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How to Upgrade Skills in Rise of the Ronin

In Rise of the Ronin, understanding how to upgrade your abilities is crucial for mastering combat and exploration. This guide will explain how to upgrade Skills in Rise of the Ronin so you can take down foes with ease.

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Rise of the Ronin Skill Upgrades Explained

Skill points are the only way of enhancing your character’s capabilities in Rise of the Ronin. There are two two distinct categories: regular Skill Points and Rare Skill Points. Regular Skill Points are used to upgrade most skills and are used in all of your skill trees. However, there are also tree-specific skills that are only unlocked by that particular stat Rare Skill Point. For example, to upgrade your “Speechcraft – Persuade” skill, you’ll need to fork over Intellect Rare Skill Points.

The more skills you acquire, the more powerful your character will become. This is because your stats will increase as you acquire more skills, regardless of what the skill is. Unlocking skills in the Strength skill tree will give you stat boosts not only to strength but to secondary stats like defense as well. Let’s break down how you can acquire both types to unlock and progress through the game’s skill trees.

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How to Get Skill Points and Rare Skill Points in Rise of the Ronin

  • Level Up Your Character and Weapon Proficiency: Regular Skill Points are earned by leveling up your character or increasing proficiency with specific weapon types. Focus on using a single type of weapon to maximize proficiency gains will be much faster than trying to swap around to many weapons.
  • Convert Karma: Karma, obtained by defeating enemies, can be converted into skill points at Veiled Edge Banners or at the end of quests. Converting Karma yields both regular Skill Points and Rare Skill Points. The Rare Skill Points awarded are randomized.
  • Increasing your Bonds: Reaching new bond levels with your allies will often grant you a Rare Skill Point reflective of that characters personality. For example, bonding with a fellow samurai might just net you a Strength Rare Skill Point.
  • Visit Shrines: Shrines throughout the game world can be prayed, granting a quick regular skill point upon initial interaction.
  • Use Treatises: Consumable items known as Treatises provide a single skill points or rare skill point. Treatises on Enlightenment yield regular Skill Points, while Treatises specific to Strength, Dexterity, Charm, and Intellect provide Rare Skill Points. These items can be purchased from specific vendors, obtained as quest rewards, or earned through relationships.
Screenshot by Siliconera

Earning skill points is essential for unlocking and progressing through the Rise of the Ronin skill trees. Utilizing the various methods outlined above, players can tailor their character’s abilities to suit their preferred playstyle. This allows you to play the game however you choose.

Rise of the Ronin is available exclusively on the PS5.


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Author
Image of Cory Dinkel
Cory Dinkel
Cory Dinkel is a freelance writer for Siliconera since 2023. An award-winning digital journalist, he has worked for local and national news outlets for nearly a decade. His favorite genre is the JRPG and he will not be taking questions during his "There is Not a Love Triangle in Final Fantasy VII" speech.