Upgrade Protocols
Upgrade Protocols (commonly called UPs) are permanent stat upgrades in Galactic Glitch. They are the primary progression system, boosting your Prototype's combat effectiveness across all runs.
Overview[edit]
UPs are collected during runs and provide permanent stat bonuses. Unlike Powers, UPs persist between deaths and runs, making them the main form of long-term progression.
There are four main UP types plus Golden UPs available in New Game Plus.
UP Types[edit]
| Type | Color | Icon | Primary Bonus | Secondary Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destruction | Red |  |
+Weapon Damage | Projectile speed, critical chance |
| Resistance | Green |  |
+Max Cohesion (HP) | Damage reduction, shield strength |
| Evasion | Blue |  |
+Speed & Fire Rate | Dodge distance, cooldown reduction |
| Gravity | Purple |  |
+Throw Damage | Grab range, Grav Gun effectiveness |
| Golden | Gold |  |
Special Bonuses | Unique effects (NG+ only) |
Stat Bonuses[edit]
Each UP level provides stat increases:
Destruction (Red)[edit]
- +5% Weapon Damage per level
- Slight increase to projectile speed
- Increased critical hit chance at higher levels
Resistance (Green)[edit]
- +3 Max Cohesion (HP) per level
- Slight damage reduction
- Improved shield effectiveness at higher levels
Evasion (Blue)[edit]
- +3% Movement Speed per level
- +2% Fire Rate per level
- Improved dodge distance at higher levels
Gravity (Purple)[edit]
- +8% Throw Damage per level
- Increased grab range
- Faster object pull speed at higher levels
How to Get UPs[edit]
UPs can be obtained from:
| Source | UP Types | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Enemies | Random | Common enemies occasionally drop UPs |
| Bosses | Guaranteed | Bosses always drop multiple UPs |
| Shops | Purchasable | Buy specific UP types with Shards |
| Crates | Random | Destructible crates may contain UPs |
| Room Rewards | Random | Clearing waves may reward UPs |
| GlitchSpace | Choice | Select UP rewards between areas |
Prototype Synergies[edit]
Each Prototype has stat ratings (A-D) that affect how they benefit from UPs:
| Prototype | Best UP Focus | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Glitch | Gravity | A-rank Gravity, maximize throw builds |
| Juggernaut | Resistance | A-rank Resistance, tank even harder |
| Ravager | Destruction/Evasion | A-rank in both, glass cannon |
| Frostbite | Balanced | No extreme stats, flexible |
| Nox | Resistance | Offset low HP with more Cohesion |
| Shadow | Evasion | Maximize hit-and-run potential |
| Brute | Destruction | A-rank Destruction, maximize damage |
| Carrier | Resistance/Evasion | A-rank both, support survivability |
| Spiky | Gravity/Evasion | A-rank both, aggressive play |
Power Synergies[edit]
Certain Powers scale with specific UP types:
Destruction Scaling[edit]
- Charged Shot - Bonus damage scales with Destruction
- Guns Akimbo - Weapon damage boost
- Kill Streak - Damage bonus per kill
Resistance Scaling[edit]
- Radiant Fury - Damage below 50% HP
- Last Hope - Survival threshold
- Battle Scars - Permanent damage on hit
Evasion Scaling[edit]
- Hurricane - Dodge-triggered shockwave
- Quick Evasion - Post-dodge speed boost
- Vortex Dodge - Dodge AOE damage
Gravity Scaling[edit]
- Fireball - Throw explosion damage
- Crunchy Targets - Throw vulnerability
- Powerful Grav Gun - Medium object grabbing
Golden UPs[edit]
Golden UPs are special UPs available only in New Game Plus:
- Provide unique effects beyond stat bonuses
- Much rarer than standard UPs
- Some have powerful build-defining effects
- Require completing the game at least once
See Golden UPs for the full list.
Strategy Tips[edit]
Early Game[edit]
- Focus one stat - Specializing is better than spreading thin
- Match your Prototype - Build around your ship's strengths
- Resistance is safe - More HP helps while learning
Mid Game[edit]
- Identify your build - Choose UPs that complement your Powers
- Don't neglect Evasion - Speed and fire rate help all builds
- Shop wisely - Buy UPs that fill gaps in your build
Late Game / NG+[edit]
- Golden UPs change builds - Adapt strategy around Golden UP effects
- Max out one stat - High investment in one stat yields big returns
- Counter boss mechanics - Some bosses favor certain UP builds
Trivia[edit]
- UP stands for "Upgrade Protocol"
- The color scheme matches the Prototype stat ratings
- Golden UPs were added in a post-launch update
- Maximum UP level is not capped in the game files
See Also[edit]
- Golden UPs - Special NG+ upgrades
- Prototypes - Ships with different stat ratings
- Powers - Abilities that scale with stats
- New Game Plus - Where Golden UPs appear
- GlitchSpace - Where you choose UP rewards
| Galactic Glitch Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Gameplay | Powers • Weapons • Prototypes • Upgrade Protocols • Golden UPs • Controls |
| Enemies | Enemies • Bosses • Behemoth • Sphere • Cerberus • Siren • Aegis |
| Locations | The Hub • GlitchSpace • Asteroid Field • Civilian Station • Boss Arenas |
| Progression | New Game Plus • Boss Orbs • Meta-Upgrades • Run Challenges • Unlocks |
| Story | Siren • Serenity • Symera • Story Guide |