You're standing at the edge of the Chalk Peak region, staring at a massive, pulsing structure that looks like it was coughed up by a cosmic nightmare. That’s the Forsaken Monolith. If you’ve spent any time in Nalcott lately, you know that the Once Human raid zone experience isn't just about shooting things until they drop loot; it’s a chaotic test of whether your build actually works or if you've just been coasting on lucky drops. Honestly, most players walk into these zones expecting a standard dungeon crawl and end up back at their territory with a broken set of armor and zero Acid to show for it.
The difficulty spike is real.
When we talk about a "raid zone" in the context of Starry Studio’s weird-west apocalypse, we’re usually referring to the Monoliths and the specialized Securement Silos that act as the endgame gauntlet. These aren't just bigger rooms. They are mechanical puzzles wrapped in bullet-sponge boss fights. If you aren't prepping your weapon calibrations and elemental resistances before you step foot inside, you're basically just volunteering to be Manibus food.
Why the Forsaken Monolith is the Ultimate Once Human Raid Zone Test
Most people hit the Great River or Iron River zones and think they’ve seen it all. Then they reach the Forsaken Monolith. This is the big one. It houses the Shadow Hound, a boss that has become the literal gatekeeper for players trying to move into the true endgame.
You can't just "DPS race" this thing.
The Shadow Hound moves with a speed that catches most players off guard, especially when it starts its phase-shifting leaps. If your frame rate dips, you're dead. But the real kicker is the environmental pressure. In a Once Human raid zone, the floor is rarely your friend. You’re dealing with shockwaves that require precise jump timing and adds—those annoying little gnats—that distract you from the main threat. I’ve seen entire four-man squads wiped because they all focused on the Hound and forgot that the smaller Deviants were slowly chipping away at their sanity levels.
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Sanity is the hidden killer here.
As your sanity drops, your max HP shrinks. You might start the fight with 3,000 health, but by the time the Shadow Hound is at 25%, you're rocking a measly 1,200 HP because you didn't pack enough Sanity Gummies or Corn Ale. It’s these logistical failures that ruin raid runs, not necessarily a lack of firepower. You need to be thinking about your consumables as much as your Tier 5 legendary SCAR.
Surviving the Securement Silos
While the Monoliths get all the glory, the Securement Silos—specifically Silo ALPHA, PHI, and SIGMA—are where the real "raid" feel happens on a daily basis. These are repeatable, grindable, and incredibly punishing if you play them like a standard shooter.
Take Silo SIGMA, for example.
It’s often the first one players farm for mods. It feels easy at first. Then you hit the final chamber where the elemental hazards start stacking. The game loves to throw Rosetta soldiers at you who use cover better than most players do. You have to flush them out. You've got to use your tactical items. Grenades aren't just for show in a Once Human raid zone; they are essential for breaking the posture of shielded enemies so your sniper can get a clean headshot.
What most people get wrong is the "Lone Wolf" mentality. Even if you're running these solo, you have to play like a team. That means using your Deviant effectively. If you're running a combat Deviant like the Festering Gel, you need to time its deployment for when you're pinned behind a pillar, not just when you want extra damage. The cover it provides is often the only reason you'll survive a reload animation during the boss’s frenzy phase.
The Gear Check Nobody Talks About
We need to talk about Calibration.
If you're entering a high-level Once Human raid zone with a +0 weapon, you are wasting everyone's time. By the time you’re hitting the endgame raids, your primary weapon should be at least +6, preferably +10. The difference in raw damage output isn't just a few percentage points; it’s the difference between killing a Rosetta Brute in one magazine or three.
- Weapon Mods: Look for "Violent" or "Precision" prefixes depending on your crit rate.
- Armor Sets: Don't mix and match too much. The 4-piece set bonuses, like the ones from the Falcon or Bastille sets, are game-changers.
- Elemental Damage: If the boss is weak to Burn, use a weapon that procs Burn. It sounds simple, but the "meta" builds often ignore basic elemental weaknesses in favor of raw crit, which can backfire in specific Silos.
