Deathloop: Best powers - which ones? Deathloop guide, walkthrough

Last update: 21 July 2021

On this page of the Deathloop game guide, you will find a summary of the best powers available in the game. You will find out what are the most useful skills in Deathloop, how to get the best powers and when it is best to use them.

• Reprise
• Shift
• Karnesis
• Aether
• Nexus
• Havoc

Reprise

You will automatically get Reprise at the beginning of the game when you visit Manor Cliffs - the starting location - for the first time. Unlike other powers, you can never lose Reprise. It will be automatically available in all subsequent Loops and you don't need to "save" it by spending Residuum.

This power greatly affects efficiency. Reprise allows you to save Colt from dying and restarting the Loop this way. Having unlocked this power, the main character doesn't have to die when his health drops to zero. The Reprise reverses time and can bring Colt to his previous state and allow him to repeat the scene in which he died earlier (or completely skip it).

The power can be used twice in a given location before Colt dies ultimately, which will restart the Loop. We discussed Reprise in more detail on the page Death and respawn.

Shift

This is the most important of the basic abilities, namely those which use up the power bar when you use the power. You can get this power from Charlie Montague, who by default can be found in the Updaam district. Alternatively, you can obtain it as one of the random rewards for defeating Julianna.

The Shift allows you to teleport over short distances and it's very similar to the Blink power known from the Dishonored games. The shift can be useful for reaching inaccessible places, for example, on high shelves or roofs of buildings. This can make it easier for Colt to sneak past enemies, allow him to find alternative passages, or allow him to perform more effective surprise attacks.

Shift can also be used, for example, to quickly get to an enemy you want to kill in close-combat (on open fight or silent execution), or to move from one adjacent cover to the next. You can find more tips and hints about using Shift e.g. on the page Exploring the world.

Try to kill Charlie (or Julianna) a few more times to unlock upgrades for Shift. Make the Reach upgrade your priority, which, as the name suggests, allows you to teleport across longer distances. It can help you even more in reaching places that are difficult to access, or in bypassing/surprising the enemies. We recommend having them in 1 of the 2 upgrade slots at all times.

Karnesis

This power will use up the power bar. You can get this power from Aleksis Dorsey, who by default can be found in the Updaam district. Alternatively, you can obtain it as one of the random rewards for defeating Julianna.

Karnesis works similarly to telekinesis - in its basic form, it allows you to throw back the attacked opponents. What's important, you can choose the direction in which you will push a given opponent. That opens up a lot of opportunities. One of the most helpful is deliberately throwing enemies into the abyss to kill them.

you can change the way Karnesis works by finding and installing upgrades for this power. For instance, the Suspension upgrade will allow you to suspend the grabbed enemy in mid-air and make them an easy target. Next, the Zone upgrade is useful when fighting enemy groups, which you can push back with a single activation of this power.

Aether

This power will use up the power bar. You can get this power from Egor Serling, who by default can be found in the Complex. Alternatively, you can obtain it as one of the random rewards for defeating Julianna.

It's a very useful power for sneaking, because includes camouflage, which makes the hero partially invisible. What's unique about this power is that its strength is tied to Colt's moving speed - it's the strongest if you stay still. Growing speed gradually weakens the camouflage and increases the risk of detection. You must also remember that by default, active camouflage continuously drains the power bar - you need to keep an eye on it so the invisibility doesn't deactivate at an inconvenient moment.

The most obvious use for this power is to sneak past enemies more easily and avoid unnecessary fights. However, invisibility can also be useful, for example, for planning ambushes or stealing intelligence without the risk of detection. With active Aether you can additionally avoid being detected by the sensors, turrets and laser traps, but unfortunately proximity mines may still go off, as they respond to movement.

Additional tip - when you unlock Aether for the first time, try to kill Egor a few more times to eventually unlock the Ghost upgrade. It is very helpful and you should install it immediately when you prepare for the next mission.

With the Ghost upgrade active, camouflage doesn't use up energy when Colt stands still. It can be used in may ways:

1. it makes it easier to lose a chase and avoid opponents (including Julianna),
2. it makes it easier to prepare for an attack - you can make sure your aim is accurate even after activating camouflage, because you don't have to worry about your energy running out anymore,
3. it makes it easier to watch the environment around you (e.g. to tag enemies),
4. it makes it easier to hack devices - activate the power when you approach such a device and stand still as you hack it.

Nexus

This power will use up the power bar. You can get this power from Harriet Morse, who by default can be found in Karl's Bay. Alternatively, you can obtain it as one of the random rewards for defeating Julianna.

You need to be creative with this power but if you use it correctly, it can make your gameplay significantly easier. The effect of this ability is binding your opponents by creating energetic streams between them. All connected enemies will react in the same way when receiving damage or status. For example, killing an opponent will automatically kill all other enemies connected to him. It might be a good way to get rid of a group of opponents.

One of the most interesting upgrades to Nexus is Parasite. Having this upgrade installed can lead to situations where if you deal damage to the connected enemies, Colt's health will be simultaneously restored. This can be especially helpful if you like to fight in open combat often and thus expose yourself to enemy attacks.

Havoc

This power will use up the power bar. You can get this power from Fia Zborowska, who by default can be found in her bunker on Fristad Rock. Alternatively, you can obtain it as one of the random rewards for defeating Julianna.

Havoc is the perfect power for direct combat. It has two very important features:

1. Increases the strength of Colt's attacks - you can use the power to deliver stronger attacks and kill the enemies more effectively.
2. Increases Colt's resistance to enemy attacks - you don't have to worry about suddenly dying. It is worth noting here that for the slab's duration the energy bar will turn into a sort of armor bar, i.e. it will absorb enemy attacks (until it runs out) and keep Colt's health at a decent level.

We recommend that you take this power with you every time you plan to get rid of a Visionary in an open confrontation or expect a high risk of such.

Havoc has interesting upgrades that can increase its potential. For example, thanks to the Euphoria upgrade, taking damage with active Havoc increases the power of Colt's attacks - you gain the most by playing aggressively. Another valuable upgrade could be Withdrawal, which regenerates the power bar when you attack enemies, and thus, you can use this slab longer and more often.