 How to improve the Shocker, Chill, Mass telekinesis, what to pump first
The skill tree in Atomic Heart contains new abilities for Agent Nechaev or improvements to existing ones. Skills are unlocked in only one place - at the Eleanor terminal. Fortunately, there are enough such terminals in the game, and they come across often. The same terminal is needed for crafting weapons, ammunition, and so on. To unlock a new skill, you will have to spend a neuropolymer, a resource that drops from most enemies.
Nechaev does not have a lot of active abilities, while at the same time he can use only two of them. Due to the lack of Neuropolymer for a full upgrade of all branches and the above information, it is best to focus on two specific skills. On the other hand, there is a separate key for the Shocker, so you will always have this skill at hand. Regardless of the two skills chosen, try to level up the Shocker as soon as possible by reducing its reload speed. You will need it for many puzzles, and it will save you a lot of time that you would otherwise spend waiting for the cooldown.
As in the crafting system, you can return all neuropolymers without any problems. Spent to unlock skills: Atomic Heart encourages experimentation, so be sure to take advantage of it. Knowing the boss's vulnerabilities, you can redistribute ability points to make the fight easier.
Where to get neuropolymers
There are two ways to unlock neuropolymers in Atomic Heart:
- Killing certain enemies
- Loot in containers
In addition to neuropolymers, crafting materials drop out of enemies. You don't have to rush into every battle recklessly, but remember that every defeated enemy makes Nechaev a little stronger thanks to the crafting materials and neuropolymer drops.
Below we will look at the best, we can say necessarily improvements for each active ability (branches).
What improvements to unlock for the "Shocker"
"Shocker" is a unique ability that does not require a free slot (you have two of them in total), therefore it is the most valuable and useful. You will always have access to this skill, so don't ignore it. Well pumped skill "Shocker" is one of the most useful abilities in the game. I recommend trying to unlock as many (or even all) of the upgrades for the Shocker as possible. The skill will be useful both in combat and when interacting with the environment.
Reinforced modulator
This base upgrade not only increases the basic damage of the Shocker, but also allows Nechaev to literally push enemies away. This is a mandatory upgrade and is the key to unlocking the full potential of the Shocker.
Resistors failure
Another relatively simple upgrade that increases damage taken by electrified targets. This ability synergizes incredibly well with the rest of the upgrades listed in this guide.
chain lightning
As you may have guessed from the name, Chain Lightning allows Shocker charges to electrify multiple targets at once. This is an upgrade that showcases the potential of the Shocker and is arguably one of the best upgrades in the game.
Full contact
This incredible ability ensures that all targets hit by Chain Lightning take full damage, just like the main target. Combined with the other skills you'll use on your way to getting this upgrade, this will result in Shocker being used as a primary source of damage.
What improvements to unlock on the branch "Character"
As in the case of the Shocker, you need to strive to unlock all the perks in the "Character" branch in Atomic Heart. Since these upgrades provide permanent bonuses no matter what weapon/abilities you use, they are far superior in value to upgrades from other trees.
Wild boar/Ambal/Strongman
These skills are grouped together for the reason that they all increase maximum health. According to the description, it doesn’t sound so exciting and intriguing, but at some point you simply cannot do without such upgrades. The sequence in which you unlock them depends solely on your preferences.
Paratrooper backpack neurocompression (X2)
You can unlock two upgrades at once, moreover in the early stages of the game, and you need to do this as soon as possible. They increase your inventory space and will be incredibly useful as you start collecting more and more items and resources.
morning run
I don't know why Atomic Heart doesn't have the default Shift sprint, but I'm sure you'll run into a situation during the game where you're in dire need of a run. Nechaev doesn't move as fast by default, but fortunately the Morning Jogging skill fixes this shortcoming. The speed does not increase by 2-3 times, but the increase is tangible and definitely mandatory.
Juggler
Possibly the most useful skill in the entire Character tree. The juggler will allow you to use the Neuromed capsule with one hand, which means that the second, free hand can be used for protection. An absolutely essential update that should be received as soon as possible.
Second wind
Simply put, Second Wind grants you a second dodge charge. Considering that dodges are the most important tool for defense, especially during boss fights, it's not hard to guess that it's important to unlock it at the very beginning.
slippery type
The one you should unlock next after Second Wind. The Slippery Type upgrade protects you from any incoming damage while dodging. Not only does this improve survival chances and reduce the penalty for late dodges, but it also protects you from situations where another enemy catches you while dodging one. Upgrading is not as important as Second Wind, but in the later stages it will undoubtedly be beneficial.
parkour
This unique skill will allow you to avoid significant damage when falling. Of course, it will work situationally, but there are many hills and tall objects in the open world.
