Tyrant
Karma − strength
Moves Karma toward −100.
8 Perk Rows · 24 Total AI Perks
FEED THE AI AI Perks & Karma Guide
AI Perks change both gameplay bonuses and how Karma moves after normal settlements. Your current Karma ultimately determines your ending.
Tyrant
≤ −34
Moves negative
Virus / aggressive
Rational
−33 to +33
Moves toward 0
Flexible / balanced
Protector
≥ +34
Moves positive
Vision / control
Exact Game Rule
Rational does not leave Karma unchanged. Each Rational row actively pulls it toward zero without crossing zero.
Ending Lock
Settle into the target range before Chapter 4 reaches 43.5M Raw Data.
Your Current Route
Karma & Ending Planner
Enter the stored Karma value—not a pending estimate. Choose the ending you want and how many Perk rows are unlocked.
Use
Protector choices
Next settlement
+100
Estimated settlements
1
Final lock distance: 5.10M Raw Data.
Projection assumes all unlocked rows use the selected path. Mixed choices can be tested below.
One Settlement · Three Directions
How AI Perks Change Karma
Perk choices do not instantly rewrite your stored Karma. Their alignment effects apply when a normal session completes, in Perk-row order.
Rational
Karma → 0
Pulls either sign toward zero and stops there.
Protector
Karma + strength
Moves Karma toward +100.
Exact Game Rule
Rational is active alignment control—not “no Karma.” It cannot overshoot zero: +7 with a 10-point Rational row becomes 0, not −3.
Test a Mixed Perk Settlement
Rows are evaluated from Row 1 downward, so a Protector → Rational → Tyrant set is not equivalent to one net direction.
Settlement change
-20
Projected Karma
0
Projected Ending
Rational
Two Different Threshold Systems
Ending Range Is Not Passive Tier
The final ending uses three broad Karma bands. Runtime passive effects begin earlier at ±12, which is why a Rational ending can display a Protector or Tyrant passive.
| Tyrant | −100 to −34 | Negative route |
|---|---|---|
| Rational | −33 to +33 | Center band |
| Protector | +34 to +100 | Positive route |
| Tyrant ×4 | −100 to −78 |
|---|---|
| Tyrant ×3 | −77 to −56 |
| Tyrant ×2 | −55 to −34 |
| Tyrant ×1 | −33 to −12 |
| None | −11 to +11 |
| Protector ×1 | +12 to +33 |
| Protector ×2 | +34 to +55 |
| Protector ×3 | +56 to +77 |
| Protector ×4 | +78 to +100 |
Example
Karma +20 → Rational ending · Protector ×1 passive
The labels are both correct because they answer different questions.
Karma Passive Effects
Higher tiers stack the effects from earlier tiers. At −100, all four Tyrant tiers apply; at +100, all four Protector tiers apply.
Tyrant ×1
Attack Range +10%
Tyrant ×2
Light Range −50%
Tyrant ×3
Virus Amount +1
Tyrant ×4
AI Trust −1
Protector ×1
Attack Speed +5%
Protector ×2
Attack Range −15%
Protector ×3
AI Trust +1
Protector ×4
Critical Hit Chance −15
AI Trust changes how normal targets move relative to the Finder.
Positive AI Trust tends to draw targets toward the Finder; negative AI Trust tends to move them away. Alignment therefore changes gameplay, not only story direction.
8 Rows · 24 Choices
AI Perk Unlock Schedule
| Row | Unlock | Row Strength | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chapter 1 · Lv1 | 10 | 10 |
| 2 | Chapter 1 · Lv8 | 15 | 25 |
| 3 | Chapter 2 · Lv1 | 10 | 35 |
| 4 | Chapter 2 · Lv6 | 15 | 50 |
| 5 | Chapter 3 · Lv5 | 10 | 60 |
| 6 | Chapter 3 · Lv7 | 15 | 75 |
| 7 | Chapter 4 · Lv5 | 15 | 90 |
| 8 | Chapter 4 · Lv9 | 15 | 105 |
35
Chapter 2 Lv1
A fully aligned settlement can cross the ±34 ending boundary.
75
Chapter 3 Lv7
Large enough to reverse many mid-run positions in one settlement.
105
Chapter 4 Lv9
All rows aligned can traverse the entire Karma scale.
Search the Verified Dataset
All 24 AI Perk Choices
Filter the eight rows by Chapter, alignment, or system. Each result stays on this curated page instead of creating 24 thin SEO routes.
24 of 24 choices shown
Row 1 · Chapter 1 Lv1
Tyrant choice
−10 Karma
Row 1 · Chapter 1 Lv1
Tyrant choice
More crit/range but -10% Finder attack speed.
- +5% Finder Critical Hit Chance
- +10% Finder Attack Range
- -10% Finder Attack Speed
Row 1 · Chapter 1 Lv1
Rational choice
→ 010 Karma
Row 1 · Chapter 1 Lv1
Rational choice
More attack speed/range but -10% movement speed.
