Ouroboros Flashback Badge Guide

[Almafeta]

NB:  This guide was originally written for live.  I have been re-testing it lately on new characters, but I have not yet personally earned every Ouroboros badge on a single character, so there may still be a few surprises in there.

 

Ouroboros offers the Flashback system - a way for you to 'revisit' past missions, or missions you never played, changing 'your' history.  And this system offers - you guessed it - badges.  Lots and lots of badges.

 

This guide is based off of two threads archived from the boards:  St. Angelius wrote the blueside one, and Nericus wrote the redside one.  I wanted to have an updated copy that I could update as I experimented with the various Issue 25 updates.  Then after a few years away, less than 20 minutes after I return I get a ping; so I'm updating this guide for Issue 26 and 27.  Special thanks to BrandX, Burk, Rimy, and everyone else who commented with ideas for things to check out.

 

Unlocking Flashback

First, you need to become Entrusted With The Secret.  To do so, once you're level 14, ask a player to open an Ouro portal for you (Pocket D is a busy place to ask, what with all the incarnate trials forming there), then climb to the top of the Ouroboros spire.  Doing so will unlock the Ouroboros Portal power.  You can also earn it accidentally a few other ways:

 

• Complete Marshall Brass's 'Echo Down The Aeons' storyline (Cap au Diable, 15-19).
• Complete Agent G's or Doc Delilah's story arcs (Faultline, 20-24).
• During Vincent Ross's story arc (Sharkhead Isle, 20-29)
• Complete the Ubelmann the Unknown story arc given by Ashwin Lannister or Laurie Pennington (Independence Port, 25-29).
• Complete Holsten Armitage's mission (Brickstown, 30-40).
• Complete Tina MacIntyre's Praetorian story arc (Peregrine Island, 40-44).
• Complete any Patron story arc (45-50).
• Complete the Barracuda Strike Force (Grandvale, 45-50).
• Complete the Dr. Kahn (Founder's Falls, 45-50) or Ms. Liberty (Independence Port, 45-50) task forces.
• Complete the final Kheldian story arc from Shadowstar or Sunstorm (45-50).
• Earn most any badge in Recluse's Victory (Enter from Atlas Park City Hall, 50).

 

You now have access to the Pillar of Ice And Flame, the big magic supercomputer in the middle of the Ouroboros tower.  This will allow you access to any mission that in 'your past' - which is to say, you've completed or outlevelled.

 

What Flashback badges are there?

Oh, so many. They're the same for heroes, villains, and Praetorians:

 

• 10 badges for number of Flashback arcs run; up to 50 runs total.
• 3 badges for speed of completion; one for each setting.
• 4 badges for limited lives; one for each setting.
• 8 badges for completing a story arc with debuffed players; one for each level range.
• 8 badges for completing a story arc with buffed enemies; one for each level range.
• 8 badges for completing a story arc without travel powers; one for each level range.
• 8 badges for completing a Flashback arc without temp owers; one for each level range.
• 2 badges for completing a Flashback without epics (ancillaries or patron pools); one for each level range you can have epics.
• 8 badges for completing a story arc without inspirations; one for each level range.
• 8 badges for completing a story arc without enhancements; one for each level range.
• 2 badges for completing a story arc without incarnate powers at level 50:  one for alpha slot alone and one for without incarnate power at all.
• 1 badge for completing any Praetorian story arc.

 

This is in addition to the badges you can get from the missions themselves, which could be its own guide...

 

Note that the level ranges for the badges do not exactly match the current level ranges shown by the Aspect of the Pillar; these have shifted around somewhat, so things might not be exactly where you would find them if you played them in the "wild."

 

Optimizing runs

In the original boards, St. Angelius organized a four-run system:  because the minimum number of times you have to play a story arc is four (one per power restriction, you repeat it four times, to get all the level range badges:

 

• First, run the story arc with No Travel, Foes Buffed.
• Second, run the story arc with Archetype Powers Only, No Inspirations.
• Third, run the story arc with No Temporary Powers, Player Debuffed.
• Finally, run the story arc with No Enhancements (and later, No Epic).

