The Tomb Raider reboot provided a glimpse into the events that forged Lara Croft into the adventurer we know and admire today. In Rise of the Tomb Raider, players continue that journey as Lara becomes an even more hardened survivalist. Along the way, she acquires new skills and abilities at a steady pace. There are dozens of different skills to choose from, and they can be overwhelming – especially when you’re first starting out. While you can’t completely screw yourself by grabbing skills that sound cool, that’s definitely not the most efficient way to go. We’ve compiled a guide that shows what’s available and provides some guidance on what you should prioritize as you search for the mysterious Source.
Lara’s skills are divided into three disciplines: Brawler, Hunter, and Survivalist. Each one offers bonuses and abilities that are generally tailored toward a specific aspect of the character: durability and melee combat, ranged combat, and crafting, respectively. That’s the idea, however: There’s a large amount of overlap in those three schools, so going all-in on one might not make sense even if a tree seems specifically designed for your playstyle.
Before I dive into a breakdown of the essential skills (followed by an annotated rundown of the complete list), here’s what you need to know about Rise of the Tomb Raider and specifically about Lara. Lara starts out with a bow, and you’ll notice that I’m biased toward sticking with that weapon whenever possible. She acquires several other weapon types during the game, including handguns, rifles, and shotguns, and they all have their strengths. Ultimately, the bow’s combination of lethality, silence, and ability to craft ammo for it on the fly make it a great go-to whenever you need to engage the enemy. My recommendations balance skills that make Lara as deadly as possible with those that make discovering collectibles and gaining bonus XP. There’s obviously room for personal preference here, but this is a solid track to follow when you’re first starting out.
Get these skills, in order:
- Avid Learner
- Breath Control
- Lightfoot
- Arrow Retrieval
- Master of the Land
- Eye for Detail
- Resourceful
- Incendiary Bombs
- Finesse
- Dead Eye
- Crafting Master
- Naturalist
- Survivalist
- Body Trap Specialist
- Nerves of Steel
- Dodge Counter
- Dodge Kill
- Deadly Force
- Double Shot
- Dodge Skill Mastery
- Triple Shot
- True Shot
- Bow Expert
If you make a point of tracking down collectibles and efficiently taking down enemies, it’s possible to max out all three disciplines. Additionally, there are special bonus skills that you can earn by completing optional challenge tombs. These are the reward for finishing them – you don’t have to spend skill points on them – so try to complete them whenever possible.
Continue on to the following pages for a complete rundown of all of Lara’s skills, including their prerequisites, if any, and whether they’re worth your time.