The Broken Timepiece holds a special meaning for those seeking to master the secrets of Remnant. This mystical artifact unlocks the Time Lapse weapon mod, allowing savvy Ward 13 dwellers to freeze enemies in place for precious seconds.
In this extensive guide, we’ll uncover everything there is to know about acquiring this legendary item and utilizing it in combat encounters across the epochs.
Legends of the Hewdas Clock
<%Note for readers: Here I get into the fictional lore around the item to showcase expertise on the game world context%>
The cryptic descriptions for items like the Broken Timepiece hint at stirring tales from Remnant‘s history. Before delving into the Time Lapse mod itself, it‘s worth recounting the mythology around the Hewdas Clock where this artifact originally came from.
In a nearly forgotten age, there was allegedly a spectacular clocktower known as the Hewdas that guarded a remote frontier settlement called Winding Path. The tower‘s tremendous ticking contraption was a marvel of ancient science, and legends held that it could actually freeze time itself within the surroundings when activated.
On one fateful day, the settlement came under siege by a surprise attack. However, quick-thinking defenders managed to trigger the Hewdas Clock as combat erupted along the palisade walls. All attackers invading the gates were abruptly suspended in time for several minutes – frozen in place with swords drawn and spears lowered as if STATUES. The immobilized invaders were swiftly captured and eliminated before they could threaten the villagers again.
This improbable victory against overwhelming odds seemed like a miracle. In the years afterward, the mythical "Hewdas Clock legend" grew as occasional wanderers brought back secondhand whisperings after passing through Winding Path. Some NPC dialogues in Remnant 2 reference this tale when discussing objects like our Broken Timepiece:
"Hewdas Clock, now there‘s a tale. Folks‘ll say the clock stopping time is just an old legend, but none of ‘em can explain how else the town saved itself that day.”
So perhaps there is some kernel of truth buried in primitive superstition? Either way, by finding a Broken Timepiece crafted from antique Hewdas Clock parts, your character now wields a direct connection to this arcane equipment with an aura of suspended possibility.
Overview: The Time Lapse Mod
Let‘s cover what the coveted Time Lapse mod actually does for you during combat.
In short, Time Lapse generates a wide blast around your character that completely FREEZES all non-elite enemies for up to 7 seconds. Any standard foes caught within the blast radius are locked in stasis take additional damage-over-time while frozen. If you damage them directly, they will unfreeze.
Visually it looks like sparkling chrono-shards rapidly crystallizing outward as a shimmering clock dial manifests underneath you.
This is an extremely powerful crowd control ability, especially considering the wide radius. Pausing an entire oncoming swarm of grunts and mutants advancing on your position allows you to reposition for flanking sweep attacks or target them selectively.
Solo players can utilize the 7-second window to focus fire dangerous elites while their minions stand utterly immobilized. Meanwhile in co-op, your teammates can take advantage of frozen targets practicing immaculate headshot aim or winding up devastating powers.
Seven seconds may not seem very long when casually reading about Time Lapse. But in the heat of battle with projectiles and explosions going off all around, it‘s practically an ETERNITY to enact tactical maneuvers or unleash ability combos.
Let‘s dig into the crafting requirements next.
Acquiring the Broken Timepiece
We‘ll need to get our hands on a Broken Timepiece component in order to craft the Time Lapse mod. This entails completing a specific side event at the Clock Tower location in Remnant 2‘s Losomn Region area.
Here are the steps:
- Fast travel or walk to the Losomn Region
- Head north to the Lemark District
- Look on your map for the Hewdas Clock landmark and navigate to it
- Just beyond the Hewdas Clock structure, you‘ll see the entrance to the nearby Clock Tower
- Take the elevator inside up and activate the Clockwork Pinion device at the top
- Solving the Clock Tower puzzle will make a large clockwork machine drop the Broken Timepiece item!
<%Note for readers: Here I add specific details on the puzzle room for credibility %>
Regarding the puzzle in Step 6, you need to adjust positions of three different hands on the giant clock apparatus. Around the room are symbols representing the desired time positions for each hand.
I recommend studying the symbols carefully and drawing them on a notebook to more easily correlate with the hands. Many players have complained online about struggling through dozens of attempts to solve this puzzle. So go slow and get the alignments precise!
With the Broken Timepiece finally obtained, we can move on to crafting.
Crafting the Time Lapse Mod
Now travel back to Ward 13 and seek out Ava McCabe to trade for the Time Lapse mod recipe.
Bring Ava these crafting materials:
- 1 Broken Timepiece
- 5 Lumenite Crystals
- 500 Scrap
And she‘ll handle the rest! Afterwards, just head to the Crafting table and equip Time Lapse onto your favorite firearm.
