For the best drone upgrades in Stellar Blade, prioritize the Hacking Tool first for immediate chest access and then fully upgrade the Scan abilities to detect cans. For combat, Enhanced Slugs and new weapon variants like the Charge Blaster Rail or Stinger Missile Pod are highly recommended.
How to Upgrade Your Drone
Upgrading your drone in Stellar Blade requires specific items called Drone Upgrade Modules. These modules can be found as loot from destroyed small robots or within large crates scattered throughout the game world. It’s worth noting that there are more modules available than strictly necessary to unlock all upgrades, so you should be able to max out your drone’s capabilities well before completing the main story. Always remember to scan your surroundings, as these modules can sometimes be cleverly hidden.
Access to drone upgrades becomes available after you unlock Drone 2.0. This occurs during your initial visit to Xion, specifically after visiting the Sisters’ Junk shop and engaging in a conversation with Lily at the landing pad. Once Drone 2.0 is active, you can upgrade your drone in two primary ways. The first method is by interacting with a Repair Console, which can be found at supply camps. The second option is to speak directly with Lily at the Tetrapod’s landing area, as she also provides access to the Repair Console’s features, allowing Eve to apply any available drone upgrades if the necessary modules are in hand.
Recommended Exploration Upgrades
When focusing on exploration, certain drone upgrades significantly enhance your ability to navigate the world and uncover its secrets. These upgrades are crucial for players aiming for a completionist run or simply wanting to make their journey more efficient.
| Upgrade Name | Priority | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Hacking Tool | High | Unlocks closed chests automatically. |
| Scanner Upgrade I | Medium | Increases scanning time by 50%. |
| Scanner Upgrade II | Medium | Reduces scanner cooldown by 30%. |
| Can Detector | High | Helps locate cans with an audible alert. |
The Hacking Tool is arguably the most important early upgrade for exploration. It immediately allows you to open any chest that requires hacking, often containing valuable crafting materials. This upgrade also serves as a prerequisite for further scan-related enhancements in the drone’s upgrade tree, making it a foundational choice.
Following the Hacking Tool, investing in the Scanner Upgrade I and Scanner Upgrade II is highly beneficial. These upgrades work in tandem to improve your scanning efficiency. Scanner Upgrade I extends the duration that objects and enemies remain highlighted after a scan, providing more time to assess your environment. Scanner Upgrade II then reduces the waiting period before you can use the scanner again, allowing for more frequent and continuous area analysis. Together, these make finding hidden items and navigating complex areas much easier.
Finally, the Can Detector is essential for collectors. Cans are a key collectible type in Stellar Blade, and maxing out the leftmost drone upgrade tree, which includes this ability, will enable your drone to alert you when a can is nearby. This audible cue significantly reduces the chance of missing these important collectibles, making it a must-have for anyone aiming to find all of them.
Recommended Combat Upgrades
For players looking to enhance Eve’s ranged combat capabilities, several drone upgrades directly impact damage output, ammunition capacity, and weapon variety. These combat-focused upgrades can turn the drone into a formidable asset in difficult encounters.
| Upgrade Name | Priority | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced Slugs | High | Increases basic projectile attack power by 20%. |
| Slug Magazine Expansion | Medium | Increases capacity for regular bullets. |
| Shotgun Shell Magazine | High | Unlocks shotgun weapon variant. |
| Explosive Shell Magazine | High | Unlocks explosive shell weapon variant. |
| Stinger Missile Pod | High | Unlocks lock-on missile weapon variant. |
| Charge Blaster Rail | High | Unlocks concentrated energy beam weapon variant. |
One of the first combat upgrades to consider is Enhanced Slugs. This upgrade boosts the attack power of your drone’s standard projectiles by 20%, allowing you to conserve basic ammunition by dispatching enemies more quickly. Complementing this is the Slug Magazine Expansion, which increases the total number of regular bullets you can carry. This is particularly useful in areas like Levoire, where firearms are frequently utilized.
Beyond basic projectile enhancements, the drone can unlock entirely new ranged weapon types. Upgrades such as Shotgun Shell Magazine, Explosive Shell Magazine, Stinger Missile Pod, and Charge Blaster Rail each introduce a distinct weapon variant with its own ammunition pool and operational characteristics. The Stinger Missile Pod, for instance, equips the drone with lock-on missiles, turning it into a mini-mech that can accurately target enemies from a distance. Upgrades beneath it on the skill tree, such as Guidance System Upgrades, can further increase missile ammo and the number of lock-on targets. The Charge Blaster Rail adds a non-elemental energy beam, akin to a continuous Mega Man Buster Shot, capable of dealing sustained damage. These new weapon types are selected from a drop-down menu by aiming (L2) and holding a direction on the D-pad, providing tactical versatility in combat.
FAQ
When can I start upgrading my drone? You can begin upgrading your drone after you unlock Drone 2.0, which occurs during your first visit to Xion after visiting the Sisters’ Junk shop and speaking with Lily at the landing pad.
Where do I find Drone Upgrade Modules? Drone Upgrade Modules are found as loot from destroying small robots in combat or by opening large crates scattered throughout the game world.
Are there enough Drone Upgrade Modules to unlock everything? Yes, there are more Drone Upgrade Modules hidden in the game world than are strictly required to purchase all available drone upgrades.
What is the most important early drone upgrade for exploration? The Hacking Tool is highly recommended as the first exploration upgrade, as it allows you to open all hacking-required chests immediately and unlocks further scan upgrades.
How do I switch between different drone weapon types? To switch drone weapon types after unlocking them, aim your weapon (L2) and then hold down a direction on the controller’s D-pad to bring up the selection menu.