Skills are special abilities that can be unlocked using skill points. The Skills tree includes various offensive, defensive, and support abilities for Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn. Skills are organized into three primary sections: Prowler, Brave, and Forager with a fourth section, Traveler, introduced in the Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds add-on. There are a total of 44 unlockable skills in Horizon Zero Dawn.
Skills are unlocked by using earned skill points to level up abilities, giving players new advantages to help Aloy through her journey. As the player unlocks each skill tree, skills further down become more expensive.
Earning skill points[]
Skill points are earned by leveling up through experience points and by completing certain quests and activities. There are a total of 84 skill points available in the base game, though only 81 are necessary to purchase all skills from the first three skill trees. Up to 50 points can be earned by reaching the maximum level and 34 points are available through quests: 17 from main quests, 3 from side quests (Acquired Taste, Redmaw, and Queen's Gambit), and 14 from activities.
The Frozen Wilds adds 14 additional skill points, 4 short of the 18 needed to purchase all skills from the new Traveler skill tree. Ten can be gained through experience given that the expansion raises the level cap to 60 and 4 points are available through quests and activities. In order to get the 4 points left, the player can complete some quests several times, as for example, the last main quests.
Available skills[]
Prowler[]
The Prowler skill tree consists of stealth-based maneuvers and combat improvements.
Icon | Name | Description | Requirement | Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|
Silent Strike | Press R1 to perform a silent takedown on small machines and humans, or deal high damage to medium enemies. | None | 1 | |
Strike From Above | Press R1 to silently drop and take down small machines and humans, or deal high damage to medium enemies. | Silent Strike | 2 | |
Strike From Below | Press R1 when hanging below human enemies to perform a silent takedown. | Strike From Above | 3 | |
Leader Strike | Press R1 to perform a silent takedown on heavy and elite human enemies. | Strike From Below | 3 | |
Hunter Reflexes | Time slows while aiming during a jump or slide. | None | 1 | |
Balanced Aim | Use range weapons while balancing on ropes. | Hunter Reflexes | 2 | |
Strong Strike | 15% damage increase to Strike attacks. | Strike From Above | 3 | |
Strong Strike+ | 30% damage increase to Strike attacks. | Strong Strike | 3 | |
Silent Drop | Landing from a fall or jump is completely silent, and will not alert otherwise unaware enemies. | None | 1 | |
Low Profile | Further reduces your visibility to enemies when crouching. | Silent Drop | 2 | |
Dodge Prowess | Hold circle for a long dodge roll, or tap circle for a short dodge roll. | Low Profile | 3 | |
Quiet Sprint | Sprinting is quiet, greatly reducing the chances of alerting nearby enemies. | Dodge Prowess | 3 |
Brave[]
Brave is a skill tree that focuses on direct combat improvements for Aloy. Abilities in this tree include damage and accuracy improvements on a variety of weapons.
Icon | Name | Description | Requirement | Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|
Concentration | While aiming toggle with R3 to slow down time. | None | 1 | |
Heavy Lifter | Move faster while wielding a heavy weapon. | Concentration | 2 | |
Concentration+ | Increases the maximum duration of Concentration. | Heavy Lifter | 3 | |
Fast Reload | Faster reload while using Concentration. | Concentration+ | 3 | |
Critical Hit | Press R1 for a high damage attack on downed enemies. | None | 1 | |
Critical Hit+ | Critical hits deal more damage. | Critical Hit | 2 | |
Double Shot | Use R1 while aiming to notch an additional arrow on all bow weapons. | Heavy Lifter | 3 | |
Triple Shot | Use R1 while aiming to notch up to 3 arrows at once on all bow weapons. | Double Shot | 3 | |
Precision | Light spear attacks have an increased chance to knock off armor and components. | None | 1 | |
Precision+ | Light spear attacks have a greatly increased chance to knock off armor and components. | Precision | 2 | |
Knock Down | Heavy spear attacks will knock down machines faster. | Precision+ | 3 | |
Fighting Back | Heavy spear attacks deal increased damage when Aloy's health is low. | Knock Down | 3 |
Forager[]
The Forager skill tree is a support-focused tree that includes passive skills, health improvements, and abilities that help Aloy find resources from enemies and the environment.
Icon | Name | Description | Requirement | Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lure Call | Use (!) from the tools menu to lure a single enemy to your position. The target will be the closest, most centered in Aloy's view. | None | 1 | |
Combat Override [1] | Increases the time a machine will remain overridden by 50%. | Lure Call | 2 | |
Combat Override+ [1] | Increases the time a machine will remain overridden indefinitely. | Combat Override | 3 | |
Call Mount+ [1] | Calls a new overridden mount if no mount is available. | Combat Override+ | 3 | |
Healer | Speeds up healing from the medicine pouch. | None | 1 | |
Herbalist | Doubles the capacity of the medicine pouch. | Healer | 2 | |
Disarm Traps | Traps and tripwires can now be disarmed and reused. | Scavenger | 3 | |
Tinker | Weapon Coils and Outfit Weaves can now be removed and reused. | Disarm Traps | 3 | |
Gatherer | Additional natural resources when foraging. | None | 1 | |
Scavenger | Chance for extra resources when looting downed machines. | Gatherer | 2 | |
Ammo Crafter | Craft additional ammo from the same amount of resources. | Scavenger | 3 | |
Scavenger+ | Increased chances for extra resources when looting downed machines. | Ammo Crafter | 3 |
Traveler[]
The Traveler skill tree is available through the Frozen Wilds add-on. These skills improve the usefulness of resources and mounts.
Icon | Name | Description | Requirement | Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mounted Pickup [1] | Gather resources and search downed enemies while mounted. | None | 1 | |
Mount Repair [1] | Repair a damaged mount using Metal Shards. | Mounted Pickup | 2 | |
Machine Repair [1] | Repair any overridden machine using Metal Shards. | Mount Repair | 3 | |
Mount Repair+ [1] | Increases mount health and repair speed. | Machine Repair | 3 | |
Dismount Strike [1] | Press square to launch a jumping attack from your mount. | Machine Repair | 3 | |
Shard Salvager | Disassemble resources and modifications into 50% of their Metal Shard value. | None | 1 | |
Expert Carver | Increased chance to loot Skins, Bones, Lenses, and Hearts. | Shard Salvager | 2 | |
Hoarder | Increases resource inventory slots by 20%. | Expert Carver | 3 |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 This skill cannot be obtained until after completion of the main quest, The Womb of the Mountain.