Pragmata Lunatic guide: hacks, Jackhammer and boss tips

Lunatic is a post‑campaign difficulty in Pragmata that becomes available after completing the game on Casual or Standard. The mode requires starting a new save and cannot be accessed via New Game Plus. Enemy health, damage output and encounter density are increased across sectors.

Enemy behavior on Lunatic narrows the margin for error. Encounters are structured so that controlling space, managing upgrade resources and using movement and hacking tools continuously affect survival and damage output.

A core tactical pattern on Lunatic is the hack‑and‑relocate loop. Initiate a hack, dodge to the opposite side of the room as the hack completes, use the resulting vulnerability window to deal damage, then reset position and repeat. This sequence of hack, relocate, attack and reposition is applied from early sections through later fights.

Movement options such as thrusters and fast moves affect combat timing. Thrusters provide air control while running does not consume energy. Fast moves and dodges trigger short slow‑motion windows that make aiming and hacking easier.

Mixed enemy groups require target prioritization and use of cover. Flying units remain stationary and can be denied line of sight by fixed cover; taking cover against aerial threats reduces incoming chip damage while ground enemies are engaged. Address ranged or aerial threats first to avoid pressure from multiple angles.

Upgrade resources are available in side areas and training missions. Training missions run at standard difficulty and reward upgrade points and Pure Lunum without Lunatic risk. Recommended upgrade targets include hacking damage, OPEN duration, Hacking Gauge buildup, Overdrive pool and recharge, Deletion Protocol, and selected Overdrive improvements. For hacking nodes, Heat and Multihack are primary picks; Decode, Freeze and Critical Shot are situational. Sweeper Bots in side areas provide consistent resource drops.

The Jackhammer weapon is available early in the run and is commonly upgraded continuously on Lunatic. A typical damage approach combines increased hacking damage, selected hacking nodes and multiple strikes from an upgraded Jackhammer in boss encounters.

Creator, the boss at the end of the Mass Production Array, tests sustained execution of Lunatic tactics. Recommended actions include lateral dodges to avoid laser attacks, moving to the boss’s rear, and dealing damage during active hack windows. The fight can extend in duration, leaving limited room for repeated mistakes.

A standard Lunatic build emphasizes hacking output, Overdrive generation and heat damage. Recursive Learning increases Overdrive buildup per hack; setting the hacking mode to Combust increases enemy heat. Use Exposed and Heat as default hacking nodes, switch to Multihack for groups and choose Defence Down for boss fights. Hacking Mines provide area control and Sticky Bombs reduce hack board size to speed up hacks. Cleanse removes static and corruption that hinder hacking and drain Overdrive. Repair Cartridges are a consumable option to restore health actively.

The final boss, Eight, is approached with high hacking damage and appropriate mods. Sticky Bombs can be applied before hacking to shrink the board, Overdrive activated to amplify effects, and constant movement used to avoid beam attacks. The Lim Recycler, when available, increases damage potential.

Lunatic’s save restriction and higher resource needs mean upgrade planning from the first sector affects later encounters. Training missions, side areas and resource nodes provide upgrade materials and should be considered when plotting progression through the difficulty.