Returnal: Healing - how to restore health? Returnal guide, walkthrough
Last update: 05 May 2021
On this page of the Returnal guide, you will find information about all possible ways of healing Selene and learn how to increase her health bar.
Returnal is a challenging TPP with roguelike elements – it does not have the auto-healing that can be seen in other third-person shooters. Fortunately, there are several ways to improve Selene's health.
Silphium
Silphium is a very distinctive green substance that restores some health points. It has a green cross icon on the mini-map so you shouldn't have problems with finding it. There are two types of Silphium in Returnal - large and small.
While getting through subsequent biomes of Atropos, you will also encounter malignant Silphiums, which can put a malfunction effect on Selene if they are not cleansed with Ether.
See Malfunctions - how to fix? for more information on malfunctions mechanics in Returnal.
Silphium Vial
Another way to replenish your character's health in Returnal is to use the first aid kit. We can distinguish two consumable items of this type - the smaller ones restore fewer health points and large (Large Silphium Vial) can heal even significant damage.
First aid kits can be found in random locations in each biome of Atropos or can be bought in a Fabricator for a certain amount of Obolite.
Reclaimer
Reclaimer is one of the alien devices that you will come across during the exploration of the Atropos planet. The device will heal you only partially, but it will slightly lengthen the character's health bar.
Reclaimers with red light can put some negative status on Selene, but those with green light are 100% safe.
Parasites
While playing Returnal, you will find many different types of parasites, which can grant you additional buffs, but this also involves receiving a certain debuff. In the image above, you can see that a Ominous Slowstich parasite has been attached to the heroine, which will automatically begin to heal her when her health falls to a low level.
See the Parasites - what are they? page for more information about parasites in Returnal.
How to increase the health bar?
In addition to the aforementioned Reclaimer, Returnal allows you to extend Selene's health bar in several other ways.
Silphium
Selene can increase her health bar by collecting Silphium when she's fully healthy. Extra healing items accumulate in the lower left corner of the screen, and by default, you only need to collect 3 extra Silphiums to lengthen the character's health bar.
It should be mentioned here that if you manage to get the Resin Enhancer artefact, you will only need to collect 2 additional Silphiums to extend Selene's health bar. These types of artefacts can often be found in closed boxes that can be opened with a key.
While exploring Atropos, you will also find a special type of Silphium, which will immediately fill 1 (Silphium Resin) or 2 slots (Large Resin) instead of healing and will help increase Selene's stamina.
Parasites
While exploring Atropos, you can find the Oily Huskweaver parasite, which will extend Selene's health bar to a great extent, but it involves receiving one debuff.
Stat augments
Near the Fabricator, you can find a device that will extend the character's health bar by as much as 25% for a certain amount of Obolite. It should be noted here that the cost of this augment increases with each subsequent purchase.