As i have mentioned earlier, this is one of the "Confuse Me". So for you to be able to get familiarize with this guide and the ingame skill tree mechanics, please take note that each Skill TREE haveBRANCHES, and each branches have Leaves. Also please be aware of the font size and the color scheme.
Also be aware that everytime you perform a certain action or gather/craft a certain item you will get 1 SKILL EXP POINTS. You need to obtain a certain amount of Skill exp points to reach the next exp level.
For example:
My current Melee Skill Tree level is 14 and i need to complete/aquire 33 Melee Skill EXP Points to reach Melee Skill Tree Level 15.
You will know when you acquire a certain SKILL EXP POINT since it will show a floating icon on top of your character.
For example: By engaging in combat and performing a melee skill i gained 1 MELEE SKILL EXP POINT.
Now that we have the basics, let’s move on to the more complicated part ^__^ Good luck...
WARNING: WALL OF TEXT AHEAD... Here we go!
MELEE SKILL TREE
this skill tree focus on your melee (close range) combat capabilities. The melee skill tree have 14 branches each with their own respective specialty.
Weapon Specialization Branch enables you to specialize in 3 types of melee weapons.
- Sword Mastery which increases your CRITICAL HIT CHANCE % (Crit Rate) and your DEFENSE PENETRATION %. Please take note that these benefits will only take effect while your character is equipped with a SWORD TYPE weapon/tool.
- Axe Mastery which increases your CRITICAL HIT DAMAGE% and AREA INJURY APRAISAL% (AoE Damage?). Please take note that these benefits will only take effect while your character is equipped with a AXE TYPE weapon/tool.
- Blunt Weapon Mastery which increases your ACCURACY % and FAINT APPRAISAL% (Stun Chance?). Please take note that these benefits will only take effect while your character is equipped with a BLUNT TYPE weapon/tool.
Bare-handed Action Branch enables you to specialize in bare hand combat skills, without the use of any weapon. From this branch you may lean Body Tackle, Punch, Kick and Consecutive bare hand strikes.
Two-handed Action Branch enables you to specialize in two handed weapon skills. Enables you to specialize in two handed melee weapon combat. From this branch you may lean Bash, Pole weapon rush and Brandish skills. You can also further increase each skill effects.
Melee Tactics Branch enables you to master Assault and Vigilance Tactics. Assault will increase the damage you deal during combat while Vigilance will increase your Evasion rate.
Enhanced Melee Tactics Branch you don't really have to bother about this branch since the skills are in AUTO, which means that your character will automatically acquire this skills once it reach the required level. Increases both damage and critical hit damage of attacks made by melee weapons.
Advanced Melee Tactics Branch enables you to learn Defense Tactics and Pinpoint Tactics. Defense Tactics will teach you how to counter attack enemies while avoiding damage (Dodge+Attack) while Pinpoint Tactics will teach you how to focus on enemy weak points to cause critical hits (increase Crit Rate).
Melee Skill Tree Leveling: the only way i know that increase the level of melee skill tree is by engaging in melee combat and performing melee combat skills. The character tends to get more points when you do melee skill that correspond to your equipped weapon.
Tips:
- Focus only on 1 type of weapon mastery as each mastery skill requires skill points and you can only equip 1 weapon at a time, so spending points on multiple weapon masteries is not practical.
- if you plan to eliminate your targets from afar, then you are in the wrong skill tree! Please check Archery Skill Tree for more information.
- Although weapons are built for combat while tools are made for building/crafting. You can use both in combat and crafting items.
- Please be aware that both weapons and tools have their durability. Using a Weapon to craft/gather while using Tools in combat is a very bad habit and inefficient.
- While leveling your melee skill tree, try to level up your Defense Skill tree too.
- Always match your weapon with your weapon mastery and selected combat skills. For example, if you chose to master Sword weapons and chose to learn one handed skills then please equip a One Handed Sword Weapon. Using a different weapon type will degrade your combat capabilities.