 

Each set combines a power challenge with the minor challenge least likely to interfere.  With Player Debuffed and No Enhancements, you want all your inspirations and travel powers to stealth/avoid as much as you can - sneakiness is greatly rewarded by Ouroboros.  The most powerful restriction is No Enhancements, which is coupled with the least-restricting power challenge, No Epics.

 

The challenges for lives and speed need only be done once (each), so do it when you've found a story arc you're comfortable with completing quickly.  There are a few special restrictions for level 50, discussed in the level 50 section below.

 

Each run counts as a Task Force, with all the limitations that implies:

 

• You can't change team halfway through.  Players who drop out can't rejoin!
• You can't do task forces or even talk to other contacts.
• You do each story arc at the level of the story arc.
• You can only exit by talking to the final mission NPC (or quitting the 'task force' in the Team menu of your chat bar).
• Finally, many story arcs award reward merits, like any other task force.

 

Recommended Story Arcs

Here, I'll list things blueside and redside.  Only objectives are spoiled below, no story content.  Alternates are less optimal for various reasons, but are listed below in case the first option doesn't work for you or if you meet the specific requirements that makes the alternate a better choice.

 

Level 1-14

Hero:  Officer Wincott Vs The Trolls (10-14, 0.02).  3 missions:  defeat 10; defeat all, 4 glowies; defeat all, 3 glowies, boss.

Villain:  The Loa Bone (1-9, 6.09).  1 mission:  boss's mob.  Bonus:  Bone Collector badge.

Villain Alternate:  The Hit List (10-14, 6.12).  3 missions:  defeat boss; rescue NPC, escort NPC, glowie; 4 glowies, 1 boss.

 

Level 15-19

Hero:  Vahzilok Wasting Disease (0.07).  1 timed mission:  3 glowies.  Bonus:  Plague Stopper badge.

Villain:  Blood of Tyrants (Imperial Crusader, Ch 5, 18.31): 1 solo mission:  talk, glowie, cutscene, moral choice (resistance: run to exit, you can run past mobs; loyalist: fight boss with allies)

Villain Alternate:  Breakout At The Zig.  3 missions:  click glowie; escort prisoners; defeat all.

 

Level 20-24

Hero:  The Chameleon Suit (0.12).  One mission:  glowie.  Bonus:  Chameleon badge.

Hero alternate:  I Lost My Daddy!  (Faultline ch 2, 8.02).  5 missions:  rescue NPC, escort NPC, ambush; talk to contact; defeat 10; find boss (beware mezzes); find NPC, escort NPC, ambush (beware mezzes).

Villain:  Operation Skyhook.  4 missions:  get glowie; talk to contact; kidnap NPC, escort NPC (timed!); 2 glowies.

 

Level 25-29

Hero:  Black Channel Protocols (First War Ch. 4, 21.18):  Defeat 3; escort (small map), talk; escort (small map), talk, cutscene, defend, boss; talk, boss, 2 glowies, boss.  More combat but all in one neighborhood.

Hero alternate:  The Redemption of Alexander "The Great" (0.23).  6 missions:  talk to contact; patrol IP; talk to contact; defeat 35 (just north of IP north bus stop); kill all (medium map); talk to contact.  Bonus:  Redeemer badge.  Theoretically less combat, but patrolling IP and going back and forth between a Talos contact and IP missions involves a lot of travel.

Villain:  Eliminate Negotiator and Witnesses (6.45):  1 mission:  two bosses.  Bonus: Agent of Discord badge

Villain Alternate:  On the Trail of the Leviathan.  3 missions:  defeat 20; find glowie, ambushes; 5 glowies, boss.

 

Level 30-34

Hero:  Defend the War Walls (0.28).  1 mission:  rescue 8, defend 3, kill boss.  Bonus:  War Wall Defender badge.  Note:  Instead of starting from the pillar, use the Ouroboros sigil portal to board transit.

Hero alternate:  Rise of the Vampyri.  10 missions:  10 glowies; glowie; defeat all, 2 glowies; 3 glowies; find correct glowies, defeat boss mob; defeat 10; defeat 15; defeat 20; click glowie, defeat boss mob; clear boss room.

Villain:  The Unlucky Artifact (6.68).  1 mission:  kill boss.

