Character Skills
Character Skills Overview
Horizon Zero Dawn features a single playable character: Aloy, a hunter and machine specialist. Her skills are divided into three skill trees—Brave, Prowler, and Forager—each containing 10 skills (some with multiple ranks) for a total of 29 base game skills. Additionally, The Frozen Wilds DLC adds 9 new skills that branch off from the existing trees. This guide covers every skill, including effects, upgrades, cooldowns, synergies, recommended builds, and usage tips.
Skills are unlocked using skill points earned by gaining experience (XP) from quests, kills, and exploration. Each skill point can be spent on any skill, allowing flexible builds.
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Brave Branch (Red) – Combat & Override
The Brave tree focuses on direct combat prowess, health, and machine override abilities. It includes offensive passives, active abilities, and utility.
1. Concentration (3 Ranks)
- Effect: When aiming a bow or weapon, time slows down. The duration of slow-motion increases per rank.
- Cooldown: None; activates automatically upon aiming.
- Upgrades: Rank 1: 1.5s slow; Rank 2: 2.0s; Rank 3: 2.5s.
- Synergies: Pairs well with any precision weapon (Sharpshot Bow, Tearblaster) to line up critical hits. Combines with Critical Hit for massive weak point damage.
- Recommended Build: Essential for all builds, especially those relying on bow combat. Max out early for easier aiming.
- When to Use: Always when aiming; particularly effective against moving machines or fragile weak points (e.g., Blaze cannisters, eyes).
- Effect: Increases damage dealt when hitting a machine's weak point (vulnerable areas). Rank 1: +25% damage; Rank 2: +50%; Rank 3: +75%.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Linear damage bonus.
- Synergies: Essential with Concentration for pinpoint shots. Works with all weapons that target weak points, especially Tearblast Arrows (to strip armor) followed by Hardpoint Arrows.
- Recommended Build: Mandatory for any combat-focused build. Combine with Precision skill (Brave) for maximum output.
- When to Use: Always; aim for orange glowing weak points on machines. Prioritize on aggressive machines like Thunderjaws.
- Effect: Allows overriding machines even while they are alert or in combat (previously only possible when undetected).
- Cooldown: None, but requires crafting override modules and being close enough.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Use with Override Abilities (unlocked via Cauldrons) to turn machines against each other. Pairs well with Heavy Lifter to use machine weapons.
- Recommended Build: Useful for crowd control and creating distractions. Not essential early but powerful for late-game combat.
- When to Use: When surrounded or facing a tough machine; override a nearby enemy (e.g., a Ravager) to fight for you.
- Effect: Allows Aloy to pick up and carry heavy weapons dropped by machines (e.g., Ravager Cannon, Thunderjaw Disc Launcher).
- Cooldown: None.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: The heavy weapons deal massive damage but have limited ammo. Combine with Concentration for easier aiming. Requires good positioning due to slow movement while carrying.
- Recommended Build: Not mandatory but adds fun and powerful options. Consider picking up for specific encounters.
- When to Use: After disabling a machine’s weapon (e.g., tearblast arrow off Ravager cannon), pick it up and unleash on groups or bosses.
- Effect: Increases the number of resources (e.g., bones, skins, lenses) obtained from animals (boars, foxes, etc.).
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Useful for crafting larger pouches and selling resources. Pairs with Gatherer (Forager) for overall resource income.
- Recommended Build: Take early if you want to craft pouches quickly; otherwise skip until later.
- When to Use: Always when hunting animals.
- Effect: Increases damage dealt by precision weapons (Sharpshot Bow, Tearblaster, Forgefire). Rank 1: +15% damage; Rank 2: +30% damage.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Additive damage.
- Synergies: Stacks with Critical Hit for massive weak point damage on precision shots. Ideal for sniping.
- Recommended Build: Core for sniper/heavy damage builds. Combine with Concentration.
- When to Use: Always when using precision weapons.
- Effect: Unlocks the ability to craft the Shield Weaver Armor (requires completing the Ancient Armor quest). Note: The skill itself is often a prerequisite; once obtained, the armor provides a rechargeable energy shield.
- Cooldown: Passive on armor; shield regenerates after a short time out of combat.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Provides excellent survivability, especially against ranged attacks. Pairs with heavy weapon builds to reduce risk.
- Recommended Build: Extremely valuable for any build; aim to acquire early via quest and skill point.
- When to Use: Any combat; best when facing multiple enemies or high-damage machines.
- Effect: Increases melee damage by 50% when health is above 75%.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Works with Power Attack and Strike from Above (Prowler). Encourages aggressive melee play with high health.
- Recommended Build: For melee-focused or hybrid builds. Combine with Health potions.
- When to Use: When you are at full health and close to machines.
- Effect: Hitting enemies with melee attacks increases damage of next ranged attack by 30% (stackable up to 3 times).
- Cooldown: Passive; stacks reset if you take damage.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Promotes switching between melee and ranged. Use with Hunter Bow for rapid shots.
