Best Early Skills to Get First

Horizon Zero Dawn, like most open-world games, features a robust skill tree. The more skill points you invest in this tree, the more unique abilities you will gain, equipping Aloy better for combat encounters.

Opening the skill tree in Horizon Zero Dawn can be quite intimidating, as there are numerous skills available waiting for you to unlock. This is where the guide below comes into play. It highlights the best skills to purchase in the early game.

Best Skills To Get First in Horizon Zero Dawn

The skill tree in Horizon Zero Dawn is divided into four categories: Prowler, Brave, Forager, and Traveler. Each category offers skills that provide specific benefits. Players should prioritize Forager skills first. These skills grant additional resources, which are crucial in the early portions of the game. Still, every category has useful skills to get early on. Below, you’ll find the recommended skills to purchase first in each category.

Best Prowler Skills to Get First

• Silent Strike: Silently take down small enemies and humans with your lance, while also dealing heavy damage to medium enemies.
• Strike From Above: Similar benefits to Silent Strike, but it can be executed when you are above enemies. Aloy will drop onto them to defeat them.
• Hunter Reflexes: Slows down time when Aloy aims while jumping or sliding, giving you a tactical advantage.
• Balanced Aim: Allows you to use ranged weapons while you are on a rope.

Silent Strike should be the very first skill you purchase, as you will rely on it frequently. If you’re skilled enough, you can defeat entire swarms of enemies without them ever knowing you were there. Strike From Above and Balanced Aim can be acquired later if you choose, but keep in mind that they will be useful abilities once you unlock them. Hunter Reflexes is especially valuable in combat, particularly on harder difficulties, as it gives you a few seconds to properly aim your bow while jumping.

Best Brave Skills to Get First

• Concentration: Slow down time for a few seconds while aiming, allowing you to take accurate shots.
• Critical Hit: Deal heavy damage to downed enemies.

Both of these skills in the Brave subset are essential. Concentration should be one of the first three skills you acquire, as you will rely on it throughout the game. Critical Hit should be prioritized soon after.

Best Forager Skills to Get First

• Lure Call: Lure a single target to your location. This skill is useful for stealth tactics.
• Healer: Heal faster from the medicine pouch.
• Gatherer: Gain additional natural resources when foraging.
• Herbalist: Doubles the capacity of your medicine pouch.
• Scavenger: Increases your chances of receiving extra resources when looting downed enemies.

Gatherer and Lure Call should be your top priorities when acquiring your first few skills. Players who frequently take damage should also prioritize Healer and Herbalist. Scavenger can be postponed for a bit, but it should be acquired when you have a few skill points to spare.

Best Traveler Skills to Get First

• Mounted Pickup: You can pick up loot without having to dismount.
• Mount Repair: Enables you to repair your mount using Metal Shards.
• Expert Carver: Increases the chances of obtaining Skins, Bones, Lenses, and Hearts.

Mounted Pickup is an absolute must, as it eliminates the need to dismount every time you see Ridgewood or other resources, making looting and foraging much more convenient. Expert Carver is another essential skill to get early on, as you will need several Skins, Bones, Lenses, and Hearts in the early portions of the game. Mount Repair can be postponed, as you can always override to get a new mount. Only acquire this skill when you have some skill points to spare.

Don’t forget to
complete the tutorial missions for each new weapon
you acquire, as they offer free XP just waiting for you to claim. These missions provide a significant amount of XP for relatively simple quests, allowing you to level up more quickly and earn additional skill points.