Neuromod

A Neuromod, short for Neural Modifier, is a tool developed by TranStar that lets Morgan upgrade their abilities in Prey (2017). They can be found throughout the Talos I station.

Overview

Neuromods are created from the Typhon. They change the structure of the patient's brain, manipulating it to grant effects ranging from learning a foreign language, learning to play an instrument, or even lengthening the user's lifespan. Needles inject a serum into the neurons in the brain that are sensitive to light. Then, the neuromod uses lasers and light to map the patient's brain, and then extrapolates the changes required to grant the effects desired. Neuromods are a luxury on Earth, and only the wealthy can afford to have them installed, spending large amounts of cash in order to live a few more years.^[1]

Using Neuromods

As seen at the trailer where Morgan Yu is checking his right red eye. It is where the Neuromods will be applied at, through the right eye of the recipient. It has two needles which the Neuromod serum will be injected through the eyes once you use Neuromods.

Manufacturing

The process to manufacture Neuromods is gruesome to say the least. First, individuals who are supposedly death row inmates are locked inside of a containment cell, where a Mimic is then released. The Mimic kills and absorbs the human, thereby producing a few more Mimics. The Mimics are then processed into raw exotic material using a Recycling field, which can then be plugged into a Fabricator to produce the necessary Neuromods.

In the game itself, the requirement of each production of Neuromod is 1 Organic, 2 Synthetic, 2 Minerals and 3 Exotic Materials. The exotic material required to make neuromods (also used in Psi Hypos) is actually very easy to collect, as later in game there are extremely rich sources of typhon organs.

After the Typhon outbreak erupted, if Morgan Yu manufactures too many neuromods, the Fabricator issues an alarm message indicating that the manufacturing license has been removed. In order to manufacture more Neuromods, Morgan has to find Halden Graves's computer and lift the restriction.

Skill Trees

The abilities one can learn using Neuromods are divided into two broad categories: Human and Alien. These categories are in turn divided into three subcategories each: Scientist, Engineer and Security for human; and Energy, Morph and Telepathy for Alien.

Human

A wide variety of commercially available Neuromods selected by Morgan Yu unlock for potential usefulness prior to losing their memory which grant and enhance upon the player's abilities to super-human levels, available for unlock from the beginning of the game. 218 Neuromods in total are required to max out these three skill trees.

Scientist

Use knowledge of science, medicine, and specialized lab equipment to your advantage.

Hacking I: Bypass level 1 security measures on computers and robotic systems. Neuromods required: 1.
- Hacking II: Bypass level 2 security measures on computers and robotic systems. Neuromods required: 4.
  - Hacking III: Bypass level 3 security measures on computers and robotic systems. Neuromods required: 6.
    - Hacking IV: Bypass level 4 security measures on computers and robotic systems. Neuromods required: 8.
Physician I: Your knowledge of medical practice increases the effectiveness of Medkits to 150%. Neuromods required: 1.
- Metabolic Boost: Doubles both the duration of the Well Fed bonus and the health gained by consuming food.
- Physician II: Your knowledge of medical practice increases the effectiveness of Medkits to 300%.
- Necropsy: Recover more valuable organs from Typhon remains. Typhon organs can be recycled for exotic material which is used in the fabrication of Neuromods. Neuromods required: 4.

The following abilities only unlock when the Psychoscope is acquired:

Psionic Aptitude I: Increase your psi pool to 150
- Psionic Aptitude II: Further increases psi pool
  - Psionic Aptitude III: Further increases psi pool
- Neurostimulant I: Increases the effectiveness of psi hypos
  - Neurostimulant II: Further increases the effectiveness of psi hypos
- Psychotronics I: Increases the number of Chipsets the Psychoscope can equip
  - Psychotronics II: Further increases the number of Chipsets the Psychoscope can equip
    - Psychotronics III: Even further increases the number of Chipsets the Psychoscope can equip

Engineer

Specialize in modifying your gear, repairing and crushing problems with your wrench.