What improvements to unlock for the "Cold"
Shocker aside, Chill is by far the most valuable ability in Atomic Heart. This will likely be one of two abilities assigned to shortcut keys for most of the game.
Careful dismantling
Few action-adventure games emphasize management and resource gathering, but Atomic Heart is an exception. This skill will allow you to get additional resources from killed enemies that were previously frozen.
Increased generation of combat polymer
Increased polymer generation will allow Chill to activate for a longer time. Along with Neuropolymer Accelerator (a prerequisite for this skill, which reduces Chill's cooldown), Combat Polymer Generation Increase will allow you to use Chill much more often, making the skill an integral part of the combat system.
Diffuse atomizer
Diffuse Atomizer modifies Chill, allowing it to hit a cone-shaped area. Thanks to this, you can freeze several enemies at once. Regardless of how you decide to develop the Chill, unlock this upgrade as soon as possible.
What upgrades to unlock for "Polymer Throw"
In truth, Polymer Throw is probably the least useful ability in Atomic Heart. Although this skill allows you to increase the damage taken by the opponents, in most cases I relied on other skills with a more direct impact. However, if you're going to use this ability, here are a few options to improve it.
Necropolymer air defense
Neuropolymer Air Defense allows you to use the Polymer Throw ability to slow flying enemies. As I wrote above, this tree by itself did not make me want to spend a neuropolymer, but if you decide to do this, be sure to choose this upgrade.
Increased chemical reaction radius
Perhaps the cornerstone of this tree. Increased Chemical Reaction Radius applies Battle Resin effects to multiple nearby enemies at once. It's not as effective as with other AoE abilities, but it's quite useful in compact fights.
Composition effectiveness
This skill increases damage from combat polymer effects. If you decide to develop the Polymer Throw ability, at some point you will have to purchase this improvement.
What upgrades to unlock for "Mass Telekinesis"
AoE telekinesis is one of the best AoE abilities in Atomic Heart and makes it relatively easy to take down enemy groups. On the other hand, the skill is of little use when fighting bosses or other strong single enemies.
Acceleration of non-free fall
The Unfree Fall Acceleration upgrade ensures that enemies take fall damage whenever they are "freed" from the effect of Mass Telekinesis. I don’t understand why the enemy suspended in the air does not take damage without this upgrade. In any case, unlock the upgrade as soon as possible if you use telekinesis.
barotrauma
A useful skill that increases the DPS of Massive Telekinesis. Although the upgrade does not change the general rules for using the ability, you get a nice increase in damage dealt to enemies.
Power boost
This incredible upgrade allows you to lift large enemies into the air with the help of the main ability "Mass Telekinesis". Greatly simplifies the use of telekinesis during the battle with numerous enemy groups, since you do not have to figure out which of the opponents can be lifted and which of them cannot be affected by telekinesis.
What upgrades to unlock for the "Polymer Shield"
Since this is the only "defensive" ability in Atomic Heart, it might be tempting to forego using Polymer Shield in favor of other options. However, despite the overall effectiveness of the rest of the skills, there will be times when the shield will offer benefits that are incomparable to other abilities. This is especially useful when fighting bosses and other tough enemies.
Absorbent effect
Possibly the most useful upgrade for the Polymer Shield. The absorbing effect will allow you to gain a boost of energy whenever the shield is damaged. Considering the power and usefulness of energy weapons, this alone is enough to justify the use of a polymer shield.
Kinetic reflector
Kinetic Reflector not only reflects incoming melee damage, but also inflicts retaliatory damage on enemies that attacked you. Combined with the Absorption Effect, this upgrade will allow you to absorb hits, automatically deal damage to the enemy, and recharge with energy to use energy weapons.
Improved kinetic reflector
This incredibly expensive upgrade increases the amount of damage you reflect back to enemies with your shield and allows you to block critical damage. Most likely, the upgrade will be useful at higher difficulty levels, when critical damage can be dealt by literally every opponent.
Neuropolymer reflector
While I prefer to focus on the Polymer Shield melee skills, this useful upgrade will allow you to deflect all ranged attacks. As with the reduced fall damage, this upgrade is more situational.
