Part 110

Learn how to effectively use Gas Grenades, LAMs, Scramble Grenades, Ballistic Armor, Hazmat Suits, Thermoptic Camo, and master lockpicking in Deus Ex.

Alright, let's talk about some of the gear and skills that can really make your life easier in Deus Ex, especially when things get hairy. We'll cover some useful grenades, explosives, and then dive into how your Environmental Training skill affects some key protective items, plus how to get better at lockpicking.

Grenades and Explosives

Sometimes you just need to clear a room or deal with a tough obstacle. Here are a few options:

• Gas Grenade (GG): These are great for crowd control. Toss one into a room full of enemies, and they'll be incapacitated by tear gas for a few seconds, giving you a window to move in or escape. Just remember, animals, transgenics, and Commandos aren't affected by it. It's a fun and effective tool, though cloaking or using a Pepper Gun can sometimes achieve similar results.
• LAM (Low-Anthrax Munition): These are your go-to explosives for destroying obstacles, including bots, and they only take up one inventory slot. Even at the Untrained skill level, they're powerful. The main drawbacks are the throwing animation and limited range. They're also fantastic as traps; placing them on walls can be a lifesaver during intense firefights, like in the 'Ton Hotel or when facing Anna and Gunther.
• Scramble Grenade: These are rare and expensive, and honestly, I usually skip them. They temporarily turn enemy bots against their own allies, which can be amusing, but it's a temporary fix. I find it's usually better to use a Spy Drone to disable the bot first, then deal with the remaining enemies.

Environmental Training

This skill is all about how well you use protective gear. When JCD is Untrained, some items just don't last very long. Investing in this skill, especially for Ballistic Armor and Thermoptic Camo, can make a huge difference.

• Ballistic Armor: This protects you from bullets, bites, and explosions. The damage reduction and duration depend on your Environmental Training skill and stack with your Ballistic Protection Augmentation. It's handy to have one in your inventory for those unexpected tough spots.
  • Untrained: You take 50% damage for 25 seconds.
  • Trained: You take 38% damage for 33 seconds.
  • Advanced: You take 25% damage for 50 seconds.
  • Master: You take 13% damage for 1 minute and 40 seconds.
• Hazmat Suit: Found near hazardous areas, these protect you from toxic and radioactive environments. The protection and duration increase with Environmental Training and stack with Environmental Resistance Augmentation. While useful, you might not run into too much trouble without one if you have Regeneration or Environmental Resistance. Important note: they do NOT protect against Fire, Electricity, or EMP.
  • Untrained: You take 75% damage for 50 seconds.
  • Trained: You take 57% damage for 1 minute and 6 seconds.
  • Advanced: You take 38% damage for 1 minute and 40 seconds.
  • Master: You take 19% damage for 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
• Thermoptic Camo: This is like a supercharged version of your Cloak Augmentation and Radar Transparency. It makes you invisible to humans, dogs, transgenics, bots, and even lasers! You can walk right through laser grids with this, which Radar Transparency alone won't let you do. However, it doesn't hide you from cameras or active turrets, so be careful. Having several of these is a great use of your credits.
  • Untrained: You are undetectable for 12.5 seconds.
  • Trained: You are undetectable for 16.5 seconds.
  • Advanced: You are undetectable for 25 seconds.
  • Master: You are undetectable for 50 seconds.

  Note: The concept for Thermoptic Camo comes from Ghost in the Shell.

Lockpicking

Lockpicking is a skill that can be mastered with practice. The higher your Environmental Training skill is for this, the more effective your lockpicks become.

• Untrained: One Lockpick decreases lock strength by 10%.
• Trained: One Lockpick decreases lock strength by 25%.
• Advanced: One Lockpick decreases lock strength by 40%.
• Master: One Lockpick decreases lock strength by 75%.

Upgrading this skill significantly improves your ability to open locks, giving you a much better ratio of lockpicks found versus locks you need to open throughout the game.