TL;DR
- Shift offers unmatched mobility for navigation and combat evasion
- Aether provides superior stealth capabilities for infiltration missions
- Nexus excels at crowd control by linking multiple enemies together
- Karnesis delivers powerful environmental manipulation and area denial
- Havoc transforms you into a nearly unstoppable combat powerhouse
Deathloop revolutionizes supernatural gameplay with its unique Slab system, offering five distinct equippable abilities that dramatically alter your approach to Blackreef’s challenges. Each power provides unique tactical advantages that can be enhanced through multiple upgrade paths.
Drawing inspiration from Arkane Studios’ previous titles while establishing its own identity, Deathloop’s Slabs are acquired by eliminating the island’s most dangerous inhabitants known as Visionaries. These individuals each possess a specific Slab that grants entirely new movement, combat, and interaction capabilities.
While the game limits you to equipping only two Slabs simultaneously, this constraint encourages strategic loadout planning based on your mission objectives and playstyle preferences.
An important strategic consideration involves Julianna’s random invasions – when she appears in your game, she carries one random Slab that can be acquired by defeating her, providing alternative acquisition paths beyond hunting specific Visionaries.
For players seeking foundational knowledge, our Complete Guide offers comprehensive gameplay mechanics that translate well to Deathloop’s systems.
Shift: Teleportation Mastery
This instantly recognizable ability mirrors Dishonored’s Blink function, allowing rapid teleportation across short distances in any direction. Shift serves as an exceptionally versatile tool for navigating Blackreef’s complex terrain while providing crucial combat advantages.
Beyond basic mobility, creative Shift applications can completely reverse unfavorable firefight situations. By teleporting unpredictably, you disorient enemies and create brief windows to eliminate multiple targets before they reacquire you.
Visionary: Charlie Montague
Location: Updaam at noon
Strategic Applications: Use Shift to access otherwise unreachable areas, escape surrounded situations, or gain elevated positioning for tactical advantages.
- Airborne: This upgrade enables mid-air hovering during Shift activation, permitting directional adjustments while teleporting.
- Dropkick: Executing a kick immediately after Shift completion generates a sonic boom dealing area-of-effect damage to nearby enemies.
- Reach: Extends maximum teleportation distance by approximately 40%, significantly improving mobility options.
Aether: Stealth Enhancement
Aether provides advanced stealth capabilities by rendering Colt nearly invisible, making it indispensable for infiltration missions and avoiding direct confrontations.
Visionary: Egor Serling
Location: Research Center during afternoon
Common Mistake: Many players activate Aether while moving quickly, which consumes energy rapidly. Move slowly or remain stationary to maximize stealth duration.
Nexus: Crowd Control
This innovative Slab connects multiple enemies together, causing damage or status effects applied to one target to affect all linked individuals.
Visionary: Dr. Wenjie Evans
Location: Complex in morning
Advanced Technique: Combine Nexus with environmental hazards – linking enemies then triggering an explosion can eliminate entire groups simultaneously.
Karnesis: Physical Manipulation
Karnesis delivers telekinetic capabilities allowing you to manipulate enemies physically, throwing them across rooms or off cliffs.
Visionary: Aleksis Dorsey
Location: Aleksis’ mansion during evening
Optimization Tip: Use Karnesis near environmental edges for instant eliminations, conserving ammunition while efficiently dealing with threats.
Havoc: Combat Superiority
Havoc transforms you into a formidable combatant by generating protective energy armor while significantly boosting damage output.
Visionary: Fia Zborowska
Location
Pro Strategy: Activate Havoc immediately before engaging heavily fortified areas to withstand initial enemy volleys while dismantling defenses.
Mastering Deathloop requires understanding how Slabs complement each other and when to deploy specific combinations. Shift pairs exceptionally well with Havoc for aggressive playstyles, while Aether and Nexus create superior stealth and crowd control synergies.
Priority Acquisition Order: For new players, prioritize Shift first for mobility, followed by Aether for stealth options. Intermediate players should target Nexus for crowd control, while advanced strategies benefit most from Karnesis and Havoc combinations.
Time Investment Estimates: Acquiring all five Slabs typically requires 8-12 hours depending on your familiarity with Blackreef’s time cycles and Visionary patterns.
Understanding these power dynamics will enhance your experience with other tactical shooters – our Weapons Unlock guide demonstrates similar strategic principles applied to different gaming environments.
Your Slab selection should reflect both immediate mission requirements and long-term strategic goals. Experiment with different combinations to discover synergies that match your preferred approach to Blackreef’s challenges.
For deeper character specialization insights, consult our Class Guide for principles that translate to loadout optimization in Deathloop.
Action Checklist
- Acquire Shift from Charlie Montague in Updaam at noon for essential mobility
- Obtain Aether from Egor Serling for stealth infiltration capabilities
- Master Shift’s Airborne upgrade for enhanced directional control during teleportation
- Experiment with Nexus and environmental hazards for efficient crowd elimination
- Develop personalized two-Slab loadouts based on your preferred playstyle
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Deathloop Slabs Guide – Where To Find Them, Who To Kill, And Which Are The Best? Strategic guide to Deathloop's five supernatural powers with optimal acquisition paths and combat applications