Abilities The Technomancer Guide
Last update: 04 August 2016
Each of three basic character classes (except for technomancer) has four passive and two active abilities. In order to unlock new key abilities you must develop one selected branch of the tree by developing smaller fields on the branch. These fields improve specific attack/defense statistics of character class. You can of course develop the whole tree for a character. Remember that every passive and active ability can be upgraded once in the same field of the tree.
Active abilities can be divided into types: each class has one active ability that activates a status (for example defense barrier, focus that slows down time etc.) and strictly offensive ones that allows performing special attacks. Activation of status ability takes one Force field for as long as it is active. Special attack doesn't use power (unless it is a necromancer attack), but it needs more than a dozen of seconds to regenerate. Below you will find most important abilities for the available classes.
Guardian
The guardian shouldn't worry too much about defense thanks to his shield. Try selecting minor abilities in such way so that they will increase attack strength and interruption chance.
Mace Blow - the first passive ability which you must buy. It allows performing faster attack and should be upgraded with dealing increased damage.
Shield bash - the very useful shield attack can be improved with this ability. After developing the smaller fields you can additional electrify the shield (when it is active for the weapon) and allow attacking many enemies with one attack - this is very useful and convenient.
Powerful attack - Guardian's active ability that allows him to perform enhanced attack that breaks through enemy defense. Except for that the ability doesn't deal much greater damage and because of that you don't have to rush unlocking it.
Shell - provides active aura which increases defense for about 6 seconds. The defense is especially effective against interruptions. After upgrading the effect can last two times longer. You shouldn't rush unlocking this ability and instead invest in one of the spell abilities.
Counterattack - a passive ability which you should definitely develop as fast as possible. It allows performing strong counterattack when you block enemy's attack with a shield in the last seconds before hitting you. If you have trouble with timing, you can help yourself with the upgrade that increases time for counterattacking. If you don't need such handicap, the use the upgrade to enforce automatic critical hit when counterattacking.
Instinctive parry - it is a passive ability that allows automatically parrying enemy attacks even when you aren't using shield. It is an ability dedicated for players less experienced in game's combat system. More experienced players should rather invest in technomancer spells.
Rogue
When developing rogue class, remember most of all to increase his critical attack and in second order to increase the strength of his basic attack. Focus on the right branch of the tree where you can develop pistol combat and the left one to increase damage dealt by basic weapon and poison effect.
Slash - a passive ability that will allow your character to perform automatic dodges with 35% success rate while performing basic attack. You should improve this ability to increase dodge chance by another 35%.
Shoot - not important passive ability that allows performing another attack after shooting weapon faster. It gives you greater fire speed. Further minor improvements that this ability unlocks are more important - reduced pistol overheating and increased pistol damage.
Roll - this passive ability can be properly used only by players with good reflex. It allows automatically performing critical attack (after upgrading also with a pistol) after a dodge. However, for the ability to work, it must be done immediately after turning while dodging.
Focus - this ability is one of the active ones and it allows activating 10 second status (15 second after upgrading) during which enemies move slower and you have greater chance to avoid enemy attack. Useful ability, especially if you are alone on the battlefield.
Thrust - the left branch of the tree focuses mostly on poisoning the attacked enemies. It happens automatically with a random chance while attacking. The effect can have additional parameters (like reducing the resistance of the poisoned opponent) and increased poison damage.
Explosive shot - it is an important active ability. It allows performing a shot that interrupts enemy attack and throws them away. Sadly, it has very small range and doesn't deal great damage. However, it does allow you to escape when you are surrounded. Enemies hit with this attack can become poisoned.
Warrior
The warrior should invest in attack strength and speed while trying to maintain interruption level around 100%. Many smaller fields on the tree allows increasing interruption, so you don't need to increase this parameter by improving passive abilities or by upgrading weapon in the workshop.
Fast attack - the first ability that you must develop in order to reach other branches of the tree. It increases attack speed. You should improve it even if you use warrior class as the secondary one.
Area attack - you should develop this ability in first order. It improves area attack of your weapon and protects you from enemy canceling your attack (enemy that defends won't receive any damage).
Tornado - develop the upper branch of the tree in order to quickly unlock this ability. It allows performing an automatic combination of attacks that hits a few opponents with increased speed and strength.
Berserker - if you want to be nearly invincible early in the game, then quickly unlock this ability. It is an active ability that provides the warrior with a status that lasts 15-25 seconds. During that time your damage and attack speed is increased by 50%.
Disrupting attack - a less useful passive ability from the lower branch which gives 20% chance for knocking the enemy down. The effect can be slightly improved, but it is better to invest in technomancer spells early in the game.
Dodge - slightly improved dodging by giving chance for knocking down enemy during fast attack performed just after dodging. Try performing shorter dodge (without the direction button) so that you can hit the enemy while not standing far from him. The ability is similar to the one of the rogue, but it doesn't guarantee that after the dodge the next attack will additionally knock the enemy down.
Technomancer
Technomancer abilities correspond with every other character class, but you won't be able to complete the game by using only them. Notice during the game which creatures and enemies have increased resistance to technomancer magic (for example soldiers with white lobes on their clothes or electric mantises). The abilities can give statuses and be helpful in increasing attack strength. They can also wreck chaos with direct lightning attacks.
Electric arcs - a basic ability which you will frequently use early in the game. You should improve it very early with additional arc (increased attack against single opponent) or with ricochet. The latter is much better, especially if you increase chance for paralyzing enemy by hitting him with lightning.
Electric weapon - this is another ability that you will receive at the beginning of the game. While it is active, it consumes one Force field, thus reducing the number of other possible Force attacks to use. Electric weapon can increase chance for critical damage or for interrupting enemy attack. It can also temporarily paralyze the opponent. Select a status that fits your character class the beast by improving her main parameters. Development of fields of this branch allows quickly unlocking a new Force field.
Magnetic armor - you should quickly get this ability. It allows creating a force field around you that increases all your resistances. It can be additionally improved with stronger defense parameters, faster health regeneration and pushing away enemies that attack you. Activating the shield uses one Force field and it remains active until during the battle it loses whole durability. Once that happens, you must activate it again.
Overload - another ability that gives a temporary status to your protagonist. This one makes his electric attacks stronger. Especially useful if you frequently use and have greatly developed lightning attacks (especially Electric storm) and if you use the passive ability Electric weapon.
Electric fist - not very useful active ability which generates hit with high interruption and paralyze chance. It deals minimum damage. Can be useful early in the game, when your character has low attack interruption chance. It is required for unlocking the great ability Electric storm.
Electric storm - it is the strongest electric attack which hits the enemies on a large area in front of the protagonist. It lasts for a few seconds. You can increase its strength by 25% or reduce the regeneration time by 10 seconds. After buying this upgrade you can also unlock a new Force field.