Cortex Reaver

Cortex Reaver
In-Game Icon
Enemy Stats
First Encounter	Flight Deck
Most Common	Flight Deck Bridge
Preferred Weapon	Assault Rifle (Penetrator Rounds)
Primary Attack	Projectiles
Secondary Attack	Concussion Bombs
Damage (per Hit)	80 (Primary) 325 (Secondary)
Attack Range	4 (Primary) 6 (Secondary)
Hit Points	580
Armor Value	40
Defense Value	2
Disruptability	10%
Perception	Medium
[Source]

The Cortex Reaver is a cyborg enemy encountered in System Shock, both within Citadel Station and Cyberspace.

Overview

Unlike most Cyberspace watchdogs, the Cortex Reaver is not a security program. Instead, it is a Net-active cyborg whose awareness is constantly split between the physical realm and cyberspace. Reaver intelligence is driven by the brain of an involuntary human puppet, using their dead bodies. Cortex Reavers are capable of quickly frying a user’s link integrity, and of withstanding numerous attacks before crashing. In Cyberspace, they appear as red, fragmented faces.

The Hacker first encounters one on the Flight Deck, after attempting to rescue a small squad of survivors.

Strategy

Unsurprisingly, it can be killed fairly easily with the Laser Rapier.

Gallery

Concept sketch of the Cortex Reaver.

As seen in cyberspace.

The Hacker becoming a Cortex Reaver

The Hacker as a Cortex Reaver

Trivia

• If the Hacker is killed and does not have access to a regeneration device, their fate is revealed in the "Game Over" cutscene, where their torso is inserted into a Cortex Reaver to serve SHODAN.

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