what are the permanant upgrades?

[Son_Goten]

as a die and start over again game obviously there are permanant upgrades but where/what are they? ive died like 5 times now and got about halfway through the desert but i feel like thats just because of my rng with weapons. i dont feel like my characters actually getting better at all if you get me.

[Sunsetter]

https://returnal.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Permanent

[Clawyer]

Permanent Upgrades aren't direct upgrades to your character's damage or hitpoints, they give you more traversal and utility options. Those upgrades may then give you more resources to work with during a run (e.g. getting the melee weapon upgrade lets you remove vines that block items) and that will in the end make you stronger.

So in a way playing through the game for the first time while gathering all these upgrades is probably the hardest time you are going to have.

[DruminFoo]

Unlocking weapon traits that make them way more powerful are also permanent. But it is still random what traits are put on weapon drops. If you don't like what you see, just keep moving forward and you will find something you like.