Robots—sexy, deadly, and everywhere. Atomic Heart’s unique mix of combat and customization makes choosing the right skills early on crucial for survival. Whether you’re wooing or warring with these killer machines, building the right set of skills can make or break your journey. In this guide, we’ll cover the best skills to get early, how to manage your resources efficiently, and which glove abilities can turn the tide in battle.

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Understanding the Skill System: Neuropolymer and Respecs

Skills in Atomic Heart are purchased using Neuropolymer, a resource collected from defeating enemies and looting chests. The creepy NORA machine serves as your upgrade hub, allowing you to buy and respec skills freely. The ability to refund spent Neuropolymer without penalty encourages experimentation, making it essential to regularly revisit your skill tree based on the enemies and situations you face.

Focus on upgrading glove abilities first, as they significantly influence your combat strategy. If a skill isn’t meshing with your playstyle, don’t hesitate to refund it and invest in something more practical.

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Character Skills: The Foundation of Survival

1. Wild Boar and Resistances

Increasing your maximum health with Wild Boar is a straightforward but essential upgrade. However, investing in resistances—both physical and elemental—provides more value early on due to their lower cost. Combining these upgrades gives you both survivability and resource efficiency, making it easier to handle diverse enemy types.

2. Tactical Backpack Upgrades

Inventory space is a constant battle in Atomic Heart. Expanding your bag not only allows you to carry more healing items and ammunition but also ensures you’re never short on canisters and other combat essentials. Prioritize these upgrades to reduce the stress of resource management.

3. Morning Exercise and Second Wind

Movement speed is surprisingly critical, especially with no sprint option in the game. Morning Exercise grants a modest but noticeable speed boost, enhancing both exploration and combat maneuverability. Pair this with Second Wind to gain an extra dodge charge, giving you the flexibility to evade enemy attacks and reposition quickly.

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Glove Abilities: Prioritize Shock and Mass Telekinesis

1. Shock: Your Unswappable Companion

Shock is the only glove ability that can’t be unslotted, making it a priority for upgrades. Power Amplifier increases its damage and adds a knockback effect, offering both offense and crowd control. Chain Lightning is another must-have, allowing Shock to hit multiple targets in close proximity.

This ability’s versatility makes it a staple for any build—whether you prefer melee, ranged, or a mix of both.

2. Mass Telekinesis: Control the Battlefield

Mass Telekinesis lifts enemies into the air, turning them into easy targets. The Forced Fall Acceleration upgrade slams them back to the ground for additional damage, often outright killing weaker enemies. Amplified Modular expands the area of effect, making it invaluable for large groups.

This ability’s utility in controlling the flow of battle is unmatched, providing both crowd control and damage potential.

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Frostbite vs. Polymeric Jet vs. Shield: Choosing the Third Ability

The third slot for glove abilities comes down to personal preference and your current build.

• Frostbite: Effective for crowd control, freezing enemies in place. However, attacking frozen enemies breaks the effect, limiting its usefulness during intense fights.
• Polymeric Jet: Boosts elemental damage by coating enemies in a polymer substance that amplifies fire, ice, or electric damage. Ideal for mid-to-late game when elemental cartridges become more accessible.
• Polymeric Shield: Best for early-game survivability, blocking both melee and ranged attacks (excluding critical hits). Offers a reliable defense until you unlock more offensive options.

For early-game, the Shield offers more immediate benefits, but transitioning to Polymeric Jet as you progress unlocks higher damage potential.

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Optimizing Neuropolymer Usage: Dismantling and Upgrades

Dismantling unused weapons and upgrades is an efficient way to recycle resources. Neuropolymer can be scarce, so disassembling gear you no longer need prevents waste and accelerates your path to high-value upgrades.

Additionally, focus on upgrading one primary melee weapon and one energy weapon first. The Electro is particularly valuable once upgraded, thanks to its ability to siphon health from enemies and operate without ammo.

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Conclusion: Building for the Future

Early-game success in Atomic Heart hinges on strategic skill investments and mastering glove abilities. Prioritize survivability and crowd control early, then shift to elemental damage and offensive upgrades as you progress. By managing resources wisely and adapting your skill tree, you’ll turn even the most dangerous encounters into manageable fights.

Equip yourself with the right skills, play smart, and you’ll conquer the robot apocalypse with style.