Phantom Ruby
A crimson gem granting Infinite the power to turn illusions into solid reality.
The Phantom Ruby is a crimson gemstone central to the events of Sonic Forces, where it empowers Doctor Eggman's newest lackey, Infinite. Discovered by Eggman prior to the events of Sonic Mania, this artifact serves as the primary engine for his invasion strategy. Unlike traditional power sources, the Ruby grants the ability to create illusions that possess physical solidity, allowing infinite copies of villains and environments to be generated at will. Its influence is so profound that it leads to Sonic being trapped on the Death Egg after his defeat by Infinite, a direct result of Infinite's attack using the Ruby's illusions. The gem's unique properties drive the narrative of a resistance movement formed by Knuckles, Tails, and others to liberate their world from this fabricated tyranny.
- Name
- Phantom Ruby
- First Appearance
- Sonic Mania
- Type
- Ancient Artifact
- Primary Ability
- Illusion Manifestation
Lore & Background
The Phantom Ruby is an independent artifact, not directly powered by the Death Egg. Its power is intrinsic to itself, meaning it does not become useless if the Death Egg is destroyed. The artifact allows Infinite to create illusionary doppelgängers of famous characters like Shadow the Hedgehog, Chaos, Zavok, and Metal Sonic. These copies are mass-produced in limitless numbers to bolster Eggman's army, deceiving the resistance into believing these villains have returned to serve the doctor. The Ruby also enables the creation of massive environmental hazards; during the final battle, Infinite enacts an endgame by creating an asteroid-like second sun over the planet intended to eliminate everything in its path upon impact. However, this artificial sun is dispelled when Infinite's own Phantom Ruby is overloaded or destroyed, not by a prototype version recovered by the Rookie.
In Their Own Story
Doctor Eggman utilized the Phantom Ruby's power alongside his robot army and Infinite to conquer most of the world within six months. Upon arriving at a city, Sonic was attacked by Infinite, who defeated him using the gem's abilities before Sonic was taken prisoner aboard the Death Egg. Later, when Knuckles' resistance rescued Sonic, they found that Classic Sonic had become marooned in the present due to the Phantom Ruby's power while saving Tails from an ambush by Chaos—a doppelgänger created by Infinite. As the resistance attacked Metropolis, believing they had the upper hand after destroying the Death Egg and disabling the Ruby, Eggman revealed a backup plan: moving the original Phantom Ruby into his personal battle mech. In the climax, Sonic and the Rookie defeated Eggman while Infinite's illusionary army ceased to exist once the gem was neutralized.
Reader's Guide
Players encounter the Phantom Ruby primarily through its effects on gameplay and story rather than as an item to collect. The gem is the source of Infinite's ability to manipulate minds and create solid illusions, such as when he forces Shadow the Hedgehog to relive a flashback of his invasion of Eggman's base or makes him believe Rouge is talking nonsense. To counter the Ruby's power, Tails infiltrates Eggman's network to identify that the gem relies on the Death Egg for energy. The resistance strategy involves destroying the Death Egg to strip Infinite of his power source. Additionally, players can recover a prototype Phantom Ruby as part of the story progression, which is essential for dispelling the artificial sun threat. In Episode Shadow DLC, the Ruby's mind-manipulation capabilities are highlighted when Infinite uses it to confuse Shadow's sensors and corrupt his mind before revealing his true identity.
Did You Know?
- The Phantom Ruby is an independent artifact; its power is intrinsic and not tied to the Death Egg.
- Infinite uses the Ruby to create limitless illusionary doppelgängers of Shadow, Chaos, Zavok, and Metal Sonic.
- The artificial second sun created over the planet is dispelled by overloading or destroying Infinite's own Phantom Ruby, not by a prototype recovered by the Rookie.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Phantom Ruby?
The Phantom Ruby is an artificial crimson gemstone engineered by Dr. Eggman that serves as a central artifact in modern Sonic lore. Unlike natural Chaos Emeralds, it functions by manipulating perception to project deceptive holograms into tangible reality.
What are its main powers?
Its primary ability is illusion manifestation, allowing users to create solid constructs that can interact physically with the environment and opponents. This power enables the generation of endless robotic duplicates or environmental hazards that feel indistinguishable from truth.
When did it first appear?
The artifact debuted during the events of Sonic Forces, marking a significant resurgence for Dr. Eggman's empire against Team Sonic. Its introduction shifted the narrative focus toward psychological warfare and technological threats rather than pure energy manipulation.
How does it differ from Chaos Emeralds?
While Chaos Emeralds channel pure cosmic energy for transformation or destruction, the Phantom Ruby is a synthetic construct designed specifically to distort reality through advanced technology. It relies on tricking the mind and senses rather than harnessing raw elemental force.
What happened to it in the end?
Following its defeat during the final battle, the Ruby was neutralized as Eggman’s plans were thwarted by Sonic and his allies. Current records indicate the artifact remains active but is effectively contained to prevent future misuse of its reality-altering capabilities.
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