Once Human is a post-apocalyptic survival shooter that mixes sci-fi horror with deep RPG elements. As players face otherworldly threats and mysterious anomalies, creating a powerful character build is essential to survive. Among the many builds in the game, the Power Surge build stands out for those who prefer raw damage, area control, and efficient enemy clearing. Whether you’re tackling mutated beasts or high-tier anomalies, the Power Surge build offers high DPS output and reliable sustainability for both solo and team-based content.
Understanding the Power Surge Build
The Power Surge build in Once Human is centered around maximizing energy-based damage and enhancing your combat capabilities through specific gear, mods, and abilities. It’s designed to deliver consistent, high burst damage while maintaining energy regeneration and survivability. This build is ideal for players who enjoy aggressive gameplay and dominating fights with explosive power.
Core Concept of the Build
At the heart of the Power Surge build is a synergy between energy weapons, amplifier modules, and skill enhancements. Instead of relying on physical weaponry or stealth, this setup turns the character into a living conduit of energy, overwhelming enemies with lightning-fast strikes and devastating surges.
- Primary Damage Type: Energy (electric, plasma, and pulse-based)
- Weapon Focus: Energy Rifles, Pulse Cannons, and Shockwave Emitters
- Key Attributes: Energy Mastery, Cooldown Reduction, Energy Efficiency
- Playstyle: Mid-range offense, AoE burst damage, rapid target elimination
Stat Prioritization
To fully optimize your Power Surge build, investing in the right stats is crucial. These stats determine how much damage you deal, how often you can use skills, and how effectively you regenerate energy during combat.
Top Stats to Focus On:
- Energy Output: Increases the raw power of your energy-based attacks.
- Skill Cooldown Reduction: Lowers downtime between surge abilities, enabling constant pressure.
- Energy Efficiency: Reduces the cost of energy-based attacks and abilities.
- Critical Strike Chance: Boosts the likelihood of landing devastating crits, especially effective with AoE surges.
- Resistance Penetration: Essential for cutting through enemy shields and high-tier boss resistances.
Weapon and Gear Recommendations
Equipping the right weapons and armor pieces is vital to unleash the full potential of the Power Surge build. Look for items that enhance energy output and skill effectiveness while also offering survivability options.
Recommended Weapons:
- Plasma Arc Rifle: Offers a high rate of fire and energy-based projectile bursts. Ideal for mid-range combat.
- Shockwave Emitter: A powerful secondary that delivers wide-area electrical pulses to disable groups of enemies.
- Pulse Cannon: High damage per shot and excellent synergy with critical hit builds.
Recommended Armor:
- Surge Amplifier Suit: Increases all energy-based damage and improves skill cooldown speed.
- Reactive Mesh Chestpiece: Grants extra resistance and temporary energy shielding when health drops.
- Conductive Gloves: Boosts critical hit rate and energy efficiency for faster skill use.
Skill Tree Choices
The skill tree in Once Human allows for extensive customization, but the Power Surge build benefits most from selecting nodes that enhance energy manipulation, damage output, and mobility.
Must-Have Skills:
- Energy Nova: An area burst that deals electric damage to all nearby enemies. Excellent for crowd control.
- Overload Surge: Temporarily boosts your damage and lowers energy consumption for a short duration.
- Ion Leap: A mobility skill that lets you dash and shock enemies upon arrival. Useful for both offense and escape.
- Charged Field: Creates an energy field that damages and slows enemies caught within it.
Upgrading these skills to reduce cooldown and increase area of effect will help you dominate in high-level content. Focus on synergy using Ion Leap into a group followed by Energy Nova and Charged Field creates devastating combos.
Mod Integration
Mods further customize your build and push it beyond baseline stats. The right mods can turn your Power Surge build into a true powerhouse, especially when applied to weapons and armor that already enhance energy attacks.
Key Mods for Power Surge Build:
- Energy Feedback Loop: Grants a percentage of energy back after using a skill.
- Voltage Spike: Adds a small AoE explosion on critical energy hits.
- Surge Capacitor: Increases duration of Overload Surge and boosts its effects.
- Field Stability Matrix: Reduces incoming damage while inside Charged Field zones.
Mod slots should be prioritized for synergy. Pair your weapon mods with critical strike enhancements and your armor mods with energy regeneration or cooldown assistance.
Gameplay Strategy
The Power Surge build is not about slow and methodical play. It’s aggressive, flashy, and focused on maintaining momentum during fights. The key is to always have a skill ready, keep your energy bar flowing, and make smart use of your mobility.
Combat Tips:
- Open fights with Charged Field to control space and deny enemy movement.
- Use Ion Leap to reposition quickly and follow up with Energy Nova for maximum AoE damage.
- Activate Overload Surge during intense moments to increase burst potential.
- Keep mobile avoid standing still, as energy builds are often lightly armored.
This playstyle thrives in both PvE and PvP due to its reactive nature and ability to handle multiple enemies at once. Practice the skill rotation to maintain fluidity in battles.
Power Surge Build for Team Play
While it’s excellent for solo play, the Power Surge build also contributes heavily in team settings. Its AoE and support skills help clear enemy waves, and Charged Field offers control in chaotic fights. Consider pairing with tankier allies or crowd control specialists to create perfect synergy in high-threat environments.
Role in Teams:
- Damage Dealer: Focused on eliminating high-priority targets quickly.
- Zoning Specialist: Uses fields and surges to control space and protect allies.
- Burst Support: Times Overload Surges for boss DPS windows to help maximize party damage.
The Power Surge build in Once Human is an electrifying choice for players seeking a dynamic and impactful playstyle. With the right weapons, skills, and gear, this build transforms your character into a high-voltage force on the battlefield. Whether you’re progressing through solo missions or pushing into advanced team raids, Power Surge delivers the versatility and firepower needed to survive and dominate. As the game evolves, continue to refine your build with the latest mods and gear to stay ahead in the ever-changing fight for humanity’s future.