Overview
- Death Metal
- Dark Knights: Return to Earth 3 is a tier 6 4-player alert in the Dark Knights episode. It also features an elite version as well as an elite plus version.
- Combat Rating: 350
- Event version: Level 12+
Story
- Lex Luthor and Death Metal Batman lead the charge against a major source of Perpetua’s power: her throne on Earth 3. Join forces to take on the Crime Syndicate.
Characters
- Lex Luthor
- Batman (Death Metal)
- Superman (Death Metal)
- Owlman
- Superwoman
- Ultraman
- Devastator (Dark Knight)
- Johnny Quick
- Sinestro
- Cheetah
- Black Manta
- Gorilla Grodd
Related article links (10)
Lex Luthor · Owlman · Superwoman · Ultraman · Devastator (Dark Knight) · Johnny Quick · Sinestro · Cheetah · Black Manta · Gorilla GroddLocations
- Death Metal Panopticon
Map
Walkthrough
- Superwoman and Ultraman now serve Perpetua. Lex Luthor and Batman (Death Metal) lead the team in an attempt to disrupt Perpetua's energy connection to her throne to weaken her while Perpetua is elsewhere destroying worlds. When Johnny Quick protests about allying with Perpetua, she petrifies him. However, Owlman also opposes Perpetua and offers help over comms. It is revealed that Perpetua is holding Legion of Doom members captive and siphoning power from them.
First boss: Superwoman
- A fairly straightforward boss encounter in the regular version. Somewhat trickier in the elite version, and rather tricky in the elite plus version if players don't adhere to mechanics perfectly.
- On PS, Hold R1 to Block
- Lasso of Submission: A targeted player will get a timer icon above their head, while there will be onscreen text stating: "Get Away from Superwoman's Lasso Target!". Players must keep their distance from her target before she ensnares them in her lasso. Anyone ensnared will have a red proximity marker once the timer runs out, and must mash the correct button (Square button on PS) to free themselves more quickly, or immediately with breakout. If you are too close to her target, the lasso will drag you towards them and deal considerable damage (this will continue to be active for the full duration even if they have already used breakout). This lasso can drag players around the map, stun and deal damage, and be quite annoying for the group if this is triggered.
- Lasso Vortex: Superwoman ensnares all targets in her lasso for a hard stun for several seconds, dealing damage over time. After briefly being an unbreakable stun, players will need to spam a button (Square on PS) to break out, and do so quickly. Afterwards, Superwoman may deal a heavy attack on a random player, which will need to be blocked (especially in the elite and elite plus versions). Players should break out of the Lasso Vortex stun as soon as possible and block. In elite plus this heavy attack may KO a non-tank role player. (More info needed on heavy attack mechanic name)
- Flame Field: Red circles appear on the ground and after a brief delay fire field AOEs appear dealing constant damage over time to anyone in it. This can hit quite hard in the elite and especially elite plus versions, so try to avoid these where possible.
- Owlman hacks the turrets in the room, allowing you to interact with them and turn them against Superwoman (they can also draw attention from enemy mobs).
- Lasso Pull: Superwoman may have a red skull icon above her head before blinking to a corner of the room (usually the southeast of the room) and trying to pull players with her lasso. If the player is out of range and blocks they shouldn't get pulled, however if they do get pulled they will take considerable damage and be hard stunned. The affected player may need to spam a button (Square on PS) to break out.
- Superwoman may spawn Apex Predator or Security Bot adds to assist her in battle. There will be onscreen text when this occurs, stating: "Reinforcements Arrived!"
- In the final chamber, you find Perpetua's throne. Sinestro, Gorilla Grodd, Black Manta, and Cheetah are bound to it.
Second boss: Ultraman
- Overall, Ultraman uses his many lethal attacks so often he has a skull icon half the time, although his damage is mostly not too deadly and fairly telegraphed.
- Periodically, a large ring of many kryptonite containers would appear in the room. Some of them are fakes sent from Owlman (the ones with the Owl mask symbol). After a delay, Ultraman would Charge to the closest kryptonite container (damaging anyone in the way), so lure him close to a fake one first, which stuns him briefly. If he hits a real one, he may use the room-wide Lethal attack: Ultraman can rush to the center of the room, use his Freeze Breath while spinning around and freezing all targets (including mobs) into unbreakable ice, preventing you from acting for some time, although this does not directly deal damage.; Ultraman would then break the ice of individual players with Charge that can deal heavy damage, or Spin-a-Roo where he grabs the frozen target and spins them around dealing damage around him.; When Ultraman goes to charge to the closest Kryptonite, there will be onscreen text stating: "Ultraman Rushes to Nearest Kryptonite!"
