TL;DR
- Respeccing in Control Resonant is done at the Mural in the Gap.
- You need a Reset Item to respec after leaving the Gap.
- Each Reset Item resets one category — Combat Abilities, Talents, or Aberrant upgrades separately.
- One Reset Item resets all Combat Ability choices at once so you can pick them all again.
- Reset Items drop from every Resonant boss kill (except the Artist, which drops two after Hotfix 1.3.3) and can be bought from Vendors for 5,000 Source.
- While still inside the Gap after making new picks, you can respec for free as many times as you want before leaving.
- After finishing the main story, the Resonant Combat Token from Pope’s Research lets you add one extra ability without giving up your current one.
One of the best things about Control Resonant is that no build decision is truly permanent. You can change your Combat Abilities, Talents, and Aberrant weapon upgrades whenever you want — as long as you have the right item. This guide covers how to respec in full: where to go, what it costs, how to get Reset Items, and what you can and cannot change without spending anything.
Where to Respec in Control Resonant
All respeccing in Control Resonant happens inside the Gap. The Gap is Dylan’s build hub — the space tied to his paranatural abilities where you manage weapon forms, Combat Abilities, and Talents.
To open the Gap at any time in the open world, hold G on keyboard or hold D-Pad Down on controller. You cannot open the Gap during story sequences or cutscenes.
Once inside, look for the Mural on the left side of the hub as you enter. Interact with it to reach the respec options. This is where all reset and rebuild actions take place.
How to Respec in Control Resonant – Step by Step
Step 1 – Open the Gap
Hold G on keyboard or D-Pad Down on controller to enter the Gap. This works anywhere in the open world.
Step 2 – Go to the Mural on the Left
When you enter the Gap, look left. Interact with the Mural. This opens the skill tree menus for Combat Abilities, Talents, and Aberrant upgrades.
Step 3 – Choose the Category to Reset
The Mural has separate menus for each of the three main progression categories. Navigate to the one you want to change — Combat Abilities, Talents, or Aberrant upgrades.
Step 4 – Hold the Reset Button
At the top of the selected menu, you will see a Reset All prompt. Hold Square on PlayStation, hold X on Xbox, or hold the button shown on PC to confirm the reset. This spends one Reset Item and wipes that category so you can redistribute everything from scratch.
Step 5 – Spend Your Points Again
Once the reset is done, all points and resources in that category are returned to you. Spend them the way you want. When you are happy with the new build, leave the Gap and the choices are committed.
What Can You Respec in Control Resonant
There are three separate categories you can reset. Each one costs one Reset Item. Resetting one category does not affect the others.
Combat Abilities
These are the powers you earn by defeating Resonant bosses — abilities like Ground Slam, Push, Shield, Barrage, Ignite, and others. When you reset Combat Abilities, all your boss-reward picks are wiped and you can choose them all over again. One Reset Item resets all Combat Ability choices at once — you do not need one per ability. This is the most commonly used respec, especially if you chose Push at the Dancer and later realized you need Ground Slam to open metal roof hatch doors.
Talents
Talents are passive upgrades in the 16-tier talent tree inside the Gap. Resetting Talents returns all spent Talent Points so you can reinvest them elsewhere. Note that resetting a Talent also resets any Talents that depend on it, so check what you will lose before confirming. Talent Points themselves are not consumed — only redistributed.
Aberrant Upgrades
This covers all upgrades you have spent on your Aberrant weapon forms — Primary Forms, Secondary Forms, and Combo Finishers. Resetting returns 100 percent of the materials and resources spent on them. This also returns upgrades that the selected upgrade depends on, so review the tree carefully before confirming.
Free Respec – What You Can Change Without a Reset Item
Not every change costs a Reset Item. Two situations let you rebuild for free.
Changing Weapon Forms Anytime
Switching between Aberrant weapon forms you have already unlocked does not cost a Reset Item at all. If you want to swap your active Primary Form, Secondary Form, or Combo Finisher, just go to the Gap and change it. This is free at any time. Try a different form before spending a Reset Item on a full Aberrant respec — often a form swap is all you need.
Free Unlimited Respec While Still in the Gap
If you have just picked a new ability, talent, or weapon upgrade while inside the Gap and have not yet left, you can change that pick for free as many times as you like. The game only commits your choices when you leave the Gap. Use this to test combinations before spending a Reset Item on something you already changed for free. The in-Gap Arena also lets you test your current loadout in live combat before committing.
How to Get Reset Items in Control Resonant
Reset Items are limited but not scarce if you play through the story naturally. Here are all the ways to get them.
Resonant Boss Drops
Every Resonant boss except the Artist drops one Reset Item when defeated. After Hotfix 1.3.3 (the day-one patch), the Artist now drops two Reset Items instead of one. There are six Resonant bosses in total, so a full story run gives you at least six Reset Items just from boss kills — enough for multiple full respecs across the game. These are free with story progression, so save your Source and let boss kills cover your respec needs.
