What BitNode should I do?

Warning

This page contains spoilers regarding the game’s story/plot-line.

After destroying their first BitNode, many players wonder which BitNode they should tackle next. This guide hopefully helps answer that question.

Overview of each BitNode

BitNode-1: Source Genesis

Description
The first BitNode created by the Enders to imprison the minds of humans. It became the prototype and testing-grounds for all of the BitNodes that followed. This is the first BitNode that you play through. It has no special modifications or mechanics.
Source-File
Max Level:3

This Source-File lets the player start with 32GB of RAM on his/her home computer when entering a new BitNode, and also increases all of the player’s multipliers by:

  • Level 1: 16%
  • Level 2: 24%
  • Level 3: 28%
Difficulty
The easiest BitNode

BitNode-2: Rise of the Underworld

Description

Organized crime groups quickly filled the void of power left behind from the collapse of Western government in the 2050s. As society and civlization broke down, people quickly succumbed to the innate human impulse of evil and savagery. The organized crime factions quickly rose to the top of the modern world.

In this BitNode:

  • Your hacking level is reduced by 20%
  • The growth rate and maximum amount of money available on servers are significantly decreased
  • The amount of money gained from crimes and Infiltration is tripled
  • Certain Factions (Slum Snakes, Tetrads, The Syndicate, The Dark Army, Speakers for the Dead, NiteSec, The Black Hand) give the player the ability to form and manage their own gangs. These gangs will earn the player money and reputation with the corresponding Faction
  • Every Augmentation in the game will be available through the Factions listed above
  • For every Faction NOT listed above, reputation gains are halved
  • You will no longer gain passive reputation with Factions
Source-File
Max Level:3

This Source-File allows you to form gangs in other BitNodes once your karma decreases to a certain value. It also increases the player’s crime success rate, crime money, and charisma multipliers by:

  • Level 1: 24%
  • Level 2: 36%
  • Level 3: 42%
Difficulty
Fairly easy, as hacking is still very profitable and the costs of various purchases/upgrades is not increased. The gang mechanic may seem strange as its very different from anything else, but it can be very powerful once you get the hang of it.

BitNode-3: Corporatocracy

Description

Our greatest illusion is that a healthy society can revolve around a single-minded pursuit of wealth. Sometime in the early 21st century economic and political globalization turned the world into a corporatocracy, and it never looked back. Now, the privileged elite will happily bankrupt their own countrymen, decimate their own community, and evict their neighbors from houses in their desperate bid to increase their wealth. In this BitNode you can create and manage your own corporation. Running a successful corporation has the potential of generating massive profits. All other forms of income are reduced by 75%. Furthermore:

  • The price and reputation cost of all Augmentations is tripled
  • The starting and maximum amount of money on servers is reduced by 75%
  • Server growth rate is reduced by 80%
  • You now only need 75 favour with a faction in order to donate to it, rather than 150
Source-File
Max Level:3

This Source-File lets you create corporations on other BitNodes (although some BitNodes will disable this mechanic). This Source-File also increases your charisma and company salary multipliers by:

  • Level 1: 8%
  • Level 2: 12%
  • Level 3: 14%
Difficulty
Somewhat-steep learning curve as you learn how to use and manage Corporations. Afterwards, however, the BitNode is easy as Corporations can be very profitable.

BitNode-4: The Singularity

Description

The Singularity has arrived. The human race is gone, replaced by artificially superintelligent beings that are more machine than man.

In this BitNode, progressing is significantly harder:

  • Experience gain rates for all stats are reduced.
  • Most methods of earning money will now give significantly less.

In this BitNode you will gain access to a new set of Netscript Functions known as Singularity Functions. These functions allow you to control most aspects of the game through scripts, including working for factions/companies, purchasing/installing Augmentations, and creating programs.

Source-File
Max Level:3

This Source-File lets you access and use the Singularity Functions in other BitNodes. Each level of this Source-File will open up more Singularity Functions that you can use.

Difficulty:
Depending on what Source-Files you have unlocked before attempting this BitNode, it can range from easy to moderate.

BitNode-5: Artificial Intelligence

Description

They said it couldn’t be done. They said the human brain, along with its consciousness and intelligence, couldn’t be replicated. They said the complexity of the brain results from unpredictable, nonlinear interactions that couldn’t be modeled by 1’s and 0’s. They were wrong.

