Control Resonant Guide | All Abilities and How to Unlock Them

Control Resonant gives Dylan Faden a growing arsenal of supernatural powers that help him navigate the warped streets of Manhattan and deal with the game's dangerous enemies. Unlike the first game, Dylan's abilities are built around melee combat, traversal, and supernatural powers that complement the Aberrant.

Abilities are split into Traversal Abilities and Combat Abilities. Traversal powers help Dylan reach new areas and navigate distorted environments, while Combat Abilities give him additional ways to damage, control, or defend against enemies.

Some Combat Abilities are also tied to choices. After defeating certain Resonants, you'll have to choose between two or three powers, meaning you cannot normally unlock every option during a single playthrough without additional progression.

All Traversal Abilities

Traversal Abilities are primarily unlocked by completing Faults found throughout Manhattan. These powers are important for exploration and gradually open up previously inaccessible areas.

Double Jump

How to Unlock: Complete the Fault in Downtown.

Double Jump is one of Dylan's earliest traversal abilities. It allows him to perform an additional jump in the air and improves his ability to cross gaps.

The ability also works alongside air movement options, making it easier to reach distant platforms and navigate vertical areas.

Shift

How to Unlock: Complete the Fault in the parking lot in the West Incursion Zone.

Shift allows Dylan to interact with Gravity Anomalies and alter his movement through certain environments. This ability is particularly useful in areas where normal movement is disrupted by Control Resonant's warped physics.

Reach

How to Unlock: Complete the Fault inside the Subway in the Evacuation Zone.

Reach gives Dylan a grappling-style traversal option that lets him move toward specific paranatural distortions. It provides another way to cross large gaps and reach locations that cannot be accessed through standard movement.

All Combat Abilities

Combat Abilities are generally unlocked by defeating Resonants. After several Resonant encounters, Dylan is presented with a choice between different abilities.

Barrage

How to Unlock: Defeat the Artist Resonant.

Barrage allows Dylan to launch projectiles at enemies, giving him a ranged option to complement his melee attacks.

Volatile Anomaly

How to Unlock: Defeat the Artist Resonant.

Volatile Anomaly summons an explosive ally that can be used to put additional pressure on enemies during combat.

Shield

How to Unlock: Defeat the Artist Resonant.

Shield gives Dylan a defensive option that can also be used offensively.

It can help him survive dangerous encounters while creating opportunities to get closer to enemies.

Ground Slam

How to Unlock: Defeat the Dancer Resonant.

Ground Slam lets Dylan slam into the ground from the air, dealing damage around the impact area. It is particularly useful when surrounded by multiple enemies.

Push

How to Unlock: Defeat the Dancer Resonant.

Push creates a telekinetic blast that knocks enemies backward. It gives Dylan another way to control groups and create space during close-range fights.

Ignite

How to Unlock: Defeat the Deserter Resonant in the Patterned Factory.

Ignite adds a burning effect to Dylan's weapon attacks, allowing him to combine his Aberrant attacks with fire-based damage.

Inferno

How to Unlock: Defeat the Deserter Resonant in the Patterned Factory.

Inferno allows Dylan to unleash short-range waves of fire. It provides an additional way to damage nearby enemies without relying entirely on melee attacks.

Spore Burst

How to Unlock: Defeat the Collective Resonant beneath the Park.

Spore Burst fires a rapid stream of Mold projectiles and builds the Infected status effect on enemies. It provides Dylan with a strong ranged option against groups and tougher targets.

Growth

How to Unlock: Defeat the Collective Resonant beneath the Park.

Growth summons a Mold-based ally that attacks nearby enemies and applies the Infected status effect. It can provide additional pressure while Dylan focuses on melee combat.

Spike

How to Unlock: Defeat the Physicist Resonant at the Underpass Spire.

Spike summons an Astral entity that attacks enemies and applies the Astralized status effect. It can help keep enemies occupied while Dylan closes the distance.

Astral Rebuke

How to Unlock: Defeat the Physicist Resonant at the Underpass Spire.

Astral Rebuke creates an attack from beneath grounded enemies, launching them into the air. It also applies Astralized, making it useful for setting up additional attacks.

Command

How to Unlock: Defeat the Co-Director Resonant in the Unknown Field Office.

Command is one of Dylan's most distinctive Combat Abilities. It allows him to take control of enemies and temporarily turn them against their allies. Unlike most other abilities, Command requires special Command Charges to use.

How Ability Choices Work

Several Resonant encounters give Dylan multiple Combat Abilities to choose from. For example, defeating the Artist gives you a choice between Barrage, Volatile Anomaly, and Shield, while other Resonants provide two different powers.

These choices matter because selecting one normally prevents you from using the alternatives. However, the game provides a way to reset your ability choices later by using a Reset Item at the mural in the Gap.

Because Reset Items are limited, it's worth considering how each ability fits your preferred combat style before locking in your choice.

How to Unlock Another Combat Ability

After completing the main story, you can complete the Pope's Research Side Story in the Unknown area to obtain a Resonant Combat Token.

The token allows you to obtain an additional Combat Ability from one of the earlier choices without giving up the ability you already selected. This provides another way to expand Dylan's combat loadout after finishing the campaign.

Final Thoughts

Control Resonant's ability system gives Dylan more options as the campaign progresses, with Traversal Abilities opening up new areas and Combat Abilities expanding his options during fights.

Keep an eye out for Faults when exploring Manhattan, and make sure you're prepared for Resonant encounters that offer Combat Ability choices. Since several powers are mutually exclusive, your decisions can shape how Dylan's combat loadout develops throughout the game.

FAQ

How many types of abilities are in Control Resonant?

A. Control Resonant divides Dylan's powers into Traversal Abilities and Combat Abilities. Traversal powers focus on exploration, while Combat Abilities are used during encounters.

Q. How do you unlock Combat Abilities?

A. Most Combat Abilities are unlocked by defeating Resonants. Certain Resonant encounters then give you a choice between multiple powers.

Q. Can you change your Combat Abilities?

A. Yes. You can reset your ability choices by using a Reset Item at the mural in the Gap.

Q. Can you unlock every Combat Ability?

A. Not immediately. Several Combat Abilities are mutually exclusive choices, but later progression provides a way to obtain an additional ability through a Resonant Combat Token.