I am playing Deus Ex: Human Revolution and loving every minute of it. I am around the 16th hour and now have more Praxis points then I know what to do with. So I thought I’d turn some of my augmentation experience to your advantage and let you know which ones have been worth the investment.

Now Praxis points can be earned in two different ways. You can naturally earn them through EXP or you can find upgrade kits in the game world. (There are 22 Praxis kit pickups) And yes, if you play your cards right, it is possible to get 68 Praxis points and max out your augmentations. You will have to be very dedicated though.

Let’s start at the top.

Cranium Augmentations

Social Enhancer:

Emotional Intelligence Enhancer - Cost: 2 Praxis Points

Usefulness: 4/5

Every time you encounter a dialogue scenario this augmentation will kick in allowing you to charm your way to the best solution. Like a mini game, this aug groups the individual to an alpha/beta/omega category and tells you which answer to pick. This is a great tool for those who want to make sure they get the silver tongue achievement. (But truth be told, it isn’t that hard to guess the right answers.)

 

Wayfinder Radar System:

Radar 2 - Cost: 1 Praxis Point

Usefulness: 2/5

This increases your enemy and security range up to 50 meters. You also no longer need visual confirmation. Eh so so, but 25 meters is enough. If you’re really crazy about stealth you might want 50.

 

Stealth Enhancer:

Noise Feedback - Cost: 2 Praxis Points

Usefulness: 1/5

This shows the amount of noise you’re making. If you’re the stealthy type this is somewhat helpful, but I’d recommend just saving the point and crouching when you move. Also be sure to close doors and they cut the distance sound travels.

 

Last Known Location Marker - Cost: 1 Praxis Point – (Requires Noise Feedback)

Usefulness: 0/5

This tells you where you were spotted by the enemy. It puts a little icon where the enemy saw you which is supposed to remind that they are looking around there. You don’t need this, you can remember for 30 seconds where you were when they got alerted.

 

Cones of Vision - Cost: 1 Praxis Point – (Requires Noise Feedback)

Usefulness: 2.5/5

This makes every enemy/camera have cone displaying their line of sight. Just like in Metal Gear Solid. It is sorta useful for quick glancing, but once again you already see which area they are looking by default. I don’t think this is worth one point, or actually two with the pre-requisite.

 

Mark and Track 1 - 3 - Cost: 1 Praxis Point – (Requires Noise Feedback)

Usefulness: 1/5

This aug allows you to mark up to three targets, using an icon to follow their movements on your radar. Each additional point allows you to mark more targets. For the second point it’s up to 5 and the third it’s up to 7 targets. This to me seemed like a lot of work. You can always just look and see where they are or if your clever just get the see through walls aug and negate this entire tree.

 

Hacking - Capture Capture 1 - 5 - Cost: 1 Praxis Point Per Level

Usefulness: 4.5/5

Hacking is a very important skill in this game. While it is rare that you will need to hack a level 4 or level 5 terminal, it never hurts to have the ability. It is a nice feeling to know that you can hack everything you come across and steal all the spoils. I’d recommend getting this up to three and then taking your time with the other two.

 

Robot Domination - Cost: 1 Praxis Point

Usefulness: 2.5/5

This aug is fun if you want to deactivate enemy robots or use them against enemies. It’s only one point, but I recommend doing this as a filler later.

 

Hacking Analyze Add-On:

Detection Feedback - Cost: 1 Praxis Point

Usefulness: 0/5

This aug will scan data stores and files and tell you what your chances are of being detected. But, it already tells you this if you just over the file. Why do you need this? Knowing the percentage you might get caught is not useful when you have to hack something.

 

Analyse All Datastores - Cost: 1 Praxis Point

Usefulness: 0/5

This scans the data stores to see what goodies they contain. You don’t need this. They are always EXP, money or Virus Software. Besides just grab as many as you can when you are hacking, there is no downside.

 

Hacking - Fortify: Fortify 1 - 3 - Cost: 1 Praxis Point Per Level

Usefulness: 1/5

This will increase your ability to fortify files to slow down the trace signal. You start off with level 1 and really that’s all you’ll need. To be honest I never even fortify files. Once you become adept at selecting the path to take you will never get caught. And if you do get caught you can always try again. There is no downside to re-hacking except waiting 20-30 seconds for the terminal to reset.

 

Hacking Stealth Add-On:

Usefulness: 5/5

Stealth 1 - 3 - Cost: 2 Praxis Points for Level 1 and one addition levels 2 and 3

Each point you put into this aug will decrease the chance you will get caught hacking by 15%. That doesn’t seem like much but it adds up. When you are cracking higher terminals this really saves you. I have gone through huge level 5 terminals and not even set off the trace. Get this.

