Projected Energy Propulsion System (P.E.P.S.)
PEPS is a combative augmentation that throws enemies around. Once unlocked, you can also get a focused mode that knocks targets out. Because this creates so much chaos, it’s still in the realm of a combative purchase and should be avoided by stealth players who want to keep Ghost mode and Smooth Operator intact.
Knockback
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Effects: Fire a quick shot that knocks targets around |
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Energy Consumption: Medium |
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Notes: Use this mode to stun a group of targets so that they can’t fire back at you. Use the time you’ve earned to eliminate as many of them as possible. |
Precision Diode
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Effects: Focused PEPS into a narrow beam that hits hard and knocks out a target |
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Energy Consumption: Medium |
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Notes: It’s nice to have a bit of knockout potential at range, but this takes time to arm, making it an odd duck in your weapon lineup. The Tranquilizer Rifle is quieter and faster. Your deadlier weapons are faster and can hit more targets in a short amount of time. Precision mode is more for fun and variety rather than being superior to your other options. |
Remote Hacking
This powerful augmentation lets you manipulate electronic devices remotely. A whole new door of powerful stealth applications opens, because you no longer have to find clever ways to get past enemies before hitting their security systems. You can unlock ladders, disable laser fences, dominate turrets, and so forth. This is top-tier stuff for stealth players, and it’s not too bad even for combative people who want to get an edge over their foes.
Environmental Domination
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Effects: Locate and hack non-security objects |
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Energy Consumption: Low |
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Notes: This unlocks ledges, ladders, and other environmental objects so that you can travel more comfortably and safely through areas. It’s a good stepping stone, but is trivialized by the next step in the line. |
Security Domination
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Effects: Locate and hack security objects as well |
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Energy Consumption: Low |
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Notes: Robots, turrets, and cameras are added to the list of objects that you can manipulate from range. So many areas of the game go from tricky to easy as soon as you can do this. Once you can deal with security objects, it’s fairly simple to sneak up on people and use Takedowns or bypass them entirely with traditional stealth options. |
Tesla
Most weapon systems seem like obvious combative choices, but this is an exception. For once, we suggest that non-combative players look into Tesla. There are times when you still want to disable a target even when you’re a pure stealth player. Usually, Takedowns or the Tranq Rifle fill that role. However, there are a couple of cases when those won’t work. Police in Exo Suits and certain special augmented individuals cannot be hit with normal Takedowns. They will parry the attack. Instead, you must stun them and then use Takedown. Tesla shots + Takedown do this every time. As long as you attack from the rear, you can even preserve your Ghost and Smooth Operator bonuses while doing this!
Quick-Fire System
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Effects: Lets you disable one target with Tesla |
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Energy Consumption: None |
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Notes: Uses ammo. Because Tesla isn’t needed very often, this might be all that you need to unlock. Going any farther is only important if you want to pull off some major room-clearing with Tesla. |
Dual-Arc Upgrade
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Effects: Can mark two targets for Tesla shots |
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Energy Consumption: None |
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Notes: Uses ammo. |
Quad-Arc Upgrade
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Effects: Marks up to four targets for Tesla shots |
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Energy Consumption: None |
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Notes: Uses ammo. |
Arc Distance Upgrade
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Effects: Doubles Tesla’s active range |
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Energy Consumption: None |
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Notes: Uses ammo. This is only important if you are trying to mark multiple people for Tesla. Single targets are easy to sneak up on and attack from short range. |
Nanoblade
The Nanoblade is a lethal option for your weapon lineup. Though it’s possible to use quietly, this is not usually a stealth choice because of its inability to knock people out. Stealthers, on the whole, prefer non-lethal methods. So, this is usually something that combative players select.
Nanoblade attacks are fast, highly damaging, and can be upgraded to have an area of effect component, as well. Use these before enemies are on alert to score some nice kills, then take cover with traditional weaponry for cleaning up the survivors.
Impact Velocity Shot
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Effects: Fires a single shot that can impale targets |
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Energy Consumption: None |
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Notes: Uses ammo. Take out ranged, single opponents almost instantly with these attacks. If your victim is near a wall or solid object, you can pin the poor fools in the process. Very nasty stuff. |
Explosive Heat Blade
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Effects: Turns your attack into an area of effect blast |
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Energy Consumption: None |
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Notes: Uses ammo. The normal ranged attack superheats and explodes shortly after contact. Fire into the middle of clustered enemies to obliterate them. |
Focus Enhancement
Focus grants Jensen a burst of super decision making. It makes the world appear to slow down for a limited time, depending on the amount of energy that you have. This is best used in the middle of huge firefights to give you time to land multiple headshots or use other high-precision abilities. You can even shoot grenades out of the air with some reliability.
It goes without saying that this is a great combative augmentation.
Regulated Nervous System
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Effects: Gives the perception of slowed time |
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Energy Consumption: High |
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Notes: None |
Icarus Dash
Icarus Dash is seriously fun. It lets you move very quickly for a short time in the direction that you were already heading (so you can dash backwards, sideways, forward, etc.). If you’re standing still, the system makes you dash forward.
The charged variant you unlock later can be used to go a bit farther and to knock out anyone who gets in your way during the dash. This isn’t a major selection for any group of players; it’s more of a peripheral choice to give you more options and to enjoy yourself.
Dorsal Propulsion Kit
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Effects: You dash in your current direction (forward by default) |
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Energy Consumption: Low |
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Notes: None |
Charged Dash
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Effects: You dash in your current direction when the charge is released |
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Energy Consumption: Medium |
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Notes: Hold down the augmentation’s button until you’re ready to unleash it. If you target someone ahead of time, an icon appears over their head to let you know that the enemy will be knocked out by your dash. |
Titan
Provides immense protection while your energy holds out. During the biggest firefights, this is a great way to ensure that your character cannot be overwhelmed. This is most useful for combative players on the highest difficulty levels. On lower difficulties, it’s often overkill.
Subcutis Energy Mod
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Effects: Negates incoming damage |
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Energy Consumption: High |
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Notes: None |
Facet Cost Reduced
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Effects: Negates incoming damage |
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Energy Consumption: Medium |
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Notes: None |
Facet Cost Optimized
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Effects: Negates incoming damage |
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Energy Consumption: Low |
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Notes: If you use Titan, you should get this upgrade as soon as you can. It gives you the greatest amount of time to survive and eliminate your enemies. |