatic Gem with Preserving Shell while enemies are vulnerable.
Preserving ShellCrystallize
Use Preserving Shell to set up Crystallize, or follow Crystallize with Preserving Shell while enemies are vulnerable.

Strength: Strength matters if Preserving Shell scales effect power; otherwise dump it for other stats.
Duration: Duration is low priority on Preserving Shell unless an augment or lingering effect needs it.
Range: Increases Preserving Shell’s reach, radius, or targeting distance.
Efficiency: Preserving Shell costs energy each cast — Efficiency (or strong regen) keeps the loop comfortable on long missions.

Stack the stats that actually move this ability’s needle, then Efficiency for uptime.

Mission	How to Use It
Steel Path Survival / Defense / Disruption	Test whether Preserving Shell still clears or enables clear when enemies are dense and overlevelled.
Mobile Defense / Excavation	Use Preserving Shell to control or delete the swarm on the objective, then reposition.
Exterminate / Capture Speed Runs	Cast Preserving Shell only when it saves time — skip it on empty tiles.
Spy / Rescue / Quiet Routes	If Preserving Shell is loud or forces combat, save it for after the vault; if it’s stealth-friendly, use it to stay safe.

VS
Vs similar tools on other frames — Preserving Shell is tuned for Citrine’s loop — don’t judge it as a standalone subsume without the rest of the kit.