Villain Alternate:  Breaking the Streak.  3 missions:  Defeat 10; 2 glowies; defeat boss.

 

Level 35-39

Hero:  They Call Me The Doctor  (0.37):  1 mission:  2 keys, talk, 3 glowies.  Bonus:  Doctor's Ally badge.

Villain:  Fat Cat City.  3 missions:  Find glowie; find correct glowie; kill boss mob, escort NPC (ambushes!).

 

Level 40-49

Hero:  The Clockwork King's Psychic Signal (1.09):  1 mission:  defeat AV.  Bonus: Emancipator Badge

Hero alternate:  Division: Line.  13 missions:  6 glowies (timed!); 6 glowies; rescue NPC; rescue NPC; 4 rescue NPCs; glowie; glowie (ambush on exit!); rescue NPC, escort NPC; defeat boss mob; defeat boss mob; rescue NPC; 6 glowies; 10 glowies.  Long but a lot is stealthable.

Villain:  Absolute Vengeance.  3 missions:  kill boss; clear boss room; kill boss mob.

 

Level 50

Level 50 is special because there are two badges you can only get at this level:  Alpha Not Omega and Deincarnated.  You can combine No Enhancements (the most powerful debuffs), with Alpha Only (the least restrictive power restriction) instead of No Epics and have an easier time.

 

Hero:  Aura of Power:  5 missions:  Talk, defeat 15 Freaks, defeat 15 Rikti, defeat 15 DE, (all in Crey's Folly by the Boomtown door), talk.  Originally level 30, currently awarding level 50 badges.

Hero alternate:  The Strange Case Of Benjamin A. Decker.  4 missions: rescue NPC, escort NPC, ambush; rescue NPC, guard NPC; talk to contact; 4 glowies (timed, NO combat allowed!).

Villain:  Escaped!  3 missions:  Kill boss; kill boss; kill boss.

Villain alternate:  Emperor Cole's Personal Mission.  1 solo mission:  Glowie, talk to NPC, cutscene, kill all with buffs.  Bonus:  Embodiment of Law badge.  Easier than Escaped! but the Pillar of Ice and Flame doesn't know where to send you so you wind up doing more legwork.  This is better if you have the Long Range Teleporter power, since that drops you right at the door for this mission.

Edited Friday at 07:42 AM by Almafeta
Better Hero arc 25-29

[Almafeta]

Saved for future expansion (individual mission badge guide?).

[FrostyDelicious]

Great breakdown for runs, will try this tonight!

[Foxfyre]

Would greatly appreciate a guide for individual badge missions!

[craggy]

Are the badges the same for heroes and villains? If so some of those suggested missions sound easier than others, I might have to take a trip to Null The Gull at some point to run through them a bit easier.

[Ekimmak]

Maybe add the story arcs that also award the Ouroboros Portal for those who don't want to just take the easy way of piggybacking another player?

 

I know that the third Faultline Contact Doc Delilah and the woman that hands out inside Midnight Club missions are blueside options, and Marshal Brass' second story arc is a redside option.

[Roughtrade]

Awesome Guide.  Been using this for a week now to steer through stuff with friends who refuse to look things up for themselves.  I'm gona look for more of your posts so I can give you more influence.

[Almafeta]

Are the badges the same for heroes and villains? If so some of those suggested missions sound easier than others, I might have to take a trip to Null The Gull at some point to run through them a bit easier.

 

They are.  Added.

 

Maybe add the story arcs that also award the Ouroboros Portal for those who don't want to just take the easy way of piggybacking another player?

 

Added.  Also mentioned the PvP badges and task forces that do it.

[Placta]

Hero:  A Mad Man's Council.  7 missions:  5 glowies; defeat 10 in specific zone; defeat 3; glowie; defeat 15; ambush, defeat boss mob; talk to contact.

 

I would recommend The Origin of Power instead, here. 5 missions: talk to person ×4 (should be 5, but I haven't seen the fifth), door mission with ten glowies and boss room. It's listed under 45-50 but awards 25-29 badges.

[DarkTanatos]

 

Level 30-34

Hero:  Rise of the Vampyri.  10 missions:  10 glowies; glowie; defeat all, 2 glowies; 3 glowies; find correct glowies, defeat boss mob; defeat 10; defeat 15; defeat 20; click glowie, defeat boss mob; clear boss room.

