What to know
- Diana’s hacking ability weakens enemies and unlocks objects quickly
- Both controller and keyboard use similar mechanics with different inputs
- The hacking minigame is the core mechanic you must master
- Boosting and healing are essential during combat while hacking
Diana’s hacking ability is one of the most important mechanics in Pragmata, and once you understand it properly, you’ll notice how much smoother combat and exploration become. You’re not just shooting enemies—you’re actively disabling them, controlling the battlefield, and solving environmental interactions with precision. Below is a complete step-by-step guide that combines both controller and keyboard/mouse inputs so you can follow along easily regardless of your setup.
Quick overview of Diana’s hacking controls
| Action | Controller Input | Keyboard & Mouse Input |
|---|---|---|
| Aim | LT | Right-click |
| Start hacking | LT (while aiming) | Alt |
| Hacking navigation | Button prompts (A/B/X/Y) | Mouse movement |
| Boost/Dodge | RB | Left Ctrl |
| Heal | — | Q |
| Finish enemy | LT | Aim + action |
| Interact with terminals | LT | Alt |
How Diana’s hacking works during combat and interaction
Diana’s ability allows you to temporarily disable enemies, making them easier to defeat, and also lets you interact with objects and terminals in the environment. The key element here is the hacking minigame, where precision and speed determine your success.
When you successfully complete a hack, enemies become vulnerable, giving you a huge advantage in combat. On keyboard, collecting additional nodes during hacking can even extend the duration of the hacked state, adding another layer of strategy.
How to use Diana’s ability in Pragmata (controller + keyboard)
Step 1: Aim at your target
First, you need to lock onto an enemy or object.
- On controller, press and hold LT
- On keyboard, right-click to aim
This prepares Diana to initiate hacking.
Step 2: Start the hacking process
Once aimed, begin the hacking sequence.
- Controller: Press LT again while aiming
- Keyboard: Press Alt
This triggers the hacking interface.
Step 3: Complete the hacking minigame
Now you’ll enter the core mechanic—the hacking puzzle.
- Controller: Press the prompted buttons (A, B, X, Y) in sequence
- Keyboard: Move your mouse toward the green zone
While doing this on keyboard, you can:
- Collect blue squares to extend hack duration
- Collect yellow squares for additional benefits
Your goal is to reach the green zone before time runs out.
Step 4: Take advantage of the hacked state
Once successful, the enemy becomes weakened.
- Attack immediately to deal increased damage
- Finish them off quickly while they’re vulnerable
On controller, you can press LT again to execute the finishing action.
Step 5: Use boost to dodge attacks
Combat doesn’t stop during hacking, so movement is critical.
- Controller: Press RB to boost away
- Keyboard: Press Left Ctrl
Use this to avoid incoming attacks and reposition safely.
Step 6: Heal when necessary (keyboard only)
If your suit integrity drops, recover quickly.
- Keyboard: Press Q to heal
This keeps you alive during intense fights.
Step 7: Hack environmental objects and terminals
Diana isn’t just for combat—she’s also essential for progression.
- Aim at an object or terminal
- Controller: Press LT
- Keyboard: Press Alt
You’ll enter a similar minigame, but this time you must complete it within a time limit to unlock or activate the object.
Understanding hacking strategy and timing
What makes Diana’s ability powerful is not just the mechanic itself, but how you choose to use it in real-time situations. If you rush the minigame, you might fail and leave yourself exposed. If you take too long, enemies may overwhelm you.
You should aim to balance speed with precision, especially when dealing with multiple enemies. On keyboard, prioritizing blue nodes can give you a longer window to deal damage, which can be extremely useful in tougher encounters.
At the same time, you should constantly stay mobile. Boosting at the right moment can completely avoid damage and reset your positioning, giving you another chance to hack safely.
When to use hacking vs direct combat
There will be moments where you might wonder whether to hack or just attack. In most cases, hacking first is the smarter approach, especially against stronger enemies. It reduces risk and increases your efficiency.
However, against weaker enemies, you might skip hacking to save time. The key is recognizing when hacking provides a clear advantage and when it’s unnecessary.
