The Encrypted Portal is the gateway to the Alloyed Collective DLC's late-game content. It opens on Stage 3 after activating an Access Node, leads through Conduit Canyon and Solutional Haunt, and unlocks the path to Solus Heart via the Encrypted Cerebellum puzzle in the Computational Exchange. Requires the Alloyed Collective DLC.
The Encrypted Portal kicks off a 6-stage journey. Here's the complete route before diving into each step.
Reach any Stage 3 with the Alloyed Collective DLC enabled. Look for a red blinking circular Access Node somewhere on the map. Interact with it - it turns blue and a virtual orb appears at the teleporter.
Complete the teleporter event. Note: activating the Access Node guarantees at least one Solus Amalgamator spawns as part of the boss fight. Defeat the boss and charge the teleporter. The Encrypted Portal spawns next to the teleporter.
Enter the Encrypted Portal. You arrive at Conduit Canyon (Stage 4 AC DLC). Clear enemies and progress to the end of the locked path where Alloy Hunter waits. Defeat it to advance.
After Conduit Canyon you reach Solutional Haunt (Stage 5 AC DLC) and fight Solus Wing. This is the AC DLC's main final boss. Pick up the Encrypted Cerebellum it drops - you need it for the next step. Exit via the Virtual Portal through Solus Wing's eye.
The Virtual Portal takes you to the Computational Exchange. Find CHEF hidden behind a translucent glitchy wall in the area. Give him the Encrypted Cerebellum plus one key item. He combines them into the Exposed Cerebellum.
Offer the Exposed Cerebellum to SPEX (the large central Solus unit). This opens a Decrypted Portal to Neural Sanctum. Enter it to face Solus Heart - the AC DLC's true final boss.
You can play through AC DLC Stage 3, 4, and 5 environments via the normal teleporter without activating an Access Node. The Encrypted Portal path is only required to reach Solus Heart. Solutional Haunt is your Stage 5 regardless.
Prison Matrix is one of the valid items for the Cerebellum puzzle with CHEF - but it's also what you need to free Drifter from her stasis prison in Solutional Haunt. If you haven't unlocked Drifter yet, use a different key item for CHEF (Sentry Key, Empathy Cores, etc.) and save the Prison Matrix for Drifter.
After defeating Solus Wing, exit via the Virtual Portal through its eye. You arrive in the Computational Exchange. SPEX (the large central Solus unit) will reject everything you offer by default. You need CHEF.
Contains encrypted remnants of the Collective network. Needs to be decrypted before it can be returned. Pick it up immediately after defeating Solus Wing - don't leave the stage without it.
Give CHEF the Encrypted Cerebellum plus any one of these:
Sentry Key
Encrusted Key
Rusted Key
Empathy Cores
Orphaned Core
Prison MatrixAny one combined with the Encrypted Cerebellum produces the Exposed Cerebellum.
A swarming data nexus representing the Collective network. Offer this to SPEX (the large central Solus unit) to open the Decrypted Portal to Neural Sanctum.
CHEF is behind a translucent, glitchy wall in the Computational Exchange. Walk around the area and look for a semi-transparent barrier - CHEF is visible through it. Interact with him to access the crafting interface.
On any Stage 3 with the Alloyed Collective DLC enabled, find and interact with the red Access Node. A virtual orb appears at the teleporter. Complete the teleporter event (a Solus Amalgamator will spawn as part of the boss fight) and the Encrypted Portal opens next to the teleporter.
The Encrypted Cerebellum is an item dropped by Solus Wing in Solutional Haunt. To decrypt it, take it to CHEF in the Computational Exchange (hidden behind a translucent wall). Give CHEF the Encrypted Cerebellum plus any one of: Sentry Key, Encrusted Key, Rusted Key, Empathy Cores, Orphaned Core, or Prison Matrix. CHEF combines them into the Exposed Cerebellum.
Take the Exposed Cerebellum to SPEX, the large central Solus unit in the Computational Exchange. Offer it to SPEX. This opens a Decrypted Portal to Neural Sanctum where Solus Heart awaits.
Yes. Drifter is trapped in a stasis prison in Solutional Haunt. You need a Prison Matrix item to open her prison and unlock her as a playable survivor. Note that Prison Matrix is also one of the valid items to give CHEF for the Cerebellum puzzle - don't use your only one on CHEF if you still need to unlock Drifter.
Rejecting Solus Heart's offer in Neural Sanctum opens a Void Portal (requires Survivors of the Void DLC) leading to Void Locus. This lets you pursue the Voidling path from within the AC DLC run. Accepting ends the run with the AC DLC ending.
No. The Access Node is optional. You can play through all AC DLC Stage 3, 4, and 5 environments via the normal teleporter without ever touching the Access Node. The Encrypted Portal path is only needed to reach Solus Heart. Solutional Haunt is still your Stage 5 regardless.
