You buy this expensive ($67,500) item from the 3D printer, but its cost is well worth it, especially after upgrades, as this allows for ultimate flexibility during operations. How useful is the Quadcopter? It should be your first big purchase—before clothing, vehicles or even weaponry—and the reasons why are multifold:
Entering (Almost) Everywhere: The Quadcopter can obviously fly, and this means you can forgo the slightly laborious process of maneuvering around obstacles on the ground. It can provide reconnaissance information for the entire area, especially after you upgrade it with the Proximity Scanner ./Research ability. It can even enter almost every nook and cranny that a Jumper can, including gaps and vents. Unlike the Jumper, you can simply fly vertically to remove the Quadcopter from enemy interactions.
Going Places You and Your Jumper Can’t: The Quadcopter has even more flexibility of movement than the Jumper, as it can immediately and quickly fly over perimeter gates and fences, head to rooftops, fly into open windows without needing to climb up difficult scenery, and it can hide under vehicles. It can hack security doors, push open unlocked doors, and scoot past every type of foe, usually at much closer range than Marcus. Don’t forget the Quadcopter can also take photographs, if you want to see an area from a new angle, especially a ScoutX landmark. Looking down from the sky allows you to view an entire restricted area, much like the maps in this guide.
Enemy Interaction: Expect the same type of enemy interaction as you would when using a Jumper. Enemies spotting this craft will shoot or lob rocks at it. If the Quadcopter is destroyed, it requires a cooldown time (shown on your smartphone minimap). If the Quadcopter is spotted, use Boost and hide or simply fly up vertically, out of enemy range.
(Not Quite) A Hacking Machine: The Quadcopter can hack access keys from foes or objects, which is one of its main strengths and should be employed in this manner in most infiltration circumstances. It can interact with hackable objects, tag guards, and complete some objectives for you. It’s incredibly useful during a Network Bypass, as the dataflow and nodes you’re looking at are easier to see and interact with from the air. The biggest drawback of the Quadcopter is that it can only execute remote hacks, not physical hacks (like the Jumper). This means it cannot interact with CCTs or data container hard drives that require a manual interaction. Instead, it’s more of an eye in the sky.
All the Best Moves: Just like the Jumper, make sure you check out the Remote CTRL branch of the ./Research app tree, and unlock the following upgrades:
Proximity Scanner: Perhaps the best upgrade Research Points can buy, this allows you to tag enemies through walls while using the Quadcopter in both normal and NetHack views. This essentially negates the need to remotely go from security camera to camera, scouting for foes and turning them red. Instead, use the Quadcopter in all but the tightest of spaces as the ultimate in recon gadgets! Better yet, in Co-op Operations, one player can tag foes while the other infiltrates, as foes are visible to both of you!
Expert RC Engineering: Reducing the cooldown time for the Quadcopter has exactly the same benefits as for the Jumper. If you don’t take this ability, just use the Jumper or Marcus instead until the Quadcopter is ready for flight again.
Remote Gadgets: Need to drop electroshock and explosive devices all over a restricted area? Want to call on mass hacks after positioning your Quadcopter near a cluster of objects that benefit your tactics the most during a mass hack? Then employ the Quadcopter rather than the Jumper or Marcus, as it can usually reach an area in the safest and fastest time. Need tactics for dropping devices on foes? Check the “Devices” section earlier in this chapter.
Speed Boost: Though helpful, boosting over a restricted area isn’t all that necessary, as you can simply gain height and fly over an area unimpeded. Also, you’re likely to boost out of signal range, so be aware of this drawback. However, if Marcus or a teammate needs help at the far side of a restricted area, the Quadcopter can be there in seconds if you press in the left thumbstick and boost there.