How to Make an Atomic Bomb in Your Garden Prestige Guide

What is Prestige in How to Make an Atomic Bomb in Your Garden?

Prestige is a core progression mechanic in How to Make an Atomic Bomb in Your Garden that allows you to reset your current playthrough in exchange for powerful, permanent bonuses. After you successfully assemble and detonate your first atomic bomb, or if you find yourself stuck with a compromised operation, the Prestige system offers a way to start fresh with significant advantages.

When you Prestige, you lose all your current progress—including funds, collected parts, and your workshop setup. However, you gain Prestige Points that can be spent on permanent upgrades. These upgrades carry over to every new game, making subsequent runs faster and more efficient. This system is essential for reaching the game's true ending and unlocking the most challenging achievements.

The Prestige system is designed for replayability. Each run teaches you more about the game's mechanics, secret locations, and optimal strategies. By leveraging Prestige bonuses, you can eventually build your atomic bomb in record time while avoiding the ever-watchful eyes of your neighbors and federal agents.

How to Unlock Prestige

To access the Prestige system, you must first complete your initial playthrough by successfully detonating an atomic bomb. This triggers the game's first ending and unlocks the "Prestige Terminal" in your garage workshop. The terminal is a retro-styled computer that becomes your hub for managing Prestige upgrades.

If you fail a run—for example, by getting caught by the FBI or having your parts confiscated—you can still Prestige, but you will earn fewer points. The game tracks your "Operation Score" based on how far you progressed. A successful detonation yields the maximum Prestige Points, while an early failure grants a fraction of that amount.

Once unlocked, the Prestige Terminal remains available for the rest of your play sessions. You can Prestige as many times as you like, and each run will stack your permanent bonuses.

Prestige Points and How to Earn Them

Prestige Points are the currency used to purchase permanent upgrades. The number of points you earn at the end of a run depends on several factors:

• Operation Completion: Successfully detonating a bomb grants 100 base points.
• Bomb Yield: Higher yield bombs (more powerful explosions) give bonus points. A standard bomb gives 50 bonus points, while a max-yield thermonuclear device gives 200 bonus points.
• Speed Bonus: Completing the game within a certain number of in-game days grants a multiplier. Finishing in under 30 days gives a 1.5x multiplier, under 20 days gives 2x, and under 10 days gives 3x.
• Stealth Bonus: Avoiding detection by neighbors and agents throughout the run adds 25 points per clean phase.
• Secret Discoveries: Finding hidden caches of rare materials or blueprints adds 10 points each.
• Difficulty Modifier: Playing on higher difficulty settings increases point earnings by up to 50%.

Your total Prestige Points are calculated at the moment of detonation or failure. You can view your current run's potential points on the Prestige Terminal screen before committing to a reset.

Permanent Upgrades Available

The Prestige shop offers a variety of permanent upgrades that make each subsequent run easier. Here are the most impactful upgrades you should prioritize:

• Starting Funds I-V: Each level grants an additional $500 starting cash. At max level, you begin with $2,500, allowing you to purchase early tools and parts immediately.
• Neighbor Blindness I-III: Reduces the chance of neighbors noticing suspicious activity in your backyard by 10% per level. Essential for maintaining stealth.
• Agent Delay I-III: Delays the first federal investigation check by 5 in-game days per level, giving you more time to gather parts before scrutiny begins.
• Blueprint Memory: Unlocks one random blueprint permanently, so you start each run with a known design. Can be purchased multiple times.
• Tool Efficiency I-V: Increases the effectiveness of your tools by 10% per level, reducing the time needed to process materials.
• Scavenger's Luck I-III: Increases the chance of finding rare parts in trash cans, junkyards, and abandoned buildings by 15% per level.
• Safe House Access: Unlocks a secondary workshop location that is harder for agents to discover. A must-have for high-difficulty runs.
• Quick Assembly: Reduces the time required to assemble bomb components by 20%. Great for speedruns.

Each upgrade has a maximum level, and costs increase with each tier. Plan your Prestige Points carefully to build a balanced loadout that suits your playstyle.

Best Prestige Strategy for Beginners

If you are new to the Prestige system, follow this recommended order to maximize your efficiency:

1. First Prestige: Spend your initial points on Starting Funds I and Neighbor Blindness I. These two upgrades provide the most immediate benefit, allowing you to buy essential tools and reduce early detection risk.
2. Second Run: Focus on completing the game again, aiming for a higher bomb yield. Use your points to purchase Agent Delay I and Tool Efficiency I.
3. Third Run: By now, you should have enough points for Scavenger's Luck I and Blueprint Memory. These upgrades accelerate part collection significantly.
4. Fourth Run and Beyond: Start investing in Quick Assembly and Safe House Access. These are critical for achieving speedrun milestones and the game's secret ending.

Remember that Prestige is not mandatory for completing the game once, but it is essential for unlocking the full content, including the secret ending and all achievements. Each run teaches you something new, so embrace the reset cycle.

Advanced Prestige Tips for Speedrunning

For experienced players looking to optimize their Prestige runs, consider these advanced techniques:

• Route Planning: Map out the most efficient path to collect required parts. Use the progression guide to identify which parts are easiest to obtain early.
• Stealth Over Speed: In early runs, prioritize stealth upgrades over speed bonuses. A clean run with a 1.5x multiplier is better than a rushed run that ends in failure.
• Save Scumming: While the game autosaves, you can manually back up your save file before risky operations. If you get caught, reload and try a different approach.
• Part Recycling: Some parts can be dismantled and reused. Learn which components are interchangeable to save time hunting for duplicates.
• Neighbor Management: Build a fence or plant trees to block line-of-sight from your neighbors. This is a cheap in-game investment that complements the Neighbor Blindness upgrade.
• Federal Agent Patterns: Agents patrol on a schedule. Use the in-game clock to time your activities when they are least likely to be in your area.

For the ultimate challenge, aim for a "Perfect Prestige" run: complete the game in under 10 days with maximum bomb yield and zero detection. This grants the highest Prestige Point multiplier and unlocks a special achievement.

The Prestige system in How to Make an Atomic Bomb in Your Garden transforms a single-playthrough experience into a deep, rewarding loop. With each reset, you grow stronger, smarter, and closer to achieving the ultimate explosion. Happy building, and watch out for the neighbors