- Plan in advance and equip the appropriate item. If you plan to dive into combat then please equip a weapon. If you plan to gather and craft then please equip a tool. But if you encounter a T-Rex... no weapon or tool can save your life... i hope you have high level of RUN MASTERY! lolz
DEFENSE SKILL TREE
This skill tree focus on your defensive capabilities. The defense skill tree have 3 branches each with their own respective specialty.
Recovery Branch enables you to learn Life Recovery which regenerate your HP over time and Stamina Recovery which regenerates your Stamina.
Physical Training Branch is where you increase your character Defense, Evasion and Health Points. Learning all skills in this branch is a must for all players!
Basic Defense Skill Branch you may learn Roll skill which will enable your character to avoid attacks, and/or learn Parry skill which will enable your character to block incoming attacks. Both are important to melee combat players.
Defense Skill Tree Leveling: the only way i know that increase the level of defense skill tree is by engaging in melee combat and performing defensive skills like Roll or Parry. The character tends to get points when you successfully avoided or blocked an attack.
Tips:
- If you plan to be a Soldier/Warrior or engage in any form of combat then learning ALL SKILLS in the Defense Skill Tree is a must!
- Since both HP and Stamina are your fundamental stats, learning both Life and Stamina recovery is immeasurable especially when you venture on unstable islands.
Archery Skill Tree (UPDATED)
This skill tree focus on your Archery skills, Long range weapon mastery and Long range combat capabilities. The archery skill tree have 6 branches each with their own respective specialty.
Enhanced Range Attack Branch all skills in this branch are automatically learned by your character as long as the required level is met. This branch will increase both your long range normal attacks and critical hit damage.
Long Range Tactics Branch enables you to learn Wild Shot Tactics and Positioning Tactics. Wild Shot Tactics will teach you how to volleys of shots to your enemy. Positioning Tactics will teach you how to keep the gap between you and your target keeping you in safe distance.
Range Weapon Specialization Branch enables you to specialize in 3 types of ranged weapons.
- Sling Mastery which increases your sling damage % attacks. Please take note that these benefits will only take effect while your character is equipped with a SLING TYPE weapon.
- Bow Mastery which increases your bow attack accuracy % and/or defense penetration % . Please take note that these benefits will only take effect while your character is equipped with a BOW TYPE weapon/tool.
- Crossbow Mastery which increases your crossbow aiming speed % and/or feint appraisal % . Please take note that these benefits will only take effect while your character is equipped with a CROSSBOW TYPE weapon/tool.
Sling Action Branch enables you to specialize in Sling weapon skill. Pitching is the art of hurling a sling to attack your target. You can further increase the Pitching damage % and/or action speed.
Advanced Long Range Tactics Branch is where you can learn Point Blank Tactics which will enable your character to bait your target while attacking, exposing them weak to counter attack. You can also learn Sniper Tactics which can increase your critical hit chance, accuracy and damage.
Archery Skill Tree Leveling: you can level up this skill tree by engaging in combat and performing range attacks/skills, including range tactic skills.
Tips:
- Archery Skill Tree is your mother tree when it comes to long range combat. You can bother less about defense when your target is dead before it even gets near you.
- Distance is the very 1st aspect of long range mastery. The farther away you are form your target, the more attacks you can deliver before your target even gets near you.
- Archery focuses more on dealing damage. If you join a hunting party/raid and plan to take down a heavy target, for example a T-Rex, then you are better well positioned at the back sending barrage of attacks to the target while the melee/defense experts tank the target.
- There's no shame in running... especially when you know how to "kite" your target.
- Kiting is the tactic of keeping a distance from your target while dealing damage whenever possible.
- The best starting class/skill tree to choose if you are planning to main Archery is Engineer/Weapon Crafting Skill Tree. This will provide you the capability to craft your Bow as soon as level 6 (when you can craft level 6 workbench)
One of the basic/core skills a player must have especially if you want to craft/build stuff. Gathering skills are your best means to acquire materials in crafting/building. Gather Skill Tree have 5 branches.
