Early in your journey through Pragmata, you will unlock the Unit Printer, a crucial hub for purchasing new items and upgrades that significantly boost your offensive and defensive capabilities. While the game offers plenty of options to spend your resources, deciding which Unit Printer upgrades are most important during those opening hours can make the difference between survival and failure later on. Although your final loadout depends on your personal playstyle, prioritizing specific enhancements early will streamline your progression. Below, we have compiled a list of the essential Pragmata upgrades to secure first for maximum efficiency.
Optimizing Combat Loadouts and Weaponry
The core of surviving in Pragmata lies in tailoring your loadout to handle diverse threats effectively. Investing in the right slots and weapons early sets a strong foundation for the challenges ahead.
Prioritize Mod Slots for Customization
Mods introduce various passive effects that fundamentally alter how you approach combat, allowing you to tailor a loadout that maximizes success rates. Since you will discover quite a few mods scattered throughout the world, securing Mod Slot (Attachments) upgrades should be one of your highest priorities immediately after unlocking them. These additional slots grant you the flexibility to equip multiple effects simultaneously without being forced into a generic setup. Without these extra slots, you may find yourself unable to utilize the powerful items you've scavenged from the field.
Invest Heavily in the Shockwave Gun
The Shockwave Gun effectively functions as a shotgun and is arguably the best weapon in the game for dealing out raw damage up close. Given that many combat encounters trap players in tight corridors, having a high-damage close-quarters option is vital for survival. As this is the first Attack Unit weapon you acquire, it is the prime candidate for pumping upgrades into for more ammo, higher damage, and faster reloads. Focusing your resources here ensures you can clear rooms efficiently rather than struggling with weaker firepower.
Level Up Repair and Hacking Nodes
Survival isn't just about dealing damage; it's also about managing threats and staying in the fight when enemies hit hard. Several key upgrades fall under this category that you should prioritize alongside your weapon upgrades:
- Repair Up (Attachments): You will find more repair cartridges by exploring sectors, but you must invest in this attachment to make each use count against tough foes.
- Decode (Hacking): As the first hacking node, this remains immensely powerful for single targets throughout the entire game by increasing damage post-hack.
- Additional Node Slot: Having more nodes populate your hacks is never a disadvantage; leveling these slots ensures you can store diverse options during a run.
Tactical Abilities and Mobility Enhancements
Beyond raw damage and repair, the right abilities can turn the tide of battle or help you navigate the environment with ease. These upgrades provide utility that saves time and resources in the long run.
Unlock Object Scan Immediately
Finding collectibles and materials becomes significantly easier once Object Scan becomes available just a few hours into the game. You should buy this immediately as it is very cheap, then use the assigned button to ping the environment consistently while exploring. This ability leads you to nearby items you might otherwise miss, making it an absolute must-have for efficient resource gathering.
Secure Thruster Charges for Evasion
Do you enjoy taking damage? If not, you will need to dodge frequently, as enemies and obstacles in Pragmata come at you fast. Having the stamina to dash around as much as possible is critical for maintaining positioning during chaotic fights. Upgrade your Thruster Charges at least a few times early on to ensure you have adequate options for maneuverability when combat gets intense.
Master Auto-Hacking for Overwhelmed Moments
As you progress, hacking becomes progressively more complicated, and manually executing hacks can feel extremely challenging when surrounded by a horde of baddies. The Auto-Hacking ability is incredibly useful here, allowing Diana to perform a hack with a simple button press. While you won't want to use it for every scenario due to the cost from your hacking gauge, you will definitely need this safety net when feeling overwhelmed or needing to move things along quickly.