Leverage I: Lift heavy objects with ease and throw objects further. Thrown objects will damage enemies. Neuromods required: 1.
- Leverage II: Lift even heavier objects and throw objects even further. Thrown objects will damage enemies. Neuromods required: 4.
  - Leverage III: Lift anything that isn't bolted to the floor and throw objects even further. Your brute strength can be applied to force open an unpowered door. Neuromods required: 6.
Repair I: Fix broken Grav Shafts, Fabricators, and Recyclers with Spare Parts. Neuromods required: 1.
- Gunsmith I: Allows use of Weapon Upgrade Kits to upgrade security weapons beyond modification level 1. Neuromods required: 2.
  - Gunsmith II: Allows use of Weapon Upgrade Kits to fully upgrade security weapons.
- Repair II: Fix broken Turrets, Operators and Electrical junctions with Spare Parts. Increased efficiency with Spare Parts.
  - Repair III: Fortify Turrets with Spare Parts, Increased efficiency with Spare Parts.
- Suit Modification I: Upgrade your TranStar uniform with extra inventory space and allow installation of two additional chipsets. Neuromods required: 2.
  - Suit Modification II: Upgrade your TranStar uniform with extra inventory space and allow installation of two additional chipsets. Neuromods required: 4.
    - Suit Modification III: Upgrade your TranStar uniform with extra inventory space and allow installation of two additional chipsets. Neuromods required: 6.
- Dismantle: Break down equipment in your inventory into Spare Parts and recover Spare Parts from destroyed Operators or Turrets. Neuromods required: 2.
Materials Expert: Increase recycling yield by 20%. Neuromods required: 3.
- Lab Tech I: Allows use of Weapon Upgrade Kits to upgrade non-standard tech weapons beyond modification level 1. Neuromods required: 4.
  - Lab Tech II: Allows use of Weapon Upgrade Kits to fully upgrade non-standard tech weapons. Neuromods required: 6.
Impact Calibration I: Reduce stamina cost of wrench attacks by 25%. Neuromods required: 2.
- Impact Calibration II: Wrench Attacks deal 50% more damage. Neuromods required: 5.
  - Pulverize: Attacking with the wrench has a 25% chance to do Bonus Damage. Neuromods required: 4.

Security

Boost your physical abilities, skill with firearms, and security tactics.

Firearms I: Increases damage with security weapons to 120% and chance to critically hit to 6%. Neuromods required: 2.
- Firearms II: Increases damage with security weapons to 150% and chance to critically hit to 10%. Neuromods required: 6.
Conditioning: Increase your health to 115 and your stamina to 105. Run, sneak, climb, and sprint 5% faster. Neuromods required: 1.
- Toughness I: Increase your health to 150. Natural life span increased by 25 years. Neuromods required: 2.
  - Toughness II: Increase your health to 200. Natural life span increased by 50 years. Neuromods required: 4.
    - Toughness III: Increase your health to 300. Natural life span increased by 75 years. Neuromods required: 8.
- Stamina I: Increase your stamina to 125. Neuromods required: 3.
  - Stamina II: Increase your stamina to 150. Neuromods required: 5.
- Mobility I: Increase overall movement speed. Run, sneak, climb and sprint 25% faster. Neuromods required: 2.
  - Mobility II: Gain the ability to sprint with ludicrous speed and to jump incredibly high. Neuromods required: 6.
Combat Focus I: Enter a state of Combat Focus for 10 seconds in which time slows around you and actions cost 50% stamina. Neuromods required: 1.
- Combat Focus II: Combat Focus duration increases to 15 seconds, time slows less for you than your enemies, your attacks deal 120% damage, and actions cost 25% Stamina. Neuromods required: 3.
  - Combat Focus III: Combat Focus duration increases to 20 seconds, time slows less for you than you but you can move normally, your attacks deal 150% damage, and actions cost no Stamina. Neuromods required: 6.
Stealth I: Enemies take longer to detect you when you are sneaking or crawling. Neuromods required: 2.
- Stealth II: Walk and Run without making noise. Neuromods required: 4.
  - Stealth III: Sprint without making noise. Neuromods required: 8.
- Sneak Attack I: Do 200% damage to enemies while they are unaware of you. Neuromods required: 2.
  - Sneak Attack II: Do 250% damage to enemies while they are unaware of you. Neuromods required: 4.

Alien

Alien powers that Morgan Yu can discover by scanning the Typhon aliens on Talos 1 with the Psychoscope followed by unlocking them with Neuromods. Turrets will identify Morgan as a Typhon organism and attack if more than two Typhon Neuromods are installed (that is, two powers, regardless of how many Neuromods they actually cost to unlock). 159 Neuromods are required to max out these three skill trees.

