Biased Cognition

DefectPowerAncient
Gain 4 Focus.
At the start of your turn, lose 1 Focus.
  • Gain 4 Focus at once, 5 upgraded.
  • A separate debuff removes 1 Focus at the start of each of your turns for the rest of the fight.
  • Focus can fall below 0, so a long fight turns it negative.
  • An Ancient-rarity card: normal card rewards and random generation never offer it.
  • Comes from Ancient sources such as Dusty Tome, which adds an upgraded Ancient card from your pool.
Character
Defect
Type
Power
Rarity
Ancient
Cost
1 Energy
Target
Yourself

When to take Biased Cognition

Play it as early as possible in short fights, a turn 1 engine for elites that need Frost or Lightning right away. In long boss fights, hold it for the kill.

Cards that synergize with Biased Cognition

Defragment
Power
1
Gain 1 Focus.
Defragment and Data Disk offset the decay.Gain 1 Focus.
Tempest
Skill
X
Channel X Lightning.
Tempest and Voltaic cash in the Focus at once.Channel X Lightning.
Voltaic
Skill
3
Channel Lightning equal to the Lightning already Channeled this combat.
Exhaust.
Tempest and Voltaic cash in the Focus at once.Channel Lightning equal to the Lightning already Channeled this combat.
Exhaust.
Multi-Cast
Skill
X
Evoke your rightmost Orb X times.
Multi-Cast and Shatter Evoke while the number is high.Evoke your rightmost Orb X times.
Shatter
Attack
1
Deal 7 damage to ALL enemies.
Evoke all of your Orbs twice.
Multi-Cast and Shatter Evoke while the number is high.Deal 7 damage to ALL enemies.
Evoke all of your Orbs twice.
Hyperbeam
Attack
2
Deal 28 damage to ALL enemies.
Lose 3 Focus.
Hyperbeam fits the same short-fight plan.Deal 28 damage to ALL enemies.
Lose 3 Focus.
Ice Lance
Attack
3
Deal 19 damage.
Channel 3 Frost.
Ice Lance Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withDeal 19 damage.
Channel 3 Frost.
Meteor Strike
Attack
5
Deal 24 damage.
Channel 3 Plasma.
Meteor Strike Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withDeal 24 damage.
Channel 3 Plasma.
Consuming Shadow
Power
2
Channel 2 Dark.
At the end of your turn, Evoke your leftmost Orb.
Consuming Shadow Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withChannel 2 Dark.
At the end of your turn, Evoke your leftmost Orb.
Glacier
Skill
2
Gain 6 Block.
Channel 2 Frost.
Glacier Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withGain 6 Block.
Channel 2 Frost.
Lightning Rod
Skill
1
Gain 4 Block.
At the start of the next 2 turns, Channel 1 Lightning.
Lightning Rod Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withGain 4 Block.
At the start of the next 2 turns, Channel 1 Lightning.
Refract
Attack
3
Deal 9 damage twice.
Channel 2 Glass.
Refract Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withDeal 9 damage twice.
Channel 2 Glass.
Ball Lightning
Attack
1
Deal 7 damage.
Channel 1 Lightning.
Ball Lightning Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withDeal 7 damage.
Channel 1 Lightning.
Chaos
Skill
1
Channel 1 random Orb.
Chaos Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withChannel 1 random Orb.
Chill
Skill
0
Channel 1 Frost for each enemy.
Exhaust.
Chill Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withChannel 1 Frost for each enemy.
Exhaust.
Cold Snap
Attack
1
Deal 6 damage.
Channel 1 Frost.
Cold Snap Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withDeal 6 damage.
Channel 1 Frost.
Coolheaded
Skill
1
Channel 1 Frost.
Draw 1 card.
Coolheaded Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withChannel 1 Frost.
Draw 1 card.
Darkness
Skill
1
Channel 1 Dark.
Trigger the passive ability of all Dark Orbs.
Darkness Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withChannel 1 Dark.
Trigger the passive ability of all Dark Orbs.
Fusion
Skill
1
Channel 1 Plasma.
Exhaust.
Fusion Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withChannel 1 Plasma.
Exhaust.
Glasswork
Skill
1
Gain 5 Block.
Channel 1 Glass.
Glasswork Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withGain 5 Block.
Channel 1 Glass.
Null
Attack
2
Deal 10 damage.
Apply 2 Weak.
Channel 1 Dark.
Null Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withDeal 10 damage.
Apply 2 Weak.
Channel 1 Dark.
Rainbow
Skill
2
Channel 1 Lightning.
Channel 1 Frost.
Channel 1 Dark.
Exhaust.
Rainbow Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withChannel 1 Lightning.
Channel 1 Frost.
Channel 1 Dark.
Exhaust.
Shadow Shield
Skill
2
Gain 11 Block.
Channel 1 Dark.
Shadow Shield Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withGain 11 Block.
Channel 1 Dark.
Spinner
Power
1
At the start of your turn, Channel 1 Glass.
Spinner Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withAt the start of your turn, Channel 1 Glass.

Relics that synergize with Biased Cognition

Data Disk
Defragment and Data Disk offset the decay.Start each combat with 1 Focus.
Metronome
Metronome Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withThe first time you Channel 7 Orbs each combat, deal 30 damage to ALL enemies.
Infused Core
Infused Core Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withAt the start of each combat, Channel 3 Lightning. Lightning deals 1 additional damage.
Cracked Core
Cracked Core Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withAt the start of each combat, Channel 1 Lightning.
Symbiotic Virus
Symbiotic Virus Channels Orbs for Biased Cognition to work withAt the start of each combat, Channel 1 Dark.
Permafrost
Permafrost triggers on Powers played, and Biased Cognition is oneThe first time you play a Power each combat, gain 7 Block.
Lost Wisp
Lost Wisp triggers on Powers played, and Biased Cognition is oneWhenever you play a Power, deal 8 damage to ALL enemies.
Mummified Hand
Mummified Hand triggers on Powers played, and Biased Cognition is oneWhenever you play a Power, a random card in your Hand is free to play that turn.
Game Piece
Game Piece triggers on Powers played, and Biased Cognition is oneWhenever you play a Power, draw 1 card.
✦
Defragment
Power
1
Gain 1 Focus.
Focused Strike
Attack
1
Deal 9 damage.
Gain 1 Focus this turn.
Synchronize
Skill
1
Gain 2 Focus this turn for each unique Orb you have.
Exhaust.
Hotfix
Skill
0
Gain 2 Focus this turn.
Exhaust.
Capacitor
Power
1
Gain 2 Orb Slots.
Coolant
Power
1
At the start of your turn, gain 2 Block for each unique Orb you have.
Hailstorm
Power
1
At the end of your turn, if you have Frost, deal 6 damage to ALL enemies.
Loop
Power
1
At the start of your turn, trigger the passive ability of your rightmost Orb.

Changes by version

  1. 30 Jul 2026Focus4(5)5(6)Playtest
    Focus increased from 4 to 5 (upgraded 5 to 6)
  2. 1 May 2025AddedInternal playtest
    Added Biased Cognition card

Internal playtest notes are from before the Early Access release. Names and numbers in them can differ from the game today.

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