The Secret to Managing Stardust and Acid During Raids
Raiding is expensive.
Every bullet you fire in a Once Human raid zone represents a cost in copper, lead, and gunpowder. If you spend 2,000 rounds of 5.56 to clear a Silo and only get a mediocre blue mod, you’ve technically lost progress. This is why "efficiency" is the word of the day. You should be aiming for "one-tap" builds or high-efficiency builds like the Shrapnel or Power Surge setups.
Power Surge is particularly spicy right now.
By chaining lightning damage between enemies, you save ammo on crowds. It’s basically free real estate. But you have to build for it. You need the Mayfly Goggles. You need the right electricity-boosting mods. Without those, you're just a guy with a sparkler.
Also, let's be real: the loot table is a fickle beast. You might run the Monolith ten times and never see the legendary mod you want. That’s why you should never go in "dry." Always use your Controllers. Using a Controller at the end of a raid zone run significantly boosts your chances of getting high-tier rewards. If you're out of Controllers, honestly, go do some world events first. Running a raid without a Controller is like going to a steakhouse and only eating the bread—it’s fine, but why are you even there?
Nuance in Team Composition
You don't need four glass cannons.
In fact, having four people all running the "top DPS" YouTube build is a recipe for a quick trip to the respawn anchor. Someone needs to be the utility guy. Someone should be running a build that focuses on healing or crowd control. If one person is dedicated to keeping the team's Sanity and HP up, the other three can actually stay in the "pocket" and deal damage without panicking every time a grenade lands near them.
Communication is key, but since Once Human's in-game voice chat can be hit or miss, use the ping system. Ping the snipers on the catwalks. Ping the glowing canisters that explode. A well-placed ping in a Once Human raid zone is worth more than a thousand "help me" messages in global chat.
Advanced Tactics: Phase Management
Every boss in these zones has phases. They usually trigger at 75%, 50%, and 25% health.
When the boss goes invulnerable—stop shooting!
I see this constantly. Players dumping entire mags into a glowing shield. You're just wasting resources. Use that time to clear the small mobs, reload all your weapons, and reposition. In the LEA Research Lab raid, for example, the phase transitions are brutal. If you aren't standing in the right spot when the boss shifts, you're looking at an instant death mechanic. Learn the patterns. The bosses in Once Human are remarkably consistent; they don't cheat, they just punish greed.
If you get greedy and try to land one more hit before dodging, the game will humble you.
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Actionable Steps for Your Next Raid Run
Ready to go back in? Don't just rush the portal. Follow this checklist to ensure you actually come out with the loot.
1. Optimize Your Consumables: Craft at least 20 Sanity Gummies and a stack of Whimsical Drink. If you're doing a Cold-themed zone, bring heaters or spicy food. Environmental resistance is not optional.
2. Check Your Durability: There is nothing worse than your primary weapon breaking when the boss has 5% health left. Repair everything at your workbench before you queue up. Carry a backup weapon that uses a different ammo type just in case.
3. Calibrate Your Gear: Ensure your main weapon is at least +6. If you have the specialized materials, push it to +10. The jump in weapon damage is the single biggest factor in shortening fight times.
4. Know Your Role: If you’re playing with a group, decide who is handling the adds and who is focusing the boss. Use your Deviant to fill the gaps in your team's strategy—use the Butterfly's Sting for weak point damage or the Festering Gel for emergency cover.
5. Manage Your Controllers: Check your inventory. If you have zero Controllers, go do public events or commissions to restock. Raiding without them is a waste of your time and your gear's durability.
The Once Human raid zone content is the most rewarding part of the game once you stop fighting the mechanics and start using them. It's about preparation, patience, and knowing when to back off. Stop treating it like a typical FPS and start treating it like the survival-horror tactical RPG it actually is. You’ll find that the "impossible" bosses aren't actually that tough—they’re just waiting for you to make a mistake. Don't give them the satisfaction.