While it's fun to see watch your R.E.P.O. teammates clutch a level or crumble under the pressure, there's no reason why you can't get involved from beyond the grave. A revive should be inevitable—so long as your teammate doesn't send you straight to the Disposal Arena. But who wants to wait that long?
Haunting survivors with the Death Head Possession can not only help pass the time, but also create opportunity for those alive to get to the next level. How does this Monster Update mechanic work, though, and what does the Death Head Battery upgrade do? Here's what you need to know so you're prepared the next time you're stuck spectating.
How to use the Death Head Possession in R.E.P.O.
The Death Head Possession is a mechanic that allows any dead semibot to communicate to their alive teammate(s) via the voice channel. Rather than typing away in the chat to send an ominous message from your semibot's severed head, the possession gives you a direct line to any passers-by. The possession works just like ordinary voice chat, using the same proximity feature, meaning it's not always guaranteed a screaming semibot head will be heard.
You can help semibots get to the nearest Extraction Point if it hasn't been activated yet, warn others what killed them, or move into a more open position so your head is easier to grab. The Death Head Possession has a limited charge which drains fast and takes even longer to charge up. This mechanic has proved useful at luring monster away from my alive teammates, specifically when dealing with the Huntsman without any weapons. Monsters like the Huntsman can be drawn to a Fallen One if they're making enough noise, especially if this monster is patrolling close by. You can also warn teammates within voice chat proximity if monsters are nearby so they don't have to talk.
You can jump during the possession with spacebar. Holding this down lets you fling yourself upwards, but it's a difficult feat if you're already inside the C.A.R.T. It's slow (and painful at times), but you can reposition yourself so you're easier to find and so you can get a better sense of your surroundings to help guide your semibot away from monsters.
What does Death Head Battery upgrade do?
But the Death Head Possession cannot last forever. While it charges as the Fallen One's eyes slowly open until wide—indicating the battery is full—its default battery is incredibly small. You need multiple Death Head Battery upgrades if you want to speak for longer or move more freely during possession. This extends how long you can talk and move around for, but the charging time remains as slow as ever.
Speaking through possession can backfire if your teammate is looking for you when returning to the truck. Instead, use the possession to trick monsters into camping your head, that way any alive semibots can safely leave. Yes, you'll have less health as you're revived in the Shop, but it's better than the Disposal Arena.
The battery is helpful in double-digit levels, especially if you find yourself dying a lot. This is so you don't need to invest in the Map Player Count upgrade seeing as the Death Head Possession is more entertaining to use while you wait for a revive. As the possession is the perfect distraction to keep monsters away from your friends, there's nothing to lose by extending your Death Head Battery. Just don't get anyone killed by yapping too much.
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