 

Torso Augmentations

Sarif Series 8 Energy Converter:

Energy Level Upgrade 1 - 4 - Cost: 1 Praxis Point

Usefulness: 3.5/5

Energy is used to power your special abilities and augmentations. You will start off with two energy bars which will allow you decent breathing room throughout the entire game. The first energy cell will always recharge, albeit slowly, so you will always have enough energy to pull off one move. To refill the other cells you will have to eat energy bars. They come in all different shapes and sizes and will instantly fill the energy cell.

 

If you play your cards right, you will never need more than the initial two. The first one always recharges so you really don’t need to eat the bars either. I always did keep some on me just in case though. If you plan to be invisible and use active camouflage you may want to invest in some because that eats through energy cells.

 

Base Recharge Rate 1 - 3 - Cost: 1 Praxis Point

Usefulness: 4/5

This increases the speed at which your initial energy cell regens. Instead of being 25-30 seconds it becomes much faster. It also recharges partially used cells. My playstyle involves many multiple takedowns back to back. So I found this skill useful. Usually when you take some guards out about 10 seconds later you are in another encounter, this allows you a speedy recharge so your ready.

 

Implanted Rebreather:

Chemical Resistance - Cost: 2 Praxis Points

Usefulness: 2/5

This aug makes you immune to toxic gas and gas grenades. This doesn’t really happen till around hour 10 in the game, and even then it is easily avoidable. You have to stand in a gas grenade cloud for like 10 seconds to die. It is alright to get this later to make Adam even more unstoppable.

 

Hyper-Oxygenation 1 - 2 - Cost: 1 Praxis Point - Requires Chemical Resistance

Usefulness: 1.5/5

This lets you sprint a bit longer. I only really sprinted when going into cover or between missions and even then the default is enough. During battles your usually in cover.

 

Typhoon Explosive System

Light Damage Variant - Cost: 2 Praxis Points

Usefulness: 4/5

Honestly you’re mileage will vary with this upgrade. It can be useful if you want it to be, but you don’t really need it. The Typhoon comes in handy as an ace up your sleeve for robot fights or for bosses. It makes you do damage in a 360 arc and blow everything up. It is quite an investment though and you do need to find ammo for it. I usually just horded it up and so I always had like 25 rounds on me. 5-6 of these will kill any boss. Oh and you’re invulnerable while doing it and you can do it back to back as long as you have enough energy. (1 energy cell = 1 Typhoon)

 

Heavy Damage Variant - Cost: 1 Praxis Point - Required Light Damage Variant

Usefulness: 5/5

If you get Typhoon you have to get this upgrade. Otherwise you’re just wasting your time. Without it you have to Typhoon 3-4 times to kill a robot, with it just once.

 

Arm Augementations

Cybernetic Arm Prosthesis

Move/Throw Heavy Objects - Cost: 1 Praxis Point

Usefulness: 5/5

This is a must have for both those who love to fight and those who love to sneak. This upgrade will allow you to lift heavy objects in the game and do what you please with them. You can throw them to disable enemies or mines, you can use it to block doors to you, you can access hidden areas and you can use objects as cover during a fire fight. It is so easy to just pick up a metal crate and use it was movable cover.

 

Punch Through Wall - Cost: 1 Praxis Point

Usefulness: 4/5

Okay this can be up in the air. You use this to smash down weak walls making shortcuts. Often times there are hidden paths, hidden goods or instant takedowns on the other side of the wall. These walls aren’t frequent but there is a good deal of them. You will see them in your retina display. Each time you do it, it will take one energy cell, but you will look really bad ass. Not necessary but very helpful.

 

Recoil Compensation 1 - 2 - Cost: 1 Praxis Point Per Level –

(Requires Move/Throw Heavy Objects or Punch Through Wall)

Usefulness: 3.5/5

This reduces the recoil on your firearm. One point is 50% the other is 100%. That means no recoil and perfect aim. That means more marksmanship bonuses. I didn’t get this till mid-game and while it helps it isn’t a must have. It’s just a nice bonus. If you remember to fire in short bursts you will be fine.

 

Carrying Capacity 1 -3 - Cost: 1 Praxis Point Per Level

Usefulness: 5/5

Not everyone agrees with me on this one, but I found this to be very useful. I’m not a pack-rat by any means, but there are no storage areas in the game. If you want to get rid of something you just drop it, not knowing if you’ll ever see it again. You’re inventory by default is a good size, but some weapons are just huge. If you want to carry 3-4 weapons and some gear you’ll want to upgrade this. Maybe once in the first 4 hours, twice in 8 hours and thrice in 14 hours.

 

Aim Stabilizer:

Aiming Motion Control 1 - 2 - Cost: 2 Praxis Points for Level 1, 1 point for Level 2

Usefulness: 2.5/5

If you love to run and gun you should get this. Otherwise your shots will be very inaccurate. Most of the time I was crouching and in cover when firing. I never run and gun. Adam is very squishy at first and I didn’t want to die. Level 1 reduces motion penalties by 50% and level 2 reduces it by 100%.

 

Part 2 will come tomorrow.