Tech Challenge Missions: Intellect & Problem-Solving Guide

Understanding Tech Challenge Missions

Tech challenges in Dispatch are Intellect-based missions that test your heroes' analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and technical expertise. These missions involve malfunctioning equipment, hacking sequences, code-breaking puzzles, and data-driven investigations that require logic over brawn. Success demands heroes who can "see paths others overlook" when facing technical obstacles.

Unlike combat missions where raw power wins, tech challenges punish brute force approaches. Sending the wrong hero doesn't just fail—it can trigger system lockouts, data corruption, or escalating malfunctions that create cascading emergencies.

Key Stat Requirements

Primary Stat

• Intellect (3-4 required): The critical stat governing "logic-based choices, problem-solving, and data-driven reasoning." Missions involving "puzzles, code sequences, or technical dilemmas" explicitly demand high Intellect.

Mission-Specific Intellect Thresholds

Validated examples from Episode 1 demonstrate varying complexity:

• Intellect 4 missions: "Educate radio host on SDN programs," "Cross-reference art crime databases"
• Intellect 3 missions: "Protect stolen art," basic tech malfunctions
• Hacking sequences: Medium difficulty with 3 attempts before lockout

Secondary Stats (Situational)

• Charisma: Useful for explaining technical solutions to non-technical civilians
• Mobility: Helpful for time-sensitive tech emergencies requiring fast response
• Combat/Vigor: Generally irrelevant; high combat stats can signal wrong approach

Critical Limitation

The guides warn: "Intellect alone won't always save the day" when "emotions and people are involved." Tech missions purely focused on systems favor pure Intellect, while mixed scenarios require Intellect + Charisma combinations.

Recommended Heroes for Tech Challenges

Tier S: Intellect Specialists

Sonar (Human Form) - The Tech Genius

Sonar in human form possesses the highest Intellect stat (4) in the entire roster plus Charisma 4, making him the undisputed master of tech challenges. His powers explicitly excel at "complex investigations, tech challenges," and he can navigate both technical systems and human interfaces.

Critical Timing Constraint: Sonar transforms to bat/monster form after each mission, converting his Intellect 4 to Combat. Deploy him on the first call of a shift to maximize investigative advantages before transformation, or plan shifts where tech challenges appear early.

Best Used For: Hacking sequences, complex investigations, database cross-referencing, any mission requiring Intellect 4

Invisigal - The Stealth Hacker

While not explicitly detailed in stat breakdowns, Invisigal demonstrates specialized technical capability by automatically claiming alarm system responses ("Granny's Donuts" emergency). Her stealth powers suggest she excels at infiltration-based tech challenges where physical access to systems is required.

Best Used For: Alarm systems, security bypasses, stealth-based hacking, missions combining Mobility and technical skills

Tier A: Capable Problem-Solvers

Coupé - The Tactical Analyst

With Intellect 3, Coupé functions as a reliable backup when Sonar is unavailable or transformed. While her positioning-based bonuses favor combat, her analytical capabilities handle standard tech challenges effectively.

Best Used For: Intellect 3 missions, backup tech specialist role, mixed combat/tech scenarios

Tier D: AVOID for Tech Missions

Punch Up - The Anti-Intellect

Intellect 1 makes Punch Up "completely incapable of puzzle-solving or tech challenges." His brute force approach to problems actively damages delicate technical systems.

Why He Fails: Tech malfunctions require precision and understanding. Punch Up's solution to a stuck door is breaking it—a disaster when applied to servers or electrical systems.

Golem - The Technical Liability

Also possessing Intellect 1, Golem's earth-mimicry powers offer no advantage with digital systems. The guide notes he's incapable of "tactical thinking impossible without stat buffs from specific mission slots."

Flambae - The Pyromaniac Problem

Starting Intellect 1 despite momentum-stacking combat prowess makes Flambae a "high-risk momentum hero unsuitable for cerebral work." Fire manipulation near sensitive electronics is catastrophic.

Mission Strategy Breakdown

Hacking Sequences

Example Mission: "Cray Cray Bidet" - Malfunctioning smart home device

Mission Mechanics:

• Difficulty: Medium
• Attempts: 3 before system lockout
• Approach: Remote hacking to fix malfunctioning device
• Consequence of failure: System locks out, requires physical intervention (escalates mission complexity)

Recommended Heroes:

1. Sonar (human form): Intellect 4 guarantees success on first attempt
2. Invisigal: Technical specialist, stealth capabilities allow physical backup if remote fails
3. Coupé: Intellect 3 sufficient for medium difficulty, may require 2 attempts

AVOID: Any hero with Intellect 1-2. Limited attempts mean failure risk is unacceptable.

Database Investigations

Example Missions:

• "Cross-reference past cases of art crime ring" (Intellect 4)
• "Educate radio host on SDN's Phoenix Program" (Intellect 4)

Strategy:

These missions test data-driven reasoning and the ability to connect disparate information sources. High Intellect heroes can "see paths others overlook" in large datasets, identifying patterns invisible to less analytical minds.

