It happens to everyone eventually. You’re tearing through a Hive Sabotage or grinding for Mesa parts on Eris, and suddenly, the screen flashes with a weird, sickly green overlay. Your Warframe stops listening. You’re shooting your teammates, or worse, they’re shooting you. You’ve been shackled by the Infested. Specifically, you’re stuck with a Mutalist Alad V collar, and if you don't know the trick to shaking it off, you're basically a glorified specter for the enemy.
It’s annoying. Seriously.
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The "Paracystic Link" is the official name for that mind-control beam Alad V throws out. Most players just call it "getting collared." While it feels like a death sentence or a permanent loss of control, it’s actually a mechanical puzzle that requires a bit of environmental awareness and some quick reactions from your squad. If you’re playing solo, well, things get a lot trickier.
Why the Mutalist Alad V Collar Is Such a Pain
The fight against Mutalist Alad V is unique in Warframe because he spends 90% of the time being completely invulnerable. He’s got that fancy collar of his own—the one he stole from a Zanuka project and "improved" with Infestation—and he only takes it off to throw it at you. When he does, he exposes his neck. That’s your window to kill him. But the trade-off is that one of your teammates (or you) is now an enemy.
When the collar latches on, you lose control of your Warframe. Your character will start using their abilities against the rest of the squad. Imagine a high-strength Savoring Maim Equinox or a Mesa with Peacemaker active suddenly turning toward the group. It’s a total wipe waiting to happen.
The collar isn't just a debuff; it's a physical object in the game world. It has a health bar, but you can’t see it easily because it’s usually wrapped around a thrashing Warframe.
How to Remove Mutalist Alad V Collar for Good
To get that thing off, you need damage. Specifically, your teammates need to shoot the collar itself, not your Warframe. This is where most PUGs (Pick-Up Groups) fail. Players see a red health bar on a teammate and just start blasting the Warframe's torso. While that might eventually "down" the player and force the collar to detach, it’s a waste of Revives and energy.
Focus fire on the neck area. High-accuracy weapons like the Tiburon Prime or even a well-aimed Lex can pop the collar off in a second. If you’re the one being controlled, you’re basically a passenger. You have to hope your team realizes what’s happening before you accidentally nuke them with a stray Ultimate ability.
The Solo Struggle
If you are playing solo, the mechanics change. Alad V won't usually leave the collar on you indefinitely because he needs it back to remain invulnerable. However, while it's on you, you're defenseless. The best way to handle this solo is to use a tanky frame like Rhino or Nezha. Their protective layers (Iron Skin or Warding Halo) can sometimes mitigate the initial stun, giving you a better chance to recover once Alad V recalls the device.
Actually, the "Pro Tip" here is to use an Operator (if you’ve finished The Second Dream and The War Within). Shifting to your Operator right as he throws the collar can sometimes glitch the tracking or at least ensure your main Warframe isn't the one doing the killing while mind-controlled.
Avoiding the Grab Entirely
Prevention is better than a cure. Alad V has a very specific "wind-up" animation before he throws the collar. He stands still, his shield glows, and he makes a distinct sound—sort of a metallic screech mixed with a wet squelch.
- Keep your distance. The collar has a travel time. If you’re at the edge of the arena, you can literally side-step it.
- Use the pillars. The arena is full of Infested growths and pillars. If you put an object between you and Alad V when he throws, the collar hits the pillar. It then teleports back to him, and he’s vulnerable for a few seconds.
- Rolling. In Warframe, rolling gives you a 75% damage reduction and makes you immune to many knockdowns and status effects. Timing a roll right as the collar hits can occasionally break the tether immediately.
Most people don't realize that the collar is actually a projectile. It isn't a hitscan ability. If you're playing a high-mobility frame like Volt or Titania, you should never actually get hit by it. You’re too fast.
The Gear That Makes This Fight Trivial
If you’re farming for Mesa—which is the only reason anyone fights this guy—bring a weapon with high burst damage. The vulnerability window is tiny. We’re talking three to five seconds.
A heavy attack Stropha build or a high-status Kuva Nukor can melt his health before he even thinks about throwing the collar. Another underrated choice is Mag. Her Magnetize bubble can catch the collar and keep it spinning in circles, preventing it from hitting anyone while simultaneously trapping Alad V in a zone where he takes massive damage from his own projectiles.
Honestly, the Mutalist Alad V fight is more about patience than power. You spend a lot of time waiting. Waiting for him to take the collar off. Waiting for your friend to stop shooting you. Waiting for the RNG to finally drop that Mesa Systems blueprint.
Common Misconceptions
One big myth is that you can "power through" the mind control by spamming buttons. You can't. There is no "struggle" mechanic like there is with a Grineer Commander’s teleport swap. You are totally locked out.
Another mistake? Thinking that Ability Strength helps you break free. It doesn't. In fact, having high Ability Strength makes you more dangerous to your team while collared. If you’re running a glass cannon build, you’re going to kill your friends before they can aim at your neck.
Strategic Breakdown for Squads
When you enter the boss room, designate one person as the "Bait." This should be your tankiest player. Everyone else stays behind cover.
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- Bait stands in the open to trigger the throw.
- The Strikers (the players in cover) wait for the collar to leave Alad’s neck.
- The moment the collar is in the air, the Strikers ignore the Bait and dump every bit of ammo they have into Alad V’s face.
- If the Bait gets caught, one Striker swaps to a secondary to pop the collar while the others keep DPSing the boss.
It’s a rhythm. Once you find it, the fight goes from a frustrating mess to a thirty-second cakewalk. The collar is his only defense. Without it, he’s just a frail old man with a bad cough and a god complex.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
To ensure you never get stuck in a mind-controlled loop again, follow these specific steps during the encounter:
- Watch Alad's Shield: When he holds his collar out in front of him like a tray, he is about to throw. This is your cue to jump or dash.
- Listen for the Audio: Turn your sound up. The "shimmering" sound effect of the collar is distinct and directional.
- Check the Mini-map: If a teammate turns red on the map, they are collared. Stop whatever you are doing and shoot the glowing ring around their head.
- Bring a Dispel: Abilities that clear status effects (like Oberon’s Renewal or Trinity’s Augments) don’t remove the collar, but they can keep the collared player from dying to environmental toxin damage while they are stuck.
- Use the Operator: If you see the collar coming and can't dodge, tap your Translucence key. Being in the Void makes you an invalid target for the tether.
The Mutalist Alad V boss fight is a relic of an older era of Warframe design, where "invulnerability phases" were the primary way to challenge players. It’s clunky, sure. But once you understand that the collar is a physical object you can shoot off your friends, the "horror" of the Infested mind control disappears. Just keep your eyes on his hands, stay mobile, and for the love of the Lotus, don't bring a max-range Saryn if you aren't confident in your dodging skills.