- Recommended Build: For players who enjoy mixing combat styles.
- When to Use: Build up stacks on smaller machines, then unleash on a larger target.
- Effect: Reduces frost status effect duration by 5% and frost damage by 10%.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Useful in snowy areas or against Frostclaws. Combine with cold resistance potions.
- Recommended Build: Situational; take before exploring The Cut.
- When to Use: Against machines that use frost attacks.
- Effect: Perform a one-hit kill from behind on small to medium human and machine enemies (can't kill large machines, but deals heavy damage).
- Cooldown: None; requires being undetected and close.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Use with Lure skill to bring enemies close. Essential for stealth clearing human camps.
- Recommended Build: Mandatory for stealth builds. Take early.
- When to Use: When undetected; also for dealing massive damage to machine weak points from behind.
- Effect: Jump off a tall ledge and perform a powerful melee attack on an enemy below. Deals significant damage and can kill smaller enemies.
- Cooldown: None; requires height advantage.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Works with Quiet Sprint to approach silently. Combine with Fighter's Might for extra damage.
- Recommended Build: Useful but situational; take if you enjoy vertical combat.
- When to Use: From tall rocks or trees to surprise enemies below.
- Effect: Hold the melee button to charge a heavy spear attack that deals extra damage and can knock down smaller enemies.
- Cooldown: Requires brief charge time.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Break through armor plates or stagger machines. Pairs with Critical Hit for follow-up weak point shots.
- Recommended Build: Core for melee builds; good for breaking components.
- When to Use: When you need a quick hard hit, especially after dodging.
- Effect: Sprinting does not increase detection radius; you can run silently past enemies.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Essential for stealth approaches; combine with Silent Strike and Lure.
- Recommended Build: Highly recommended for any stealth-focused player.
- When to Use: When trying to reposition stealthily or escape combat.
- Effect: Press a button to whistle, attracting a nearby enemy to your location.
- Cooldown: Short (a few seconds).
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Use to bring enemies into grass for Silent Strike or to group them for area attacks.
- Recommended Build: Essential for stealth players. Combine with Quiet Sprint.
- When to Use: When you want to isolate an enemy from a patrol.
- Effect: Allows Aloy to aim and shoot while sliding, jumping, or sprinting without significant accuracy loss.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Adds mobility during combat. Works well with Concentration for acrobatic shots.
- Recommended Build: Great for aggressive players who like to stay mobile.
- When to Use: While sliding down slopes or jumping to gain height advantage.
- Effect: Increases tear damage (chance to remove components) when attacking from stealth.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Use with Tearblast Arrows while undetected to strip armor before combat.
- Recommended Build: Useful for machine hunters who want to disable weapons early.
- When to Use: Before initiating combat; tear off dangerous components silently.
- Effect: Increases dodge distance and invulnerability frames during rolls.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Essential for survivability against fast enemies. Pairs with Heavy Lifter to dodge while carrying weapons.
- Recommended Build: Strongly recommended for all builds.
- When to Use: Always; dodge more effectively.
- Effect: After performing a Silent Strike, Aloy enters a state of increased movement speed for 5 seconds.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Chains into multiple stealth kills quickly. Combine with Lure and Quiet Sprint.
- Recommended Build: For pure stealth assassins.
- When to Use: After a stealth kill to quickly reposition to another enemy.
- Effect: Increases damage dealt by ice-based weapons (e.g., Ice Rail, Frost Arrows) by 15%.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Useful against machines weak to frost (e.g., Scorchers, Frostclaws).
- Recommended Build: Take before fighting frost-vulnerable enemies in The Cut.
- When to Use: Against any machine that has a freeze weakness.
- Effect: Increases the chance of obtaining rarer resources from looted machines (e.g., hearts, lenses). Rank 1: +10% chance; Rank 2: +20% chance.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Two ranks.
- Synergies: Pairs with Expert Carver (Brave) for maximum resource yield. Essential for crafting high-level modifications.
- Recommended Build: Take early to accelerate gear upgrades.
- When to Use: Passive; always active when looting.
- Effect: Allows removal of weapon and armor modifications (coils) without destroying them (previously removal destroyed the mod).
- Cooldown: None; used from inventory.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Critical for min-maxing builds; lets you move best mods between weapons.
- Recommended Build: Essential for all players; get early to avoid wasting mods.
- When to Use: Whenever you want to reallocate mods from one piece of gear to another.
- Effect: Increases the yield from harvesting plants, wood, and other resources in the world. Rank 1: +1 extra per harvest; Rank 2: +2 extra.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Two ranks.
- Synergies: Helps craft more potions, traps, and arrows. Pair with Scavenger.
- Recommended Build: Take early for resource abundance.
- When to Use: Always when gathering plants and wood.
- Effect: Allows Aloy to call her currently mounted machine (e.g., Strider, Broadhead) from a distance with a whistle. The mount will travel to her position if within range (approx. 150m).
- Cooldown: Short cooldown after a mount dies or is dismissed.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Useful for fast travel and escaping combat. Pair with Quiet Sprint to dismount undetected.
