Skill Tree Optimization

The Three Skill Trees

War (Combat) Tree

Focus: Fighting abilities and weapon mastery.

Stance Mastery:

• Quick Stance: +40% Attack Speed, -20% Damage. Best for fast enemies and groups.
• Power Stance: -30% Attack Speed, +50% Damage. Best for armored enemies and bosses.
• Balanced Stance: No modifiers. Best for learning enemy patterns.

Key Skills:

1. Parry: Essential for survival. Opens enemies to counter-attacks.
2. Heavy Strikes: Unlocks charged attacks for massive damage.
3. Weapon Mastery: Increases damage and combo length for specific weapon types.
4. Counterattack: Deal 150% damage immediately after a successful parry.

Survival Tree

Focus: Thriving in the wild and alchemy.

Key Skills:

1. Wilderness Camping: Allows setting up camps outside of designated zones.
2. Skinning & Tannery: Harvest hides and process them into leather/cloth (Crucial for armor crafting).
3. Alchemy: Brew healing potions and stat-buffing concoctions.
4. Combat Utilities: Unlock thrown daggers and weapon poisons.
5. Environmental Combat: Use world objects to stagger enemies.

Crafting Tree

Focus: Economy, gear creation, and maintenance.

Key Skills:

1. Mining: Gather ores from veins.
2. Scrap Smelting: Turn useless scrap into valuable ingots at a furnace.
3. Anvil Mastery: Craft melee weapons (Swords, Axes).
4. Workbench Mastery: Craft bows, arrows, and consumables.
5. Armor Reinforcement: Permanently improve armor resistance values.
6. Master Smith: Required for legendary items like the 'Pride of Tantares'.

Recommended Builds

The 'Iron Juggernaut' (Strength/Crafting)

• Attributes: Focus Strength & Fortitude.
• Weapon: 2H Axe (Power Stance).
• Key Skills: Power Stance, Heavy Strikes, Armor Reinforcement, Mining.
• Playstyle: Tank hits, deliver crushing blows, craft your own heavy armor.

The 'Silent Hunter' (Dexterity/Survival)

• Attributes: Focus Dexterity.
• Weapon: Bow & Rapier (Quick Stance).
• Key Skills: Quick Stance, Skinning, Alchemy, Poisons.
• Playstyle: Use poisons to wear down foes, finish with fast rapier thrusts. Light armor for stamina regen.

The 'Wandering Merchant' (Crafting/Survival)

• Attributes: Balanced.
• Key Skills: Mining, Skinning, Tannery, Master Smith.
• Playstyle: Avoid unnecessary combat. Gather everything. Craft high-quality gear to sell. Hire mercenaries (if available) or use traps.

Skill Point Tips

• Don't spread too thin: Master one tree before dipping into a third.
• Get 'Parry' immediately: It changes the combat flow entirely.
• Crafting is money: If you're poor, invest in Mining and Skinning early.

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Choose your path wisely, Tristan!