Train Gathering Branch is where you can increase your success rate in gathering materials via Axing, Pickaxing, Shoveling and Stalk Cutting.
Gather Minerals Branch is where you can learn how to gather Animal Droppings, Mud, Different types of Rocks and Ores. The gathered materials are used in weapon/tool crafting and building stuff.
Gather Unusual Plants Branch is where you can become a herbalist. Specializing in gathering specific medicinal plants, these materials are used in crafting medicine that heals HP/Stamina and used in dye materials.
Gather Trees Branch is where you can become a lumber jack. Specializing in gathering logs from varies types of trees. You may also gather different parts of a tree and this materials are used in crafting weapon/tools, furniture’s and other building stuff.
Gather Plants Branch is where you can learn a few skills in gathering rare fruits and/or fibers.
Gather Skill Tree Leveling: you can easily level up this skill tree since gathering materials is the most thing you will do ingame.
Tips:
- The higher the quality/level/tier of the material the more complicated tools you need, the more resources you need to make those tools, the more exp and skill tree exp you get.
- Start from the bottom and craft complicated tools whenever you can.
- The level/tier/quality of the materials affects the quality/level/tier of the crafted/product item.
- Higher tier materials are found on unstable islands.
Slaughter Skill Tree
With 5 branches, this skill tree specialize in gathering materials from dead animals. From skin, meat, bones, horn and skull, Nothing is wasted!
Skin Animal Branch is where you learn how to extract skin, pelts, feathers and bone plates that are used in crafting weapons, cloths and buildings.
Train Slaughtering Branch will increase your success rate in gathering materials via Deboning, Skinning and Cutting.
Deboning Branch specialize in extracting bone materials from animals. Tooth, horns, skull and bones are used in crafting weapons/tools, furniture and buildings.
Meat Gathering Branch specialize in extracting the soft juicy part of animals. Cutting meat to perfection will surely provide great quality food that will increase anyone's stamina to satisfaction!
Gather Seafood Branch currently have 2 seafood gathering skills and both are automatically learn from level 1.
Slaughter Skill Tree Leveling: one of the easiest skill tree to level up especially if you are performing combat encounters. Basically gathering any animal product, except animal dung, will increase your Slaughter Skill tree level.
Tips:
- Although slaughtering animals is the most common activity you will probably do, all the skills you need from this skill tree are already learned automatically at level 1 and 3. So please don’t waste your precious skill points.
Weapon Crafting Skill Tree
Weapon Crafting is also the Tools Crafting Skill Tree, and it is wide! I'd rather put the Engineer class to the Building Skill Tree and put Blacksmith Class on Weapon Crafting skill tree.
Tool Branch is where you learn the art of crafting the tools needed to farm and gather materials. From crafting harpoon used in fishing to pickaxe, shovel and saw. You will also be able to craft tools used in cooking.
Blunt Weapon Branch is where you can learn how to craft Club and One/Two handed Hammer type weapons.
Tool Materials Branch specialize in crafting materials that tie, connect and stick parts together.
Craft Axe Branch is where you can learn how to craft One/Two handed Axe type weapons.
Bow Branch is where you can learn how to craft Sling, Bow and Crossbow weapons.
Train Crafting Branch will enable you to increase the success rate when processing bones, weapon crafting and metal processing.
Knife Branch specialize in crafting One/Two handed swords/knives. My favorite weapons!
Spear Branch will teach you how to craft Spear/Pole type weapons.
Metal Processing Branch is where you learn how to refine ores, create alloys and polished metals that are used by the same branch in crafting metal nails, needles, rod, screws, blades etc that have higher quality plus last longer compared to bones and wood.
Farming Skill Tree Leveling: to level up faster, you can either spend your time planting stuff or do the "dirty" way of collecting animal droppings or mud. Mud can easily be found on unstable islands... near raptors den. So Good luck!
