Transcendence

Transcendence is a new item in Risk of Rain 2. On pickup, it replaces all of the player's health into rechargable shields, which can be regenerated instantly by avoiding damage for 7 seconds. Any health gained afterwards by leveling up or picking up items will be converted into shield.

Because shields cannot be healed outside of recharging naturally, it prevents the user from getting healed. They can still be healed for N'kuhana's Opinion, but since the orbs spawned from it will only deal 1 damage, this is not very useful.

Tougher Times will allow the user to have a chance to recharge shields in combat. Stacking 3 Old War Stealthkit will guarantee the user enough time while cloaked to regain their shields out of danger.

Lore
You are trying your best to survive. You consider yourself a fast learner. You have been feeling lucky. You have been experiencing feelings of deja vu. If you understand, do not read the next paragraph.

You are taking control of your own beliefs. You feel familiar in unfamiliar environments. You have been gaining an intuition for experiences you've never had. You ponder a past life. If you understand, do not read the next paragraph.

You find yourself searching for things that never have been. You miss things you have never had. You play characters that have never lived. You have been experiencing feelings of deja vu. If you understand, do not read the next paragraph.

You have revealed my hand. Because you have consumed this information, the [observers] will now consume it in time. If you are reading this paragraph, I will be long dead, but in turn you have freed me. I will no longer exist in my universe. There will be no proof that I ever was - but I exist now in yours. I have escaped my suffering. Keep me safe. I hope you do not understand.