The alternate-history soviet-era FPS gameAtomic Heartis one that really etches its own path in the genre. True enough, the classic FPS staples are here, but enough variety and new ideas are there that make the game pretty unique.
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Added into this mix are a handful of RPG elements. Namely, the addition of skills that you can upgrade at the cost of precious neuropolymer. One skill tree to focus on in your playthrough is that of your character. These alter your stamina, health, and overall abilities that aren’t attached to your weapons or glove. But which of these should you hoard neuropolymer for, and which should you avoid entirely?
10Morning Exercise
This upgrade puts a bit more pep in your step. A must-have when facing all the technological monstrosities you’ll run across while exploring Facility 3826.
Atomic Heart strips you of the FPS staple that is sprinting. Instead, you are tasked to fast-walk away from your problems. At least with this upgrade, it is more of a hearty jog. It may not be high on your list of things to save up for, but it can be the difference between breaking away from an encounter that gets too hairy and restarting from your last save.
9Bulwark
Throughout the game, you’ll run across plenty of different bad guys throughout the various labs and facilities.
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Each of these enemies has its own way of causing you damage, but nothing is as classic as good old hand-to-hand combat. Or hand-to-robotic pincer on occasion. Knowing that, Bulwark is a pretty good idea to invest in. This upgrade reduces some of the damage you take from physical attacks. It may not be as flashy as other upgrades, but it will come in handy for most of the game.
8Juggler
The neuromed capsules are the game’s answer to the first-aid kit question. Using them allows your character to regain lost health, depending on their size.
The drawback of these is it takes both hands to use them. Hands that could be used to fire weapons or swing axes. Thankfully, with Juggler, you only need one hand to heal. This allows you to keep one hand free to use your pistol or similar weapon to keep your enemies at bay. Handy, right?
7Cell Division
Speaking of healing, getting upgrades that make healing more efficient is never a bad idea, and that’s exactly what Cell Division does.
Any sort of neuromed you use will completely heal you in just a few moments. This is a great benefit throughout the game, no matter your play style. This upgrade, combined with Juggler, is a potent mix, allowing you to heal completely in a short time and do damage as you do so.
6Full House
Swapping weapons happens more often than you may think. Running out of ammo, changing range or damage type, or fighting a different enemy can all call for you to reach into your inventory for another weapon.
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Full House makes you swap weapons 100 percent faster. Faster hands allow you to not be bogged down for longer, letting you do more damage faster and maybe even stay alive for longer. So, it is sort of a damage-dealing upgrade in the long run.
5Wild Boar
An oddly named upgrade, but a helpful one for sure. Wild Boar is the first of a handful of upgrades that increase your maximum health. No matter the game, more health is always helpful, and here is no exception.
Wild Boar makes the list above the rest due to it being the cheapest of the max health upgrades. This small addition can be enough to keep you in the fight when you otherwise would have to start the encounter all over again.
4Second Wind
Dodging is the key to avoiding enemy attacks that would have otherwise hit you squarely. With Second Win, you get a second charge in which to dodge before you have to rest for a moment.
This is good for dodging chained or area attacks or if you just find yourself surrounded and you need to give P-3 some breathing room. Either way, this upgrade earns its price pretty early on and doesn’t really lose its potency as the game goes on.
3Neuro-Compression Tactical Backpack
Inventory management is the bane of many in the gaming world. In Atomic Heart, your inventory is where you keep all your weapons and goodies, and there are plenty of cool things you’ll want to pick up throughout your foray into the soviet labs.
This upgrade allows your backpack to have more space for said goodies. The more items at your disposal means living longer and having fewer tough choices about what to keep and what to leave with Nora.
2Sleazeball
The name may not seem all that appealing, but Sleazeball is an upgrade that should not be passed on. Dodging alone is helpful, but this addition to the ability negates all damage you would have taken while in the dodge.
A well-timed dodge with this upgrade will not only move you to better vantages but can also completely avoid damage you otherwise couldn’t avoid. This is perfect forcertain boss fightsor if you’re finding yourself overwhelmed and bogged down by multiple enemies.
1Nora’s Kiss
By far an upgrade that will save your skin multiple times. It may not be as cheap as others on the skill tree, but it is well worth saving for.
Nora’s Kiss saves you from death, instead locking you in at 1HP for a short duration. This is often enough time to get out of danger or grab a neuromed. Combined with other upgrades like Juggler and Cell Division, you can be an absolute wrecking ball, even with low health.
