Horizon Zero Dawn: All Skills and What They Do

As Aloy levels up in Horizon Zero Dawn, she will earn skill points. Like in most RPGs, these can be invested into a skill tree, improving her effectiveness and efficiency in combat, scavenging, and crafting.

Horizon Zero Dawn has a grand total of 36 different skills for players to choose from. These are split into three different categories – Prowler, Brave, and Forager. We’ve listed all of the skills available in the game below and detailed what they do.

Prowler Skills

All Skills and What They Do – Horizon Zero Dawn

• Silent Strike (Cost 1) – Press R1 to perform a silent takedown on small machines and humans, or deal high damage to medium enemies.

• Hunter Reflexes (Cost 1) – Time slows while aiming during a jump or a slide.

• Silent Drop (Cost 1) – Landing from a fall or jump is completely silent, and will not alert otherwise unaware enemies.

• Strike From Above (Cost 2, requires Silent Strike) – Press R1 to silently drop and take down small machines and humans, or deal high damage to medium enemies.

• Balanced Aim (Cost 2, requires Hunter Reflexes) – Use ranged weapons while balancing on ropes.

• Low Profile (Cost 2, requires Silent Drop) – Reduces your visibility to nearby machines when crouching.

• Strike from Below (Cost 3, requires Strike from Above) – Press R1 when hanging below human enemies to perform a silent takedown.

• Strong Strike (Cost 3, requires Strike from Above) – 15% damage increase to Silent Strikes, Strikes from Above, Strikes from Below, and Leader Strikes.

• Dodge Prowess (Cost 3, requires Low Profile) – Hold Circle for a long dodge roll, or tap Circle for a short dodge roll.

• Leader Strike (Cost 3, requires Strike from Below) – Press R1 to perform a silent takedown on heavy and elite human enemies.

• Strong Strike + (Cost 3, requires Strong Strike) – 30% damage increase to Silent Strikes, Strikes from Above, Strikes from Below, and Leader Strikes.

• Quiet Sprint (Cost 3, requires Dodge Prowess) – Sprinting is quiet, greatly reducing the chances of alerting nearby enemies.

Brave Skills

All Skills and What They Do – Horizon Zero Dawn

• Concentration (Cost 1) – While aiming, toggle with R3 to slow down time and zoom in.

• Critical Hit (Cost 1) – Press R1 for a high damage attack on downed enemies.

• Precision (Cost 1) – Light spear attacks have an increase chance to knock off armor and components.

• Heavy Lifter (Cost 2, requires Concentration) – Move faster while wielding a heavy weapon.

• Critical Hit + (Cost 2, requires Critical Hit) – Critical hits deal more damage.

• Precision + (Cost 2, requires Precision) – Light spear attacks have a greatly increased chance to knock off armor and components.

• Concentration + (Cost 3, requires Heavy Lifter) – Increases the maximum duration of Concentration.

• Double Shot (Cost 3, requires Heavy Lifter) – Use R1 while aiming to notch an additional arrow on all bow weapons.

• Knock Down (Cost 3, requires Precision +) – Heavy spear attacks will knock down machines faster.

• Fast Reload (Cost 3, requires Concentration +) – Faster reload while using Concentration.

• Triple Shot (Cost 3, requires Double Shot) – Use R1 while aiming to notch up to three arrows at once on all bow weapons.

• Fighting Back (Cost 3, requires Knock Down) – Heavy spear attacks deal increased damage when Aloy’s health is low.

Forager Skills

All Skills and What They Do – Horizon Zero Dawn

• Lure Call (Cost 1) – Use the ‘!’ from the tools menu to lure a single enemy to your position. The target will be the closest, most centered in Aloy’s vision.

• Healer (Cost 1) – Speeds up healing from the medicine pouch.

• Gatherer (Cost 1) – Additional natural resources when foraging.

• Combat Override (Cost 2, requires Lure Call) – Increases the time a machine will remain overridden by 50%

• Herbalist (Cost 2, requires Healer) – Doubles the capacity of the medicine pouch.

• Scavenger (Cost 2, requires Gatherer) – Chance for extra resources when looting downed machines.

• Combat Override + (Cost 3, requires Combat Override) – Increases the time a machine will remain overridden indefinitely.

• Disarm Trap (Cost 3, requires Scavenger) – Traps and tripwires can be disarmed and reused by pressing Triangle next to them.

• Ammo Crafter (Cost 3, requires Scavenger) – Craft additional ammo from the same amount of resources.

• Call Mount + (Cost 3, requires Combat Override +) – Calls a new overridden mount if no mount is available.

• Tinker (Cost 3, requires Disarm Trap) – Weapon Coils and Outfit Weaves can now be removed and reused.

• Scavenger + (Cost 3, requires Ammo Crafter) – Increased chance for extra resources when looting downed machines.

And there you have it, all skills and what they do in Horizon Zero Dawn. Be sure to check out our ever-expanding Horizon Zero Dawn wiki guide for more tips, tricks, and information on the game.