- Electronic parts (Chipsets) are the progression currency in Mirror's Edge Catalyst, spent on Upgrade Chips in Faith's skill tree.
- Best sources: Dashes, Time Trials, Billboards, Security Zones, and hard-to-reach parkour spots.
- Spend first: Quick Turn, Fast Climb, and MAG Rope enhancements for the biggest mobility gains.
- Fastest farm: 3-star Dashes with short, repeatable routes beat random rooftop exploration.
- Skill branches: Traversal, Combat, and Gear each unlock different upgrades.
What Are Electronic Parts (Chipsets) in Mirror's Edge Catalyst?
In Mirror's Edge Catalyst, electronic parts — called Chipsets in-game — are the core progression collectible. Faith collects them across the city of Glass and spends them on Upgrade Chips, the nodes of her three-branch skill tree: Traversal, Combat, and Gear. Early Chipset choices noticeably change how the game feels, so understanding where they come from and where to spend them matters from the opening chapters onward.
Chipsets come from two broad sources: static placements in the open world at hard-to-reach parkour spots, and activity rewards from Dashes, Billboards, and Security Zone events. High star ratings in Dashes and Time Trials pay out especially well, making side activities the fastest route to a fully upgraded Faith.
Chipsets are not the same as GridLeaks. GridLeaks are smashed mid-run for district completion, while Chipsets are spent on skills — don't ignore either when chasing 100%.
Where to Find Electronic Parts: All Sources Ranked
Every Chipset source in Glass, ranked by farming efficiency:
| Source | Yield | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dashes (3-star) | High | Medium | Player-made routes, repeatable, fast payouts |
| Time Trials | High | Medium-Hard | 1-3 star targets; stars unlock more trials |
| Billboards | Medium | Low-Medium | Climb challenges placed around rooftops |
| Security Zones | Medium | Medium | K-Sec encounters; combat and stealth both viable |
| Open-world placements | Low per spot | Varies | Hard-to-reach parkour spots, grab while exploring |
| Story missions | One-time | Low | Fixed payouts during main missions |
Speed Farmers
- Best pick: Dashes and Time Trials
- Repeatable payouts
- Great for leaderboard practice
Explorers
- Best pick: Billboards and placements
- Combine with GridLeak runs
- Revealed by map upgrades
Fighters
- Best pick: Security Zones
- Combat skill practice
- Disruptor-friendly encounters
Before grinding open-world placements, unlock the Exploration Markers (Gear) upgrades. They reveal nearby collectibles and side activities on the map, cutting search time dramatically.
Step-by-Step: Building Your Chipset Income
Progress the Story First
Play through the early Anchor missions until free roam, side activities, and Dashes unlock. Story missions hand out guaranteed Chipsets and grant the MAG Rope, which opens far more collection routes.
Buy the Map and Vision Upgrades
Spend your first Chipsets on Gear-branch Runner Vision upgrades and Exploration Markers so collectibles and activities appear on your map before you grind.
Farm Short Dashes to 3 Stars
Pick Dashes close to fast-travel points. Learn the intended line, then shave seconds with coil jumps and wall-run chains — each star rating improves your payout.
Clear Billboards and Security Zones by District
Work one district at a time, combining Billboards, Security Zones, and open-world Chipset placements into a single loop alongside GridLeak cleanup.
Reinvest in Traversal Skills
Spend earnings on Quick Turn, Fast Climb, and MAG Rope enhancements. Faster movement makes every subsequent farm loop quicker — a compounding return.
Don't dump early Chipsets into late-game Combat counters. Most mandatory fights can be handled with basic evades, while Traversal and Gear upgrades pay off in every single mission and activity.
Best Upgrade Chip Priorities: Tier Rankings
| Tier | Upgrade | Branch | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Quick Turn | Traversal | Fast 180-degree turn, essential for chases and time trials |
| S | MAG Rope Enhancements | Gear | Extends reach, new swing points, huge mobility multiplier |
| S | Fast Climb | Traversal | Speeds ledge mantling so climbs don't break Flow |
| A | Skill Roll | Traversal | Reduces fall damage recovery, keeps runs fluid |
| A | Combat Enhancements | Combat | Faster strikes and Tranquilizer takedowns |
| A | Runner Vision Upgrades | Gear | Clearer path cues while learning Glass |
| B | Advanced Combat Counters | Combat | Wider counter window vs heavy guards, situational |
| B | Exploration Markers | Gear | Reveals collectibles — grab when chasing 100% |
Unlock the three S-tier upgrades first, then branch based on playstyle: more Dashes means more Traversal, while Security Zone grinding justifies earlier Combat spending.
Farming Checklist and Completion Goals
Electronic Parts Farming Milestones:
- Unlock free roam and the MAG Rope in the story
- Purchase Exploration Markers and Runner Vision upgrades
- Earn 3 stars on five short Dashes near fast-travel points
- Clear all Billboards and Security Zones in one district
- Unlock all S-tier upgrades (Quick Turn, MAG Rope, Fast Climb)
Pair Chipset farming with GridLeak destruction in the same district — both count toward district completion, so one clean loop advances collection and progression at the same time.
FAQ
Q: What are electronic parts called in Mirror's Edge Catalyst?
The electronic parts players refer to are **Chipsets**. They are spent on Upgrade Chips in Faith's skill tree across the Traversal, Combat, and Gear branches, and they are also earned as rewards for high star ratings in Dashes and Time Trials.
Q: What is the fastest way to farm Chipsets?
Repeat short **Dashes** near fast-travel points and push them to 3 stars. Time Trials are the next best source. Open-world placements are worthwhile mainly when combined with GridLeak and district completion loops.
Q: Which Upgrade Chips should I buy first?
Prioritize **Quick Turn**, **Fast Climb**, and **MAG Rope enhancements**. These improve every mission and activity in the game, whereas Combat counters are situational and best delayed until late-game Kruger Security encounters.
Q: Can I miss Chipsets permanently?
No. Glass is fully open for free roam after the early story missions, so every Dash, Billboard, Security Zone, and open-world Chipset placement remains available for cleanup after finishing the campaign.