What improvements to unlock on the "Energy" branch
Since energy weapons are useful against robots and other automated enemies, you will have to rely on them for most of the game. Energy weapons consume energy that you receive automatically or through certain skills. It is weaker than a firearm, but can be used without ammunition (in the sense that you do not need to search or craft them).
ATP recycling
This skill converts any lost health into additional energy. Although ideally you don't want to lose health, it will happen from time to time, so this upgrade will somewhat brighten up the negative from this situation as a whole.
Specific energy intensity
This simple upgrade (there are only three of them) will allow you to get additional cells of energy in the recirculation chamber and significantly increase the capacity of the "magazines" of energy weapons. There are three such skills in total, which will increase the energy supply from three to six cells.
Greedy
Greedy Beef increases the amount of energy regenerated in the Recirculation Chamber whenever you deal melee damage. Melee + energy weapons is a viable combo for most Atomic Heart fights.
frugality
This incredible (albeit expensive) skill reduces the amount of energy consumed by energy weapons. A powerful upgrade that makes energy weapons even more valuable than before.
All available skills and their upgrades
Shock
The main skill "Shocker" - unlocked by story, does not require polymers. The Neuro Gauntlet generates an electromagnetic discharge that strikes the enemy and deals electricity damage to them. Particularly effective against robotic targets.
All upgrades for the Shocker skill:
- Upgrade "Electrification" - 32 combat polymers. A strike with a shocker electrifies the enemy.
- Upgrade "Enhanced modulator" - 26 combat polymers. The electromagnetic unit receives an improvement that allows you to increase the range of the discharge.
- Chain Lightning upgrade - 69 combat polymers. The shocking discharge that hits the target is partially transmitted from it to the nearest enemy.
- Advanced Topology Upgrade - 75 Combat Polymers. Chain Lightning strikes one additional target.
- Upgrade "Full contact" - 95 combat polymers. Secondary targets hit by Chain Lightning take full damage.
- Power Amplification Upgrade - 40 Combat Polymers. A shocker strike deals more damage and allows you to push the enemy a certain distance.
- Resistor Failure Upgrade - 61 Combat Polymers. An electrified chain takes more damage.
- Upgrade "Neuropolymer booster" - 75 combat polymers. Neuropolymer gauntlet receives a modification that speeds up the discharge time.
- Powerful Electrification Upgrade - 87 Combat Polymers. The re-attack further charges an electrified enemy, and also tears apart polymerized enemies with low health.
Character
Eleanor's Kiss - unlocked by story, does not require polymers. Lethal damage will not be able to lower your health bar below one unit for some time. After the cooldown, the ability can be used again.
All character upgrades:
- Upgrade "Volumetric cassettes" - 27 combat polymers. Cassette capacity is increasing.
- Neurocompression Paratrooper Backpack 1 Upgrade — 75 Combat Polymers. Gradually increasing the compression ratio makes your RDN more capacious.
- Upgrade "Neurocompression Paratrooper's Backpack 2" - 75 combat polymers. Gradually increasing the compression ratio makes your RDN more capacious.
- Upgrade "Boar" - 37 combat polymers. Consistent upgrade of the costume strengthens our health, increasing its maximum value.
- Upgrade "Second wind" - 38 combat polymers. An excellent level of preparation gives you the strength to perform an additional snatch.
- Slippery Type Upgrade - 62 Combat Polymers. You are insured against any damage while using the Dash ability.
- Cell Division Upgrade - 242 Combat Polymers. The use of medical drugs allows you to regenerate within a few seconds after using them.
- Upgrade "Parkour" - 43 combat polymer. You are trained to group up when falling from a height, avoiding damage.
- Sleight of Hand and No Fraud Upgrade - 67 Combat Polymers. Changing weapons is twice as fast.
- Upgrade "Morning Runs" - 80 combat polymers. Every self-respecting major should be able to run a marathon. Run speed increased.
- Upgrade "Photon trap" - 27 combat polymers. Improving the effectiveness of the protection of the suit against laser attacks.
- Upgrade "Avatar" - 45 combat polymers. Ability to resist elemental damage.
- Upgrade "Stronghold" - 78 combat polymers. Increased physical damage resistance.
- Upgrade "Improvement of the medical block" - 57 combat polymers. The medical block built into the suit regenerates your health more efficiently.
