Forspoken offers a vast array of skills and abilities that can significantly impact your gameplay experience. However, in the early stages of the game, it’s crucial to focus on a few key upgrades that can make your life considerably easier. In this guide, we’ll explore the best perks, game-changing effects, and some hidden powers that the game doesn’t explicitly tell you about. Let’s get started.

1. Prioritize Mobility with Shimmy One of the first upgrades you should aim to get is Shimmy, a traversal skill that accelerates your movement speed significantly. This upgrade is found at the Mulberry Fountain of Blasting in the Preos region. Activating Shimmy is straightforward: while running, press the jump button just as Frey takes a step, allowing you to chain a skipping animation that propels you forward at impressive speeds.

Not only does this make exploring Athia’s massive open world faster, but it’s also visually stunning. Keep in mind, though, that this ability consumes a lot of stamina. To counter this, complete its Spellcraft Challenge at a safe house to transform Shimmy into a stamina-regenerating move, making it invaluable both for travel and combat.

2. Master Zip for Vertical Mobility As you progress, unlocking Zip from the fire magic skill line becomes a game changer. Zip allows you to grapple onto orange crystals and other surfaces, making it possible to reach previously inaccessible areas. By completing its Spellcraft Challenge, you can even eliminate its stamina cost entirely.

This ability shines when used creatively, both in traversal and in battle. Grapple to high vantage points to escape overwhelming fights or to strategize your next move. Pairing Zip with Shimmy turns Athia into your playground, making exploration faster and more rewarding.

3. Embrace the Soar Ability Another traversal upgrade worth investing in is Soar from the fire magic skill line. This ability grants a second wall jump, which is essential for climbing the tallest structures and reaching hidden areas. Found at the Rosewood Foundry, Soar’s upgrade further improves stamina recovery, making it a must-have for players who enjoy scaling every nook and cranny of Athia.

4. Enhance Your Arsenal with Burst Shot Early on, you’ll rely on Frey’s earth-based magic, particularly the Burst Shot. While it might not seem impressive initially, upgrading it to level three transforms it into a devastating AOE attack. For maximum efficiency, use the parkour skipping trick to bypass the first two charge levels, allowing you to unleash fully charged attacks quickly.

Pairing Burst Shot with traversal abilities not only maximizes damage but also allows you to stay on the move—a critical aspect of surviving Forspoken’s larger battles.

5. Exploit Blast Slice’s Secret Technique Blast Slice, a powerful fire magic ability, is one of the most versatile tools in your arsenal. Beyond its standard ranged explosion, it has a hidden mechanic: if you unleash it midair, it triggers a ground slam that sends spikes erupting from the ground.

To perform this technique, initiate a jump and cast Blast Slice before touching the ground. Mastering this move not only boosts your AOE damage significantly but also keeps you mobile and out of harm’s way.

6. Unlock the Potential of Cluster Bolt Once you gain access to Prav’s water magic, prioritize Cluster Bolt. At level three, this spell becomes a massive AOE attack that excels against slow-moving enemies and large groups. Use the parkour trick to skip charge levels and maximize its damage output instantly.

7. Invest in Support Spells Wisely Support spells can make a substantial difference in survivability. Early on, prioritize Screen from Prav’s magic line, which surrounds you with stones to absorb damage. This spell is particularly useful when dealing with multiple enemies or during boss fights.

Leech is another solid choice, providing a cure for poison—a common threat in later areas. Meanwhile, Disperse offers additional ranged AOE damage, softening enemies before they can reach you.

8. Crafting and Upgrades: A Strategic Approach Crafting plays a pivotal role in Forspoken, allowing you to enhance cloaks, necklaces, and consumables. The Amplify skill from Silas’s magic line should be a priority, as it boosts magic bonuses on your gear, directly increasing your spell damage.

Similarly, Fortify from Prav’s line can enhance your defense significantly, making it easier to survive tougher encounters. Keep a steady supply of materials and craft upgrades regularly instead of hoarding resources.

Final Thoughts By focusing on these key abilities and crafting smartly, you’ll turn Frey into a powerful and agile mage capable of handling any threat Athia throws at you. Remember, Forspoken’s world is built to reward exploration and experimentation—so keep testing new skills and combinations to discover what works best for your playstyle.

With these tips, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle even the toughest challenges that Forspoken has to offer. Good luck, and enjoy your journey through Athia!