Abilities & Upgrades
MIO's capabilities expand throughout your journey across The Vessel. Understanding abilities, modifications, and the Allocation Matrix system is crucial for success.
Core Abilities
Hairpin Grapple
The Hairpin Grapple becomes available early in the game and is essential for navigation throughout The Vessel.
Advanced Techniques:
- Chain grapple points together while maintaining momentum
- Use momentum to access hidden areas
- Cross large gaps efficiently
- Master timing for optimal traversal
Aerial Combat & Jump Reset
One of MIO's most unique mechanics is the aerial combat system. When you hit a target (enemy or environmental object) while airborne, your double jump resets, allowing you to stay off the ground for extended periods.
Advanced Techniques:
- Chain hits together to traverse entire rooms without touching the ground
- Use this mechanic to access hidden areas and solve platforming puzzles
- Master timing to maintain momentum and maximize traversal efficiency
- Combine with grappling and gliding for complex movement sequences
Arachnid Locomotion (Spider Movement)
This unique spider-like movement ability allows MIO to hang off walls and navigate ceilings, significantly expanding traversal options. It requires energy to use, so manage your energy system carefully.
Gliding
Gliding becomes available later in the game (around 8 hours in). It's essential for crossing large gaps and accessing new areas. Like grappling and spider movement, it consumes energy.
Dash/Deflect
The dash in MIO functions more like a perfect dodge or parry/block system rather than a traditional dash. It doesn't provide time slowdown or counterattack benefits, and has a cooldown that can feel long if you mistime it.
However, once unlocked, combat becomes much more engaging. It's not entirely reliable for chaining dodges together, requiring precise timing.
Orbs (Projectile Attacks)
MIO can unleash orbs as powerful projectiles to attack enemies from a distance. These projectiles provide ranged combat options and allow you to engage enemies safely.
Combat Applications:
- Attack enemies from a safe distance
- Combo with melee attacks for varied combat approaches
- Use in combination with aerial combat for extended combos
- Effective against flying enemies and hard-to-reach targets
Decoy Clones
MIO can create decoy clones to strike from unexpected angles. This ability adds a layer of strategic depth to combat, allowing you to distract enemies and attack from multiple directions.
Strategic Uses:
- Distract enemies while you reposition
- Attack from unexpected angles
- Create openings in enemy defenses
- Combine with other abilities for complex combat strategies
- Useful in boss encounters to create safe attack windows
Modifications
Modifications are swappable upgrades that consume memory slots in your Allocation Matrix. They can be equipped or unequipped at Network Gates found throughout The Vessel.
How Modifications Work
- • Each modification consumes a certain amount of memory slots
- • Your Allocation Matrix has limited capacity
- • You must choose which modifications to equip based on your playstyle
- • Modifications can enhance combat, traversal, or provide utility benefits
- • You can swap modifications at any Network Gate
Tip: Your ability to carry multiple modifications depends on available space in your Allocation Matrix. Finding Mod Extensions expands your capacity.
Mod Extensions
Total: 3 Mod Extensions can be found throughout The Vessel. These are crucial collectibles that expand your Allocation Matrix capacity.
Why Mod Extensions Matter
Each Mod Extension increases your available memory slots, allowing you to:
- Equip more modifications simultaneously
- Keep useful UI elements active while using combat abilities
- Create more versatile builds
- Reduce the need to sacrifice features for others
Prioritize finding Mod Extensions early in your playthrough to maximize your build flexibility.
Allocation Matrix Strategy
Combat Builds
For challenging combat encounters:
- • Prioritize combat-focused modifications
- • Consider disabling minimap to free up slots
- • Equip damage-enhancing modifications
- • Use defensive modifications for difficult bosses
Exploration Builds
For thorough exploration:
- • Keep minimap active
- • Equip traversal-enhancing modifications
- • Use modifications that reveal hidden areas
- • Prioritize movement and exploration utilities
Energy System
MIO features an energy system that acts as a stamina mechanic. Gliding, grappling, and arachnid locomotion all require energy. When your energy is empty, you cannot perform any of these actions.
Energy Recovery Methods
- • Enemy Bounces: Bouncing off certain enemies returns a bit of energy
- • Ground Landing: Landing on the ground speeds up energy regeneration
- • Environmental Strikes: Striking environmental objects fully restores energy, allowing you to chain movement abilities together
Platforming Challenge: The game introduces complex platforming sections where you must bounce off objects, grapple to points, use remaining jumps strategically, and maintain energy flow. A single mistake can reset you to a checkpoint, requiring memorization of object placements.
Upgrades
Upgrades can be purchased at Network Gates using Nacre (or Solid Nacre) collected from defeated enemies.
⚠️ Critical Warning: Liquid Nacre is lost upon death and cannot be recovered. Always convert it to Solid Nacre or spend it at Network Gates before venturing into dangerous areas.
💡 Resource Conversion: Look for robots throughout The Vessel that can convert your liquid Nacre into Solid Nacre, which is permanent and won't be lost upon death.
Available upgrades include enhancements to MIO's capabilities (like increased maximum health), new modifications, and improvements to existing abilities. Plan your spending based on your current needs and upcoming challenges.
Early Game Recommendations
- •Master the Hairpin Grapple: This ability is available early and essential for navigation. Practice chaining grapples for efficient movement.
- •Find Mod Extensions: Prioritize locating all 3 Mod Extensions to expand your Allocation Matrix capacity.
- •Experiment with Modifications: Try different modification combinations at Network Gates to find what works for your playstyle.
- •Spend Nacre Wisely: Don't hoard resources—spend them before dangerous encounters to avoid losing them.