What does "Hidden power" do?

[Hex: Ten Sieve]

I just chose it and figured I'd somehow be attacking with my shield but apart from the burn of the "Halo" shield I had, it dealt no damage nor had a way to attack. Is there something I misunderstand?

[Bill]

It gives a big boost to "global damage" which amplifies the damage you can do from any source (like the Halo shield) and several other stats, but it means you have no weapon nor constructs (besides Bastion shield). It empowers builds like crashing with Hullbreaker or Leviathan, or burning with Discharge, Firefly, or Celestial Lance, etc.

[Hex: Ten Sieve]

ah, I had none of that, thanks

[top (f(f(f x))) λ calculus fan]

You can pick it up in runs with 4 or more "secondary" damage sources, but that can include corrosion, the halo shield if you picked it up but then rapid reconstructed, retribution, and orbs of discord

[Draco18s]

https://nova-drift.fandom.com/wiki/Hidden_Power

[anarcher]

Note that every ship has at least one "secondary" damage source built in, namely smacking themselves into things.

[Draco18s]

Originally posted by anarcher:

Note that every ship has at least one "secondary" damage source built in, namely smacking themselves into things.

While true, it doesn't count for unlocking Hidden Power as an upgrade option. Otherwise you have to say it takes "five secondary sources" instead of "four" then list "Crashing" as a source that counts, that literally every ship gets, and some ships additionally also get another secondary source (cough, Firefly, cough).

[Dingo]

I take it this disables Allies or?

[anarcher]

All non-shield constructs just go poof, yes. Do note that also includes swarmers, created by either carrier body or the wild mod.

[Dingo]

Does hidden power affect carrier drones?

[Bill]

Originally posted by Dingo:

Does hidden power affect carrier drones?

The post from anarcher just before yours has the answer to that.