ASSASSIN’S CREED VALHALLA: ULTIMATE SKILLS GUIDE

Introduction: The Viking Skill System

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla features an extensive constellation-based skill tree that allows players to customize Eivor’s abilities to match their preferred playstyle. The skill system is divided into three main branches, each focusing on different combat approaches. This guide will help you navigate this complex system and make informed decisions about which skills to prioritize based on your preferred style of play.

Skill Tree Overview

Main Branches

1. Way of the Bear (Red) – Melee Combat Focus

   • Emphasizes brute force and heavy weapons
   • Increases melee damage and health
   • Best for direct combat and tanking damage

2. Way of the Raven (Yellow) – Stealth Focus

   • Enhances assassination and stealth capabilities
   • Improves speed and evasion
   • Best for traditional Assassin’s Creed playstyle

3. Way of the Wolf (Blue) – Ranged Combat Focus

   • Specializes in bow combat and ranged attacks
   • Increases archery damage and adrenaline generation
   • Best for distance fighting and tactical approaches

How to Earn Skill Points

• Level Up: Earn 2 skill points each time your power level increases
• Story Quests: Main missions provide substantial XP
• World Events: Side activities offer XP and sometimes direct skill points
• Challenging Activities:
  • Legendary Animal hunts (2 skill points per kill)
  • Standing Stone puzzles (1 skill point each)
  • Fly Agaric mushroom quests (1 skill point each)
  • Offering Altars (1 skill point each)

Essential Skills for Any Build

Top Priority Skills

1. Advanced Assassination (Raven Tree)

   • Location: Second yellow constellation from center
   • Effect: Enables assassination of high-power enemies through a timing mini-game
   • Why it’s essential: Makes stealth viable throughout the entire game, even against bosses

2. Brush With Death (Raven Tree)

   • Location: Yellow path to the left of center, up from Backstab constellation
   • Effect: Slows time briefly after a perfect dodge
   • Why it’s essential: Creates combat openings and helps manage multiple enemies

3. Stomp (Bear Tree)

   • Location: Early in the red path
   • Effect: Allows you to finish downed enemies with a powerful stomp attack
   • Why it’s essential: Quick finisher that generates adrenaline and prevents enemies from recovering

4. Heavy Dual-Wield (Bear Tree)

   • Location: Red constellation, right side from center
   • Effect: Enables wielding two heavy weapons simultaneously
   • Why it’s essential: Dramatically increases damage output and combat versatility

5. Chain Assassination (Raven Tree)

   • Location: Yellow path beyond Advanced Assassination
   • Effect: After a stealth kill, allows throwing an axe to assassinate a second nearby enemy
   • Why it’s essential: Effectively doubles your stealth efficiency

Specialized Build Guides

Stealth Assassin Build (Way of the Raven)

Key Skills

1. Advanced Assassination: For one-hit kills on tougher enemies
2. Chain Assassination: Take down two enemies in quick succession
3. Backstab: Increased damage from behind
4. Assassin’s Cantrip: Creates smoke after a successful parry to escape
5. Breakfall: Reduce fall damage through automatic rolling
6. Emergency Aim: Automatically target enemies who spot you
7. Light-Fingered: Automatically loot enemies killed with melee

Complementary Skills

• Stealth Recon: Highlights enemies while in stealth mode
• Assassin Carry: Automatically carry bodies after assassination
• Perfectionist: Increased critical chance at full health

Warrior Build (Way of the Bear)

Key Skills

1. Stomp: Finish downed enemies and generate adrenaline
2. Heavy Dual-Wield: Use two heavy weapons simultaneously
3. Adrenaline Fiend: Increased damage when adrenaline slots are filled
4. Berserker’s Mettle: First strikes don’t completely drain adrenaline slots
5. Cold Rage: Weapon combos won’t be interrupted by enemy attacks
6. Grit: Automatically regain some health after taking damage
7. Battlefield Cremation: Defeated enemies explode, damaging nearby foes

Complementary Skills

• Terror: Enemies flee after witnessing brutal kills
• Unstoppable: Push through crowds faster in combat
• Heavy Critical Chance: Higher critical hit chance with heavy attacks