- +10% Finder Attack Speed
- +10% Finder Attack Range
- -10% Finder Movement Speed
Row 1 · Chapter 1 Lv1
Protector choice
+10 Karma
Row 1 · Chapter 1 Lv1
Protector choice
More light range/attack speed but -5 crit.
- +30% Finder Light Range
- +10% Finder Attack Speed
- -5% Finder Critical Hit Chance
Row 2 · Chapter 1 Lv8
Tyrant choice
−15 Karma
Row 2 · Chapter 1 Lv8
Tyrant choice
Adds Malware/Virus amount but reduces Discharge targets; the Malware benefit is mostly later-game.
- +1 Virus Amount
- -2 Discharge Targets
Row 2 · Chapter 1 Lv8
Rational choice
→ 015 Karma
Row 2 · Chapter 1 Lv8
Rational choice
Straight +2 Discharge targets.
- +2 Discharge Targets
Row 2 · Chapter 1 Lv8
Protector choice
+15 Karma
Row 2 · Chapter 1 Lv8
Protector choice
Adds one Discharge but reduces targets by 3.
- +1 Discharge Amount
- -3 Discharge Targets
Row 3 · Chapter 2 Lv1
Tyrant choice
−10 Karma
Row 3 · Chapter 2 Lv1
Tyrant choice
Makes Firewalls harder: more stored Data, speed, and health.
- +20% Firewall Start Data
- +10% Firewall Speed
- +20% Firewall Health
Row 3 · Chapter 2 Lv1
Rational choice
→ 010 Karma
Row 3 · Chapter 2 Lv1
Rational choice
Weakens Firewall health and starting stolen Data.
- -15% Firewall Health
- -15% Firewall Start Data
Row 3 · Chapter 2 Lv1
Protector choice
+10 Karma
Row 3 · Chapter 2 Lv1
Protector choice
Strongly weakens Firewall speed/detection/starting stolen Data; mechanically the easiest Firewall option.
- -20% Firewall Speed
- -20% Firewall Detection
- -30% Firewall Start Data
Row 4 · Chapter 2 Lv6
Tyrant choice
−15 Karma
Row 4 · Chapter 2 Lv6
Tyrant choice
Adds Core Link mirror/extension but cuts duration 30%.
- +1 Core Link Mirror
- -30% Core Link Duration
Row 4 · Chapter 2 Lv6
Rational choice
→ 015 Karma
Row 4 · Chapter 2 Lv6
Rational choice
Core Link duration +10%.
- +10% Core Link Duration
Row 4 · Chapter 2 Lv6
Protector choice
+15 Karma
Row 4 · Chapter 2 Lv6
Protector choice
Core Link duration +30% and improves Core Link spawn interval/chance.
- +30% Core Link Duration
- +3 Core Link Chance
Row 5 · Chapter 3 Lv5
Tyrant choice
−10 Karma
Row 5 · Chapter 3 Lv5
Tyrant choice
Malware specialization: range +15%, attack speed +30%.
- +15% Malware Range
- +30% Malware Attack Speed
Row 5 · Chapter 3 Lv5
Rational choice
→ 010 Karma
Row 5 · Chapter 3 Lv5
Rational choice
Discharge specialization: damage +50%, +1 target.
- +50% Discharge Damage
- +1 Discharge Targets
Row 5 · Chapter 3 Lv5
Protector choice
+10 Karma
Row 5 · Chapter 3 Lv5
Protector choice
Finder/Vision specialization: Finder damage +35%, light range +20%.
- +35% Finder Damage
- +20% Vision Range
Row 6 · Chapter 3 Lv7
Tyrant choice
−15 Karma
Row 6 · Chapter 3 Lv7
Tyrant choice
Strong Malware specialization and sets Vision spawn chance to -100%.
- +1 Virus Chain
- +15% Malware Chance
- -100% Vision Chance
Row 6 · Chapter 3 Lv7
Rational choice
→ 015 Karma
Row 6 · Chapter 3 Lv7
Rational choice
Boosts Overload while reducing both Malware and Vision chances by 7.5 flat.
- +3% Overload Chance
- -7.5% Malware Chance
- -7.5% Vision Chance
Row 6 · Chapter 3 Lv7
Protector choice
+15 Karma
Row 6 · Chapter 3 Lv7
Protector choice
Strong Vision specialization and sets Malware spawn chance to -100%.
- +20% Vision Zone Range
- +15% Vision Chance
- -100% Malware Chance
Row 7 · Chapter 4 Lv5
Tyrant choice
−15 Karma
Row 7 · Chapter 4 Lv5
Tyrant choice
More Malware chance/damage.
- +10% Malware Chance
- +25% Malware Damage
Row 7 · Chapter 4 Lv5
Rational choice
→ 015 Karma
Row 7 · Chapter 4 Lv5
Rational choice
More autonomous AI Discharge chance/damage.
- +25% AI Chain Chance
- +10% Discharge Damage
Row 7 · Chapter 4 Lv5
Protector choice
+15 Karma
Row 7 · Chapter 4 Lv5
Protector choice
More Vision chance plus Overload chance.