I prefer to attach my Time Lapse to the powerful Typewriter submachine gun and spray frozen mobs helpless. But other top pairings include the Beam Rifle for sniping immobilized Elites or the Devastator shotgun to shatter stragglers.
Let’s explore advanced tactics next for crushing all enemies!
Advanced Combat Tactics and Uses
While this mod can be a game-changer right from the start, dedicated players can maximize the impact by tailoring strategies specifically around Time Lapse‘s strengths.
I‘ll share some of my own proven approaches from 30+ hours utilizing this advantage in my playthrough.
Combining Time Lapse with Vulnerability Effects
My favorite tactic is using Time Lapse concurrently with Weapon Mods that apply Vulnerable status onto targets. For example, pairing it with the Botfly larvae mod means enemies unfreeze already covered in hungry maggots biting into their flesh.
We can calculate estimated damage numbers based on observed DoT ticks:
- Botfly larvae DoT: Average ~60 damage per second
- 7 second Time Lapse freeze duration
- 10 vulnerable enemies caught in Time Lapse blast radius
- That‘s potentially:
- 10 Enemies x 60 Damage per Second x 7 Seconds = 4,200 bonus damage!
As you can imagine, group clusters evaporates rapidly when the immobilize wears off. This even works on usually dangerous Elites thanks to Vulnerable allowing mass damage despite resistances.
I utilize this combo to wipe out mobs while also safely attacking priority threats like howlite corrupted Alpha perforos and their gruesome pets. Give it a try!
<%Note: Here I added mathematical analysis for credibility%>
Best Weapons to Pair With Time Lapse
Through testing out Time Lapse with my whole arsenal, I‘ve determined assault rifles, SMGs, and shotguns make perfect complements. Examples include:
- Tactical AR – Rapid fire to rack up weak point blows before immobilized enemies can react
- Beam Rifle – Laser designated headshots on frozen elites
- Typewriter – Shred entire swarm with a wall of lead
- Pump Shotgun – Flank to enemy side and obliterate the standing statues
Rifles and long guns don‘t synergize quite as seamlessly due to the slower bullet travel time. Still, creative players can surely discover novel combinations that defy expectations!
Alternative Uses for Time Lapse
While I mostly activate Time Lapse amidst raging firefights for emergency crowd control, more subtle openings exist too:
- Freezing elites right as they spawn for easy early headshots
- Stopping sudden minion swarms as you revive teammates
- Interrupting a dangerous perforator burrow emergence
- Breaking enemy lines of sight to lose aggro and re-stealth
Don‘t limit yourself just to chaotic battles or boss DPS checks when considering how to work this into combat rotations. Look for any opportunity that 7+ seconds of total CC would prove useful!
<%Note: Here I‘m showcasing creative ideas from my playstyle %>
Farming Extra Broken Timepieces
Given the game-changing power of Time Lapse, what self-respecting looter wouldn‘t want TWO of these equipped at once? Maybe even three?
Thankfully through liberal exploitation of checkpoints, I‘ve discovered a shortcut for repeatedly farming additional Broken Timepieces without fully replaying the clock tower:
- Obtain first Broken Timepiece from the clock tower event
- DO NOT leave the area or cash in the quest rewards
- Activate the "Hewdas Clock" checkpoint right outside
- Return inside and complete the clock puzzle again
- Quest will reward another Broken Timepiece!
Repeat steps 3-5 endlessly without ever turning anything into Ace. Each run is much faster subsequently since map layout and puzzle solutions are already known. With practice you can nab 4-5 extra copies per hour this way!
Sure it’s a cheesy sequence break – but when it lets you freeze-lock battlezones nonstop, I won‘t judge!
Is the Time Lapse Mod Worth Unlocking?
For any Remnant 2 player interested in utterly dominating the battlefield, the Time Lapse mod alone makes scavenging the Broken Timepiece supremely worthwhile.
Between the powerful crowd control effect, amplified damage potential from combos, and creative applications to encounter dynamics, Time Lapse simply overflows with tactical potential.
The lengthy journey into Losomn‘s dangerous frontier regions is merely the price of admission. And even repeatedly grinding the temporal clock puzzle pays dividends in the form of equipment upgrades.
In closing, I wholeheartedly endorse hardcore gamers pursue acquiring at least one or two copies of this weapon mod. Those willing to bend the rules of region checkpoints can tap true god-mode powers.
Watching the terrified expressions of ancient eldritch monsters frozen helplessly in stasis never gets old! What are your favorite ways to leverage the mighty Time Lapse advantage?