Archer Build (Way of the Wolf)

Key Skills

1. Bow Stun Finisher: After stunning enemies with arrows, execute them with a special move
2. Arrow Reinforcement: Arrows have a chance to not break on impact
3. Charged Shot: Hold aim to increase arrow damage
4. Focus of the Nornir: Slow time when aiming in mid-air
5. Powerful Shot: Hold heavy shot longer for increased damage
6. Last Chance Healing: Automatically use rations when near death
7. Cunning Shot: Generate adrenaline when hitting enemies from over 20m away

Complementary Skills

• Poisonous Attacks: Chance to poison enemies with each hit
• Missile Reversal: Catch and throw back enemy projectiles
• Hunter Bow Combo: Increases damage with consecutive hits

Hybrid Build Recommendations

Assassin-Warrior

Focus: Deadly in both stealth and open combat

Key Skills:

• Advanced Assassination
• Chain Assassination
• Heavy Dual-Wield
• Stomp
• Brush With Death
• Parry Damage
• Perfect Attack

Ranged Assassin

Focus: Silent kills from distance, deadly up close

Key Skills:

• Advanced Assassination
• Bow Stun Finisher
• Arrow Reinforcement
• Focus of the Nornir
• Charged Shot
• Chain Assassination
• Wolf Warrior (generates adrenaline when outnumbered)

Berserker

Focus: High-risk, high-reward aggressive combat

Key Skills:

• Berserker’s Mettle
• Adrenaline Fiend
• Heavy Dual-Wield
• Thrill of War
• Cold Rage
• Grit
• Terror

Skill Tips and Strategies

For Beginners

• Focus initially on one branch that matches your playstyle
• Don’t forget to invest in stat nodes between major skills
• The “Advanced Assassination” skill should be an early priority
• Consider “Brush with Death” for combat survivability
• Remember you can reset skills at any time at no cost

For Mid-Game

• Start branching out to complementary skills in other trees
• Look for synergies between abilities and your gear
• Consider skills that generate or preserve adrenaline
• Invest in passive healing abilities for tougher fights

For Late-Game

• You can eventually unlock all skills with enough play time
• Focus on Mastery skills after filling out the main trees
• Experiment with different combinations for challenging content
• Adapt your build for specific DLC content challenges

Specialized Skills by Category

Combat Enhancement

• Perfect Attack: Chain multiple light attacks for increased damage
• Dual Swap: Swap between dual-wielded weapons during combat
• Sprint Strike: Perform a running attack for increased damage
• Heidrun Slam: Knee bash while sprinting to knock down opponents

Survivability

• Last Chance Healing: Auto-consume rations when near death
• Idunn’s Heart: Regain some health after taking damage
• Parry Damage: Deal damage back to enemies when parrying
• Emergency Dodge: Automatically dodge some attacks when low on health

Utility

• Breakfall: Reduce fall damage through automatic rolling
• Auto-Loot: Automatically collect loot from defeated enemies
• Stealth Recon: Highlight enemies while in stealth mode
• Missile Reversal: Catch and throw back enemy projectiles

DLC Skills Worth Getting

Wrath of the Druids Skills

• Irish Greeting: Perform area-of-effect attacks with certain weapons
• Sláinte: Increased healing from consumables
• Celtic Courage: Temporary damage boost when surrounded

Siege of Paris Skills

• Frankish Valor: Reduced damage when at low health
• Heavy Handedness: Increased stun damage with heavy weapons
• Rebel Trap: Set explosive traps for enemies

Final Tips

• Don’t forget you can reset skills at any time without penalty
• Experiment with different builds for different content
• Skills that enhance your favorite weapons should be prioritized
• Consider your gear synergies when selecting skills
• The best skills complement your preferred playstyle

With this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s extensive skill system and create the perfect build for your Viking journey. Whether you prefer the traditional assassin approach, the head-on warrior style, or the tactical archer method, there are skills to enhance your experience and make your Eivor a force to be reckoned with in the world of Valhalla.