Best early game powers in Very Hard

[Sofia]

So, I reently got the game, as the first game is one of my absolute favorite. I'm playing on very hard, because of course I am, because thats the only way to play in my opinion, and im kind of struggling. Turning down the difficulty clearly isnt an option, so I looked into powers.

In the first game, Dark Vision was the second best ability in the game, beaten only by the INCREDIBLY broken Blink, but im thinking grabbing it first as Emily was a mistake.

I plan to go full lethal shadow, so sneaking, while assassinating everything that breathes. What powers would be recommeended for such in the early game?

[Kleerex]

You can adjust enemy AI settings by choosing Custom Difficulty. Like, you could have very perceptive enemies but reduce detection range when being above them.

As for powers - play as Emily. Far Reach does exactly what name says - it has greater reach. Overall Emily's powers are more stealth-oriented than Corvo's.

[Maverick]

Originally posted by Ketlyn:

I'm playing on very hard, because of course I am, because thats the only way to play in my opinion

Complains about difficulty

[Sofia]

Originally posted by Maverick:

Originally posted by Ketlyn:

I'm playing on very hard, because of course I am, because thats the only way to play in my opinion

Complains about difficulty :conwayfacepalm:

I'm not complaining about the difficulty. I love the difficulty, and how mcuh harder 2 is than 1 ever was. What I'm looking for is which powers are most helpful early on for emily.

I got to a point where there was a rune in a storm drain, but i couldnt get to it..What lets me do that?

[Fridge]

Originally posted by Ketlyn:

I got to a point where there was a rune in a storm drain, but i couldnt get to it..What lets me do that?

I'm playing as Corvo and I know very little of the differences in their inventory and powers, but I threw a grenade in there and it broke the box the rune was sitting in and the thing slid down toward me.

This is of course assuming we're talking about the same rune, in the district leading to the addermire institute. That rune was giving me trouble too.

[hands]

If you get some good bonecharms early on it can be worth it to go straight for bonecharm crafting with 4 traits imo. Sadly bonecharms are very RNG dependant

[Clor]

For lethal stealth get the power that disintegrates bodies of people killed stealthily. Maybe first domino for double kills, I think it costs 4 runes. More useful than shadow walk I'd say since you can just kill everything instead of sneaking. Have fun!

[Sofia]

Originally posted by Clorthisberger:

For lethal stealth get the power that disintegrates bodies of people killed stealthily. Maybe first domino for double kills, I think it costs 4 runes. More useful than shadow walk I'd say since you can just kill everything instead of sneaking. Have fun!

I was considering that, i was just worried it wouldnt be good enough. I was trying to decide between shadow kill, shadow walk, and domino for my first skill

[lostsomething]

Domino's great fun. Link four guards together, set one on fire, then watch the other three spontaniously combust.

[PawPawPineapple]

Originally posted by lostsomething:

Domino's great fun. Link four guards together, set one on fire, then watch the other three spontaniously combust.

I second that. If later on you unlock Doppelganger, you can domino your Doppelganger and kill it or knock it unconscious to eliminate guards.

[Khan, Binary of None]

Blink.

And that's about it honestly. Play on Very Hard with the entire HUD disabled, the only real ability I make use of is a maxed out Blink. Anything else is just gravy. Your traversal is not only your stealth mechanic but it's also your combat mechanic for dodging.

If you ABSOLUTELY must get a second, then Bend Time allows you to cheese stealth for segments.

[Ez Duzit]

Definitely Blink, upgraded with Greater Blink (blink goes farther), and Redirective Blink, which makes time stop when you hold down the blink button as long as you're not moving. You don't need the last blink upgrade, (Blink Attack), and here's why. You can actually use blink to do a Drop Assault on enemies from the ground. You don't have to be high up. Hold down the blink button (stopping time so no rush), and aim it just above the enemy, till you see the aiming circles where the top one is a few feet above the target, and the other aiming circle surronds the target. Let er go and attack when you reappear (either kill or knock em out). Then immedietly press the Blink button again, (stopping time), so you have plenty of time to turn around and aim for your next target. You can pretty much clear out a room of enemies while taking very little damage like this. Also works great to to take out the mechanical Jindosh Soldiers. But the first drop assault on a mech will only knock off it's head. Quietly move 10-15 feet away from it, then drop assault it again and you will pry it apart.

Blink is also great for jumping off high places. Jump from the roof while 4 or 5 stories up and press the (blink) button before hitting the ground which stops time, so you have plenty of time to spin around and find a ledge or something to blink to. The catch is you still have all that downward momentum so even though you stopped time (just a few feet above the ground), if you blink directly to the ground you'll still go splat. But if you blink to a ledge or balcony, (or anything) where the Blink aim circle turns into upwards facing arrows then you're good to go. Can also use this method from a roof top to attack an enemy that is too far away to normally reach with blink (for a drop assault). Just run across the edge of the rooftop towards the (far away) enemy, and jump off the roof using Blink/stop time before going splat and aim just above the enemy and you're good to go for a drop assault on unsuspecting guard.

Can also use Blink/stop time the moment you're attacked to either get away, get higher ground, or just give yourself space.

Blink, with the stop time upgrade, and the ability to do a drop assault, even from the ground, (then stop time and do it again and again), is by far the best all around power imho.


Edit- It's easier to do a drop attack using blink (from the ground) while 15-20 feet away from the enemy. Can be done from much closer as you get better at it.

[Sofia]

I thought i made it pretty painfully clear I'm playing Emily, not Corvo. Can't use blink.

[Zoffe]

Best early power would be Domino, imo. its cheap both in terms of runes and mana, it allows you to clear a room without raising alarm, and it is flexible in that you can deliver the killing blow with anything you want, stab them, headshot, drop kill, anything

if you find Spirit Water bonecharm (the one that allows you to refill mana at water faucet), you can go with mesmerize instead. it is more powerful than domino but cost a ton of mana per use.