In Hyperlight Breaker, choosing the right upgrades, abilities, and perks is essential to maximizing your efficiency in runs. This guide highlights the best ones to focus on, ensuring you make the most of your golden rations and cores.

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Understanding Upgrades and Perks

To unlock perks, you need golden rations, earned by completing cycles. These perks are divided into tiers, and you will also need cores to unlock higher tiers. Each perk requires a specific number of slots, so you must carefully balance your selections to optimize your build.

Essential Upgrades to Prioritize

1. Med Pack Capacity (Tier 1)

• Cost: 1 Golden Ration
• Effect: Grants access to med packs, allowing you to heal during runs.
• Why? Healing is crucial, and this upgrade ensures you always have a med pack available.

2. Refined Blades (Tier 2)

• Cost: 1-2 Golden Rations
• Effect: Grants an additional fix to your default starter blade.
• Why? Fixes add extra damage and bonuses, giving you a stronger starting weapon.

3. Synergy (Tier 4-5)

• Cost: 1-3 Golden Rations
• Effect: Provides a 10% damage boost per piece of gear with the same elemental effect.
• Why? Maximizing elemental synergies can significantly boost your overall damage output.

4. Additional Med Pack Capacity (Tier 5)

• Cost: 5 Golden Rations + 2 Abyss Stones
• Effect: Allows you to carry two med packs instead of one.
• Why? Having an extra heal is game-changing, especially in longer cycles.

5. Increased Rare Loot Drops (Tier 5)

• Cost: 3-5 Golden Rations
• Effect: Increases the likelihood of finding higher-tier loot.
• Why? Better weapons and gear mean higher damage and survivability.

6. Vault Slot Expansion (Tier 2-3)

• Cost: 1-2 Golden Rations
• Effect: Increases the number of weapons and equipment you can store.
• Why? More storage means you can keep powerful items for future runs.

7. Flash Steps (Tier 3-4)

• Cost: 2-3 Golden Rations
• Effect: Grants 15% extra movement speed during dashes.
• Why? Increased mobility helps avoid enemy attacks and reposition quickly.

8. Parry Projectile Reflection (Tier 3-4)

• Cost: 3 Golden Rations
• Effect: Allows successful parries to reflect projectiles back at enemies.
• Why? Helps deal with ranged threats without taking damage.

9. Skeleton Key (Tier 3)

• Cost: 2-3 Golden Rations
• Effect: Start each cycle with one key to open locked doors and chests.
• Why? Grants early access to better loot and secret areas.

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Best Perks Based on Playstyle

For High-Damage Builds

1. Synergy (10% damage per elemental match)
2. Refined Blades (Extra fix on default weapons)
3. Flash Steps (Faster dashes for better positioning)

For Survivability

1. Med Pack Capacity (Always have healing available)
2. Additional Med Pack Capacity (Carry two med packs)
3. Parry Projectile Reflection (Negate ranged attacks)

For Loot Optimization

1. Skeleton Key (Unlock early chests for better gear)
2. Vault Slot Expansion (Store more loot for future runs)
3. Increased Rare Loot Drops (Find better weapons and armor)

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Final Thoughts

While Hyperlight Breaker offers many perks and upgrades, prioritizing healing, damage output, and synergy will give you the best advantage in runs. Make sure to balance your choices based on your preferred playstyle.

Good luck, Breaker!