In Atomic Heart, players take control of Major Comrade P-3 to stop a robotic revolution occurring in Facility 3826. The game's retro-futuristic setting means there is a lot of fantastical hi-tech weaponry. While exploring the many laboratories and testing facilities of Facility 3826, players will find many upgrades and tools to equip.

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Cartridge Blueprints

atomic-heart-cartridge

While some cartridges can be found randomly looted in levels, players need to find blueprints to craft cartridges in vending machines.

Fire Cartridge

Vavilov Complex, Seed Bank

Ice Cartridge

Hot Workshop

Electric Cartridge

Algae Workshop, Breakroom

The cartridges take very few resources to craft, so there is no issue with stocking up. Make sure to take into account that there is limited inventory space. Health and ammo should always take priority. Excess cartridges can be placed in the vending machine storage for later use.

Upgrade Weapons

atomic-heart-cartridge-module

Before players can equip cartridges, they need to upgrade the weapon intended to use them. Open the crafting screen at any vendor and apply the cartridge gun upgrade to a weapon. Most guns and melee weapons will allow the upgrade. Only the first level of the module upgrade is needed to allow the application of cartridges.

Open the Weapon Wheel

atomic-heart-hex

This is where players may get lost trying to equip a cartridge. Press the X/SQUARE button to open the weapon wheel. There is a blank hexagon shape at the bottom of the wheel. Scroll down to the shape and then press RT/R2. This will activate the EDIT SLOT function of the inventory.

Equip a Cartridge

atomic-heart-edit

The weapon wheel will then show the cartridges in P-3's inventory. Press RT/R2 on the cartridge and an animation of P-3 slotting the cartridge into the chosen weapon will follow. Each cartridge has a limited amount of energy so pay attention to the cartridge meter that will appear in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Upgrading cartridge modules on weapons can get players more efficient energy usage, so cartridges last longer. Some upgrades will also give cartridges more elemental damage. Certain elements are more effective against specific enemy types so experiment with what works best.

Atomic Heart is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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