Horizon: Forbidden West significantly improved the combat and overall gameplay mechanisms from Zero Dawn. Now, you’ll notice more player agency in how you wish Aloy to be. At the same time, this vast amount of playstyle options seems almost too open to the point that some players don’t know where to start. That’s why we’re here to help you figure out which skills are the best ones to get first in Horizon: Forbidden West.

Best Skills to Get First in Horizon: Forbidden West

There’s no denying the skill tree in Horizon: Forbidden West is incredible. It’s broken into 6 sections:

  • Warrior
  • Trapper
  • Hunter
  • Survivor
  • Infiltrator
  • Machine Master

Keep in mind that the difficulty only increases as you go through the missions and side activities. So, the beginning is all about getting your feet wet as you work out a playstyle more in your favor.

So, let’s break these down individually as we find the best start skills in Horizon: Forbidden West.

Warrior

Since you won’t encounter many human enemies at the start, many Warrior skills aren’t needed. Still, in the beginning, a healthy number gives Aloy an excellent advantage whenever she must engage in close combat.

  • Resonator Blast: The first unlock in the Warrior branch, Aloy charges up her spear to shoot out any type of arrow that deals a great deal of damage.
  • Melee Damage: With this simple passive boost, Aloy deals more damage with both light and heavy attacks.
  • Nora Warrior: As far as combos go, this 4-hit string will stagger enemies.
  • Critical Strike+: As you progress through the beginning, it doesn’t hurt to have this passive skill as it grants 25% additional damage to critical strikes.

Trapper

Whether you like traps or not, some of the skills are useful to unlock first in Horizon: Forbidden West.

  • Skilled Salvager: This ensures you recover more materials that are higher in quality when you disarm tripwires and other traps.
  • Quick Wire: With this skill, you’ll instantly launch a Tripwire rather than manually place it.

Hunter

When it comes to offense in Horizon: Forbidden West, Hunter holds some key skills to invest in.

  • Concentration+: For anyone that loves the bow, this skill is a must-have. This passive boost increases your Concentration limit.
  • Deep Concentration: Another passive boost, this prolongs your Concentration as it will deplete slower now.
  • Triple Notch: Thanks to this handy weapon technique, you can fire three arrows for some quick impact damage.
  • Valor Surge Master: With this passive boost, you’ll gain valor faster, so you have more chances to perform those Valor Surges.

Survivor – Best Skills to Get First in Horizon: Forbidden West

Here’s where you get to Aloy’s defensive skills. In Horizon: Forbidden West, the Survivor skill tree is all about building durability. Because of that, it’s important to invest a handful of skill points.

  • Potent Medicine: A passive boost; this helps those of you who scarf down those Medicinal Berries. It improves their speed and efficiency.
  • Potion Proficiency: Like the above, efficiency and speed are improved.
  • Medicine Capacity: Stemming from the initial skill, it doesn’t hurt to increase how many of those berries you can carry.
  • Valor on Impact: In the beginning, mistakes are made, and you may get hit often. In this case, this skill will at least reward you for it, as you’ll gain valor each time.
  • Low Health Defense: If you’re below 25% health, you’ll resist more damage.
  • Plant Forager: Lets you gather up more resources from plants.

Infiltrator

The Infiltrator tree is where those stealth-lovers shine. In Horizon: Forbidden West, several skills stand out as the best ones to get first.

  • Stealth Tear+: Not only does this work to increase your tear damage, but it also works well with your Concentration Hunter skill when taking down machines.
  • Silent Strike+: Your silent strikes now deal more damage.
  • Silent Strike Heal: When you use your Silent Strike, you’ll heal.
  • Low Profile: If anything helps in the beginning, it’s a way to reduce your visibility to enemies.
  • Quiet Movement: Another worthy beginner skill, you’ll move around quieter to reduce detection.
  • Stealth Stalker: It’s worth investing in the skills needed to unlock this perk. If you really want to sneak around, this greatly reduces visibility to enemies.

Machine Master

Finally, we get to Machine Master. You’re going to handle machines throughout the game. So, you should invest in a few skills at the start of Horizon: Forbidden West.

  • Part Breaker: This Valor Surge helps you deal more damage to machine components. In turn, they’re easier to remove.
  • Lasting Override: A passive boost, this increases how long a machine is overridden.
  • Heavy Lifter: You’ll eventually snag yourself a heavy weapon off the likes of a Thunderjaw, for instance. With this perk, you’ll be grateful you can move faster.
  • Mounted Defense: While mounted, you won’t take as much damage.

Horizon Forbidden West: All Cauldron Locations

No matter how you start out in Horizon: Forbidden West, it’s seamless to adapt Aloy to suit however you want to play. This way, you can go in with stealth or opt to hit enemies loud whenever the chance arises.

Horizon: Forbidden West is available on PS5 and PS4.