Perks, Resonance, and What’s Changing Next

[p]We are currently working on patch 1.3, which will be released early next week, to enhance the overall game experience. We will publish a blog post about the contents of the patch when it's released. We are already working on the patch following that, which is targeted for release later in July.  [/p][p]More is coming beyond that; we’ll talk about that in the coming weeks. But right now, we want to discuss one of the changes we are implementing alongside next week's patch. [/p][p]Changes to Perk Economy [/p][p]Perks are a central part of FBC: Firebreak’s Crisis Kit system. They let you specialize, adapt, and experiment with different combat strategies. [/p][p]We’re updating the Perk economy in the 1.3 patch to make progression smoother, more rewarding, and better paced. The goal is to help players reach their builds faster, experiment more freely, and make more meaningful choices with their Crisis Kits. [/p][p]We’re taking a moment to break down how perks work and what’s changing in our next patch to make the system even more rewarding and flexible. [/p][p]What Are Perks? [/p][p]Perks are passive abilities that twist or enhance your gameplay in ways both strategic and surprising. Want to give every bullet a small chance to deal electric damage? Go for it. Prefer the ability to “shake off” conditions like fire or radiation by jumping up and down? That’s in the toolbox, too…and yes, we know, we need to do a better job in telling you things like this are possible in our game. [/p][p]Right now, there are nearly 50 unique Perks available in the game for you to experiment with. [/p][p]Unlocking and Upgrading [/p][p]To get access to more Perks, you’ll need to raise your Firebreaker Rank. That’s your overall career progression and it’s visible in the main menu below your character. [/p][p]Once unlocked, you can buy and upgrade perks using two currencies gained from playing the Jobs: [/p]

• [p]Lost Assets (your general upgrade currency, which you can find during Jobs from Shelters and around the level. They have a yellow glow around them) [/p]

• [p]Research Samples (a job-specific currency found in Jobs where Corruption is turned on. The Corrupted Items drop these once neutralized, but you can also find them around the level in rare quantities) [/p]

[p]Each Perk can be upgraded from level I (basic effect), to level II (stronger effect), and up to level III (strongest effect that also radiates to nearby allies through the Resonance System). [/p][p]Resonance: Teamwork Makes You Stronger [/p][p]The Resonance System allows fully upgraded Perks (level III) to benefit nearby teammates. This means that by sticking close to your squad, you can tap into each other’s loadouts, whether you’re the one with the boost or simply standing near someone who is. Through Resonance, you share level II effect.[/p][p]It’s our way of closing the gap between seasoned players and newer Firebreakers. Just being part of a team gives you a leg up. [/p][p]Also worth noting: your personal Resonance Shield, which protects you from damage, only recharges when you're near at least one teammate and recharges even faster when you're close to both. [/p][p]Building Your Loadout [/p][p]As you level up your Crisis Kits, you unlock more Perk Slots - up to nine in total. How you fill those is entirely up to you. We have noticed there’s a lot of confusion about upgrading a perk in the Research menu, and then ensuring it is active in your Loadout. [/p]

• [p]A level I perk takes one slot [/p]

• [p]A level II perk takes two slots [/p]

• [p]A level III perk takes three slots [/p]

[p]That means you can run three maxed-out Perks and share the effects with your teammates or mix it up with nine different level I Perks for variety. You can always choose to equip a Perk at a lower level, saving slots for something else. It’s a flexible system that rewards creativity and experimentation. [/p][p]What’s Changing Soon? [/p][p]Some Perk sets will become cheaper across all levels, while others will go up in cost.  [/p][p]The overall time to unlock everything will remain about the same, but you’ll gain access to the resonance system across a wider range of perks much earlier. [/p][p]Heads-up: If you’ve had your eye on any high-level Perks, now might be a good time to unlock them before the new prices go into effect. [/p][p]Full patch notes will be published next week, but the goal is clear: more agency, more variety, and more ways to make your Firebreaker your own.  [/p][p][/p][p]The FBC: Firebreak Team [/p]