- Ultraman has a lethal attack that must be stopped by repeatedly using lunge attacks against him.
- Ultra Beam: Ultraman spins on the spot, sweeping across the room twice with his heat vision. He rarely uses this attack, but it will do massive damage to all players that it hits and is his deadliest attack.
- Ultra Vision: Ultraman blasts a single target with heat vision, pushing them back.
- Ground Beam: Grounds a single target with heat vision for moderate damage.
- He also summons security bots and mechs as reinforcements, which disappear when he is defeated. There will be onscreen text when this occurs, stating: "Reinforcements Arrived!"
- Ground Pound: Ultraman may periodically have a red skull icon above his head, before punching the ground. This deals considerable damage and knockback to players in range.
Related article links (1)
lethal attacksLast boss: Devastator
- A fairly straightforward boss encounter in the regular version. In the elite and elite plus versions it can become quite a lengthy and potentially tricky boss encounter if the group isn't agile and on top of mechanics. In addition a controller is recommended for this boss encounter in the elite and especially elite plus versions due to Devastator's buffs from the Spore Field AOEs.
- Mechanics (seen in both phases):
- Breath Attack: Devastator will have a red skull icon above his head while looking towards a particular player. Devastator will then breath a green breath attack cone AOE for a few seconds, this time ignoring Shield Powers. This deals damage over time to affected players.
- Fist Slam: Similar to Jackhammer, Devastator repeatedly punches the ground, continuously damaging and knocking down nearby targets.
- Ground Fracture: Devastator will have a red skull icon above his head before stomping the ground with his left foot. Players in range will receive a considerable damage over time.
- Spike Wave: Devastator will punch the ground towards its target, dealing heavy damage and knocking back affected players (especially if the players aren't blocking).
- Bulldozer Charge: Devastator will launch into action, enhancing his melee abilities. Players caught in the crossfire will receive damage over time and perhaps be knocked back.
- Devastating Stomp: Devastator will jump high into the air and land near a random player in the group. After a short delay they will stomp the ground, dealing heavy damage and perhaps knockback affected players in range.
- He has two distinct phases (changing phases at about 66% health):
In phase 1:
- Spore Clouds: Greenish-brown spore fields spawn wherever he goes, and they do heavy continuous damage to any player on them. The more there are, the more powerful the Devastator gets. When a player gets the Doom Form, they lose their abilities but they can absorb the spores by using their ability 1 in Doom Form if they are close enough to the fields. When a player gets the Doom Form, there will be onscreen text for the whole group, stating: "Someone Has the Doom Form!". If too many spore fields spawn, there will be onscreen text stating: "Too Many Spores! Devastator's Power Increased!", and Devastator will receive damage and defence buffs as indicated on his HUD. After a time the spores will disappear and there will be onscreen text stating: " Devastator's Power Retuned to Normal".
- Environment: Devastator can cause spikes to erupt in random spots from red circles with a brief delay before disappearing. If players are hit directly by these they will take considerable damage and be knocked back.
In phase 2:
- Impaling Spikes: Devastator summon spikes frequently and they do not disappear immediately - there will be a timer icon above the spike indicating how long it will last for. When he uses a charge attack, lure him into those spikes to stop him. Spikes expire on their own after a while, exploding and damaging nearby targets. If players are hit directly by these when they spawn (there will be a red AOE tell briefly before on where they will spawn) they will take considerable damage and be knocked back.
- Charge: Warned by lethal attack icon. Devastator crouches briefly before charging, damaging players hit; by positioning existing Impaling Spikes between you (if targeted) and Devastator, he will be halted and knocked down when he hits with the spikes. An onscreen text may pop-up when this starts to occur, stating "Devastator is Charging!".
- Devastation Stomp: Devastator stomps, dealing moderate damage in a moderate area and knocking targets back.
- Upon defeat, Luthor's Legion of Doom is freed, and Batman is ready to take the fight to Perpetua.
