Every Breaker in Hyper Light Breaker starts with a SyCom, and with these SyComs come intrinsic base stats that can be upgraded as the game progresses. The stats a certain character and SyCom have can help determine what builds and playstyles work best for that SyCom, but by upgrading core stats, players can push their favorite SyComs in whichever direction they please. To do this, however, they'll need the right materials.

At the beginning of the game, players will only have Vermillion and his Gunslinger SyCom unlocked. This SyCom doubles Vermillion's critical hits, making any Holobytes that increase Crit Chance or Crit Damage doubly effective and can be made even better through upgrading Vermillion's core stats. For example, players can also increase Vermillion's chance and damage to critical hits by upgrading the Critical Chance and Crit Damage core stats, making him an even more effective damage dealer.

How To Upgrade Core Stats

Find The Right Menu And Spend The Right Materials

To upgrade any character's core stats in Hyper Light Breaker, you must go into the Loadout menu by pressing "Esc" on your PC. Then, go to "Modify Loadout" and "Upgrade" under the SyCom display in that menu. This will bring you to a menu that allows you to pick any of that character's SyCom's nine core stats, all of which can be upgraded at least once.

At higher upgrade levels, these stat upgrades will also require Abyss Stones, which can be obtained by defeating Crowns.

Depending on which SyCom you're upgrading, some stats might be upgradeable more than once. Goro's Astronomer SyCom, for instance, can only have its stamina stat upgraded once, limiting SyCom's stamina to a maximum of 125. Lapis' Warrior SyCom, however, can be upgraded in each stat multiple times, allowing her to outscale Goro in of core stats in the long run.

These core stats will determine a character's aptitude for certain playstyles, but they by no means prevent a character from being played a certain way. If you like a character but have a different build in mind, take a risk and try it out. According to the developers, "Each player character has unique stats that affect how different gear performs, but the flexibility of the loadout system means you can mix and match gear however you like."

Where To Find Cores

They Can Be Found All Over The Overgrowth

There are a few places to find cores in the Overgrowth as you explore, but the most consistent way to find them is by picking up Prisms. Prisms are the yellow, diamond-shaped icons on your map required to open Crown doors before you enter boss fights. These prisms almost always reward at least a Core Shard, of which you need four to make an entire Core.

Core Shards can also be found in underground Labs, which look like the elevator platform you initially arrive on and can be opened with a key.

The second way to find Cores is to look for Stashes on your map. These are marked by small treasure chest icons on the map and often contain an entire core, but they're rarer than prisms and not always as easy to find. You'll want to collect as many as you can, however, as Cores are used for many of the most helpful upgrades in the game.

Finally, the last way to find Cores is by purchasing Core Shards from vendors around the Overgrowth. These shards can be purchased for 80 Bright Blood each, and it seems you can only buy a limit of two from each vendor. This is a pretty inefficient way to use your Bright Blood, but overall, it is a consistent way to get Cores in a pinch if you want to farm.

Once you've got your cores, you have to return to the Outpost before you can use them, but you can upgrade any of your owned SyComs to your heart's content. It's important to note that these Cores can also be used to get .Exe upgrades with Pherus Bit (PB), and these upgrades in Hyper Light Breaker are also permanent, so make sure you're weighing the pros and cons of each upgrade before committing too hard.

Whether you spend your Cores with PB or on your SyCom, having some in your bank is good. Being able to upgrade your core stats based on whichever new build you want to try makes the game feel fresh and exciting, especially when it's a build you've not run before. Particularly in early access, when the game is still new and changing, playing around with everything Hyper Light Breaker has to offer will give you the best experience possible.

Source: Hyper Light Breaker/Steam