Horizon Zero Dawn: Best Early Skills to Get First

Horizon Zero Dawn: Best Early Skills to Get First

As a seasoned traveler through the post-apocalyptic lands of the Horizon Zero Dawn universe, I can confidently say that mastering the skill tree is crucial for survival. The vast array of abilities at your disposal can be overwhelming, but fear not! With my years of experience under my belt (and a trusty Focus by my side), I’ve narrowed down the best skills to acquire early on.


In Horizon Zero Dawn, similar to many other open-world games, there’s an extensive skill system at play. As you accumulate skill points and allocate them within this system, you’ll unlock distinctive skills that enhance Aloy’s abilities in combat situations, making her more formidable.

Exploring the skill menu in Horizon Zero Dawn might seem overwhelming due to the multitude of abilities on offer. That’s where this handy guide steps in, pointing out the top skills to invest in during the initial stages of gameplay.

Best Skills To Get First in Horizon Zero Dawn

In the game Horizon Zero Dawn, the skill system is separated into four main areas: Prowler, Brave, Forager, and Traveler. Each section offers abilities that offer unique advantages. It’s suggested to focus on Forager skills initially because they provide extra resources, which are vital during the early stages of the game. However, every category contains valuable skills to be acquired early on. Here’s a list of the recommended skills to buy first in each category.

Best Prowler Skills to Get First

Horizon Zero Dawn: Best Early 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.

As a fan, I’d strongly recommend that you prioritize learning the Silent Strike skill at the outset. This ability will become an essential tool for you as you’ll often find yourself relying on it throughout gameplay. With enough skill, you can take down hordes of enemies without them even sensing your presence. If you fancy, you could acquire Strike From Above and Balanced Aim at a later stage, but remember that they’re potent abilities once unlocked. Lastly, don’t overlook the value of Hunter Reflexes in combat, especially on tougher settings, as it provides precious seconds to accurately aim your bow while leaping.

Best Brave Skills to Get First

Horizon Zero Dawn: Best Early 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.

It’s crucial that you master the concentration skill early on in the game, as it’s heavily used throughout. Following closely, focus on developing your Critical Hit skill as well.

Best Forager Skills to Get First

Horizon Zero Dawn: Best Early 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

Horizon Zero Dawn: Best Early 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.

Having a Mounted Pickup is highly recommended, because it spares you from getting off your ride each time you encounter Ridgewood or other resources. This makes resource gathering and looting far more hassle-free in the early game. Also, don’t forget to learn Expert Carver as soon as possible since you’ll need a good amount of Skins, Bones, Lenses, and Hearts during the initial stages of the game. Mount Repair can be put off until later, as you can always override your mount to get a new one. Only consider learning this skill when you have some spare skill points.

Make sure to finish the tutorial missions associated with every new weapon you get, since they come with bonus XP that’s ready for you to collect. These missions offer a substantial amount of XP for tasks that are not overly complex, helping you to advance in levels more swiftly and acquire extra skill points.

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2024-11-04 10:03