Deus Ex: Mankind Divided: Complete Guide

A practical guide to Adam Jensen's 2029: augmentation builds and Praxis priorities, stealth versus combat, hacking, Prague hub tips and missable side missions, key choices, achievements (Ghost, Pacifist, Foxiest of the Hounds), difficulty, and the DLC.

Researched September 2026 — current as of PC v1.17 (build 795.0_P17, March 2017), the last gameplay patch. Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Context (September 2026): Mankind Divided (Eidos-Montreal, 23 August 2016) is complete and no longer patched; v1.17 is the final PC patch on Steam. It was discounted to 90% off for the first time in a Steam sale that ran to 8 June 2026. Separately, Deus Ex Remastered (a remaster of the 2000 original, announced in September 2025; check its store page for current release status) is a different game.

Quick Start

• Every approach is valid, but stealth pays best. XP rewards favor non-lethal takedowns, hacking, and finding alternate routes (vents, ledges, hidden paths). Combat works but earns less.
• Spend your first Praxis on survival and access. Good early picks include Cybernetic Arm strength (move heavy objects), Hacking Capture upgrades, the Glass-Shield Cloaking system, and Social Enhancer.
• Experimental augs cause "overclocking." When you enable an experimental aug, you must disable another aug to keep your system stable. A later story beat with Vadim Koller and the Neuroplasticity Calibrator removes that restriction ("Fresh Out of the Package").
• Do Prague side missions before leaving the hub. Many side missions end or change when you advance the main story. If a side mission looks interesting, finish it before you take the next main-story trip.
• Read every email and pocket secretary. Door codes and passwords are hidden in the world. Try the classic immersive-sim code 0451 on the game's first keypad ("A Heated Combination": enter a classic numerical code there).
• Save manually and often. Especially before dialogue, hacking, and infiltration.
• Biocells recharge energy. Energy powers most augs and only regenerates partway on its own, so carry biocells for back-to-back takedowns and aug use.
• Craft multitools. Crafting parts turn into multitools (instant unlock) and biocells. Break down unwanted weapons into parts.

Augmentations

Praxis points unlock augmentation upgrades. You earn Praxis through XP levels and can buy Praxis Kits at LIMB clinics and find them in the world.

Core augs worth taking

Aug | What it does | Why take it

Cybernetic Arm (strength) | Lift heavy objects, punch through walls | Opens many routes

Hacking: Capture / Stealth / Fortify | Better hacking success | Most XP and loot in Prague comes from hacking

Glass-Shield Cloaking | Temporary invisibility | The core stealth tool

Social Enhancer | Analyze NPC psychology in conversation | Wins key dialogue battles (e.g. "Between Technology and the Divine" debate)

Dermal Armor | Damage reduction | Survival for combat builds

Sentinel RX Health System | Healing | Survival

Reflex Booster | Double takedowns | Clears pairs of guards silently

Jump Enhancement / Icarus Landing System | Higher jumps / safe falls | Routes and escapes

Remote Hacking (experimental) | Hack cameras, turrets, drones, mines from range | Excellent for stealth

Icarus Dash (experimental) | Short-range teleport-dash | Mobility, stealth escapes

Titan (experimental) | Damage shield | Combat survival ("Titan Shield")

Tesla (experimental) | Ranged stun that can hit multiple targets | Non-lethal crowd control

Nanoblade (experimental) | Arm-launched blade, lethal | Combat

P.E.P.S. | Energy blast with Knockback and Precision modes | Crowd control

Focus Enhancer (experimental) | Slows time | Combat and stealth

Smart Vision | See through walls | Scouting

Typhoon Explosive System | Area damage | Combat

Build archetypes

Build | Priority augs | Notes

Ghost (stealth, non-lethal) | Cloaking, Hacking, Remote Hacking, Social Enhancer, Icarus Landing, Smart Vision | The most XP and the Ghost/Pacifist/Foxiest achievements

Hacker | Hacking tree to max, Remote Hacking, Social Enhancer | Easy credits, alternate routes, turrets as allies

Tank (combat) | Dermal Armor, Sentinel RX, Titan, Typhoon, Nanoblade | Loud but reliable; weapon upgrades matter more

Hybrid | Cloaking plus Tesla plus Dermal Armor | Stealth first, safe fallback

Tip: invest in at least one aug in every branch for "The Jack of All Augments," and fully upgrade a branch for "Humanity +."

Stealth and Combat Basics

• Takedowns: lethal or non-lethal melee takedowns cost energy. Hide bodies to avoid alerts.
• Cover: a cover system lets you move corner to corner. Use it in both stealth and combat.
• Alarms: triggering zero alarms across a whole playthrough earns "Foxiest of the Hounds." A save-heavy playstyle helps.
• Non-lethal weapons: stun guns, tranquilizer rifles, and the Tesla aug keep a Pacifist run intact.
• Boss fight note: "Pacifist" says it outright: bosses are people too. The final boss can be defeated non-lethally.

Hacking

Two hacking types exist:

Type | Use | Tip

Static (node capture) | Computers, keypads, doors, security hubs | Capture datastores for XP and items; avoid triggering detection

Remote (timed zones) | Cameras, turrets, drones, mines | Requires the Remote Hacking aug

Software items (Nuke, Stop Worm, Reveal) help with hard hacks. Fog Security hides the network; clearing it without Reveal is "I Can Only Fight Enemies I Can See."