Recommended Heroes:

• Sonar (human form): Intellect 4 + Charisma 4 perfect for explaining findings
• Coupé: Intellect 3 sufficient for most database work

Puzzle-Solving Missions

Missions involving "puzzles, code sequences, or technical dilemmas" require heroes who excel at pattern recognition and logical deduction.

Intellect 4 Advantage: Characters with maximum Intellect can "often see paths others overlook," discovering non-obvious solutions that lower-Intellect heroes miss entirely.

Advanced Tech Challenge Tactics

Sonar Form Management

The single most important tech challenge strategy revolves around Sonar's transformation mechanic:

1. Shift Planning: Check dispatch queue for tech-heavy shifts
2. First Call Priority: Always deploy Sonar (human form) on first call if it's Intellect-based
3. Tech Clustering: If multiple tech challenges appear, handle them early before Sonar transforms
4. Transformation Timing: After Sonar transforms to bat form, rely on Invisigal or Coupé for remaining tech calls

Critical Mistake: Deploying Sonar in bat/monster form to tech challenges wastes his primary advantage—his Combat form lacks the Intellect needed for technical work.

Mixed Tech/Combat Scenarios

Some missions combine technical challenges with combat threats ("Intellect/Combat-heavy situations"):

Single-Hero Approach:

• Sonar (human form): Intellect 4 + moderate combat capability
• Coupé: Intellect 3 + Combat 4 for mixed scenarios

Two-Hero Approach:

• Sonar + combat specialist (separate technical and combat tasks)
• Invisigal + Punch Up (tech specialist + muscle backup)

Reading Mission Keywords

Tech challenge missions signal requirements through specific language:

• "Malfunction" - Technical expertise required, prioritize Intellect
• "Hacking" - Remote problem-solving, limited attempts
• "Code sequence" - Pattern recognition challenge
• "Database" - Data analysis, cross-referencing skills
• "Puzzle" - Logic-based problem requiring Intellect 3-4
• "Investigation" - Analytical thinking, often Intellect + Charisma

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Deploying Intellect 1 heroes: Punch Up, Golem, and Flambae fail tech challenges automatically—their presence signals wrong approach
2. Wasting Sonar's human form: Using Sonar on non-tech first calls squanders his Intellect 4 when you need it later
3. Ignoring attempt limits: Hacking sequences with 3-attempt lockouts punish trial-and-error; always send Intellect 4 hero first
4. Prioritizing combat in tech scenarios: High combat stats are irrelevant (or harmful) for pure technical challenges
5. Mixing brute force with delicate systems: Sending Punch Up or Flambae to fix electronics guarantees catastrophic damage

Roster Limitation Challenge

The guides note a critical strategic constraint: "The roster lacks depth in analytical specialists."

Intellect Distribution:

• Intellect 4: Sonar (human form only)
• Intellect 3: Coupé, select others
• Intellect 1: Punch Up, Golem, Flambae

Strategic Implication: You have limited Intellect-capable heroes. Tech-heavy shifts require careful planning:

• Reserve Sonar for critical Intellect 4 missions
• Use Coupé and Invisigal for Intellect 3 challenges
• Never deploy all Intellect specialists simultaneously—stagger them for shift coverage

Success Checklist

Before deploying heroes to tech challenges, verify:

• ✅ Hero has minimum Intellect 3 (preferably 4)
• ✅ Sonar is in human form (not bat/monster)
• ✅ Hacking missions get Intellect 4 hero (limited attempts)
• ✅ Investigation missions include Charisma for civilian interaction
• ✅ No Intellect 1 heroes deployed to technical scenarios
• ✅ Shift schedule allows Sonar to handle early tech calls before transformation
• ✅ Backup tech specialist (Coupé/Invisigal) available if Sonar transforms

Episode-Long Tech Strategy

Shift 1: Sonar Deployment

Check first shift for tech challenges. If present, deploy Sonar immediately while in human form.

Shift 2-3: Post-Transformation Coverage

After Sonar transforms, rely on Coupé and Invisigal for remaining tech calls. Avoid deploying Sonar to Intellect missions in bat form.

Episode Planning

For episodes known to be tech-heavy (Episode 1 features multiple hacking and investigation calls), plan Sonar's deployment strategically rather than using him on first available mission regardless of type.

Conclusion

Tech challenges in Dispatch reward analytical thinking and careful hero management over combat prowess. Prioritize Sonar in human form for Intellect 4 missions, manage his transformation timing carefully, and maintain backup tech specialists for shift coverage. Success requires recognizing that "intellect alone won't always save the day" when people are involved, but for pure technical problems, high Intellect is the only path forward.

Master form management and mission keyword recognition, and you'll solve every technical malfunction before systems crash.