Energy

Harness the destructive power of electricity, fire, and kinetic energy

Kinetic Blast I: Create a blast that deals up to 50 damage and pushes away anything within 5 meters of the target. Neuromods required: 2. Scannable targets: Cystoid, Nightmare, Phantom, and Telepath.
- Kinetic Blast II: Create a blast that deals up to 75 damage and pushes away anything within 6 meters of the target. Neuromods required: 5. Scannable targets: Nightmare, Phantom, and Telepath.
  - Kinetic Blast III: Create a physical blast that deals up to 100 damage and pushes away anything within 7 meters of the targeted area. Neuromods required: 2. Scannable targets: Nightmare and Telepath.
- Lift Field I: Manipulate gravity to create a column of upward force up to 7m tall that lasts 15 seconds and can trap enemies. Neuromods required: 2. Scannable targets: Poltergeist.
  - Lift Field II: Manipulate gravity to create a column of upward force up to 12m tall that lasts 15 seconds and can trap enemies. Neuromods required: 5. Scannable targets: Poltergeist.(also accessible via workstation of bellamy )

Electrostatic Burst I: Create an electrostatic blast that deals up to 25 damage within 3 meters of the target area. Additionally, the burst disrupts electronic equipment, stuns robotic targets for 3 seconds, and stuns biological for 2 seconds. Neuromods required: 3. Scannable targets: Technopath and Voltaic Phantom.
- Electrostatic Resistance: Take 50% less damage from electrical attacks and hazards and negate stun. Neuromods required: 2. Scannable target: Voltaic Phantom.
  - Electrostatic Absorption: Absorb 50% of all electrical damage as PSI points. Neuromods required: 4. Scannable targets: Voltaic Phantom.
- Electrostatic Burst II: Create an electrostatic blast that deals up to 40 damage within 4 meters of the target area. Additionally, the burst disrupts electronic equipment, stuns robotic targets for 6 seconds, and stuns biological for 4 seconds. Neuromods required: 5. Scannable targets: Technopath and Voltaic Phantom.
  - Electrostatic Burst III: Create an electrostatic blast that deals up to 55 damage within 5 meters of the target area. Additionally, the burst disrupts electronic equipment, stuns robotic targets for 9 seconds, and stuns biological for 6 seconds. Neuromods required: 5. Scannable targets: Technopath and Voltaic Phantom.
Superthermal I: Create 1 trap of super-heated plasma that deals up to 75 fire damage within 3.5 meters when triggered. Organic enemies will continue to burn for several seconds. Neuromods required: 3. Scannable targets: Thermal Phantom.
- Superthermal II: Create 2 traps of super-heated plasma that deals up to 100 fire damage within 4.5 meters when triggered. Organic enemies will continue to burn for several seconds. Neuromods required: 5. Scannable targets: Thermal Phantom.
  - Superthermal III: Create 3 traps of super-heated plasma that deals up to 125 fire damage within 5.5 meters when triggered. Organic enemies will continue to burn for several seconds. Neuromods required: 5. Scannable targets: Thermal Phantom.
- Thermal Resistance: Take 50% less damage from fire attacks and hazards. Neuromods required: 2. Scannable targets: Thermal Phantom.
  - Thermal absorption: Absorb 50% of all fire damage as PSI points. Neuromods required: 4. Scannable targets: Thermal Phantom.

Morph

Manipulate the psychoactive ether to change shape and dupe your enemies.

