Crafting & Upgrades — Tomb Raider (2013) Guide

Your go-to guide for Tomb Raider (2013)! Learn about all the Skills (Brawler, Hunter, Survivor), Gear, and Weapon Upgrades to help Lara Croft survive her ordeal.

Hey there! So, you're diving into Tomb Raider (2013) and want to get Lara kitted out? Awesome! This guide is all about making sure you know how to upgrade her skills, gear, and weapons. Let's get you ready for anything Yamatai throws at you. ## Skills As you play, you'll be earning Experience Points (XP) for everything you do – solving puzzles, taking down enemies, finding collectibles, and just progressing through the story. You'll see a shield-shaped meter on the left side of your screen fill up. Once it's full, you earn a Skill Point. You can then spend this Skill Point to unlock a new skill for Lara. Each Skill Point gets you one skill. There are three main categories for skills: Brawler, Hunter, and Survivor. When you first start, you'll only have access to the basic 'Rookie' tier skills in each. Once you've bought seven skills in any category, you'll unlock the next tier, 'Hardened'. Buy fourteen skills, and you'll get access to the 'Specialist' tier. ### Brawler Skills This tree is all about Lara getting up close and personal, and taking a beating. | Skill | Tier and Requirments | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | Pain Tolerance | Rookie | Withstand more punishment in combat and live to fight another day. | | Dirty Tricks | Rookie | Cleverly use dirt and rocks to blind your enemies and leave them vulnerable to your attacks. | | Axe Strikes | Hardened | Deliver two swift strikes with the climbing axe to stun your enemies. | | Axe Expert | Hardened (Requires Axe Strikes) | Use your climbing axe to deliver a deadly, stunning blow to your enemies. | | Dodge Counter | Hardened | After dodging an enemy, stab them in the knee with an arrow to cripple him and leave him vulnerable to a killing blow. | | Dodge Kill | Hardened (Requires Dodge Kill) | Skillfully dodge lightly armored opponents and strike them at close range to kill them instantly. | | Dodge Kill Mastery | Specialist (Requires Dodge Kill) | Striking after dodging becomes even more deadly, allowing you to kill almost any enemy. | ### Hunter Skills If you prefer to keep your distance and strike from afar, the Hunter skills are for you. | Skill | Tier and Requirments | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | Steady Shot | Rookie | A focused mind allows you to aim deadly shots with your bow. | | Ammo Capacity | Rookie | Efficient use of bags and pockets allows you to carry more ammunition. | | Heavy Lifter | Hardened (Requires Ammo Capacity) | Your increased strength allows you to carry more ammunition. | | Accomplished Killer | Hardened | Eliminate your enemies with finesse to earn greater awards. | | Bow Expert | Specialist | Stab enemies with your arrows at close range for extra rewards. Also unlocks headshot reticle. | | Pistol Expert | Specialist | Execute enemies at point blank range for more rewards. Also unlocks headshot reticle. | | Rifle Expert | Specialist | Unload your rifle at close range to brutally finish enemies and earn bonus rewards. | | Shotgun Expert | Specialist | Blast enemies with the shotgun at close range to stop them in their tracks and earn extra rewards. | ### Survivor Skills These skills focus on Lara's resourcefulness and ability to survive the harsh environment and scavenge effectively. | Skill | Tier and Requirments | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | Animal Instincts | Rookie | Keen observation allows you to spot hard-to-find animals and food sources. | | Survivalist | Rookie | Earn extra rewards when looting animal corpses and food caches. | | Advanced Salvaging | Rookie | Thoroughly search crates and caches to find extra salvage. | | Bone Collecter | Rookie | Carefully looting animal corpses will reward you with extra salvage. | | Arrow Retrieval | Rookie | Resourceful archers can recover arrows from bodies of enemies and prey. | | Scavenging | Rookie (Requires Arrow Retrieval) | Spotting hidden pockets on enemy corpses will reward you with extra ammunition. | | Climber's Agility | Hardened |