Control Resonant: Which Aberrant Forms should you choose first?

At the very beginning of Control Resonant, you're asked to make a decision. Which Aberrant Form will you choose as Dylan's go-to attack? It's a choice that will divide players, but luckily one that only has three possible answers, all of which are attack. After all, Remedy Entertainment's mantra for Control Resonant is, "In combat, offence is the best defence."

But it's not just one decision. For Dylan, the attack strategy is two-fold. After you've chosen your Primary Form, you'll need to pick your Secondary Form. And each one comes with different stats that'll dictate how you'll best tackle your enemies. So, if you're wondering which Abberant Forms you should choose, we've run through all the choices below as well as our recommended picks.

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Which Abberant Forms should you choose in Control Resonant?

Below, we've run through which Aberrant Forms in Control Resonant you should pick first, and what strengths you'll play into with your decision.

Note: Once you've selected your form at the beginning of the game, you can still go back and unlock the others. However, it will cost you. 5 Aberrant Strength points and 3 Living Shards (2 for Secondary) per Aberrant Form, to be specific. Don't be afraid to switch it up though if you're regretting your choice!

Which Primary Abberant Form should you pick?

There are three Primary Aberrant Forms to choose from in Control Resonant. Below, I've ordered them from most to least versatile for beginners:

1. Glaive

Image credit: RPS/Remedy Entertainment

Glaive is a wide attack that enables you to hit multiple enemies at once and push them away. It deals out 70-90 damage per hit, but there's zero chance of landing a critical hit.

This is the best option for beginners, as the Hiss you'll face early on in the game (as well as The Artist Resonant) will require you to take on swarms of enemies in one go. You'll also afford yourself the opportunity to catch your breath by keeping foes at arm's reach.

The range of the Glaive is its biggest strength. You'll be able to catch enemies before they've gotten in close, all the while giving yourself ample room to dodge attacks and prevent taking damage.

2. Strike

Image credit: RPS/Remedy Entertainment

Strike is a fast attack with a high critical chance of 30%. In exchange for this chance, each strike is lowered to 30-60 damage per hit.

If you want to roll the dice on dealing enhanced damage, it's a good option. But when there are hordes of enemies attacking you, it might be better to give yourself the chance to attack from a little further away.

There's also the fact that Strike is mostly good against singular enemies, rather than packs. In general combat, that can make it a little less versatile, but in boss fights, it can really shine.

3. Cleave

Image credit: RPS/Remedy Entertainment

Cleave is a balanced attack that does extra damage when striking an enemy's back. In the early hours of Control Resonant, beginners will likely be focused on taking everything in rather than strategising on attacking from behind. It'll deal 65 damage per hit, which is a touch better than Strike, but with no chance of a critical hit.

Cleave feels like a very specific weapon that favours certain playstyles, and so if you're trying to really strafe around enemies, it can be useful. However, its potential is far more niche than the other two options, and it's probably the playstyle we'd recommend the least.

There are also three Secondary Aberrant Forms to choose from in Control Resonant. Here's our order of preference for beginners:

1. Extend

Image credit: RPS/Remedy Entertainment

Extend is a long-range attack that may hit multiple enemies. It also adds charge for falter and can deal extra damage with a perfect charge. It hits for 63-127 damage and can boost your falter anywhere from 0-21. I switched to Extend after initially picking the next option, Drill, as I quickly realised that it was certainly harder in the beginning hours of the game to stay still during fights.

It's a great option for throwing out hits that'll increase Falter without having to get too close. Collect enough Falter on an enemy, and you can perform an execution that'll grant you more devastating attack power with Dominance.

2. Drill

Image credit: RPS/Remedy Entertainment

Drill is a quick attack, though arguably charging it up makes it a fair bit slower. If you charge it, it'll continuously drill the target, causing 95-280 damage and 0-21 Falter.

While I initially picked Drill as my Secondary Form, I found it was hard to use in such fast-paced battles. That being said, it's a really close call and an option that I still find myself drawn to in certain fights. Luckily, once you've unlocked all the Secondary Forms with Aberrant Strength and Living Shards, you can switch between them seamlessly in the Gap.

One of the benefits of Drill is the fact that it can quite easily stunlock enemies and keep them in place, which helps a lot for foes that can decimate your health with powerful abilities or unleash hard-to-dodge AOEs. Later on, it can also weaken foes, letting you melt their health power quickly.

3. Crush

Image credit: RPS/Remedy Entertainment

Finally, in the beginning hours of the game, you'll find yourself in some pretty high-octane fights, which is a pace you'll learn to get used to. Crush is a slow, high-damage attack that can knock enemies down and can also be charged up to do more damage. It deals out 127-222 damage and 21-42 Falter.

It arguably has the best stats of all the Secondary Forms, but you'll have to have developed the skills to pull it off, which is something you're more likely to have when you're less of a beginner. Its slow and cumbersome pace can leave you vulnerable to enemy attacks, but if you can learn the timing, it'll deal big damage.

So, there's the Aberrant Form you should be focusing on as you get into Control Resonant. Before you go, why not check out our guides on the how to unlock SHUM arcade cabinets, and the best talents to get first. If neither of those appeal, you can always check out our full list of Control Resonant guides here.