Horizon Zero Dawn is an action role-playing video game developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. The game was released worldwide on the 28th of February 2017.
Horizon Zero Dawn has been one of the most highly anticipated games of 2017, exclusive to the PS4 and PS4 Pro. The game takes place on Earth years after an unexplained apocalyptic event wiped out life as we know it, the story of Horizon Zero Dawn follows our young protagonist Aloy’s journey to survive in a world filled with robot dinosaurs, known simply as Machines. The fiery red-headed heroine, is quite skilled with some extraordinary talents but to make the most of your experience choosing the right Horizon Zero Dawn Skills at an early stage of the game and in the late phases of the game is essential.
Don’t worry though we’re here to guide you on where you should be investing your skill points.
The following Horizon Zero Dawn Guide for Skills And Upgrades will discuss which abilities you should focus on first and which should be held off for later.
Different skills offer various benefits such as boosting stealth, combat abilities, weapons handling and more. So without further ado lets take a look at Horizon Zero Dawn’s Guide For Skills And Upgrades.
Horizon Zero Dawn Guide
Early Skills for Aloy
Critical Hit
An a great ability to invest in early on. You will come across a number of smaller enemies in the beginning and Critical Hit will allow you to land a finishing blow on a downed enemy.
Hunter’s Reflexes
This skill basically slows down time while sliding or jumping so that you can aim in a better way. For a single point, this skill is definitely worth investing in during the early game. With this skill, you should be able to deal with the Watchers and human enemies much more effectively.
Lure Call
You must try and obtain this skill as early as possible. Costing only a single point, Lure Call can be used through the entirety of the game. With this skill, you’ll make your life much easier, especially if you prefer a stealthy approach. Machines like the Watchers that alert the nearby machines as soon as you’re spotted can be eliminated with ease if you’ve Lure Call.
Gatherer
Gathering things like potions items and Ridgewood from the trees, it is best to invest in this ability as it would allow you to get more out of the trees and flowers you find.
Concentration
Aloy’s weapon of choice is the bow and arrow. Aiming is something you need to practice but if you invest in Concentration, you can slow down time. This allows you to target critical areas of your enemies.
Silent Strike
Silent Strike is something that will prove to be very useful early on. Stealth is a huge part of the game as you can not go out arrows blazing all the time.
Dodge Prowess
One of the powers who can invest in early on is Dodge Prowess. Dodge Prowess will allow players to perform both short and long dodge rolls.
Precision
Precision allows you a better chance of knocking out enemy armor with light spear attacks.
Knock Down
This is a very useful Horizon Zero Dawn early skill. It will allow you to knock down enemies with heavy spear attacks.
Healer
You will take damage often in Horizon Zero Dawn so having Healer as an active ability will help you heal quicker. Invest your skill points toward this Horizon Zero Dawn skill early on.
Late Skills for Aloy
Low Profile
Hiding is important late in the game as you may need to sneak by the enemies. This will help you boost your hiding skills later in the game. Invest in Low Profile in the later part of the game.
Scavenger
If you want to get more loot from enemies you kill this is the ability you need to unlock.
Fast Reload
Fast Reload in Horizon: Zero Dawn works great when combined with Concentration. With this skill, you can fire off several arrows before Concentration effects wear off. While it may not matter much on paper, Fast Reload can create the difference between life and death, especially when going against tougher foes or heavily armored foes.
Disarm Traps
It goes without saying that Traps aren’t cheap. However, once you’ve placed them in different places, you may realize that you don’t really need a whole lot of them, forcing you to waste them. With Disarm Traps, however, you can get all of your unused traps back.
Tinkerer
This ability is used to remove and reuse weapon modifications. There is no limit, all weapons come under this skill so remove as and reuse as you please.
Horizon Zero Dawn Skills and Upgrades
Horizon Zero Dawn Prowler Skills
This skill tree basically deals with combat and evasive maneuvers.
Silent Strike
Skill Cost: 0
Perform a silent takedown on small machines and humans, or deal high damage to medium enemies.
Hunter Reflexes
Skill Cost: 1
Time slows while aiming during a jump.
Silent Drop
Skill Cost: 1
Landing from a fall or jump is completely silent.
Strike from Above
Skill Cost: 2
Silently drop and take down small enemies, or deal high damage to medium enemies.
Balanced Aim
Skill Cost: 2
Use ranged weapons when balancing on ropes.
Low Profile
Skill Cost: 2
Reduce visibility when crouching.
Strike from Below
Skill Cost: 3
Perform silent takedown when hanging below humans.
Strong Strike
Skill Cost: 3
Increase strike attack damage by 15%.
Dodge Prowess
Skill Cost: 3
Adds long/short dodge roll ability.
Leader Strike
Skill Cost: 3
Perform silent takedown on heavy and elite human enemies.
Strong Strike Plus
Skill Cost: 3
Increase strike attack damage by 30%.
Quiet Sprint
Skill Cost: 3
Sprinting is silent.
Horizon Zero Dawn Brave Skills
These skills basically deal with increasing the raw damage output of your character.
Concentration
Skill Cost: 0
Slow down time while aiming.
Critical Hit
Skill Cost: 1
Perform a high damage attack on downed enemies.
Precision
Skill Cost: 1
Light spear attacks have higher chance to knock off parts.
Heavy Lifter
Skill Cost: 2
Move faster when wielding heavy weapons.
Critical Hit Plus
Skill Cost: 2
Critical hits do more damage.
Precision Plus
Skill Cost: 2
Same as above, with even higher chance.
Concentration Plus
Skill Cost: 3
Increases max amount of concentration.
Double Shot
Skill Cost: 3
Add another arrow to each shot.
Knock Down
Skill Cost: 3
Heavy spear attacks will knock down machines faster.
Fast Reload
Skill Cost: 3
Faster reload when using concentration.
Triple Shot
Skill Cost: 3
Add another arrow to each shot.
Fighting Back
Skill Cost: 3
Heavy spear attacks do more damage when your HP is low.
Horizon Zero Dawn Forager Skills
These skills basically deal with increasing the utility such as finding additional resources, increased HP regeneration, and more.
Lure Call
Skill Cost: 1
Bait enemies to your position.
Healer
Skill Cost: 1
Increased healing speed.
Gatherer
Skill Cost: 1
Gain more resources when foraging.
Combat Override
Skill Cost: 2
Increases override duration by 50%.
Herbalist
Skill Cost: 2
Doubles the capacity of the medicine pouch.
Scavenger
Skill Cost: 2
Get more resources when looting machines.
Combat Override Plus
Skill Cost: 3
Infinite override duration.
Disarm Traps
Skill Cost: 3
Traps and tripwires can be disarmed and reused.
Ammo Crafter
Skill Cost: 3
Get more ammo when crafting.
Call Mount Plus
Skill Cost: 3
Calls a new overridden mount when you don’t have one.
Tinker
Skill Cost: 3
Weapon coils and outfit weaves can be removed and reused.
Scavenger Plus
Skill Cost: 3
Get even more resources when looting machines.