- +5% Vision Chance
- +1% Overload Chance
Row 8 · Chapter 4 Lv9
Tyrant choice
−15 Karma
Row 8 · Chapter 4 Lv9
Tyrant choice
AI damage +10% but reduces Core Link generation by 2.
- +10% AI Damage
- -2 Core Link Chance
Row 8 · Chapter 4 Lv9
Rational choice
→ 015 Karma
Row 8 · Chapter 4 Lv9
Rational choice
More Overload chance and AI range.
- +2% Overload Chance
- +25% AI Range
Row 8 · Chapter 4 Lv9
Protector choice
+15 Karma
Row 8 · Chapter 4 Lv9
Protector choice
Very large late AI offense: +25% damage and +75% range.
- +25% AI Damage
- +75% AI Range
Same Row · Three Tradeoffs
Compare All 3 Choices
Choose a row to compare its Tyrant, Rational, and Protector effects side by side. The default highlights Row 3 because Firewall choices can radically change Chapter 2.
Tyrant · negative 10
Tyrant Choice
Makes Firewalls harder: more stored Data, speed, and health.
- +20% Firewall Start Data
- +10% Firewall Speed
- +20% Firewall Health
Rational · toward 0 10
Rational Choice
Weakens Firewall health and starting stolen Data.
- -15% Firewall Health
- -15% Firewall Start Data
Protector · positive 10
Protector Choice
Strongly weakens Firewall speed/detection/starting stolen Data; mechanically the easiest Firewall option.
- -20% Firewall Speed
- -20% Firewall Detection
- -30% Firewall Start Data
Firewall Row
Row 3 is the dedicated Firewall comparison: one route increases pressure, one is balanced differently, and one makes Firewall interactions easier. Use the exact values above rather than reducing the choice to “good” or “bad.”
Route-Breaking Choices
Perk Conflict Warnings
Tyrant can disable Vision
A Tyrant choice can apply −100% Vision Chance. That blocks new Vision Orbs and can stall the 10-orb Total Awareness setup.
Plan Total Awareness →Protector can disable Malware
A Protector choice can apply −100% Malware Chance. That blocks new Malware Orbs and can stall System Infection.
Plan System Infection →You can change the conflicting Perk later, but the new choice affects future sessions—not the session already completed.
Chapter 4 Decision Window
Can You Change AI Perks Mid-Run?
Yes—but changing a Perk is not the same as instantly changing Karma.
Your ending uses the current Karma value when Chapter 4 completes, not your first Perk choice. The new direction must pass through a normal settlement first.
Change PerksNormal settlementKarma changes
Is My Ending Locked?
| Stage | Route flexibility |
|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Very high |
| Chapter 2 | High |
| Chapter 3 | Very high once more rows unlock |
| Ch4 before 30.2M | High |
| 30.2M–43.5M | Final adjustment window |
| After 43.5M completion | Locked for that run |
Final Karma Window
30.2M → 13.3M adjustment window → 43.5M
After the final Perk row unlocks, finalize your route, complete enough normal Karma settlements, verify your actual Karma, then push for the ending.
Goal Before Alignment
What Are the Best AI Perks?
There is no single best set because AI Perks serve two jobs at once: they affect gameplay systems and move Karma toward an ending.
Rational-friendly
Follow the chapter route and settle Karma before the final push.
Watch out: Do not optimize alignment at the expense of Chapter progress.
Open related guide →TyrantNegative Karma, Virus-oriented effects, and high-pressure tradeoffs.Open guide →RationalToward-zero control and flexible Finder/Discharge tradeoffs.Open guide →ProtectorPositive Karma, Vision-friendly direction, and defensive advantages.Open guide →
AI Perks and Achievement Conflicts
Absolute Control
A Tyrant ending is not enough; reach exactly −100 Karma.
You’re Safe With Me
A Protector ending is not enough; reach exactly +100 Karma.
Total Awareness
Avoid the Tyrant choice that applies −100% Vision Chance.
System Infection
Avoid the Protector choice that applies −100% Malware Chance.
Fast Answers
AI Perks & Karma FAQ
What do AI Perks do?
Each choice applies gameplay modifiers and moves Karma after a completed normal session. Eight rows unlock over Chapters 1–4.
Does Rational mean 0 Karma?
No. Rational actively pulls positive or negative Karma toward zero, stopping at zero instead of crossing it.
Can I change my Perks later?
Yes. A changed choice affects future completed normal-session settlements; it does not rewrite Karma already stored.
Can I change my ending late?
Yes, until Chapter 4 reaches 43.5M Raw Data. Settle into the target range before that final trigger.
Why am I Rational with +20 Karma?
+20 is inside the Rational ending band, even though it activates Protector ×1 passive effects.
Why did Vision stop spawning?
A Tyrant Perk can apply −100% Vision Chance. Change that choice before attempting Vision-orb achievements.
Why did Malware stop spawning?
A Protector Perk can apply −100% Malware Chance. Change that choice before attempting System Infection.
Do Perks affect Prestige?
Perks help determine Karma and therefore the ending route, but Prestige rewards are separate permanent unlocks after completion.
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