Is Speed Drive worth the accuracy trade-off?
| Build check | Practical decision |
|---|---|
| Can you still hit reliably? | Compare the equipped clone and weapon's live accuracy before and after the implant |
| What will the extra actions do? | Plan movement, attack, reload and withdrawal together; extra actions do not fix an inaccurate attack |
| Does the melee plan survive a miss? | Keep a retreat action and cover instead of spending the entire turn closing distance |
| Can you replace the setup? | Test with a recoverable kit before committing rare hardware |
OFFICIAL GAMEPLAYFind, install, and troubleshoot an implant
- 01
Search the right supply
Inspect regular and medical containers during missions and relevant faction inventories; do not rely on scanning the floor.
- 02
Match the body location
Open the body interface and compare the implant's required location with every occupied or blocked socket.
- 03
Resolve a rejected install
Check for an overlapping implant, incompatible body layout, or wound, then re-read the live tooltip before replacing hardware.
- 04
Test before risking rare parts
Use a replaceable clone and loadout because death can remove installed hardware.
Implants versus augmentations
Augmentations replace body parts, while implants occupy body locations to grant active or passive benefits. Both can trade a strong bonus for a meaningful penalty.
The dedicated body screen is available from the mission or mercenary menus. Installed hardware is tied to that clone and is lost when the mercenary dies.
Plan around nine body locations
| Region group | Recorded locations | Planning question |
|---|---|---|
| Upper body | Head, shoulder, hand | Does a wound disable aiming, weapon, or utility synergy? |
| Core | Body, chest, stomach | Can the build survive losing a defensive bonus? |
| Lower body | Thigh, foot, joint-knee | Will mobility or dodge collapse when injured? |
Build implants safely
- 01
Define the role
Choose the repeated action or weakness the implant must improve.
- 02
Price the drawback
Check critical vulnerability, cooldown, weight, range, or other penalties.
- 03
Protect the slot
Bring wound treatment and avoid exposing a build-critical body part.
- 04
Risk what you can replace
Do not install an irreplaceable set on a disposable scouting run.
How to install implants and augmentations
- 01
Open the body interface
Use the mercenary or mission menu and open the dedicated body screen.
- 02
Select a compatible location
Check the required body slot and any locations already occupied by other hardware.
- 03
Review the complete trade-off
Read the benefit, drawback, cooldown, weight, and any health or resistance change.
- 04
Confirm with a replaceable build
Installed hardware is tied to the clone and can be lost on death, so test before committing rare pieces.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Should every melee build install Speed Drive?
No. September 1 players describe strong results when accuracy and the rest of the setup compensate for the drawback. Check the current tooltip and your full action sequence; this discussion does not establish a universal AP cap or a mandatory implant.
Where do implants spawn in the current patch?
Search regular and medical containers and faction supply. The August 2026 notes moved loose-floor placement into containers where possible, and 1.0.3 removed it from Descent floors.
Why can I not install an implant?
The required body location may already be occupied or incompatible with the current layout. Compare the item's socket, installed hardware, and wounds in the body interface before assuming the item is broken.
Do implants survive operator death?
No. Installed implants and augmentations are lost when the mercenary dies and is regenerated.
Why did an implant bonus stop working?
A wound to the corresponding body part can temporarily disable the implant's benefit.
Research trail
Sources and further reading
Implant slots, installation, benefits, drawbacks, wounds, and death risk.
02 · OfficialQuasimorph on SteamOfficial game description, release details, features, controller support, and Steam Deck status.
03 · OfficialQuasimorph 1.0.2 and 1.0.3 patch notesOfficial August 14 and August 21, 2026 fixes for implants, classes, missions, factions, and trading.
04 · CommunitySpeed Drive implant, worth it? — September 1, 2026Player discussion of extra actions, accuracy and melee trade-offs; no universal AP cap or best setup established.