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.

Quick Facts

First appearance: Sonic Mania

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.

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.