- Upgrade "Ambal" - 110 combat polymers. Consistent costume upgrades strengthen our health, increasing its maximum value.
- Upgrade "Juggler" - 87 combat polymers. You can apply the healing medical capsule with one hand.
- Upgrade "Strongman" - 165 combat polymers. Consistent costume upgrades strengthen our health, increasing its maximum value.
cold
The main skill "Cryogenic jet" - 12 combat polymers. The neuro-glove generates a cryogenic polymer composition, which is delivered in the form of a jet to the enemy, or to another surface. Targets affected by the cryopolymer are frozen and unable to move. Bio enemies (infected) tolerate low temperatures worse than others.
All upgrades for the skill "Cold":
- Upgrade "High pressure" - 11 combat polymers. The pressure increase unit, which regulates the range of the cryogenic jet ejection, can be upgraded in order to increase the distance of impact on the enemy.
- Last Resort Upgrade - 35 Combat Polymers. In the absence of a Neural Gauntlet resource, it begins to generate a cryogenic polymer composition due to ATP obtained from your blood mass. As a result, you can continue to use the ability at the expense of your health.
- Forced Defrosting Upgrade - 34 Combat Polymers. A frozen target takes additional damage when it exits the frozen state.
- Upgrade "Careful dismantling" - 66 combat polymers. In the event of the destruction of a frozen enemy, the number of trophies received as a result of the killing increases.
- Upgrade "Neupropolymer booster" - 70 combat polymers. Neuropolymer gauntlet receives a modification that speeds up the generation time of the polymer jet.
- Upgrade "Increase in the generation of combat polymer" - 10 combat polymer. The performance increase of the Neuro Gauntlet increases the duration of the Cryogenic Polymer jet generation.
- Upgrade "Fire Extinguisher" - 22 combat polymers. Spraying Cryopolymer reduces fire damage taken.
- Upgrade "Intensive spray" - 48 combat polymers. The release of cryogenic substance occurs at an increased speed, which allows you to freeze the target faster.
- Diffuse Atomizer Upgrade - 48 Combat Polymers. The cryogenic block receives an upgrade that increases the cryopolymer spray cone.
- Upgrade "Cryogenic sleep" - 88 combat polymers. Consistent modernization of the cryogenic generation block makes it possible to increase the survivability of cryogenic polymers deposited on the target, which increases the duration of their action.
- Absolute Zero Upgrade - 104 Combat Polymers. Cryogenic freezing occurs at an extremely low temperature, causing damage to frozen targets every second of its impact.
Mass telekinesis
The main skill "Mass telekinesis" - 66 combat polymers. The telekinetic unit of the Neuro-Gauntlet receives an upgrade that allows it to telekinetically grab all enemies within a certain radius in front of it. Captured opponents rise into the air and are held there for a certain time. Cancellation or end of the impact leads to the fall of the targets.
All upgrades for the skill "Mass Telekinesis":
- Unfree Fall Acceleration Upgrade - 70 Combat Polymers. The neurokinetic module gains the ability to drop uplifted enemies with acceleration, inflicting fall damage on them.
- Upgrade "Enhanced modulator" - 79 combat polymers. The telekinetic block is getting an upgrade that increases the radius of the mass capture.
- Upgrade "Barotrauma" - 93 combat polymers. The pressure in the area of ​​telekinetic influence increases with each second of hold, inflicting significant damage to captured targets.
- Last resort upgrade - 144 combat polymers. In the absence of the Neural Gauntlet resource, the Telekinetic Module begins to function at the expense of ATP obtained from your blood mass. As a result, you will be able to continue using the ability at the expense of losing health points.
- Upgrade "Increased impact" - 210 combat polymers. Increase the duration of keeping enemies in the air.
- Power Upgrade - 144 Combat Polymers. The Neurokinetic Mass Telekinesis Module is getting a modification that significantly increases the overall impact power, which allows you to lift heavy enemies, even bosses, into the air.
- Upgrade "Neuropolymer booster" - 175 combat polymers. Neuropolymer gauntlet receives a modification that speeds up the cooldown of mass telekinetic effect.
- Upgrade "Energy Vampire" - 226 combat polymers. Captured by mass telekinesis, opponents lose some of their own energy, which is redirected to fill the resource of the recycling store. This upgrade requires an energy cell to activate.
polymer cast
The main skill "Polymer jet" - 20 combat polymers. The neuro-glove generates a combat polymer composition, which is delivered in the form of a jet to the enemy, or to any surface. The polymer composition applied to the target can be set on fire, electrified or frozen. An enemy under the influence of this polymer attack, or stepping on the specified surface, takes the corresponding damage.
