Atomfall is a game that gives the impression from the outside looking in, that it willoffer an RPG experience. When, in fact, this game is more of animmersive simmarried together withan intense shooterand a detective game. In short, it’s a pretty unique prospect.
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However, there are some RPG elements in there, and one of the most obvious examples is the skill tree system. Players will have access to a series of beginner skills that you can spend your points on, whereas the rest of these skills will be locked until you find certain items around the densely-packed map.
That said, the skills you immediately have access to are pretty useful in their own right, so I thought it would be helpful to rank them, allowing you to prioritize the skills that will keep you from dying to a pack of Druids.
12Weapon Throw Training
Storm Coming? Hatchet Coming!
Thrown Weapons travel farther and deal more damage.
4 Skill Points
Do you know what’s a really dumb thing to do when you’re up against it and all you have is a melee weapon to defend yourself? To throw that weapon at an enemy from range.
Best case scenario, you thread the needle and kill them. But in most cases, you’ll either bonk them and make them mad, or you’ll miss completely, alerting them to your position where you’ll be standing defenseless.
It’s a very situational skill unless you play a very specific way, and also, it costs a lot in comparison to some better options available.
Don’t get me wrong, as a luxury skill, this can get you out of a bind if you’re truly out of all other options, but I would stress that you should only purchase this skill when all others have been redeemed.
11Throwables Radius
Here Comes The Boom!
Increases Throwable Weapon’s area of effect
3 Skill Points
You’re going to see a trend for these first few entries that find themselves low on the list, as throwables just aren’t all that viable an option in terms of combat early in the game. Mainly because the throwables themselves are in short supply, and you won’t know of any crafting recipes for the first while.
However, if you do have the odd throwable in your pack, the Throwables Radius skill can be somewhat helpful, as it can allow you to take out more enemies per throwable, and potentially stay undetected as a result.
As you learn more recipes and have access to more items and supplies, this can become a useful skill. However, it’s one that you can put on the back burner.
10Throwables Damage
Hey, Batter Batter
Increases the damage output of thrown weapons
While I would suggest avoiding all the throwables-related skills until you’ve exhausted all the better options, if you’re hellbent on taking one, it should be the Throwables Damage buff.
This skill will ensure that your throwables have a lot more bang, boom, and pow per throw, ensuring that you don’t just wound the Druids and Outlaws. It means you’ll turn them into a fine pink mist.
Again, mileage may vary, as you’ll need to have access to crafting materials and recipes to make this one worth taking, but if you may reliably craft makeshift bombs frequently, this can be a decent upgrade.
9Kick Stun Duration
Give ‘Em The Boot
Increases Kick stagger duration
1 Skill Point
While this one may seem like it wouldn’t be all that useful, as you’re able to’t actually hurt or kill someone with a kick in Atomfall, you would be surprised just how helpful this additional stun effect can be.
Players can use the melee action to perform a kick, which knocks back enemies and gives you a brief moment of respite. However, this additional stun effect makes the brief moment a touch longer.
This can allow the player to break up a string of enemy melee attacks and launch a counter-offensive of their own. Or, alternatively, if you’re outnumbered and overwhelmed, this kick might give you just enough wiggle room to break free and leg it to safety.
It’s more of a supplementary skill than anything else, but it’s cheap and can make you an even more unstoppable force in combat if utilized effectively.
Wheelin’ & Dealin'
Increases the value of your items when trading
While I would say that it’s very possible to survive and thrive in Atomfall without relying on merchants and traders, it never hurts to have the option of trade supplies to plug a gap, and getting a good deal is always a bonus.
As Atomfall has no bespoke currency, all you can do is trade items for other items, and this skill ensures that everything you own has a higher value to those you trade with.
This will mean that you can get rid of unnecessary tat, but still get something pretty useful in return.
Again, I’m of the opinion that there is more than enough out there in the wild to ensure that you can be self-sufficient, but if you’re keen on becoming a mercantile god, this is your first step on the ladder.
7Thick Skin
Learn How To Take A Hit
Decreases damage taken from melee attacks
In Atomfall’s early game, guns and bullets are at a premium, and you’ll likely find yourself navigating this hostile world with a melee weapon like a hatchet or a cricket bat. Which means that you’ll be up close and personal with your foes.
This will lead to a melee slugfest where you will likely take as many hits as you dish out, and in these scenarios, that’s where Thick Skin can come in handy.
This skill allows you to take more punishment from melee attacks, which might just save your bacon when a druid pack takes a disliking to you.
The only downside is that it won’t help if the druids have ranged weapons, but any form of heightened defense is welcome in a brutal survival landscape such as this.
6Scavenger
Finder’s Keepers
Decreases time taken to loot containers and bodies
True to form as a survival game, Atomfall makes even the most simple of tasks feel cumbersome, and that extends to even looting enemies.
Initially, without any skills you’ll find that you need to sit for what feels like an age pushing the loot button before you’ll be granted access to the fallen foe’s inventory, and this can be an issue if you want to grab something and get out a dodge as combat music is still blaring.
This is where ‘Scavenger’ comes in, as this skill lowers the time it takes to access an enemy’s inventory, allowing you to loot on the fly and not get clipped by a stray bullet while you are distracted.
It’s definitely a luxury skill, but one that makes the gameplay smoother, and in turn, one you’ll want to unlock sooner rather than later if you want to have a good time.
5Disarm Traps
Admiral Ackbar Would Be Proud
Allows players to disarm traps and harvest their crafting materials
The usefulness of this skill will be dependent on your playstyle, because if you’re an ‘all guns blazing’ type, this might not be as helpful as it could be. But for sneaky types who want to get the drop on their enemies, this one is a must-have.
You’ll notice quickly that the NPCs of Atomfall aren’t the most trusting bunch, and as such, they tend to prep a lot of traps around their bases to keep out undesirables, and walking into these traps can be a real pain.
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It can either lead to you sounding an alarm, or triggering a dangerous trap that will wound or even kill you. But, with the Disarm Traps skill, you can crouch down, disarm tripwires, and you’ll even get the crafting items from the trap as a result.
This can save your life and make infiltrating strongholds much easier. So, if you’re a stealthy type, consider purchasing this one early.
4Kill Momentum
Come Out Swinging
When you get a melee kill, your melee damage output increases
As mentioned earlier, in the initial stages of this game, you will be pretty much forced to tough it out using nothing but melee weapons. Which can be tough considering the bar-brawl nature of Atomfall’s combat.
However, if you take the liberty of purchasing the Kill Momentum skill, you can make an otherwise impossible melee encounter a cakewalk, thanks to the berserker rage that this skill gives you.
After you kill someone using a melee weapon while this skill is active, you’ll gain a melee damage buff, which can prove to be the difference if you’re outnumbered and surrounded, as you can flail and come out swinging.
It’s not a foolproof strategy, but it’s one that will serve you well in a pinch, and it makes a melee-focused playstyle much more viable in the long term.
A Fighting Chance
Health Regeneration is faster and restores more health
As you try to forge a path forward in the early stages of Atomfall, you’ll find that everything in this world is more or less out to kill you. Which usually means you’l be running low on healing items.
Crafting bandages can be helpful, but crafting materials are finite, and sometimes you’ll need to make what little health you have last. But with Recovery, you’ll never be in too much danger.
This skill ensures that you’ll recover a higher amount of HP through regeneration, provided you can get to cover or find a hiding spot. Plus, you’ll recover HP faster than you would otherwise.
Obviously, this is only a bandaid over a gaping wound until you’re able to heal properly, but this can ensure that when the chips are down, you have a fighting chance.