 

Level 50

Hero:  The Strange Case Of Benjamin A. Decker.  4 missions: rescue NPC, escort NPC, ambush; rescue NPC, guard NPC; talk to contact; 4 glowies (timed, NO combat allowed!).

Villain:  Escaped!  3 missions:  Kill boss; kill boss; kill boss.

 

For 30-34 you can easily do "The Aura of Power" found in the Level 50 Flashbacks. It's the Level 30 mission arc that originally unlocked the auras for your character.

Talk to Professor Smythe (City Hall, where also the quest giver is, so you can use the flashback crystal to port there)

Defeat 15 Freakshow, Defeat 15 Rikti, Defeat 15 Devouring Earth, back to Atlas City Hall, Done. (all enemies can be found in Crey's Folly at Level 30+, your hero remains Level 50 during the Flashback).

 

For Level 50, just do the Dark Astoria prologue story, no fighting, just some talking and running around in PI and DA.

[Ukase]

Just thought I'd add this "pro-tip" on getting the Ouro port without begging or bugging anyone else.

 

Use your sg base Teleport Beacon to Echo:Galaxy City. You're going to get those badges and plaques anyway. Then, you take the Ouro portal - which is the train - to Ouroboros and get that badge.

****************

Edit: Revisiting to see if there's new information since page 3 dropped, and this Pro-tip is no longer accurate. 
But, now, if you want an ouro port and nobody is around Atlas to give you one, enter City Hall, and visit Recluse's Victory at level 1 !!! 
And, no need to worry, you can zone in at level 1, it would be quite a feat for a villain to get through everything to get you. Highly unlikely. Once you zone in, you'll get the portal (which will be grayed out because you can't use Ouro in a pvp zone), but zone back to Atlas and you'll have it. 

Edited September 23, 2022 by Ukase

[justicebeliever]

Just thought I'd add this "pro-tip" on getting the Ouro port without begging or bugging anyone else.

 

Use your sg base Teleport Beacon to Echo:Galaxy City. You're going to get those badges and plaques anyway. Then, you take the Ouro portal - which is the train - to Ouroboros and get that badge.

 

That is a pro-tip.  Just did this, and I love it!  +1 Inf

[Coin]

Just to add to this excellent guide, I found a VERY fast villain mission in the 1-14 range,

 

Operative Kuzmin - Underdogs Never Win

 

Part 1 - kill 5 longbow on the street, all grey so done in a second, all very close to the contact

Part 2 - Interrogate Longbow Prisoner - again, close to the contact, simple talk to mission, done in seconds, especially if you chose the last option for the conversation

Part 3 - Find 3 codes from Longbow Technicians, once again, close to contact, kill 3 pairs of longbow for the code keys

Part 4 - Arm 3 more bombs - Once again, close to contact, 3 glowies to click, all the nearby longbow are grey so don't affect you, all glowies close to each other so done in seconds.

Part 5 - Destroy Longbow's Base in Mercy - Only actual door mission in the arc, very close by, always same door, kill a couple longbow to get the costume, run past everyone to the final room, listen to longbow conversation, click glowie, kill two lieutenants and then defeat ambush.

 

The last battle against the 2 lieutenants is the only slightly tricky parts, especially when debuffed or no enhancement, but the whole arc takes just a few minutes, maybe 5 minutes with no travel powers, is very fast and also works great for the time and no deaths mission as well. Got all of the badges in about 15 minutes earlier :)

[Impact]

Hero:  A Mad Man's Council.  7 missions:  5 glowies; defeat 10 in specific zone; defeat 3; glowie; defeat 15; ambush, defeat boss mob; talk to contact.

 

I would recommend The Origin of Power instead, here. 5 missions: talk to person ×4 (should be 5, but I haven't seen the fifth), door mission with ten glowies and boss room. It's listed under 45-50 but awards 25-29 badges.

 

 

Level 30-34

Hero:  Rise of the Vampyri.  10 missions:  10 glowies; glowie; defeat all, 2 glowies; 3 glowies; find correct glowies, defeat boss mob; defeat 10; defeat 15; defeat 20; click glowie, defeat boss mob; clear boss room.

