- Mirror's Edge Catalyst upgrades are bought with Chipsets, earned from exploration and side activities.
- The skill tree has three branches: Traversal, Combat, and Gear.
- Quick Turn, Fast Climb, and Mag Rope upgrades deliver the biggest early mobility gains.
- Dashes and Time Trials are the fastest farming route for Chipsets.
- Combat upgrades matter most in mandatory story fights; explorers can delay them.
How the Upgrade System Works
Faith's abilities in Mirror's Edge Catalyst grow through Upgrade Chips, purchased with Chipsets collected across the city of Glass. Chipsets hide at hard-to-reach parkour spots and are also rewarded for completing Dashes, Billboards, Security Zone events, and Time Trial star ratings — making side activities the most reliable progression path, not story missions alone.
Every chip you buy belongs to one of three branches:
| Branch | Focus | Who Needs It Most |
|---|---|---|
| Traversal | Movement speed, climb speed, turns, fall recovery | All players, priority branch |
| Combat | Strike speed, counters, takedown power | Players who fight often |
| Gear | Mag Rope reach, Disruptor, Runner Vision, map markers | Explorers and completionists |
Earning high star ratings in Dashes and Time Trials rewards Chipsets faster than hunting them one by one. Unlock a few movement skills early, then grind side activities to fund the rest of the tree.
Upgrade Tier Rankings
This tier list ranks every notable upgrade by how much it changes your run through Glass. Movement multipliers come first because Catalyst rewards unbroken Flow above all else.
| Tier | Upgrade | Branch | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Quick Turn | Traversal | Fast 180-degree turn; essential for chases and time trials |
| S | Fast Climb | Traversal | Speeds up ledge mantling so climbs never break Flow |
| S | Mag Rope Enhancements | Gear | Extends reach and adds swing points; huge mobility multiplier |
| A | Skill Roll | Traversal | Reduces fall damage recovery, keeps drops fluid |
| A | Combat Enhancements | Combat | Faster strikes and Tranquilizer takedowns in mandatory fights |
| A | Runner Vision Upgrades | Gear | Clearer path cues while learning Glass's rooftops |
| B | Advanced Combat Counters | Combat | Wider counter window vs. heavy guards; late-game value |
| B | Exploration Markers | Gear | Reveals nearby collectibles; grab when chasing 100% |
Speedrunner Build
- Quick Turn first
- Fast Climb + Skill Roll
- Mag Rope maxed early
- Skip combat chips
Story Build
- Fast Climb first
- Combat Enhancements mid-story
- Runner Vision upgrades for routes
- Balanced across branches
Completionist Build
- Exploration Markers early
- Mag Rope for hard-to-reach spots
- Skill Roll for safe drops
- Combat chips last
Do not dump early Chipsets into combat counters. Most encounters in Glass can be outrun, and every chip spent on fighting is a chip not spent on the movement skills that define the game.
Step-by-Step Upgrade Path
Follow this order to keep Faith's mobility scaling ahead of the story's difficulty spikes.
Open With Traversal Basics
During the early Anchor missions, save Chipsets for Quick Turn and Fast Climb. These two chips immediately smooth out rooftop routes and set up every later technique.
Invest in the Mag Rope
After unlocking the Mag Rope in Chapter 2, prioritize Mag Rope Enhancements. Extended reach opens swing points and shortcuts across districts, especially Anchor's long glass facades.
Add Survival Movement
Pick up Skill Roll next. Reduced fall recovery saves runs during escapes and keeps your Flow chain intact when dropping between rooftops.
Patch Your Weak Spot
If story fights slow you down, buy Combat Enhancements for faster strikes and Tranquilizer takedowns. If you avoid fights, grab Runner Vision Upgrades instead.
Finish With Exploration Gear
Once the story is done, unlock Exploration Markers and Advanced Combat Counters while cleaning up GridLeaks, Documents, and remaining side activities.
Reassess your build after every chapter. Traversal chips pay off everywhere; specialized chips only pay off in the situations they were designed for.
Farming Chipsets Efficiently
Chipsets fund every upgrade, so your farming method directly controls how quickly Faith reaches full power. Ranked from fastest to slowest:
| Method | Chipset Yield | Effort | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dashes (Runner Tags) | High | Low | Repeatable community routes, star rewards |
| Time Trials | High | Medium | 1–3 star targets; stars unlock more trials |
| Security Zone events | Medium | Medium | Combat-flavored, good for practice |
| Billboard climbs | Medium | Low | Quick vertical challenges per district |
| Hidden pickups | Low | High | Parkour spots only; grab when nearby |
Anchor's long facades favor Mag Rope swings between buildings, while Downtown's dense rooftops reward slide-jump chains. Match your farming routes to the movement skills you have already unlocked.
Upgrade Milestones:
- Unlock Quick Turn and Fast Climb
- Complete first Mag Rope enhancement
- Earn 3 stars on five Dashes
- Add Skill Roll to your build
- Finish the full Traversal branch
FAQ
Q: How do you unlock upgrades in Mirror's Edge Catalyst?
Upgrades are purchased with Chipsets in Faith's skill tree, which has Traversal, Combat, and Gear branches. Chipsets come from hidden parkour pickups and from completing Dashes, Billboards, Security Zone events, and Time Trial star ratings.
Q: What is the best first upgrade?
Quick Turn and Fast Climb are the strongest opening picks. Quick Turn lets Faith reverse direction instantly during chases, while Fast Climb keeps ledge mantling from breaking your Flow. Both improve every second of gameplay.
Q: Can I skip combat upgrades entirely?
Mostly, yes. Many encounters can be outrun or bypassed with stealth and the Disruptor. However, a few mandatory story fights become noticeably faster with Combat Enhancements, so one or two combat chips are a reasonable mid-story purchase.
Q: What is the fastest way to farm Chipsets?
Dashes and Time Trials offer the best Chipset yield per minute. Learn the intended line first, then shave time with wall-run chains and coil jumps to hit higher star ratings, which pay out more Chipsets.