How to Use and Upgrade Jack's Abilities

What is Jack

Jack is a hovering robot that accompanies Delta Squad on all its missions and to take the fight to the Locust you will need all the help you can get from this robotic drone. Check out our How to Use and Upgrade Jack's Abilities guide to find out how to get the best out of him.

How to Upgrade Jacks Abiliies

Jack has three categories of skills which he can use on the battlefield. These are Assault, Support, and Passive and you acquire upgrades for each of them at specific points in the story, several of which you are required to use in order to progress at different points. To get most of the upgrades you will need to find Components which are scattered througout the campaign. The Ultimate upgrades for the Assault and Support abilities requires completion of a secondary mission.

Once you have acquired some skills for Jack need to go to the Jack menu which is accessed by pressing the 'View' button. At the 'Jack' menu you will be able to select the ability you want to upgrade by pressing X, then you need to press and hold the button again on the upgrade you want to get. You will be able to upgrade each ability several times with each successive upgrade increasing the effect of the skill.

Assault Skills

Flash

This skill is earned during Act 1, Chapter 2 and it allows Jack to stun the enemy by temporarily blinding them and exposing them if they are in cover. It can be upgraded to hit multiple enemies at once. Upgrades for Flash are:

• Faster Recharge: Flash recharges 25% faster

• Range Boost: Increases range by 50%

• Concussive: Flash inflicts moderate damage

• Flash Freeze: Freezes enemies, incapacitating them for longer

Shock Trap

This skill is earned during Act 2, Chapter 1. Shock Trap places an electric trap on the ground that can shock and slow down enemies that pass through it. Upgrades for Shock Trap are:

• Improved Capacitor: Shock Trap lasts 50% longer

• Multi-Trap: Place a second Shock Trap without destroying the first

• Ensnare: Shock Trap slows enemies more

• Seeker: Shock-Bots chase targets and do double damage

Hijack

You get this skill automatically during Act 3, Chapter 1. This ability allows you to temporarily force a member of the Swarm to fight on your behalf. It has no effect on Carriers or Snatchers though. Upgrades for Hijack are:

• Duration: Hijack lasts 30% longer

• Stim Target: Stims the enemy while controlled

• Faster Recharge: Hijack recharges faster after use

• Detonator Implant: Hijacked enemy explodes on death

Support skills

Pulse

Jack has the Pulse skill from the start of the game. It can be used to scan enemies, outlining them through cover or smoke. Pulse is particularly useful when visibility is low. Upgrades for Pulse are:

• Range Boost: Increases range by 50%

• Expanded Targeting Array: Doubles duration of Pulse outlines

• Detect Pickups: Pulse also detects weapons and ammo

• Marked for Death: Attacks against Pulsed enemies deal 20% more damage

Stim

This skill is earned duiring Act 1, Chapter 4. Stim boosts your amour so that you are able to survive damage that would otherwise kill you or put you in Down But Not Out (DBNO) mode. The Stim skill can be upgraded to the point where it is able to revive downed teammates. Upgrades for Stim are:

• Faster Recharge: Stim recharges 25% faster

• Duration: Increases Stim duration by 2 seconds

• Revive: Stim can revive downed members of your squad

• Brawler: Melee damage is tripled while stimmed

Cloak

You get this skill automatically during Act 2, Chapter 4. Cloak gives you and your teammates the ability to become invisible which enables you to stealthily execute enemies while unable to be seen or targeted. Upgrades for Cloak are:

• Agility: Cloaked squadmates move 15% faster

• Extend: Kills while Cloaked extend Cloak's duration

• Faster Recharge: Cloak recharges 15% faster

• Slayer: Remain Cloaked for the full duration, even while shooting

Barrier

This skill is earned during Act 3, Chapter 3. Barrier allows Jack to summon an energy shield in front of you that is able to protect you from harm. The Barrier skill can be upgraded so that it reflects bullets towards the enemy. The Barrier upgrades are:

• Duration: Increases Barrier duration by 50%

• Reflect Bullets: Bullets reflect off of Jack's Barrier

• Bulwark: Increases the size of Jack's Barrier

• Deadly Overload: Jack's Barrier explodes outwards when it expires

Support Skills

Core

As with Jack's other passives, Core skills can be upgraded from the beginning of the game. There is no Ultimate upgrade to earn. Core upgrades are:

• Fetch Heavy: Jack can fetch Heavy weapons

• Sharpshooter: Headshot kills recharge Jack's abilities faster

• Executioner: Executions recharge Jack's abilities faster

• Savage: Kills recharge Jack's abilities faster

Zapper

The Zapper skill upgrades focus on allowing Jack to deal more damage. Zapper upgrades are:

• Improved Capacitor: Jack can fire the Zapper for longer

• Arc Booster: Increases the Zapper's effective range

• Cascading Energy: Zapper damage increases the longer it hits an enemy

• Beam Splitter: Zapper can hit multiple enemies at once

Stealth

Although Jack is agile anyway the Stealth upgrades allow him to operate with silent, undetectable efficiency. Upgrades for Stealth are:

• Stealth Thrusters: Jack can remain Cloaked while boosting

• Reactive Stealth: Jack re-Cloaks faster after performing actions

• Stealth Shielding: Jack takes less damage while Cloaked

• Stealth Fetch: Jack can remain Cloaked while carrying a weapon

Health

Keeping Jack health will improve his durability. These skills are particularly useful on the the higher difficulties. Health upgrades are:

• Repair Boost - Jack regenerates health faster

• Osmium Plating - Increases Jack's maximum health

• Self-Revive - Jack can revive himself twice as fast

• Revive Command - Jack can be sent to revive downed squadmates