 

Level 50

Hero:  The Strange Case Of Benjamin A. Decker.  4 missions: rescue NPC, escort NPC, ambush; rescue NPC, guard NPC; talk to contact; 4 glowies (timed, NO combat allowed!).

Villain:  Escaped!  3 missions:  Kill boss; kill boss; kill boss.

 

For 30-34 you can easily do "The Aura of Power" found in the Level 50 Flashbacks. It's the Level 30 mission arc that originally unlocked the auras for your character.

Talk to Professor Smythe (City Hall, where also the quest giver is, so you can use the flashback crystal to port there)

Defeat 15 Freakshow, Defeat 15 Rikti, Defeat 15 Devouring Earth, back to Atlas City Hall, Done. (all enemies can be found in Crey's Folly at Level 30+, your hero remains Level 50 during the Flashback).

 

For Level 50, just do the Dark Astoria prologue story, no fighting, just some talking and running around in PI and DA.

 

These are great recommendations.  I wish there was something similar to replace Division:  Line in the 40-49 range.

[Coin]

Something to add to this as I've been working through them, the levels are slightly wrong.

 

It should be

 

Lvl 1-15

Lvl 16-19

 

I did a mission through Ouroboros,  it changed my level to lvl 15 and I did the run wiht no travel powers etc, got no badge for it.

Did one at the same range and it changed me to lvl 19, did the travel power thing, got the badge.

 

Also, some of the lvl ranges have been changed for some of the missions, the Yin mission called I Lost My Daddy is now under the 20-24 range, so I'm not sure what is the best one to run on hero side for 16-19 range, still working my way through them. None of the are any good for the travel powers yet though :(

 

[Bud]

Also, some of the lvl ranges have been changed for some of the missions, the Yin mission called I Lost My Daddy is now under the 20-24 range, so I'm not sure what is the best one to run on hero side for 16-19 range, still working my way through them.

 

I'm working my way through 'em now too and I Lost My Daddy from Penelope Yin still awards the 16-19 range badges, even though it's not in there.

Best arc to run, for that range, I think.

 

 

Also thank you, OP and everyone who contributed to this, saved me a lot of that precious time!

 

 

For 30-34 you can easily do "The Aura of Power" found in the Level 50 Flashbacks. It's the Level 30 mission arc that originally unlocked the auras for your character.

Talk to Professor Smythe (City Hall, where also the quest giver is, so you can use the flashback crystal to port there)

Defeat 15 Freakshow, Defeat 15 Rikti, Defeat 15 Devouring Earth, back to Atlas City Hall, Done. (all enemies can be found in Crey's Folly at Level 30+, your hero remains Level 50 during the Flashback).

 

For Level 50, just do the Dark Astoria prologue story, no fighting, just some talking and running around in PI and DA.

 

Big thank you for this particular gem.

[Almafeta]

I would recommend The Origin of Power instead, here. 5 missions: talk to person ×4 (should be 5, but I haven't seen the fifth), door mission with ten glowies and boss room. It's listed under 45-50 but awards 25-29 badges.

 

Tested:  mission is in level 20-24 range, but awards level 1-15 badges.  Added and kept original as an alt for people who are in the 16-24 range.

[Almafeta]

For Level 50, just do the Dark Astoria prologue story, no fighting, just some talking and running around in PI and DA.

 

Confirmed to work redside.

[Nericus]

Something to note about the aura mission, when you start to street sweeps in Crey folly they will send reinforcements that are your level. My L50 had to deal with them on the first run, then on the other runs was able to out run them while sweeping the targets

 

[Due Regard]

blerg

Edited August 8, 2019 by Eran Rist

[Constantine]

For the 20-24 you can do the Smoke and Mirrors from Twilight's Son. There are 4 missions, all of them are in Ouro: defeat boss; defeat boss; defeat boss, rescue 7 NPCs; defeat boss; rescue 2 NPCs. Takes around 7-10 minutes to complete, depending on your challenges.

[Flagwaver]

Can you jump from hero to villain and redo the Ouroboros Initiation Arc in order to get both the Jail Bird and Isolator badges?