Tips:
- ALL CRAFTING SKILLS will level up even if you just craft their basic/lowest craft. As i have mention above, you can easily gather pebbles and craft stone blade, both without using/needed any tools.
- The higher your current Skill Tree level, the more Skill EXP points it requires, the lower the quality of craft you create, the lower the EXP points, thus you might need to craft a couple of stone blades before you acquire 1 Weapon Skill Tree EXP.
- If you don’t plan to farm, then don’t waste skill point in learning how to craft farming tools.
- You can buy weapon crafting materials from the island market, thus you don’t really need to gather/craft the tools you need to craft weapons.
- if you want to be a self-sustaining solo player then i suggest you focus on 1 weapon mastery and same weapon crafting skills.
- High tier especially Lv10+ tools/workbenches sells for a good price in the auction.
Building Skill Tree (UPDATED)
Do you want to build a tent? How about a house? Why not master the Building Skill Tree and build a village! Honestly i think the Engineer class is more applicable to this skill tree. The 6 branches of Building skill tree are...
Material Processing Branch specialize in creating planks, nails and pillars out of wood, stones and metal.
Village Construction Branch this will teach you how to craft a fence, wall, gate, road sign, sign post, road and even a well. If you plan to construct a village then this branch is definitely what you need!
Construction Practice Branch is where you can increase the success rate of crafting furniture, wood processing, stone processing and any construction related crafting.
Normal Furniture Branch will teach you how to craft fish trap, bin feed for animals, basket for keeping/storing items, to traps.
Working Furniture Branch is where you learn how to craft workbenches. These furniture’s are needed to craft higher tier materials/items, weapons, cloths and buildings.
Construct Branch will enable you to craft Private estate that enables you to own a piece of land, trading post that enables you to buy/sell items to everyone on the island, Pen's in keeping animals and more importantly, tents, house and door/windows.
Building Skill Tree Leveling: is one of the simplest skill tree to level up. Just grab a pebble, craft a stone blade, gather reeds near a river and craft fish traps or baskets. Baskets provides higher Building Skill EXP. So you have to craft many baskets! You can easily reach level 15 Building Skill Tree by crafting baskets. Afterwards you may choose another building stuff to craft for faster exp gain but crafting baskets is still fast and easy since the you only need 1 type of material and its pretty abundant and very easy to gather/find.
Tips:
- Learning how to craft wooden nails will be useful especially if you plan on crafting tents/workbenches.
- You can train your melee and long range combat skill trees using a Training Scarecrow
- Crafting basket doesn’t only provide a storage for your items but these boxes also sells at a good price.
- You need workbench in crafting higher tiers weapons, clothing’s etc.
- if you plan on building a house, then i suggest you start piling up wooden planks.
- Higher level/tier tents will provide faster HP regeneration and fatigue removal.
Craft Clothing Skill Tree (UPDATED)
the armor-smith, simply the only skill tree where you can learn how to craft materials needed to craft cloths and armors that have their own specialty.
Clothing Material Branch will teach you how to craft and extract the basic materials needed in crafting cloths.
Train Clothes Crafting increases your success rate in Leatherworking, Sewing and crafting Defensive Gears.
Beginner's Outfit will automatically teach you how to craft basic clothing and how to repair/revamp modern cloths.
Outfit Revamp Branch will give you the capability to craft pockets which increase the number of items you can carry, improve ventilation that will provide better heat management and attaching cloth for better cold management.
Settler's Outfit Branch specialize in crafting cloths suitable for farmers, weapon crafters, fellow cloth crafters and building crafters.
Exploration Outfit Branch crafts cloths that are suitable to gatherers and trap setters.
Craft Accessories Branch teaches you how to craft shoes, arm warmers, boots, gloves and bags that will enable you to carry more items.
Hunting Outfit Branch specialize in crafting cloths suitable for hunters who are exposed to all kinds of elements and seasons.
