Best Hacking Skills and Upgrades in Watch Dogs

One of the central features of Watch Dogs is the ability to hack into a system that controls EVERYTHING. It is thus important to upgrade your skills as you play through the game; but when they cost you points it’s vital to consider which upgrades suit your style and which would just be a waste of points. How could you know this? Read the following guide to the hacking skills tree in Watch Dogs, that’s how. Upgrades are grouped to help you achieve your goals, whether that’s getting lots of money or getting out of a tight spot fast.

 

The Basics – Abilities you have from the start
 Hacker’s Tool Kit: Immediately Available | Costs 0 Points

This is your key to hacking; it allows you to access all of the phones, laptops, cranes and other equipment you like. Without it you couldn’t do much, it’s quite essential really.

Utilities: Immediately Available | Costs 0 Points
This primary hacking skill lets you create explosions with building utilities. Handy for taking out an enemy without killing them or distracting them, the Utilities hacking skill works with objects like steam regulators.

Best Hacking Skills to make money- How you can hack your way to riches
 ATM Hack Boost: Immediately Available | Costs 3 Points

The time will come when you find yourself stealing from ATM machines in Watch Dogs. This hacking skill upgrade increases how much you can take to 250%, so if you often hack to get money the ATM Hack Boost will be a worthy investment.

Profiler Optimization: Available after Main Mission Act I/5 Open Your World | Costs 4 Points
Once you’ve bought this hacking upgrade you’ll be able to spot valuable people. No, not those who benefit society, the ones with riches! The Profiler Optimization places a blue cursor above figures who have expensive cars and systems keys, for example, so you can easily target them.

ATM Hack Boost Plus: Available after Main Mission Act I/5 Open Your World | Costs 5 Points
Although it requires 5 points, this upgrade improves the previous ATM Hack Boost ability to 450%. If your focus is on acquiring money, this skill is a clear winner, especially considering the Profiler Optimization skill you must develop before this one.

Searching for the most lucrative methods to get rich quick? Discover the best techniques in our 'How to make money in Watch Dogs' guide and 'How to Cheat and win big in Poker' Walkthrough.

How to save power – Upgrades that enhance your phone’s battery
 Extra Battery: Immediately Available | Costs 1 Point

When using your phone for hacking, you need to be aware of your battery level as it drains away. Lucky for you this immediately available hacking skill provides an extra battery slot.

Extra Battery II: Available after Main Mission Act I/5 Open Your World | Costs 3 Points
Hack away into various equipment for even longer with another battery slot from this upgrade.

Extra Battery III: Available after Main Mission Act I/5 Open Your World | Costs 5 Points
The third battery upgrade brings you to your battery’s maximum capacity; once again this skill provides you will an additional battery slot.

How to hack enemies – Disrupt your enemies to get the upper hand
 Disrupt Enemy Comms: Available after Main Mission Act I/5 Open Your World | Costs 2 Points

For a stealthy approach to Watch Dogs, this hacking upgrade is certainly one to keep an eye out for. It will enable you to hack into enemies’ helmet communications, subjecting them to a shrill crackle. Although it won’t work on every foe, this skill will essentially blind and immobilize enemies for a few seconds.

Disable Reinforcement Call: Available after Main Mission Act I/5 Open Your World | Costs 5 Points
The next skill upgrade does exactly what it says on the tin, stops enemies from being able to call for backup. You will only be able to use the ability on Shot-Callers and they will be highlighted for easy targeting. How to use trains and transformers – The skills that help your getaway plan.

L-Train Control: Immediately Available | Costs 1 Point
After you’re familiar with the Utilities hacking skill, you’ll be able to upgrade to this for a single point. The L-Train Control hacking upgrade gives you the power to start and stop L-trains as you wish, perfect for losing your pursuers.

Transformers: Immediately Available | Costs 3 Points
Another hacking skill that assists with your escape is the Transformers upgrade. By creating explosions with transformers and ctOS boxes you can cause a blackout (away from broad daylight) and inflict slight damage on enemies nearby.

 

How to control the city – Make the most of your surroundings with these upgrades

Traffic Lights: Immediately Available | Costs 0 Points
A skill for the mischievous players out there, the Traffic Lights hacking skill in Watch Dogs lets you manipulate the traffic light system to cause accidents. How effective the skill is depends on a number of things, but works best when the blue diamond appears; that means the vehicles will be taken out if you use this skill.

Gates & Garages: Available after Main Mission Act I/1 Bottom of the Eighth | Costs 1 Point
The Gates & Garages hacking upgrade is automatically given to you upon completion of the mission. Once you’ve received the skill you’ll be able to control most of the basic ctOS hackable scenery. Just make sure you close the door behind you to stop followers in their tracks.

Bridges: Immediately Available | Costs 1 Point
This ability is similar to Gates & Garages, but it applies to city bridges. Suspension bridges lift vertically, swing bridges move horizontally and drawbridges operate by closing or opening a gap. Clearly this skill has a lot of uses and potential ways to shake off your enemies.

Steam Pipes: Available after Main Mission Act I/5 Open Your World | Costs 2 Points An alternative way to take care of your enemies’ vehicles is to utilize the Steam Pipes hacking skill. Timing the steam pipe’s explosion is the hardest part of using this upgrade, get it wrong and you could miss your target or send yourself flying. The blue diamond also appears for the Steam Pipes skill, signaling that you can take people out.

How to make the best escape – These skills help get out of those difficult situations

Disable Helicopter: Available after Main Mission Act I/5 Open Your World | Costs 2 Points
As much as we’d love to disable helicopters permanently, this skill lets you do that for just 5 seconds. Still, it’s better than nothing! Use it to quickly find a hiding place mid pursuit.

Improved Disable Helicopter: Available after Main Mission Act I/5 Open Your World | Costs 3 Points
This upgrade boosts the disability duration to 10 seconds, permitting you to get under cover. The Improved Disable Helicopter hacking skill also works during ctOS Mobile App games.

Blockers: Immediately Available | Costs 1 Point
To get this upgrade, you must first have the Gate & Garages skill. You can then use it to literally stop your pursuers or bring those you’re chasing to a halt up ahead. However enemies on bikes will still be able to drive between the blockers. What a shame.

Road Spikes: Available after Main Mission Act I/5 Open Your World | Costs 2 Points
Wreck your enemies’ tires by raising the city’s road spikes with this hacking skill. You can find the spikes at numerous entrances in the city, it would be wise to learn where they are so you can use, and avoid, them when needed.

Have you got any Hints and Tips for moving up the Watch Dogs Hacking Skills tree? Share them in the comments below.

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