Unlocking Drone Upgrades
The drone serves as Eve’s mechanical companion in Stellar Blade, offering both combat support and utility functions. To enhance its capabilities, you’ll need to acquire Drone Upgrade Modules. These modules can be found as loot, often within large crates or as drops from defeated small robots. There are more modules available in the game world than are strictly necessary to unlock all upgrades, so diligent exploration will ensure you have plenty.
Drone upgrades become accessible after you unlock Drone 2.0, which occurs during your initial visit to Xion. Specifically, this happens after completing the game’s second main mission, “Scavenger Adam,” and engaging with the Sisters’ Junk shop, followed by a conversation with Lily at the landing pad. Once available, you can upgrade the drone at any Repair Console found in supply camps, or by speaking with Lily at the Tetrapod’s area.
Best Exploration Upgrades
Prioritizing exploration-focused drone upgrades can significantly streamline your journey through Stellar Blade, especially for those aiming for full completion.
- Hacking Tool: This is a highly recommended initial upgrade. It enables the drone to automatically hack closed chests encountered in the game world, which often contain valuable crafting materials and other rare items. Unlocking the Hacking Tool also serves as a prerequisite for further scan-related upgrades.
- Scanner Upgrade I & II: These upgrades directly enhance the drone’s scanning abilities. Scanner Upgrade I increases the duration objects and enemies remain highlighted by 50%, while Scanner Upgrade II reduces the cooldown period before the scanner can be used again by 30%. Both are invaluable for identifying hidden loot and navigating environments more effectively.
- Can Detector: For completionists, the Can Detector is essential. This upgrade allows the drone to emit a sound when a collectible can is nearby, greatly reducing the chance of missing these important items. Maxing out the left-most drone upgrade tree is required to unlock the ability to scan for cans.
Top Combat Upgrades
Beyond exploration, the drone can be a powerful asset in combat. Investing in these upgrades will boost your offensive capabilities.
- Enhanced Slugs: This upgrade increases the attack power of the drone’s basic ammunition (slugs) by 20%. Since slugs are the primary ammo type used for the majority of drone-based combat, this enhancement provides a consistent damage boost. It also unlocks additional ammunition types further down its upgrade path.
- Slug Magazine Expansion: This upgrade allows Eve to carry a greater quantity of regular slugs. This is particularly beneficial in areas like Levoire, where firearms are frequently utilized.
- Shotgun Shell Magazine, Explosive Shell Magazine, Stinger Missile Pod, Charge Blaster Rail: These upgrades unlock entirely new variants of ranged weapons for the drone, each with distinct operational characteristics and separate ammunition reserves.
- Shotgun Shell Magazine and Explosive Shell Magazine introduce new shell types.
- Stinger Missile Pod equips the drone with lock-on missiles, allowing for precise targeting, especially useful against distant enemies. Further upgrades like Guidance System Upgrades can increase missile capacity and the number of lock-on targets.
- Charge Blaster Rail adds a concentrated non-elemental energy beam, akin to a continuous blast that damages enemies until it dissipates. Subsequent “Overcharge” upgrades (Overcharge 1 and Overcharge 2) allow for longer charging times, resulting in more powerful attacks, though this requires Eve to remain stationary.
Important Considerations
When planning your drone upgrades, it’s crucial to remember that, unlike skill tree resets, drone upgrades cannot be reverted. Once an upgrade is chosen, it is permanent. Therefore, careful planning is advised to ensure your choices align with your preferred playstyle and priorities. The scan features, for instance, are frequently used, making them a strong early investment due to their constant utility.
FAQ
When can I start upgrading my drone? You can begin upgrading your drone after completing the “Scavenger Adam” main mission, reaching Xion city, and speaking with Lily at the Tetrapod’s landing pad.
Where do I upgrade my drone? You can upgrade your drone at any Repair Console found in supply camps, or by talking to Lily at the Tetrapod’s area.
Can I reset drone upgrades if I change my mind? No, drone upgrades are permanent and cannot be reset, unlike skill points.
Are there enough Drone Upgrade Modules to get all upgrades? Yes, there are more Drone Upgrade Modules hidden in the game world than are needed to acquire every drone upgrade.
Which drone upgrade should I prioritize first? The Hacking Tool is highly recommended first, as it unlocks chests immediately and branches into valuable scan upgrades for exploration. For combat, Enhanced Slugs are a good early choice due to their consistent damage boost to basic ammo.