Where to Find the Best Early Game Mods in MIO: Memories In Orbit

In order to make your way through MIO: Memories in Orbit, it's important to remember that with this being a Metroidvania, it's crucial to find as many cool upgrades as you can. In MIO, these upgrades come in the form of what the game calls Modifications.

Mods can be found in various ways. You can purchase them from Mel, the robotic shopkeeper whose stock increases as the game progresses, or you can find them in the wild.

In this guide, we're going to cover the best mods to get for your character in the early game. As the game has just come out, you may be looking for some ways to help you in MIO's opening hours.

So, if you're struggling with MIO or just looking for something to give you a leg up, keep your eyes locked right here. I'll show you which mods you should prioritize, and where you can find them.

What Are Modifications?

Modifications act as the game's way of upgrading your character. There are a bunch of permanent upgrades in the form of things like Hairpin, which acts as a grapple, and a wall climb known as Striders, but these are a bit different.

Modifications are upgrades that you can swap in and out, and your ability to equip multiple ones depends on the amount of space available in your allocation matrix. This can be upgraded with Modifier Extensions.

It's not as simple as finding them, of course. Swapping Modifications in and out relies on being connected to a Network Gate, so be sure to check your map to find out where the closest one may be.

Starting Modifications

You start the game with one Modification, which is Self-Awareness. This allows you to see your own health and status bar.

This is added and equipped by default, but if you'd rather prioritize other things, feel free to remove it. It's a good one to have, but it can pretty easily be swapped out if you prefer to focus on healing and damage output.

That being said, there's a lot of important information you get from Self-Awareness. I'd recommend keeping it equipped for most situations.

Protective Overlay

Protective Overlay adds another layer of protection to your character. Essentially, it allows you to take another hit before you die. It's an important one to get, and you can get it rather early.

Down in the Dwellings, located at the farthest end of the map, you'll be able to find a locked chest. To open it, you just need to survive a wave of enemies.

After defeating all of them, the chest will unlock. Pry it open and add Protective Overlay to your growing arsental.

Kinetic Thrust

Kinetic Thrust is a crucial Modification to survive MIO. While your initial combo of strikes works well for everything you'll need to battle, Kinetic Thrust will add extra damage to the last move in the combo. When you're trying to wipe off the last sliver of a boss' health bar, you'll thank Kinetic Thrust for giving you that extra advantage.

Finding it is fairly simple, as well. From the start of the map where the game begins, if you just follow the loop all the way around to the location on the map, you'll find a nifty little secret alcove.

Hidden inside is Kinetic Thrust. Grab it and add it to your matrix ASAP.

Analyzer

Analyzer may not seem like much, but it's super important to your journey through MIO. It allows you to see enemy health bars, but more importantly, it displays boss health bars.

To get Analyzer, you just need to find your way to the location on the map. A door that was locked from the other side can be opened from here.

An adorable little robot named Rad is so thankful to you for your door-opening skills, that he gifts you Analyzer completely for free. What a guy.

Maintenance Hack

Maintenance Hack is a Modification you can get as soon as you find Mel, the lovely robot shopkeeper that will sell you all sorts of things. It plays a prominent role in your exploration of MIO.

There are several basins throughout MIO's world, and if you spend the game's currency, Nacre, you can heal. This is fine, except with Maintenance Hack, the cost to heal is reduced to the very affordable price of absolutely free.

So, once you've found Mel, be sure to buy this stellar Modification. It will pay for itself in the long run.