- *Parts of this walkthrough (especially concerning elite/elite plus) are not yet complete, and are subject to further updates
Related article links (1)
lethal attackRewards
- Three times boss loot is dropped in this instance:
- Superwoman
- Ultraman
- Devastator
- Each drops a set of the following:
- 1 piece out of 2 choices of attuned gear with maximum item level of 323 (purple), 319 (blue) or 315 (green)
- 1 Source Mark
- 1 Death Metal
- 1 Death Metal Exobyte
- Cash: 4850
- Devastator additionally drops:
- Prestige Points: 300
- Death Metal Resistance Commendation (Elite only)
Briefings and Investigations
Feats
- I Don't Mind the Cold So Much Anyhow: Defeat Ultraman without allowing any players to become encased in ice from his Instance Freeze Encase attack in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (hint: hold Block to prevent Encasement) (25 Points)
- Level 100 Deception: Defeat Ultraman without allowing him to become empowered by Kryptonite in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (10 Points)
- Merely a Flesh Wound: Defeat Devastator without anyone breaking the Heal Barrel in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (10 Points)
- Must See TV: Defeat Superwoman without taking damage from the Falling Monitor attack in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (10 Points)
- Peons Spared: Defeat Superwoman without defeating any of her reinforcements in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (10 Points)
- Spore Busters: Defeat Devastator after players have absorbed 10 Spore Clouds in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (25 Points), grants title: The Devastating
- Superior Dodge Skills: Defeat Devastator without any players getting hit by Devastator's Charge attack in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (10 Points)
- Taking Out the Garbage: Defeat Superwoman after defeating at least 9 reinforcements in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (10 Points)
- Taunting the Bull: Defeat Devastator without allowing him to run into his own spikes in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (25 Points)
- Turret Defender: Defeat Superwoman after hacking and defending the turrets for the entirety of the fight in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (25 Points)
- Ultra Beat Down: Defeat Ultraman before he enters his Lunge phase a 3rd time in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (10 Points)
- Elite
- A Mild Annoyance (Elite): Defeat Ultraman without defeating any of his reinforcements in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (Elite) (25 Point)
- Earth 3 Polar Bear Club (Elite): Defeat Ultraman after allowing him to become empowered by Kryptonite, with all players surviving his ensuing Permafrost Breath attack in Death Metal Panopticon Alert (Elite) (50 Points)
- Elite Hackerman (Elite): Defeat Superwoman after preventing her reinforcements from hacking the turrets in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (Elite) (10 Points)
- I'm Allergic to Spores (Elite): Defeat Devastator without any player absorbing Spore Clouds in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (Elite) (25 Points)
- Little Flame Whisperer (Elite): Defeat Superwoman without any players taking damage from any of her Fire Fields, big or small, in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (Elite) (25 Points), grants title: Born of Fire
- More Ultra than Ultraman (Elite): Defeat Ultraman without any players getting Knocked Out in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (Elite) (50 Points)
- No Spores on me: Defeat Devastator without any player spreading Devastator's Contagious Spores in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (Elite) (25 Points)
- Rock Solid Defense (Elite): Defeat Devastator without any players getting Knocked Out in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (Elite) (50 Points)
- Super Effective: Defeat Superwoman without any players getting Knocked Out in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (Elite) (50 Points)
- Too Expensive to Replace (Elite): Defeat Superwoman after leaving reinforcement-hacked turrets undefeated for the entirety of the fight in in the Death Metal Panopticon Alert (Elite) (25 Points)
Related article links (6)
I Don't Mind the Cold So Much Anyhow · Ultraman · Devastator · Heal Barrel · Superwoman · titleTrivia
- Earth 3 has been previously visited in the Earth 3 episode and the Attack of the Anti-Monitor anniversary event.
- Lex Luthor returns after Perpetua siphoned off his Source energy in Doom: Umbrax the Ultraviolet and he turned against her. Sinestro also briefly returns after being disgraced in Doom: Umbrax the Ultraviolet, and is now stripped of his ultraviolet power.
- Originally, when Johnny Quick was shown petrified, he kept his colour palette; this has been changed to a stony color/texture, making him look more dead. It is also available as the Johnny Quick's Demise base item.
- This is the first alert released in DC Universe Online to feature an elite plus version. This trend was continued in the Sins of Black Adam episode, with the SoBA: Godseye Pyramid alert also having an elite plus version.
Related article links (4)
Earth 3 · Attack of the Anti-Monitor · Doom: Umbrax the Ultraviolet · Johnny Quick's DemiseGallery
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