Mimic Matter I: Camouflage yourself by taking the form of a nearby object. Uses 2 psi per second. Neuromods required: 2. Scannable targets: Greater Mimic and Mimic.
- Mimic Matter II: Camouflage yourself by taking the form of a nearby object. Mimic slightly more complex machines such as turrets. Uses 2 psi per second. Neuromods required: 4. Scannable targets: Mimic.
  - Mimic Matter III: Camouflage yourself by taking the form of a nearby object. Mimic complex machinery such as Operators. Uses 2 psi per socond. Neuromods required: 5. Scannable targets: Mimic.
- Regeneration I: Regenerate up to 10 health immediately after taking damage. Neuromods required: 3. Scannable targets: Greater Mimic and Nightmare.
  - Regeneration II: Regenerate up to 25 health immediately after taking damage. Neuromods required: 5. Scannable targets: Nightmare.
Phantom Shift I: Rapidly change position up to 6 meters away and leave behind a double that fools enemies for 4 seconds. Neuromods required: 2. Scannable targets: Etheric Phantom.
- Phantom Shift II: Rapidly change position up to 12 meters away and leave behind a double that fools enemies for 8 seconds. Neuromods required: 4. Scannable targets: Etheric Phantom.
- Phantom Genesis I: Create a Phantom that will fight for you from a human corpse. Neuromods required: 4. Scannable targets: Weaver.
  - Phantom Genesis II: Create a more powerful Phantom to fight for you from a human corpse. Phantom type is randomly determined. Neuromods required: 5. Scannable targets: Weaver.
- Ether Resistance: Take 50% less damage from ether attacks and hazards. Neuromods required: 1. Scannable targets: Etheric Phantom.
  - Ether Absorption: Absorb 50% of all ether damage as psi points. Neuromods required: 3. Scannable targets: Etheric Phantom.

Telepathy

Use your mind as a weapon or manipulate technology and objects at a distance.

Backlash I: Create a shield for 20 seconds which prevents the next enemy attack from damaging you. Enemies that attack the shield are repelled. Neuromods required: 3. Scannable targets: Nightmare and Weaver.
- Backlash II: Create a shield for 20 seconds which prevents the next 2 enemies attack from damaging you. Enemies that attack the shield are repelled. Neuromods required: 5. Scannable targets: Nightmare and Weaver.
  - Backlash III: Create a shield for 20 seconds which prevents the next 3 enemies attack from damaging you. Enemies that attack the shield are repelled. Neuromods required: 8. Scannable targets: Nightmare and Weaver.
- Fear Resistance: Reduce duration of fear effects by 25%. Neuromods required: 2. Scannable targets: Nightmare.
Psychoshock I: Execute a direct psychic attack against biological targets for 45 damage and nullify psi abilities for 10 seconds. Neuromods required: 3. Scannable targets: Mind-Controlled Human and Telepath.
- Mindjack I: Force biological enemies to end hostilities and fight for you up to 20 seconds. Also frees humans from Typhon mind control. Neuromods required: 2. Scannable targets: Mind-Controlled Human and Telepath.
  - Mindjack II: Force biological enemies to end hostilities and fight for you up to 40 seconds. Also frees humans from Typhon mind control. Neuromods required: 2. Scannable targets: Mind-Controlled Human and Telepath. Neuromods required: 4. Scannable targets: Telepath.
    - Mindjack III: Force biological enemies to end hostilities and fight for you up to 60 seconds. Also frees humans from Typhon mind control. Neuromods required: 2. Scannable targets: Mind-Controlled Human and Telepath. Neuromods required: 6. Scannable targets: Telepath.
- Psychoshock II: Execute a direct psychic attack against biological targets for 65 damage and nullify psi abilities for 15 seconds. Neuromods required: 5. Scannable targets: Telepath.
  - Psychoshock III: Execute a direct psychic attack against biological targets for 90 damage and nullify psi abilities for 20 seconds. Neuromods required: 5. Scannable targets: Telepath.
Remote Manipulation I: Use your mind to retrieve distant objects and interact with devices up to 10 meters away. Neuromods required: 2. Scannable targets: Corrupted Operator, Poltergeist, and Technopath.
- Remote Manipulation II: Use your mind to retrieve distant objects and interact with devices up to 20 meters away. Neuromods required: 3. Scannable targets: Poltergeist and Technopath.
  - Remote Manipulation III: Use your mind to retrieve distant objects and interact with devices up to 30 meters away. Neuromods required: 5. Scannable targets: Technopath.
- Machine Mind I: Force robotic enemies to end hostilities and fight for you for 30 seconds. Neuromods required: 2. Scannable targets: Corrupted Operator.
  - Machine Mind II: Force robotic enemies to end hostilities and fight for you for 60 seconds. Neuromods required: 3. Scannable targets: Technopath.
    - Machine Mind III: Force robotic enemies to end hostilities and fight for you for 90 seconds. Neuromods required: 5. Scannable targets: Technopath.