I remember the first time I faced the Jackal in The New War. The air hummed with anticipation, the ground vibrating as that mechanical beast descended. This wasn't just another skirmish; it was a test within the grand, cinematic tapestry Digital Extremes wove for us. The story carried weight, with choices that lingered in my mind long after the mission ended, and this confrontation was its brutal, metallic heart. The Jackal stood not just as an enemy, but as a gatekeeper to the deeper truths of the war.
The initial assault was a symphony of frustration. My bullets sang, my blade flashed, but against its shimmering shield, they were nothing but whispers against a storm. I learned its rhythm. I watched it hover, a titan defying gravity, and I aimed not for its core, but for its foundations. The legs. Each precise shot at its limbs was a note in a dissonant melody, chipping away at its protective barrier until, with a groaning shriek of metal, it fell. The earth trembled at its descent. This was only the prelude.
Then, the silence. The shield was gone, yet my attacks passed through its armored hull like ghosts. Rage, melee—nothing bit. The Jackal lay there, vulnerable yet untouchable, a puzzle wrapped in steel. In that quiet moment of confusion, the memory of my companion sparked. My Moa, steadfast and explosive. The solution wasn't in my arsenal, but in my command.
A new rhythm began:
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The Call: With a mental command, I sent my explosive Moa scurrying beneath the fallen beast's belly.
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The Sacrifice: I raised my weapon, not at the Jackal, but at my own loyal construct. A single, sharp report.
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The Detonation: Fire and concussion bloomed upward in a devastating embrace. The Jackal's frame convulsed as its health bar plummeted by half in one glorious, fiery cataclysm.
It was a dance of paradox—using destruction to create an opening, sacrificing the small to wound the giant. The strategy felt less like warfare and more like alchemy.
This fight, to me, encapsulates the soul of The New War in 2025. It's more than a questline; it's an experience that continues to evolve. The expansion redefined what we expect, gifting us not just a new Warframe to master, but the profound rarity of stepping into the roles of three other characters, seeing the conflict through eyes not our own. The Jackal was my first true teacher in this new chapter, a lesson that strength often lies in unconventional wisdom and the tools we forget we hold.
| Phase | Action | Key Insight |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Shield Breach | Target the legs while it hovers. | Patience and precision over brute force. |
| 2. False Vulnerability | It falls, but resists all direct damage. | The obvious weakness is often a trap. |
| 3. Kinetic Solution | Command & detonate Moa underneath it. | Your entire kit, even companions, is your weapon. |
The journey continues across every platform, this ever-growing universe that asks for nothing but our time and passion. The Jackal remains, a mechanical sentinel guarding the path to deeper narratives, and I am grateful for the lesson it carved not just in its metal frame, but in my approach to the endless war. Every explosion under its chassis echoed a truth: sometimes, you must create your own light to dispel the shadows. ✨