Skill Overview

There are three skill trees in the game that encompasses specialized individual skills that complement each other. While the game doesn’t restrict (or openly recommend) concentrating on one skill tree, it will be a good idea to get a good mix of skills in all skills trees. Skill points are earned by completing various quests and certain activities, as well as leveling up. For players to unlock new skills, they must have enough skills points, and should have also unlocked the prerequisite of that skill (if there’s any).

Prowler

This skill tree is all about stealth and taking out enemies without drawing too much attention to yourself. For starters, getting Silent Strike early on will help a lot since the game encourages players to utilize stealth most of the time. The other skills in this tree should be considered later in the game unless you really want concentrate on playing stealthy all throughout.

Brave

This skill tree is all about active combat. Unlocking skills from this tree allows Aloy to increase her damage output through the extensive use of bow and arrow, spear, and heavy weapons. For starters, getting Concentration as early as possible is a must since this skill enables you to slow down time while aiming which greatly increases your accuracy even against a moving target. Critical Hit is also a very helpful combat skill to have. This usually finishes off downed light enemies while dealing heavy damage against larger targets. Upgrading to Critical Hit + is also a good idea. For the other skills in this tree, consider unlocking them a bit later when you have allotted your skill points already to priority skills.

Forager

The game’s survival and hunting aspects are very dominant all throughout your playthrough. You’ll be hunting down machines and wildlife regularly for valuable resources which you can use to craft your own consumables, ammo, and traps. This skill tree enhances your ability to get the most out of the items you loot from hunted targets or the items you pick up in the wild. For this tree, I suggest working your way until you get to Disarm Traps and finally, Tinker.

Disarm Traps allows you to save resources by letting you pick up and reuse untriggered traps and tripwires. Tinker is also very valuable since it gives you the freedom to remove and swap mods in your weapons and outfit which will be otherwise permanent without that skill. As prerequisites, you’ll also unlock Healer, Herbalist, Gatherer, and Scavenger along the way, further increasing your survivability.

The Override skill line in this skill tree will be unlocked as soon as you clear your first Cauldron.