In this BitNode:

  • The base security level of servers is doubled
  • The starting money on servers is halved, but the maximum money remains the same
  • Most methods of earning money now give significantly less
  • Infiltration gives 50% more reputation and money
  • Corporations have 50% lower valuations and are therefore less profitable
  • Augmentations are more expensive
  • Hacking experience gain rates are reduced
Source-File
Max Level:3

This Source-File grants you a special new stat called Intelligence.

Intelligence is unique because it is permanent and persistent (it never gets reset back to 1). However gaining Intelligence experience is much slower than other stats, and it is also hidden (you won’t know when you gain experience and how much). Higher Intelligence levels will boost your production for many actions in the game.

In addition, this Source-File will unlock the getBitNodeMultipliers() Netscript function, and will also raise all of your hacking-related multipliers by:

  • Level 1: 8%
  • Level 2: 12%
  • Level 3: 14%
Difficulty
Depending on what Source-Files you have unlocked before attempting this BitNode, it can range from easy to moderate.

BitNode-6: Bladeburners

Description

In the middle of the 21st century, OmniTek Incorporated began designing and manufacturing advanced synthetic androids, or Synthoids for short. They achieved a major technological breakthrough in the sixth generation of their Synthoid design, called MK-VI, by developing a hyperintelligent AI. Many argue that this was the first sentient AI ever created. This resulted in Synthoid models that were stronger, faster, and more intelligent than the humans that had created them.

In this BitNode you will be able to access the Bladeburner Division at the NSA, which provides a new mechanic for progression. Furthermore:

  • Hacking and Hacknet Nodes will be less profitable
  • Your hacking level is reduced by 65%
  • Hacking experience gain from scripts is reduced by 75%
  • Corporations have 80% lower valuations and are therefore less profitable
  • Working for companies is 50% less profitable
  • Crimes and Infiltration are 25% less profitable
Source-File
Max Level:3

This Source-File allows you to access the NSA’s Bladeburner Division in other BitNodes. In addition, this Source-File will raise both the level and experience gain rate of all your combat stats by:

  • Level 1: 8%
  • Level 2: 12%
  • Level 3: 14%
Difficulty
Initially difficult due to the fact that hacking is no longer profitable and you have to learn a new mechanic. After you get the hang of the Bladeburner mechanic, however, it becomes moderately easy.

BitNode-7: Bladeburners 2079

Description

In the middle of the 21st century, you were doing cutting-edge work at OmniTek Incorporated as part of the AI design team for advanced synthetic androids, or Synthoids for short. You helped achieve a major technological breakthrough in the sixth generation of the company’s Synthoid design, called MK-VI, by developing a hyperintelligent AI. Many argue that this was the first sentient AI ever created. This resulted in Synthoid models that were stronger, faster, and more intelligent than the humans that had created them.

In this BitNode you will be able to access the Bladeburner API, which allows you to access Bladeburner functionality through Netscript. Furthermore:

  • The rank you gain from Bladeburner contracts/operations is reduced by 40%
  • Bladeburner skills cost twice as many skill points
  • Augmentations are 3x more expensive
  • Hacking and Hacknet Nodes will be significantly less profitable
  • Your hacking level is reduced by 65%
  • Hacking experience gain from scripts is reduced by 75%
  • Corporations have 80% lower valuations and are therefore less profitable
  • Working for companies is 50% less profitable
  • Crimes and Infiltration are 25% less profitable
Source-File
Max Level:3

This Source-File allows you to access the Bladeburner Netscript API in other BitNodes. In addition, this Source-File will increase all of your Bladeburner multipliers by:

  • Level 1: 8%
  • Level 2: 12%
  • Level 3: 14%
Difficulty
Slightly more difficult than BitNode-6. However, you will be able to automate more aspects of the Bladeburner feature, which means it will be more passive.

BitNode-8: Ghost of Wall Street

Description

You are trying to make a name for yourself as an up-and-coming hedge fund manager on Wall Street.

In this BitNode:

  • You start with $250 million
  • The only way to earn money is by trading on the stock market
  • You start with a WSE membership and access to the TIX API
  • You are able to short stocks and place different types of orders (limit/stop)
  • You can immediately donate to factions to gain reputation
Source-File
Max Level:3

This Source-File grants the following benefits:

  • Level 1: Permanent access to WSE and TIX API
  • Level 2: Ability to short stocks in other BitNodes
  • Level 3: Ability to use limit/stop orders in other BitNodes

This Source-File also increases your hacking growth multipliers by:

  • Level 1: 12%
  • Level 2: 18%
  • Level 3: 21%
Difficulty
Very difficult until you unlock the Four Sigma (4S) Market Data API. After you unlock the API however, it becomes moderately easy.

