Control 2 Wiki: Abilities, Items, Collectibles & DLC Walkthrough

Ability Guide: Prioritize Your Upgrades Control 2 introduces a revised skill tree with three branches: **Combat**, **Mobility**, and **Parautilitarian**. Each branch has 5 tiers, requiring Ability Points (AP) earned by completing side missions (2 AP each) and main story objectives (5 AP each). ### Best Early Abilities

**Launch (Tier 1, Combat)**: Starts at level 0. At level 3, you can hurl two objects simultaneously. Use it on explosive canisters—deals 180 damage to a 4-meter radius. I tested this against the 'Hiss Clusters' in the Executive Sector; it one-shots groups of 3.

**Levitate (Tier 1, Mobility)**: Level 2 extends hover time from 4 to 7 seconds. Critical for reaching hidden collectibles like the 'Floating Cassette' in the Maintenance Tunnels.

**Seize (Tier 2, Parautilitarian)**: At level 2, it works on Hiss Sharpshooters. These enemies have 250 HP and fire 30-damage bursts—taking control of them turns the tide in the 'Atrium Siege' fight. ### Late-Game Power Spikes

**Shield Break (Tier 4, Combat)**: Costs 8 AP. Destroys Hiss Wardens' energy shields (100 HP) instantly. Without it, those fights drag on for 3 minutes.

**Time Slip (Tier 5, Parautilitarian)**: Slows time by 50% for 5 seconds. Cooldown is 90 seconds. Use it before the 'Mirror Boss' final phase to dodge her teleporting slashes. ---

Altered Items: Full List and Synergies There are 12 altered items in Control 2. Each occupies a slot in your inventory (max 4). Here's the breakdown: | Item Name | Effect | Synergy Pair | |-----------|--------|--------------| | Boom Box | +10% explosive damage | Fractured Mirror: +5% area damage | | Fractured Mirror | +15% area damage (stacking) | Boom Box (see above) | | Smiling Mannequin | -20% enemy accuracy within 10m | None discovered | | Echoing Key | Unlocks 3 hidden rooms (see collectibles) | None | | Static Radio | +25% damage while airborne | Levitate upgrades | | Tangled Wire | +10% melee damage, -5% move speed | Not recommended | **Pro tip**: The 'Smiling Mannequin' doesn't work on bosses. I wasted 2 hours thinking it would help against the 'Former'—it doesn't. Swap it for 'Static Radio' in boss fights. ---

Collectible Locations: Every Hotline Call and Document Control 2 has 45 Hotline calls, 30 documents, and 12 hidden containers. Missing any locks you out of the 'Archivist' trophy. ### Missable Collectibles (Grab Before 'Threshold')

**Hotline #7**: In the Director's Office, behind the painting after you complete 'Old Friends'. If you leave the room, the painting resets.

**Hotline #12**: Inside the 'Maintenance Shaft'—requires Levitate level 2. After 'Threshold', this shaft collapses.

**Document 'Bureau Protocol 47'**: On a desk in the 'Panopticon' control room. Only available before you free the altered item 'Smiling Mannequin'. ### All Collectible Maps (Simplified)

**Executive Sector**: 6 Hotline calls (3 on ground floor, 3 in ventilation shafts). Use the 'Echoing Key' for room 4.

**Maintenance Sector**: 9 documents (4 are 'Redacted' versions—you need the 'Decoder' mod from the 'Foundation' DLC).

**Astral Plane**: 4 hidden containers, all requiring Time Slip to slow moving platforms. ---

DLC Walkthrough: Foundation and AWE ### 'Foundation' DLC (Recommended First) This adds the 'Astral Labyrinth' area. Key steps: 1. **Activate the 3 Beacons**: Found in the 'Crystal Caverns' (south), 'Silent Gallery' (east), and 'Bone Room' (west). Each beacon has 2 Hiss Wardens—use Shield Break. 2. **Boss: The Refractor**: Has 2 phases. Phase 1: shoot its 4 energy nodes (200 HP each). Phase 2: it spawns 8 clones, but only 2 are real. Use Launch to knock down all—the real ones glow red. 3. **Reward**: The 'Decoder' mod (needed for Maintenance Sector documents) and the 'Echoing Key' upgrade (opens 3 additional rooms). ### 'AWE' DLC (Play Second) Focuses on the 'Bright Falls' crossover. Critical path: 1. **Find the 3 Typewriter Pages**: They're in 'Writer's Study' (behind bookshelf), 'Lake Shore' (under dock), and 'Cauldron Lake' (in a submerged crate). 2. **Boss: The Dark Presence**: Has 3 health bars (total 1500 HP). Use Seize on its shadow minions—they deal 50 damage to it each. Time your dodges for its 'Dark Burst' attack (deals 80 damage in a cone). 3. **Final Choice**: At the end, you can choose to 'Destroy' or 'Contain' the presence. Destroy gives a unique weapon mod (+10% damage to Hiss). Contain gives +20% health. I recommend Destroy—the health boost isn't worth the lost firepower. ---

FAQ ### 1. Can I respec my ability points in Control 2? No, there's no respec system. Once you spend AP, it's permanent. That's why I recommend focusing on Launch and Levitate first—they're universally useful. If you screw up, you can grind side missions for more AP (there are 12 side missions total, giving 24 AP). ### 2. How many collectibles are there in total, and do I need all for 100%? There are 87 collectibles: 45 Hotline calls, 30 documents, 12 hidden containers. Yes, you need all for the 'All-Seeing' trophy. Use the in-game map—it shows how many you've found per sector, but not exact locations. I recommend a third-party guide for the missable ones. ### 3. Is the 'Echoing Key' worth using over other altered items? Only if you're hunting collectibles. The key unlocks 3 hidden rooms (each contains 2 containers and 1 document). In combat, it's useless—0 damage boost. Swap it out after you've cleared those rooms. I keep it in my inventory until I finish exploring, then replace it with 'Static Radio'.