Character Skills

Stray features a single playable character: an unnamed ginger cat. The cat has a set of innate abilities that are available from the start, and a companion drone named B-12 who unlocks additional skills as the story progresses. There are no traditional skill trees, leveling, or cooldowns; all abilities are always usable once acquired. This guide covers every ability the cat and B-12 can perform, their practical uses, and tips for maximizing their effectiveness.

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Cat Abilities (Innate)

The cat’s movements and interactions are fluid and context-sensitive. These abilities are available from the very beginning of the game.

#### 1. Movement and Platforming

Ability	Description	Use Cases	Tips
Jump	Press the jump button (default: Space on PC, X on PlayStation, A on Xbox). The cat can jump onto ledges, pipes, air conditioners, and other surfaces. Jump height is fixed; you cannot double-jump.	Reaching elevated areas, crossing gaps, escaping threats.	Hold the jump button to cling to edges automatically. Some jumps require a running start.
Climb	Automatically triggered when the cat approaches a climbable surface (e.g., pipes, vines, curtains). The cat climbs upward or horizontally.	Scaling buildings, traversing vertical shafts.	You can stop climbing and drop down by pressing the interact button or moving away.
Sprint	Hold the sprint button (default: Shift on PC, L3 on PlayStation, LS on Xbox). Increases movement speed but consumes stamina (indicated by panting). Stamina recharges quickly when not sprinting.	Escaping zurks (enemies), covering ground quickly, timing jumps.	Sprint into a jump to gain extra distance. Avoid sprinting near ledges; the cat may overshoot.
Roll	Press the crouch/dodge button while sprinting (default: Ctrl on PC, Circle on PlayStation, B on Xbox). The cat performs a quick roll.	Avoiding zurk attacks, squeezing through small gaps, landing gracefully from heights.	Rolling reduces fall damage and can interrupt enemy grabs. Combine with sprint for evasion.
Squeeze Through Gaps	Walk up to narrow openings (e.g., broken windows, pipes, fence holes). The cat automatically squeezes through.	Accessing hidden areas, bypassing locked doors.	These gaps are often the only way to progress. Look for glowing edges or interact prompts.

#### 2. Interactions

Ability	Description	Use Cases	Tips
Meow	Press the meow button (default: E on PC, R1 on PlayStation, RB on Xbox). The cat vocalizes.	Attracting attention (NPCs react), expressing yourself, testing echoes (some puzzles require meowing to trigger responses).	Meowing has no cooldown. Use it to distract enemies (zurks are attracted to sound).
Scratch	Press the attack button near a scratchable surface (default: Left Mouse Button on PC, Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox). The cat scratches walls, carpets, or objects.	Marking territory, opening certain puzzles (scratching wallpaper reveals a hidden switch), interacting with NPCs who want scratches.	Scratching can also be used to break fragile objects. Some NPCs reward you with items if scratched.
Drink from Puddles	Walk up to a water puddle and press interact. The cat drinks.	Restoring health? Actually, drinking has no game effect except animation. It’s purely cosmetic.	No practical benefit, but it can trigger NPC responses.
Sleep	Approach a cat bed (usually marked with a glowing icon) and press interact. The cat curls up and sleeps.	Saving the game (manual save), advancing time (if needed for certain events), restoring health if hurt.	Sleeping is the only manual save point. Always sleep before quitting. After taking damage from zurks or falls, sleeping heals the cat to full health.
Knock Over Objects	Walk into or jump onto stackable objects (cans, books, etc.). The cat can push them off ledges.	Solving physics-based puzzles (e.g., knocking down a paint can to create a path), creating distractions.	Experiment with object physics. Some puzzles require knocking objects into specific places.

#### 3. Stealth and Evasion

Ability	Description	Use Cases	Tips
Crouch/Walk Quietly	Press the stealth button (default: Ctrl on PC, Circle on PlayStation, B on Xbox). The cat moves slowly and silently.	Sneaking past zurks, avoiding detection by sentinels, surprising NPCs.	While crouched, the cat makes almost no noise. Combine with meowing to lure enemies away.
Hide	Enter environmental covers like cardboard boxes, pipes, or under vehicles. Automatically triggered when you approach designated hiding spots.	Evading zurks or sentinels when they are searching for you.	Hiding breaks line-of-sight and eventually makes enemies lose interest.
Use B-12’s Light	Press the light button (default: L on PC, Triangle on PlayStation, Y on Xbox) to toggle B-12’s flashlight.	Illuminating dark areas, revealing hidden paths, scaring zurks (they dislike light).	The light can temporarily stun zurks, giving you time to run. It does not harm them.

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B-12 Abilities (Unlockable)

B-12 is a small companion drone that joins the cat early in the game. Initially, B-12 has limited functions, but it gains new abilities as the story progresses. These abilities are essential for solving puzzles and advancing.

#### 1. Translation and Communication (Unlocked: Immediately)

Ability	Description	Use Cases
Translate Written Text	B-12 automatically reads and translates signs, notes, and computer screens into the cat’s understanding.	Reading story lore, solving puzzles that require deciphering codes or instructions.
Communicate with NPCs	B-12 acts as a translator between the cat and humanoid robots. Select dialogue options to interact.	Progressing the story, gaining quests, learning about the world.