[Mister Mass]

On 8/4/2019 at 11:42 AM, Flagwaver said:

Can you jump from hero to villain and redo the Ouroboros Initiation Arc in order to get both the Jail Bird and Isolator badges?

Yes.  I did this on my main.  I happened to be red-side first & got Jail Bird, then switched to blue-side & got Isolator.

[Tahliah]

This is an awesome thread, and I've been using the suggestions as I go through the badges.

 

I did take some notes about merits if you are interested in adding them.  I am taking my time on getting these badges this time (last time I would crank out as many as I could in one day), and I'm finding that waiting on some levels for the merit cooldown to expire is worth it.  To that end, I'll do run 2 in one level range and run 3 on another, etc. in the same day.

 

So here's what I have for blue side so far:

Level 15-19

Hero:  I Lost My Daddy!  5 missions:  rescue NPC, escort NPC, ambush; talk to contact; defeat 10; find boss (beware mezzes); find NPC, escort NPC, ambush (beware mezzes).

 

10 merits

 

I ran Mind of the King, too.  23 merits.  (One thing about this one is the clocks hunt, so keep that in mind for runs without travel; clocks are just easier to hunt on rooftops)

 

Level 20-24

Hero:  The Sky Raiders Secret.  5 missions:  3 rescue NPCs, clear boss room; talk to contact; rescue NPC, clear boss room; six glowies, rescue NPC (timed!); kill boss mob.

 

15 merits

 

Level 25-29

Hero:  A Mad Man's Council.  7 missions:  5 glowies; defeat 10 in specific zone; defeat 3; glowie; defeat 15; ambush, defeat boss mob; talk to contact.

 

13 merits (with LOTS of travel, something to keep in mind for run 2)

 

I also ran Origin of Olbermann for runs 2 and 4 (and will do it for run 5, too).  28 merits

 

Level 30-34

Hero:  Rise of the Vampyri.  10 missions:  10 glowies; glowie; defeat all, 2 glowies; 3 glowies; find correct glowies, defeat boss mob; defeat 10; defeat 15; defeat 20; click glowie, defeat boss mob; clear boss room.

 

42 merits

 

I also ran Hatred's Hungry Heart (run 4).  12 merits

 

and Aura of Power.  Super suggestion, Platca, very easy and quick.  Perfect for run 5.  0 merits

 

Level 35-39

Hero:  The Ouroboros Initiation.  8 missions (4 doors):  Talk to contact; glowie; talk to contact; glowie, 7 rescue NPCs, defeat 25; talk to contact; rescue NPC, defeat boss mob; talk to conact; rescue NPC, destroy guard mob, destroy glowie.

 

12 merits (I still need the Shivan badge, so I also cleared the map each time since I was there anyway)

 

I also ran the "old" suggestion Mass Duplicity for run 3.   It was super fun but took a while.  47 merits

 

That's as far as I've gotten so far, but I'm loving this thread and having a blast doing missions and arcs I only vaguely remembered until I got there.

 

[edit to add: my run numbers are based on the "old guide" that had the first run as time limit/defeats.  After you get those, you don't need to do them for every level range which is probably why it was changed here.  So for me, run 2 is "first" on this guide, run 3 is "second," and etc.]

 

Edited August 23, 2019 by Tahliah
grr typos

[SkyMonkee]

On 6/10/2019 at 6:02 PM, Almafeta said:

Level 40-49

Hero:  Division: Line.  13 missions:  6 glowies (timed!); 6 glowies; rescue NPC; rescue NPC; 4 rescue NPCs; glowie; glowie (ambush on exit!); rescue NPC, escort NPC; defeat boss mob; defeat boss mob; rescue NPC; 6 glowies; 10 glowies.

Villain:  Absolute Vengeance.  3 missions:  kill boss; clear boss room; kill boss mob.

Is there an easier quicker arc to do hero side that this?  without travel this is sloooooow and all over the shard. Guess it's best to do it on villain side and be done with it?

 

1:45mins later complete hero side, as opposed to 10mins red side!   unless you particularly enjoy rikti arcs and/or gouging your eyes out from frustration & boredom, choose red!

Edited August 28, 2019 by SkyMonkee
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