Returnal: Adrenaline Levels [Detailed Explanation]

The Adrenaline levels in Returnal are essentially one of the game’s central mechanics within the gameplay system. It allows players to gain unique bonuses whilst engaging enemies in combat such as higher weapon damage as well as other helpful passive elements with a total of five levels or tiers. Furthermore, there are also a couple of ways players can manipulate it to gain the highest level as well as increase the rate at which they gain it.

What Are Adrenaline Levels?

Now, going more into specifics here, the adrenaline level is essentially the gameplay mechanic which rewards you for playing the game in a skillful manner.

Here’s what you need to know about them:

1. Adrenaline Bar: The adrenaline level is represented by a bar at the bottom of your screen during gameplay, resembling a Heart Rate Variability pattern.
2. Symbols and Numerical Value: The bar uses different symbols and a numerical value between 1.0 to 5.0 to indicate your current adrenaline level.
3. Resetting Adrenaline: Taking damage from enemy attacks or other sources will reset your adrenaline level back to zero.
4. Stacking Bonuses: As you gain each level of adrenaline, you receive bonuses that stack with the previous ones. These bonuses can enhance your abilities.
5. Usefulness and Boss Fights: Maintaining a high adrenaline level is useful in regular fights, but it can be challenging to avoid getting hit during main-game boss battles.
6. Droid Assistance: The small droid beside Selene’s right shoulder fires homing projectiles alongside your equipped weapon, and the number of shots fired increases with higher adrenaline levels.

Now lets move to all the levels.

Level 1

• Bonus: Larger window for weapon overloads (reload your weapons).
• Significance: Useful for managing weapon overloads, especially with the game’s variety of weapons and their distinctive overload timings.

Level 2

• Bonus: Ability to track enemies through walls, marking them in red.
• Significance: Helps you keep an eye on enemy movements and positions, preventing surprises during chaotic battles.

Level 3

• Bonus: Boosts melee ability by reducing its cooldown, allowing more frequent use.
• Significance: Improves melee attacks, enhancing close-quarters combat and complementing short-range weapons effectively.

Level 4

• Bonus: +50% weapon proficiency rate on kills, influencing weapon upgrades in the current cycle.
• Significance: Boosts weapon proficiency, crucial for advancing weapon levels and stats throughout the game.

Level 5

• Bonus: Increases Obolites earned from all sources by 50%.
• Additional Upgrade: Grants a shield, allowing you to take an extra hit before resetting your adrenaline level. The shield is indicated by glowing armor on Selene.
• Significance: Enhances currency acquisition, vital for item crafting and purchases. The shield provides an extra layer of protection in combat.

Each adrenaline level in “Returnal” offers unique advantages that can significantly impact your gameplay experience, making them essential for progressing.

Tips And Tricks To Increase Adrenaline Level

Lastly, before we conclude, there are actually a few ways that you can increase your Adrenaline level with ease, and that pertains only to how well you can play the game but also to acquire the best consumables and artifacts. There is a consumable called the Apex Sphere (Shown in the image above) that can instantly grant you max adrenaline which is best used in tough situations such as boss fights or even challenge rooms.

Furthermore, parasites are risk-reward situations that can provide great bonuses, such as doubling the amount of adrenaline that can be gained with each enemy defeated, but there is always going to be a catch with them as, in turn, you will be inflicted with malfunctions that,, need to be cured or else you will be faced with negative effects.

If you’re trying to get that Adrenaline level up as quickly as possible, then we strongly recommend using a long-range weapon such as the Hollowseeker. Other weapons also include the Electropylon Driver, which can instantly kill enemies using its Spider-web-like attacks, boosting adrenaline levels in no time flat. Aside from that, it generally just comes down to how well you play and how long you can continue without taking damage.

The Wrap-Up

As you can see from the following Subreddit Post, it is well-stated that striving to achieve the highest adrenaline levels in Returnal can tremendously benefit you in the grand scheme of things. The advantages that you receive from them are definitely worth it, as you can have an easier time playing the game with the increased Obolites along with the bonus shield at max adrenaline.

The Total Playtime of Returnal might shock a few players, but if you’re going for the Platinum Trophy/100 percent achievement, then you might be in it for frustration and a grind fest. Thankfully the game now supports a plethora of useful features, one of which is the ability to Suspend The Cycle, which is essentially auto-save. Once you finish the main campaign, you can also head into the Tower of Sisyphus for its own host of challenges.

But for now, this wraps up our guide to the Adrenaline levels in Returnal. If you have any other questions or queries related to the topic or just the game in general, then feel free to let us know in the comments section so we can help you out as soon as possible. As always, eXputer wishes you luck!

Up Next:

• Permanent Xenotech Upgrades in Returnal
• How To Increase Repair Efficiency in Returnal
• Returnal: How To Increase Scout Rank
• Returnal Third Boss Guide