Vendors
Every zone in Control Resonant has a Vendor. Each Vendor sells Reset Items for 5,000 Source each, with stock limited by the Vendor’s level. You can raise a Vendor’s level by increasing the Zone Level of that area — complete side quests, open resource crates, finish World Feats, and defeat Heavy Hiss enemies. A higher Zone Level unlocks more stock and better items at that zone’s Vendor. Vendor locations include Downtown (south of the Oldest House), Central (southeast of the Patterned Factory), West Incursion Zone (west of the House of Mirrors), Evacuation Zone, The Park, Underpass, and the Unknown. Buying from a Vendor only makes sense if you urgently need a respec before your next boss fight.
Mission and Quest Rewards
A small number of main missions and quests reward a Reset Item on completion. These are less predictable than boss drops or vendors but add to your total supply as you play through the story naturally.
Reset Item Vendor Price by Level
- Vendor Level 1 – 1,000 Source
- Vendor Level 2 – 1,500 Source
- Vendor Level 3 – 2,000 Source
Note that a higher Vendor level does not mean a cheaper Reset Item. The price goes up with level, not down. The 5,000 Source price shown in some early-game stock reflects unupgraded stock — check the actual displayed price at the Vendor before buying.
Should You Respec? Tips Before You Spend a Reset Item
Reset Items are not rare, but they are not infinite either. Here are a few things to consider before spending one.
- Try a weapon form swap first. Changing your active Aberrant form is free and often fixes a combat problem without needing a full respec.
- Use the in-Gap free window. After picking a new ability at the Mural, stay inside the Gap and experiment before leaving. Leaving commits the pick.
- Boss kills replenish your supply. There are six Resonant bosses. Each one drops a Reset Item. Do not panic-buy from a Vendor mid-game if a boss fight is coming up soon.
- One item resets all Combat Abilities. You do not need multiple items to swap several ability picks. One Reset Item wipes the full combat ability slate and lets you repick every boss reward at once.
- Hotfix 1.3.3 made this much easier. The respec cost was permanently reduced at launch. Remedy intended for build experimentation to be part of normal play, not a punishing side system.
The Resonant Combat Token – Unlock a Second Ability Post-Story
After completing the main story, you can unlock a Resonant Combat Token by finishing the Pope’s Research side quest in the Unknown. This is different from a respec. The Token lets you add one extra Combat Ability from any of your earlier boss-reward choices — without giving up the ability you already selected.
For example, if you chose Ground Slam from the Dancer boss and now want Ignite from the Deserter boss, the Token lets you add it as an additional ability rather than forcing you to swap. It is the only way to hold both options from a boss choice at the same time on a single save. The Token can only be used in a Fault and is a post-story bonus, not available during the main campaign.
What You Cannot Respec or Change
A few things in Control Resonant are not covered by the respec system:
- Traversal abilities like Shift, Reach, and Double Jump are earned from Faults during the story. These are permanent unlocks and cannot be reset or changed.
- Combat Ability boss choices from the first playthrough can only be accessed again via respec or the Resonant Combat Token after story completion. You cannot pick both options from a single boss on the same run without the Token.
- Health Upgrade Points and Power Upgrade Points are permanent stat increases. Once collected, they are not part of any respec system.
For the full list of where to find every Power Upgrade in the game, check our guide to all power upgrade chest locations in Control Resonant.
Respec and the Crossing the Threshold Build Gate
Some story sections and side quests in Control Resonant gate progress behind specific abilities. If you have respecced and lost an ability you needed to progress, you will need to respec again to recover it. Always check what abilities a section requires before doing a full reset. Our Crossing the Threshold walkthrough covers one such section that needs traversal abilities to complete.
Accessibility and Build Adjustments
If a combat section feels too hard and you are considering a respec to fix it, it is worth checking Control Resonant’s Assist Mode first. It lets you adjust enemy aggression, incoming damage, Perfect Dodge timing, and more — all without spending a Reset Item. Changes to Assist Mode do not lock trophies or achievements. Our Control Resonant Assist Mode settings guide covers every toggle available.
Related Guides
- Control Resonant Beginner Tips – Build advice for new players before your first major boss
- How to Open Metal Roof Hatch Doors – Why Ground Slam matters and when to respec for it
- The Subway Fault – How to Get Reach – Traversal ability guide
- How to Reach the Unknown Zone – Access the post-story Pope’s Research quest area
- Pulse Fitness Workout Puzzle – Secret hideout in the Unknown zone
- Panopticon Service Request Quest
- Control Resonant Review – Is the game worth your time?
Control Resonant is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Steam, and Epic Games Store. For the best PC performance, check out our Control Resonant best PC settings guide before diving in.