Locations and Hub Tips

• Dubai — the opening mission and tutorials ("Adept of the Metaverse" wants all of them).
• Prague — the main hub, revisited several times. Apartments, shops, the LIMB clinic, side missions, and secrets.
• Golem City — the aug ghetto, a dense vertical level.
• Palisade Property Bank — a high-security vault heist; also tied to System Rift and Breach.
• London — the finale.

Prague tips:

• Explore vents and rooftops. Most apartments have alternate entries.
• The sewer network links districts. It's often safer than the streets during curfew.
• Loot the police station carefully. It's a high-risk infiltration.
• Sell unneeded items to vendors for credits to buy Praxis Kits at the clinic.

Side missions

Named side missions include Samizdat, Neon Nights, All in the Family, The Harvester, The Last Harvest, and Cult of Personality, and each is also an achievement. Complete side missions during the Prague visit in which you receive them; advancing the main story can close them.

Key Choices (Spoiler-Light)

• Mid-game priorities: the story forces you to choose between competing objectives at points, and the other objective plays out without you.
• Singh: "Singh No Swan Song" rewards having his back at the right moment.
• The debate with Talos Rucker: Social Enhancer or careful listening wins it ("Between Technology and the Divine").
• London finale: you must prioritize between stopping the main antagonist and protecting others; the outcome affects the ending.
• Choices also influence the fate of the Human Restoration Act, and which characters survive.

Difficulty

Setting | Notes

Tell Me a Story | Story-focused, easy combat

Give Me a Challenge | Balanced default

Give Me Deus Ex | Harder; enemies kill fast

I Never Asked For This | Permadeath; unlocked after finishing. Earns "I Never Asked For This"

New Game+ lets you carry augmentations into another run, which is the easiest way to finish the harder settings.

Achievements Worth Planning

Achievement | Requirement | Tip

Pacifist | Finish without killing anyone (bosses included) | Non-lethal only; watch explosive barrels and falls

Foxiest of the Hounds | Zero alarms in a playthrough | Save before every infiltration

Ghost | Cross enemy territory raising no hostile reaction | Earned per area, then repeat

Tablet Collector | Read every unique eBook | eBooks are scattered; many are in Prague

Time Traveler | Bring Koller the Neuroplasticity Calibrator before he asks | Pick it up when you find it; do not sell it

Ruthless Efficiency | Fully upgrade a weapon | Weapon upgrade kits

Winners Don't Use Drugs (or Biocells) | As the name says: avoid drugs and biocells (read the exact in-game condition first) | Separate run or strict discipline

The Golden Rookery | Return the missing Gold Penguin | Hidden collectible side content

Don't Reach, Kid | Put the basketball in the hoop | Look for a hoop and a ball

DLC ("Jensen's Stories")

DLC | Setting | Notes

System Rift | Palisade Bank's Blade vault | Heist with the hacker Frank Pritchard; "Clean Sweep" for no kills

A Criminal Past | Undercover in an aug prison | Stealth-heavy; "Code of Conduct" for no kills

Desperate Measures | A short post-game mission | Originally a pre-order bonus, included in the store bonus content

Breach

Breach is an arcade-style hacking/stealth mode set in a stylized virtual version of the Palisade Bank, with leaderboards and randomized rewards. It relied on Square Enix online services for challenges and leaderboards; treat online features as unreliable in 2026. Many "Breach:" achievements require it.

PC Tips

• The v1.17 patch added Quit to Desktop from the pause menu, fixed mouse zoom acceleration on the map, and restored the laptop Auto Complete feature.
• If a patch misbehaves, older builds were offered through Steam betas (v1.16 build 761.0 at the time of the patch).
• DX12 support exists; DX11 can be more stable on some systems.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Leaving Prague with unfinished side missions.
• Spending early Praxis on combat when you want stealth. Hacking and cloaking pay for themselves in XP.
• Enabling experimental augs without understanding overclocking.
• Ignoring eBooks and emails. They hold codes, lore, and achievements.
• Killing by accident on a Pacifist run. Explosions, falls, and turrets you hacked all count.
• Hoarding weapons. Break down extras into crafting parts.

Advanced Tips

• Hack everything. Terminals and datastores give XP, credits, and often a safer route.
• Use Smart Vision plus cloak to cross rooms without detection.
• Remote Hack turrets to fight on your side, but note kills they make count against Pacifist.
• Reflex Booster makes pairs of guards a single takedown.
• Buy Praxis Kits from LIMB clinics with your credits.

FAQ

Do I need to play Human Revolution first? It helps. MD continues Adam Jensen's story two years later; the in-game recap covers the basics.

Is Mankind Divided still getting updates? No. v1.17 (March 2017) is the last PC patch.

How long is it? A main story plus side missions typically runs in the 25-35 hour range, depending on thoroughness.

What's the first keypad code? Try 0451 (a classic immersive-sim code).

Can you finish without killing? Yes, including bosses. That is the "Pacifist" achievement.

Is Breach still online? Breach depended on online services; its online features may not work reliably today.

Sources

• Steam store page: Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
• Steam global achievements: Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
• Patch notes v1.17 (Steam news, March 2017)
• 90% off sale (Steam news, May 2026)
• Deus Ex Remastered announced (Steam news, Sept 2025)
• Wikipedia: Deus Ex: Mankind Divided