Metal Processing Branch is a branch that should not belong to this skill tree. Same branch exist on Weapon Crafting Skill Tree. Probably a bug/glitch?
Craft Clothing Skill Tree Leveling: Just grab a pebble, craft a stone blade and gather reeds near a river or leaves from a tree/plant and craft Leaf Outfit. Craft as many as you need until you reach level 3 Craft Clothing, then start crafting straw outfit or straw shoes which both only requires reeds that can easily be found near rivers.
Tips:
- Mastering Craft Clothing Skill Tree can provide a good source of currency. You can sell bags, cloths, crafting materials etc.
- This skill tree is best paired with gathering and slaughter skill tree.
- You can get modern cloths from castaway boxes, you can also repair them using Modern Clothing Repair skill.
- Wearing bags and cloths with pockets will both increase your item carrying capacity.
- Learning all types of cloth crafting will require massive amount of skill points. Learn only those you think are useful or at least will sell.
Cooking Skill Tree
Food is the very basic need to survive, thus cooking makes the very basic skill you need to learn. With 7 branches, this skill tree will teach you how to turn raw ingredients to mouthwatering meals!
Basic Cooking Branch will teach you the basics of cooking from grilling, boiling, frying and deep frying.
Medicine Branch main focus is on crafting medicinal items that heals HP and Stamina, also crafts dyes and bleach.
Preservation Branch will teach you how to prolong the storage duration of raw materials with the expense of slightly lowering their quality.
Cooking Practice Branch enables you to increase your success rate in cooking.
Food Processing Branch specialize in crafting modern processed foods like dumplings, sashimi, sauce, fermenting foods and more.
Confectionery/Baking Branch teaches you how to make dough, butter, cheese, cream that are used in making bread, cake and my favorite... pizza!
Cooking Application specialize in hand crafted foods like salad, sushi, sandwich and hamburger.
Cooking Skill Tree Leveling: You can easily level up this skill tree not because it is easy to gather raw materials or cook food, but because you will spend most of your time eating food, thus you need to gather/slaughter and cook most of your gameplay time.
Tips:
- Before you learn the basics of cooking, please learn how to craft a furnace.
- You need a stone plate and Lv10 or higher Furnace to grill, boil and fry.
- The higher the skill level, the higher the quality/tier/level of the raw materials, the better quality/tier/level of food you can craft.
- Food will provide various buffs like stats+ buffs. You will also regenerate stamina and health base on the food you eat.
- Always bring some food and medicine when venturing into an unstable island.
Surviving Skill Tree
This skill tree only have 3 branches but holds a few of the most valuable skills to survive in the world of DURANGO.
Exploration Branch if you are the type of player who likes to venture out and see the prehistoric world then you should definitely learn all the skills from this branch. Exploration will increase your explorer view, Hiding Proficiency will lessen the chance of you getting attacked by animals (very very useful!) and Bulk Up will increase your max energy.
Animal Taming Branch is where raptors shines the most, provide you captured a raptor, before it kills you. This branch focus only on 1 thing, capturing animals for slavery! The higher your taming skill the higher your chance of capturing animals.
Survival Level Branch all skills in this branch are automatically learned by your character as long as it meets the required level. This enables you to survive regions in DURANGO.
Surviving Skill Tree Leveling: Just go outside and explore. The more warp pits, meteor crafters, ports etc you discover the more Surviving Skill Tree EXP you get.
Tips:
- Learn all skills under Exploration Skill Branch. That’s a requirement for survival!
- Hiding proficiency will save your life and time. I also find this skill useful in picking up drops from players who died on the raptors nest. haha
- Learning Tier 1 Animal capture skill is more than enough, unless you plan to capture a T-REX on your own... Good luck.
- Always make sure that the region you plan to go to does not exceed your Survival Level. You will acquire more fatigue if you go to a region/island with higher level compared to your Survival Level.
