More expansive than many games of its kind, Horizon Forbidden West comes equipped with six distinct skill trees for the protagonist, Aloy, to obtain items from. Specific skill set categories include warrior, trapper, hunter, infiltrator, survivor, and machine master, each of which provides Aloy with strategic items to ensure her safety, bolster her attacks, and help her conquer each mission as easily as possible.
Aside from the trapper skill tree, every other subcategory in the game contains more than two dozen specific skills for Aloy to obtain and deploy at her own discretion. Players looking to conquer the game as efficiently as possible would be wise to select the 10 most advantageous skills.
Overshield (Survivor)
Protection is absolutely essential to surviving in this highly anticipated RPG. As such, the Overshield in the survivor skill tree is a great item to unlock early in the game when health levels are extremely low. For a temporary health cost, the Overshield is a valor surge that will replenish a player's overall life meter and grant 400 extra health points.
Moreover, it reduces melee damage by one-fifth, deals moderate damage to enemies by absorbing energy and redirecting it, and increases the effect of healing potions as well.
Stealth Stalker (Infiltrator)
Another crucial valor surge in this stellar modern fantasy RPG, Stealth Stalker is an Infiltrator skill that is absolutely ideal for Aloy to keep a low profile, remain hidden, and do damage from an unseen post. The cloaking device is especially helpful when caught in open areas by groups of machines, allowing Aloy to vanish in an instant and mount counters.
Outside of the combat arena, the Stealth Stalker is really helpful for setting traps without being noticed and specific tracking missions that require Aloy to keep a safe distance while following a foe.
Plant Forager (Survivor)
Along with the Potent Medicine skill, Plant Forager is a no-brainer for Aloy to procure. The Survivor-type skill allows Aloy to collect and consume medical berries in the wild, which are far faster to digest than the crafted potions that take too many resources to make.
Unlike the potions, Plant Forager allows Aloy to heal automatically without compromising her ability to fight, duck, dodge, etc. in real-time. The skill not only saves precious moments on the battlefield but also increases the number of resources Aloy gets from collecting flora in the game.
Resonator Blast (Warrior)
For those looking to increase Aloy's destructive quiver in the popular action RPG, the Resonator Blast is an ideal skill to unlock in the game. The Warrior-type skill charges Aloy's spears with extra juice, allowing her to deal much higher damage on impact.
Once the skill is unlocked, Aloy should begin melee attacks on her foes, which allows her to energize her spear. Once the energy maxes out, Aloys uses bows and arrows to launch the Resonator Blast and absolutely annihilate enemies on impact. The skill is not only perfect for close-ranged battles but also unlocks powerful new melee combos.
Quick Wire & Quick Trapper (Trapper)
Thanks to the Quick Wire & Trapper skills, Aloy is able to lay tripwires and boobytraps much faster and more efficiently in the game. For those focusing on trapping their opponents rather than fighting them outright, the Quick Wire and Quick Trapper are absolutely essential.
While the rapid speed at which Aloy can lay the traps and wires is one advantage, the ability to choose a preset length and have the rope detonate after a limited time offers two more strategic coups for Aloy to enjoy. It's a great tool to use when Aloy's caught in a bind and needs to react in short order.
Braced Shot (Infiltrator)
One of the most practical and commonly-used Infiltrator-type skills in the game includes the Braced Shot. This badass skill will turn all of Aloy's trademark sharpshooting bows into mega-powerful rocket launchers that shoot explosive bombs. Using it does deplete Aloy's weapon stamina a good deal, but the damage it delivers is more than worth it.
The Braced Shot uses up the three arrows, attaching a bomb at the end of each that can be continuously charged to increase potency. Better yet, the skill reduces Aloy's visibility and sound in stealth mode, allowing Aloy to mount highly devastating sneak attacks.
Nora Warrior (Warrior)
Those looking to waylay smaller monster machines with a single direct hit, do wise and unlock the Nora Warrior skill. The powerful melee combo skill will reduce Burrowers and machines of its ilk to dust on impact by allowing Aloy to finish foes with a Critical Strike deathblow.
At the beginning of the game, Aloy's melee moves are divided into basic light and heavy attacks. Nora Warrior allows Aloy to mount a vicious combo-attack at close range and finish opponents with merciless destruction. To bolster the skill, pair it with the Critical Strike+ skill.
Triple Concentration (Hunter)
Players would be smart to cop all three Concentration Hunter-type skills - Concentration Regen, Concentration+, and Deep Concentration in this content-rich open-world game. A bit of a misnomer, the Concentration skill is essentially the Bullet Time of archery, allowing Aloy to go full Neo in her quest.
The advantage the skill gives is slowing time down to increase accuracy on ranged targets, a crucial aspect of Aloy's hunt. Concentration Regen minimizes charging time, Concentration+ increases overall reserves, and Deep Concentration increases the length of the Bullet Time effect. All three are absolutely ideal to beat the game as efficiently as possible.
Penetrating Rope (Trapper)
Bolster one of Aloy's best weapons, a stock Ropecaster, with the awesome Penetrating Rope skill that is ideal for trapping. This item allows Aloy to launch a rope that will attack any part of an enemy's body, including armor. The biggest advantage? Players don't have to water time drawing the weapon and pulling the rope back.
While it does deplete stamina, the Penetrating Rope keeps the ammo bank intact, which is helpful when under siege. Best used to combat flying machines later in the game, the Penetrating Rope is a real boon for players making a deep run.
Heavy Lifter (Machine Master)
Since much of Forbidden West entails fighting gigantic machines and salvaging scrap resources that comprise them, the Heavy Lifter skill is quite helpful. It not only increases Aloy's nimble mobility significantly, but the ability to wield heavy machinery with the skill will pay dividends as the game advances.
Moreover, the Heavy Lifter is key to picking up heavy weapons found in the wild, which are nearly impossible to handle and extremely cumbersome for Aloy to move around without. Of all the Machine Master skills, the Heavy Lifter is the most effective, especially for its low cost.
