Theorylytics

Temporal Anchor

Used by Protea

Ability4
Energy25

Temporal Anchor

Drops a Temporal Anchor which, after a short duration, Protea rewinds to trigger a temporal implosion. Implosion damage increases based on damage dealt between anchor drop and rewind. Everything lost or expended in that time is returned. Dying while Anchor is active rewinds Protea to the anchor, saving her. Protea is knocked down and the anchor vanishes.

Introduced in Update 28.0 (2020-06-11)

Ability stats

Strength
  • See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
Duration
  • See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
Range
  • See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
Misc
  • Drops a Temporal Anchor which, after a short duration, Protea rewinds to trigger a temporal implosion.

Info

  • Temporal Anchor is Protea’s ability 4.
  • Drops a Temporal Anchor which, after a short duration, Protea rewinds to trigger a temporal implosion.
  • Use it with the rest of the kit — especially Grenade Fan, Blaze Artillery — instead of casting it in isolation.
  • Ability Strength, Duration, Range, and Efficiency each matter differently; check Mod Scaling below before dumping all four.

Augment

9

Temporal Erosion

Temporal Anchor Augment: While Temporal Anchor is active, each strike of Grenade Fan and Blaze Artillery strips 10% Armor from enemies.

Protea
Open augment →
Temporal Erosion

Temporal Anchor Augment: While Temporal Anchor is active, each strike of Grenade Fan and Blaze Artillery strips 10% Armor from enemies.

Max rank drain ~9; see rank table on the augment page.

Open full augment page →

Cast Changes

  1. Modifies Temporal Anchor with: Temporal Anchor Augment: While Temporal Anchor is active, each strike of Grenade Fan and Blaze Artillery strips 10% Armor from enemies.
  2. Rank up the augment to unlock the full effect values.
  3. Costs a mod slot (and capacity) — only equip it when the change matters for your loop.

Worth the Slot?

  1. Worth it when the augment’s change is central to how you play Protea.
  2. Skip it if the base Temporal Anchor already does what you need and you’d rather keep the slot for survivability or strength.

Tips & Tricks

  • Read the battlefield first — cast Temporal Anchor when it actually solves the room, not on cooldown habit.
  • Pair Temporal Anchor with movement and energy economy so you’re not stranded after a big spend.
  • On Steel Path, confirm whether Temporal Anchor still carries without strip, Viral, or a squad buff.
  • If you never press 4, it’s the first Helminth candidate on Protea.

Ability dossier · Temporal Anchor

Verified 2026-07-22

Synergies

  • Temporal AnchorGrenade Fan

    Use Temporal Anchor to set up Grenade Fan, or follow Grenade Fan with Temporal Anchor while enemies are vulnerable.

  • Temporal AnchorBlaze Artillery

    Use Temporal Anchor to set up Blaze Artillery, or follow Blaze Artillery with Temporal Anchor while enemies are vulnerable.

  • Temporal AnchorDispensary

    Use Temporal Anchor to set up Dispensary, or follow Dispensary with Temporal Anchor while enemies are vulnerable.

Mod Scaling

Strength

Improves Temporal Anchor’s damage or effect potency where Strength is listed on the ability.

Duration

Extends how long Temporal Anchor’s effect lasts.

Range

Range is usually dumpable on Temporal Anchor unless you feel the hitbox is too tight.

Efficiency

Temporal Anchor 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

MissionHow to Use It
Steel Path Survival / Defense / DisruptionTest whether Temporal Anchor still clears or enables clear when enemies are dense and overlevelled.
Mobile Defense / ExcavationUse Temporal Anchor to control or delete the swarm on the objective, then reposition.
Exterminate / Capture Speed RunsCast Temporal Anchor only when it saves time — skip it on empty tiles.
Spy / Rescue / Quiet RoutesIf Temporal Anchor 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 — Temporal Anchor is tuned for Protea’s loop — don’t judge it as a standalone subsume without the rest of the kit.

Other Protea abilities