Short answer: depending on the choice, giving Shroud the prototype (and especially combining it with the real pulse) dramatically alters his perception, power, and fate of the surrounding team. Details and context

• The prototype alone: Handing Shroud the prototype causes him to realize or suspect deception, which can lead to volatile reactions. In many playthroughs, this strengthens his hold on power temporarily while exposing his arrogance and fragility, often triggering a confrontation or a renegotiation of the threat he poses.

• The real pulse alone: Providing the genuine pulse tends to place Shroud in a position of near-omnipotence for a short window, as he can anticipate or manipulate outcomes with greatly enhanced certainty. This can apart from immediate danger, push the story toward a climactic confrontation or an ethical crisis for the team.

• Both items together: Giving Shroud both the real pulse and the prototype typically disrupts his ability to predict outcomes, since he’s confronted with an unpredictable variable (the real pulse) alongside the deceptive clone. This is often portrayed as the most disruptive option, leading to dramatic shifts in power dynamics, potential sacrificial acts by allies, and differing endings where loyalties, leadership, and the city’s fate hinge on the group’s cohesion and choices under pressure.

Possible outcomes and endings (high level)

• Shroud’s temporary godlike stretch followed by a swift pivot, sometimes resulting in a moral reckoning for the player or a strategic interception by Invisigal or others in the team.

• If relationships within the team are strong, the ensemble can weather Shroud’s surge and steer toward a collaborative ending; if not, the leadership may fracture and a villainous turn or independent leadership candidate may emerge (e.g., Invisigal stepping up).

• The “dual strategy” route (both items) is frequently described as the most psychologically tense, forcing a reckoning with trust, manipulation, and the limits of foresight, often culminating in a redemption or sacrifice arc.

Notes on sources and consistency

• Multiple guides and end-game analyses describe these options and their consequences, with variations depending on relationship meters and prior choices in the episode. For example, one walkthrough emphasizes the prototype gambit, while another highlights the dual-item disruption as the most unique path.

• Community discussions and video explainers reproduce the core pattern: prototype alone = misleading returns; real pulse = power spike; both = disruption and complex endings.

If you want, I can pull specific end-game outcomes for each choice from up-to- date guides or walk you through the impact of your current in-game relationships to predict likely endings. Would you like a concise table comparing the three main options (Prototype, Real Pulse, Both) with typical outcomes and suggested team actions?