Even a lone gunslinger needs a little help. Evil West boasts a handful of upgrades for protagonist Jesse Rentier. Like in any game, these allow players to customize their character and find their own style for tackling the supernatural menace. Even by that reliable metric, though, some upgrades are more useful than others.

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Certain upgrades in Evil West should take precedence in players' arsenals. The benefits they offer are practically lifesavers, fixing design issues, and downsides to key weapons. Alternatively, they may just aid the gameplay flow. Either way, fans will be glad to have them.

7 Free Bullet

An Enemy Weak Spot in Evil West

Many players probably fire recklessly. After all, as long as they shoot the enemy, they deal damage. To get the most out of their rounds, though, they must hit the enemy's weak spots. This obviously requires some extra effort in precision. Why not offer an extra reward?

This upgrade does exactly what the name suggests. When players strike a weak point with the Rentier Rifle, they automatically recover the bullet. This offers an enticing incentive to aim carefully. Moreover, it's a reliable way to stave off ammo shortages.

6 At The Ready

Boomstick in Evil West

Shotguns typically pack a punch, and Evil West is no exception to that rule. The Boomstick staggers foes and makes short work of shields. Sadly, what also holds true from other games is the time it consumes.

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The weapon has a tremendous cooldown period, which can be extremely cumbersome in the heat of combat. That's why this upgrade exists. At The Ready reduces the aforementioned cooldown by twenty percent. Thus, the Boomstick can fire at a faster rate. It may not be rapid-fire, but at least players won't spend nearly as much time standing around and waiting to shoot. In the process, skirmishes with shielded foes are far less frustrating.

5 Flame Jet

Flame Jet in Evil West

Flamethrowers are a mixed bag in gaming. On one hand, they set enemies alight and deal continuous damage. On the other hand, they have no impact to force those enemies back. Foes can still strike the player if they're close enough. That remains a problem in Evil West.

This upgrade alleviates that issue. It shoots the flames thirty percent farther. This means targets are less likely to reach the player before dropping dead. As a result, the Flame Jet becomes a more viable option for fighting the mob.

4 Fists Of Steel

Melee Combat in Evil West

Lunges and zipping attacks are addictive. There's just a primal joy in pulling oneself toward enemies and tackling them into the dirt. It's also a convenient way to close the distance, adding a kinetic edge to every encounter. As such, fans probably do it a lot in Evil West via the Zapper Pull.

That's why the Fist of Steel is a worthy upgrade. With this move, the hero immediately comes out of the Zapper Pull with a punch. That may sound insignificant in itself. Again, though, players constantly use the Zapper Pull. The damage piles up. In the end, that preemptive strike can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

3 Blaster

Blaster in Evil West

It wouldn't be a western without a revolver. Evil West has one, but it's customized so as not to be just another handgun. The Blaster upgrade infuses bullets with electricity, dealing more damage to enemies. That's only the beginning, though.

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The upgrade sports two perks for the price of one. The second lets bullets ricochet between enemies, stopping them in their tracks and damaging each one. This is a lifesaver when battling mobs. Not only does the Blaster provide more value with every shot, but it's an oddly effective means of crowd control.

2 Do Not Disturb

Rentier in Evil West

Few things are more frustrating than healing a character before getting attacked again. For one thing, it puts players right back to the brink of death where they started. For another, it wastes precious resources or magic points. Thankfully, Evil West provides a buffer against that inconvenience.

Do Not Disturb makes the protagonist invincible for five seconds after the Gauntlet's healing effect. It doesn't matter how many enemies come or whether they use unblockable attacks. For that five-second interval, players are safe. They can then use that precious time to regain their footing and formulate a plan to strike back.

1 Amp Snack

Amp Snack in Evil West

Players already have a healing skill, but it's not always enough. That's why Evil West includes an alternative in the Amp Snack. It lets the hero restore a bit of health using an energy bar. The cost is unfortunate, but players can easily regain that energy.

They should obviously prioritize health above all else. That's especially the case in a tight spot. As such, this desperation move creates an invaluable safety blanket. The upgrade allows players to stave off death a while longer, potentially gaining the time needed to avert it.

Evil West is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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