Tip: Always read B-12’s translations; they often contain clues for the next objective.

#### 2. Inventory (Unlocked: After first meeting with B-12)

Ability	Description	Use Cases
Carry Items	B-12 can hold up to one item at a time. Approach an item and press interact to have B-12 pick it up.	Transporting key items (e.g., energy cells, wires, paint cans) to specific locations.
Drop Items	Press interact again near the target location to have B-12 place the item.	Solving item-based puzzles.

Tip: B-12 cannot carry items while the cat is climbing or sprinting. You may need to drop items to perform certain moves.

#### 3. Hacking (Unlocked: After reaching the Slums)

This is B-12’s most versatile ability. Hacking allows you to interact with electronic devices. The process involves a simple minigame: a rotating ring must align with the target angle. Press interact when the ring is inside the white zone.

Hacking Target	Description	Unlocking Requirement	Notes
Open Doors	Hack locked electronic doors.	Basic hack available from start of Slums.	Some doors require energy cells to power the hack.
Disable Cameras	Temporarily turn off security cameras.	Basic hack.	Cameras can detect the cat and alert sentinels. Disabling them provides a stealth window.
Reboot Sentinels	Hack sentinel robots to shut them down for a short time.	After getting the hacking upgrade from Doc (early game).	A sentinel with a red eye is active; hacked ones turn blue and are inactive for ~10 seconds.
Hack Drones	Control small flying drones to move objects or activate switches.	After acquiring the hardware upgrade from Doc (Midtown).	The cat cannot control drones directly; B-12 does it automatically when you initiate a drone interaction.

| Activate Antenna/Console | Hack antennas to reveal secrets or consoles to open passages. | Various story points. | Usually part of main quest progression.

Upgrades:

Hacking Radius Upgrade (Doc’s shop in Slums): Increases the range at which you can initiate hacks. Costs 3 Energy Cells.

Hack Speed Upgrade (Doc’s shop): Speeds up the alignment minigame (smaller dead zone). Costs 5 Energy Cells.

#### 4. Map (Unlocked: After reaching Slums)

Ability	Description	Use Cases
View Map	Press the map button (default: M on PC, Touchpad on PlayStation, View on Xbox) to open an overhead map of the current area.	Navigation, finding quest markers, locating collectibles (energy cells, memories, music sheets).
Mark Locations	Place custom markers on the map (optional).	Remembering important spots.

Tip: The map is essential for backtracking and finding all collectibles. It updates as you explore.

#### 5. Stun Light (Unlocked: After acquiring the UV light upgrade from Doc in Slums)

Ability	Description	Use Cases
UV Light Toggle	B-12 emits a bright light (UV mode) that reveals hidden graffiti, paths, and weak spots. Also stuns zurks.	Revealing invisible platforms, stunning zurks (same effect as regular light but stronger?), finding secrets.

Note: The UV light consumes energy? No, it’s infinite. It replaces the regular light when toggled.

#### 6. Detector (Unlocked: After Midtown)

Ability	Description	Use Cases
Object Detection	B-12 highlights nearby interactive objects (items, hackable devices, hidden passages) with a faint glow.	Finding energy cells, sheets of music, and secret areas.

Tip: Use this constantly when exploring; it reveals things you might miss.

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Synergies and Recommended Use

Since the game is linear, there are no character builds. However, you can combine abilities effectively:

Stealth + Hacking: Before entering a room full of zurks or sentinels, use B-12’s light to stun zurks, then hack cameras or sentinels from a distance. Crouch while hacking to stay hidden.

Meow + Sprint: Meow to lure zurks away from a path, then sprint past them.

Jump + Roll: Perform a running jump and then roll right before landing to negate fall damage. Useful for high drops.

B-12 Detector + Markers: When you find a collectible but cannot reach it yet, mark it on the map. Later, use the detector to locate others.

When to Use Each Skill

Skill	Best Used When…
Sprint	Escaping zurks, crossing wide gaps, timed puzzles.
Roll	Dodging zurk attacks, reducing fall damage, squeezing through tight spaces (actually, rolling doesn’t squeeze; that’s separate).
Crouch	Sneaking past enemies or NPCs that chase you.
Meow	Distracting zurks, attracting NPC attention, solving echo puzzles.
Scratch	Opening secret panels, earning NPC trust.
Light/UV Light	Illuminating dark zones, stunning zurks, revealing hidden paths or collectibles.
Hack	Opening locked doors, disabling security, controlling drones.
Drink	Never truly needed, but fun for roleplay.

Conclusion

Stray’s skill system is intentionally simple. The cat’s abilities are all context-sensitive and taught through gameplay. B-12’s hacking and detection tools are the closest thing to active skills. Mastering movement and understanding when to use stealth versus hacking is key to avoiding damage and progressing smoothly. There are no wrong choices—just different approaches to each encounter. Use every tool at your disposal, and you’ll navigate the Walled City with ease.