Rise of the Tomb Raider is a beautifully crafted action-adventure title that offers far more than cinematic storytelling and snowy mountaintops. Beneath its breathtaking environments lies a robust and intricate skill system, with over 50 perks spread across three unique categories: Brawler, Hunter, and Survivor. Choosing the right skills early can dramatically shape your experience, so here’s a rundown of the 10 most effective skills to unlock first.

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1. Avid Learner – Level Up Faster

Your journey to becoming an unstoppable force should start with this powerful passive boost. Avid Learner grants bonus XP whenever you examine documents, relics, survival caches, or complete challenges. Since exploration is a key part of the game, this skill compounds over time—netting you more XP and unlocking other abilities much faster.

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2. Breath Control – Sharpen Your Aim

Lara’s bow is one of her deadliest tools, and you’ll be using it a lot. Breath Control enhances your accuracy by steadying the bow longer, giving you the time needed to line up precision headshots. It’s especially useful for stealth approaches and hunting, where timing is everything.

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3. Arrow Retrieval – Save Resources

Efficiency is everything when you’re sneaking through the Siberian wilderness. Arrow Retrieval gives Lara a chance to recover arrows from enemies she has taken down. While not a guaranteed drop, this skill helps you stay stocked during long expeditions away from crafting resources or shops.

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4. Eye for Detail – Enhance Survival Instinct

The world of Rise of the Tomb Raider is packed with secrets, resources, and interactive items. Eye for Detail improves your Survival Instinct, allowing you to spot hidden challenge objects more easily. It’s a subtle but significant upgrade for thorough explorers.

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5. Animal Instinct – Hunt Like a Predator

Crafting relies heavily on materials gained from animals. With Animal Instinct, you’ll be able to highlight nearby wildlife while using Survival Instinct (Q key), making tracking and hunting easier. It also highlights tracks and blood trails from larger animals, helping you land those essential resources faster.

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6. Dead Eye – Headshots Made Easy

Once you unlock the second tier of skills, it’s time to grab Dead Eye. This perk adds a subtle red indicator to your crosshair when a headshot is properly lined up. It’s a small visual cue with huge impact, especially in high-pressure stealth or action sequences.

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7. Nerves of Steel – Hold Steady Longer

Nerves of Steel pairs beautifully with Dead Eye and Breath Control. This skill increases the time Lara can keep her bow drawn without losing accuracy, giving you the edge when stalking enemies from a distance or waiting for the perfect shot.

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8. Finesse – XP Through Skillful Kills

Finesse rewards you with extra XP for chaining together headshots and stealth kills. There’s no penalty for breaking the chain, so long as each kill meets the criteria. It encourages a precise, efficient playstyle and complements other XP-boosting perks nicely.

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9. Double Shot – Hit Two Targets at Once

Here’s where things get lethal. Double Shot allows you to mark two targets while zoomed in with your bow, then release two arrows simultaneously. It’s perfect for silently clearing two guards before they can raise an alarm. Once you unlock Tier 3, you can take this even further with Triple Shot.

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10. Naturalist – Boost Resource Collection

With all this crafting, you’ll burn through materials fast. Naturalist increases the yield from resource nodes, helping you maintain a healthy supply of feathers, mushrooms, herbs, and more. It’s the backbone of sustainability, letting you stay geared without grinding.

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Final Thoughts

Whether you’re creeping through Soviet installations or exploring ancient tombs, these 10 early skills create a powerful, resourceful Lara Croft. They balance survival, combat, and XP gain, making them ideal for any playstyle—especially if you’re leaning toward stealth and precision.

And if your approach leans more towards raw firepower and chaos, that’s valid too—just be sure to tailor your build accordingly. Rise of the Tomb Raider offers incredible freedom in how you develop Lara, and these early picks give you a strong head start on mastering the game.

Happy tomb raiding!