- Recommended Build: Highly recommended for open-world traversal.
- When to Use: When you need a mount quickly or want to escape.
- Effect: Medicinal plants (e.g., Medicinal Herb) restore more health when used. Approximately +20% healing.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Helps in extended combat without potions.
- Recommended Build: Good for survival; take if you rely on healing plants.
- When to Use: Passive; improves all herb healing.
- Effect: Increases damage dealt by traps and tripwires by 25%.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Essential for trap-focused builds. Combine with Disarm Traps (actually Disarm Traps is a skill? It's in Forager – see next).
- Recommended Build: Core for trap users.
- When to Use: Always when using traps.
- Effect: Allows Aloy to disarm enemy traps (e.g., Ravager mines) and collect them as resources.
- Cooldown: None.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Provides extra resources and prevents trap damage. Pair with Trap Master.
- Recommended Build: Situational; useful in areas with many bandit traps.
- When to Use: When you spot a red glowing trap; approach and interact.
- Effect: Increases the effectiveness of all health potions and healing items by 25%.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Stacks with Herbalist for maximum healing.
- Recommended Build: Recommended for all builds to reduce downtime.
- When to Use: Passive; always active.
- Effect: Increases the amount of ammunition gained from ammo crates that hold 5 or more arrows by 25%.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Useful for extended fights; reduces ammo scavenging.
- Recommended Build: Good for players who use ranged weapons heavily.
- When to Use: Passive; always active.
- Effect: Reduces fire status duration by 5% and fire damage by 10%.
- Cooldown: Passive.
- Upgrades: Single rank.
- Synergies: Helps against Fireclaws and human enemies with fire weapons.
- Recommended Build: Situational; take before entering fire-heavy areas like Cauldrons.
- When to Use: Passive; always active.
- Skill Points: Earned from leveling up (XP) and completing certain quests. The maximum level is 60 (base game) and 80 with The Frozen Wilds. You can respec? No, skill choices are permanent, but you can eventually learn all skills if you collect enough skill points.
- No Cooldowns for Passives: Most skills are passive (always active). Active skills like Lure have a short cooldown; Concentration is triggered by aiming.
- Build Recommendations:
- Frozen Wilds Skills: These 9 skills are obtained in the same skill tree but require base skills to unlock (some have prerequisites). They are highly recommended for survival in The Cut.
2. Critical Hit (3 Ranks)
3. Combat Override (1 Rank)
4. Heavy Lifter (1 Rank)
5. Expert Carver (1 Rank)
6. Precision (2 Ranks) – Base Game Skill
7. Shield Weaver (1 Rank) – Base Game Skill
8. Fighter's Might (1 Rank) – Frozen Wilds Skill
9. Surge of Power (1 Rank) – Frozen Wilds Skill
10. Frost Resistance (1 Rank) – Frozen Wilds Skill
Bonus skill added via DLC.
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Prowler Branch (Blue) – Stealth & Movement
The Prowler tree enhances Aloy’s stealth capabilities, movement speed, and melee attacks. It’s ideal for silent assassins and agile combatants.
1. Silent Strike (1 Rank)
2. Strike from Above (1 Rank)
3. Power Attack (1 Rank)
4. Quiet Sprint (1 Rank)
5. Lure (1 Rank)
6. Balanced Aim (1 Rank)
7. Stealth Tear (1 Rank) – Base Game Skill
8. Evade (1 Rank) – Base Game Skill
9. Agile Assassin (1 Rank) – Frozen Wilds Skill
10. Ice Hunter (1 Rank) – Frozen Wilds Skill
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Forager Branch (Green) – Crafting & Resources
The Forager tree improves resource gathering, crafting efficiency, and tool usage. Ideal for resource management and trap-based combat.
1. Scavenger (2 Ranks)
2. Tinker (1 Rank)
3. Gatherer (2 Ranks)
4. Call Mount (1 Rank)
5. Herbalist (1 Rank)
6. Trap Master (1 Rank)
7. Disarm Traps (1 Rank)
8. Medicine (1 Rank) – Base Game Skill
9. Harvester (1 Rank) – Frozen Wilds Skill
10. Fire Resistance (1 Rank) – Frozen Wilds Skill
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Additional Notes on Skills
- Stealth Sniper: Max Concentration, Critical Hit, Precision (Brave); Silent Strike, Quiet Sprint, Lure (Prowler); Tinker (Forager) for mods.
- Berserker/Hvy weapon: Max Heavy Lifter, Combat Override, Fighter's Might (Brave); Power Attack, Evade (Prowler); Harvester (Forager) for ammo.
- Trapper: Max Trap Master, Scavenger, Gatherer (Forager); Stealth Tear (Prowler) for disarming; Concentration for placing traps with precision.
This guide covers every playable character (Aloy) and every skill in Horizon Zero Dawn, including The Frozen Wilds expansion. Use the skill trees to tailor Aloy to your preferred playstyle.