All upgrades for the "Polymer Throw" skill:
- High Pressure Upgrade - 23 Combat Polymers. The unit for increasing pressure, which regulates the range of ejection of the polymer jet, can be upgraded in order to increase the distance of impact on the enemy.
- Upgrade "Resilience to the external environment" - 52 combat polymers. Consistent modernization of the neuropolymer generation unit makes it possible to increase the survivability of combat polymers applied to the target, which increases the duration of their action.
- Upgrade "Neuropolymer Air Defense" - 85 combat polymers. The combat polymer composition receives increased viscosity, which seriously slows down the rotation of the carrier propellers of air targets. Flying opponents lose the ability to move through the air.
- Upgrade "Increase in the generation of combat polymer" - 89 combat polymers. Upgrading the performance of the Neuro Gauntlet increases the duration of the Combat Polymer jet generation.
- Upgrade "Increased chemical reaction radius" - 39 combat polymers. The combat attack effect of the polymer applied to the target extends beyond its location.
- Composition Efficiency Upgrade - 46 Combat Polymers. Increasing the efficiency of the polymer composition makes chemical reactions even deadlier.
- High Viscosity Upgrade - 63 Combat Polymers. The combat polymer composition receives increased viscosity indicators, slowing down opponents.
- Upgrade "Neuropolymer Accelerator" - 89 combat polymers. Neuropolymer gauntlet receives a modification that speeds up the generation time of the polymer jet.
Polymer Shield
The main skill "Polymer shield" - 28 combat polymers. The Neuro Gauntlet creates a polymer shield around you that protects you from the effects of melee attacks and ranged weapons, and also redirects some of the energy of stopped projectiles to the recircular magazine, increasing its charge. This function is not designed to protect against particularly strong attacks.
All upgrades for the "Polymer Shield" skill:
- Upgrade "Overload and destabilization" - 43 combat polymer. Activating the Shield at full charge and using it to the end, the Shield destabilizes and explodes, splashing opponents with droplets of battle polymer. The ability has a cooldown.
- Absorption Rate Upgrade - 46 Combat Polymers. Increased filling efficiency of the recircular store.
- Absorbent Effect Upgrade - 82 Combat Polymers. Melee attacks are converted to energy.
- Upgrade "Kinetic Reflector" - 98 combat polymers. While the shield is active, some of the melee damage you take is duplicated by the enemies that dealt it.
- Upgrade "Neuropolymer Accelerator" - 96 combat polymers. Neuropolymer gauntlet gets a modification that speeds up the generation of the shield.
- Upgrade "Improved Kinetic Reflector" - 145 combat polymers. Increases damage returned and also blocks even strong attacks.
- Upgrade "Reflective surface" - 82 combat polymer. The additional ionization of the Neuropolymer Shield makes it possible to reflect laser attacks back at the attacker.
- Upgrade "Neuropolymer Reflector" - 98 combat polymers. While the shield is active, all enemy ranged attacks are reflected back at the enemy.
- Upgrade "Increase in the generation of combat polymer" - 106 combat polymers. Improving the performance of the Neuro Gauntlet increases the duration of the shield generation.
- Medblock Link Upgrade — 124 Combat Polymers. During its action, the shield redirects some of the energy to a medical block that regenerates your health.
Character Energy
- Upgrade "Specific energy intensity" - unlocked by story, does not require polymers. Recycling magazines of your weapons receive an additional energy cell during the upgrade.
- ATP Recycling Upgrade - 82 Combat Polymers. Gaining energy from lost health.
- Upgrade "Specific energy intensity" - 34 combat polymers. Recycling magazines of your weapons receive an additional energy cell during the upgrade.
- Greedy Beef Upgrade - 146 Combat Polymers. Your melee attacks fill the Recycling Store's energy much faster.
- Upgrade "Specific energy intensity" - 104 combat polymers. Recycling magazines of your weapons receive an additional energy cell during the upgrade.
- Economy Upgrade - 184 Combat Polymers. Your ranged attacks consume Recycle Magazine energy much more slowly.
- Upgrade "Energy tightness" - 239 combat polymers. Increasing the level of auto-recovery of energy.
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