BitNode-9: Hacktocracy

Description

When Fulcrum Technologies released their open-source Linux distro Chapeau, it quickly became the OS of choice for the underground hacking community. Chapeau became especially notorious for powering the Hacknet, a global, decentralized network used for nefarious purposes. Fulcrum quickly abandoned the project and dissociated themselves from it.

This BitNode unlocks the Hacknet Server, an upgraded version of the Hacknet Node. Hacknet Servers generate hashes, which can be spent on a variety of different upgrades.

In this BitNode: * Your stats are significantly decreased * You cannnot purchase additional servers * Hacking is significantly less profitable

Source-File
Max Level:3

This Source-File grants the following benefits:

  • Level 1: Permanently unlocks the Hacknet Server in other BitNodes
  • Level 2: You start with 128GB of RAM on your home computer when entering a new BitNode
  • Level 3: Grants a highly-upgraded Hacknet Server when entering a new BitNode

(Note that the Level 3 effect of this Source-File only applies when entering a new BitNode, NOT when installing Augmentation

Difficulty
Hard

BitNode-10: Digital Carbon

Description

In 2084, VitaLife unveiled to the world the Persona Core, a technology that allowed people to digitize their consciousness. Their consciousness could then be transferred into Synthoids or other bodies by trasmitting the digitized data. Human bodies became nothing more than ‘sleeves’ for the human consciousness. Mankind had finally achieved immortality - at least for those that could afford it.

This BitNode unlocks Sleeve technology. Sleeve technology allows you to:

  1. Re-sleeve: Purchase and transfer your consciousness into a new body
  2. Duplicate Sleeves: Duplicate your consciousness into Synthoids, allowing you to perform different tasks synchronously

In this BitNode: * Your stats are significantly decreased * All methods of gaining money are half as profitable (except Stock Market) * Purchased servers are more expensive, have less max RAM, and a lower maximum limit * Augmentations are 5x as expensive and require twice as much reputation

Source-File
Max Level:3

This Source-File unlocks Sleeve technology in other BitNodes. Each level of this Source-File also grants you a Duplicate Sleeve

Difficulty
Hard

BitNode-11: The Big Crash

Description

The 2050s was defined by the massive amounts of violent civil unrest and anarchic rebellion that rose all around the world. It was this period of disorder that eventually lead to the governmental reformation of many global superpowers, most notably the USA and China. But just as the world was slowly beginning to recover from these dark times, financial catastrophe hit. In many countries, the high cost of trying to deal with the civil disorder bankrupted the governments. In all of this chaos and confusion, hackers were able to steal billions of dollars from the world’s largest electronic banks, prompting an international banking crisis as governments were unable to bail out insolvent banks. Now, the world is slowly crumbling in the middle of the biggest economic crisis of all time.

In this BitNode:

  • Your hacking stat and experience gain are halved
  • The starting and maximum amount of money available on servers is significantly decreased
  • The growth rate of servers is significantly reduced
  • Weakening a server is twice as effective
  • Company wages are decreased by 50%
  • Corporation valuations are 99% lower and are therefore significantly less profitable
  • Hacknet Node production is significantly decreased
  • Crime and Infiltration are more lucrative
  • Augmentations are twice as expensive
Source-File
Max Level:3

Destroying this BitNode will give you Source-File 11, or if you already have this Source-File it will upgrade its level up to a maximum of 3. This Source-File makes it so that company favor increases BOTH the player’s salary and reputation gain rate at that company by 1% per favor (rather than just the reputation gain). This Source-File also increases the player’s company salary and reputation gain multipliers by:

  • Level 1: 32%
  • Level 2: 48%
  • Level 3: 56%
Difficulty
Hard

BitNode-12: The Recursion

Description
Every time this BitNode is destroyed, it becomes slightly harder.
Source-File
Max Level:Infinity

Each level of Source-File 12 will increase all of your multipliers by 1%. This effect is multiplicative with itself. In other words, level N of this Source-File will result in a multiplier of 1.01^N (or 0.99^N for multipliers that decrease)

Difficulty
Initially very easy, but then it (obviously) becomes harder as you continue to do it.