Dead Island 2: Best Skill Cards Dead Island 2 guide, tips
In Dead Island 2, you can use skill cards that grant various unique attacks and stat bonuses. This page of the guide lists the best skills - our recommended ability, survival, slayer and Numen cards.
Last update: 20 April 2023
Our guide to Dead Island 2 contains a list of recommended skills that can help you e.g. heal faster, use unique attacks or kill zombies more effectively. We have compiled the best Skill Cards from the Abilites, Survivor, Slayer and Numen categories.
- Abilities - Defense
- Abilities - Jump Kick
- Abilities - Special Attack
- Abilities - Fury
- Abilities - Fury Special Attack
- Skills - Survivor
- Skills - Slayer
- Skills - Numen
- Important information about Skill Cards
Abilities - Defense
Skill name: Block
How to unlock: Automatically at the beginning of the game after opening the Swanson estate.
Description: there are 2 defensive skills in the game, but in our opinion the Block is better. You can stop the enemies' strong attacks, e.g. the Crushers' shockwaves), as well as parry attacks and counterattack. This technique requires training, but can be very powerful.
Abilities - Jump Kick
Skill name: Flying Kick
How to unlock: Level up to XP level 7.
Description: there are 2 types of jump kicks in the game, and what's great about the one described here is that the kick is very strong. When fighting zombies on the same level as yours, you should be able to kill the monster with 2 correct kicks. This way you won't damage your melee weapons so quickly.
Abilities - Special Attack
Skill name: War Cry
How to unlock: Automatically after defeating the boss in the Halperin Hotel.
Description: this skill provides a temporary stamina bonus for your character and any other players accompanying you. The cry can also weaken zombies within its range.
Abilities - Fury
Skill name: Blood Rush
How to unlock: Automatically along with unlocking the Fury Mode.
Description: You can gain fury in different ways in the game. The method from the first skill card works well with the Block skill. You can gain fury by killing zombies and counterattacking after correct parries.
Alternatively, you can use autophage and set the Street Brawler skill, which favors and rewards attacks done with melee and thrown weapons.
Abilities - Fury Special Attack
Skill name: Scream
How to unlock: Completing the challenge that involves defeating Screamers.
Description: You can use this and other special attacks when you activate the Fury Mode. The skill causes a cry similar to that emitted by screamers, which can weaken the surrounding zombies and allow you to eliminate them more easily.
Skills - Survivor
This skill category will eventually feature slots for 4 different skill cards (more slots will unlock when you level up). Some of the most interesting skills are listed below.
Skill name: Invigorating
How to unlock: the card can be found as loot. You can find it at Emma's estate in Bel-Air.
Description: This skill allows you to regenerate health with counterattacks (performed after successful parrying). This great technique will allow you to use med kits significantly less often; you also won't have to wait until your heath slowly regenerates on its own.
Skill name: Safety First
Description: This skill is similar to the one above. Each block or dodge can restore health. This way, you can use med kits even less frequently.
Skill name: Wrecking Ball
How to unlock: Level up to XP level 8.
Description: This skill causes the flying kicks to weaken the zombies. It makes the skill even more useful.
Skill name: Safe Space
Description: This skill is linked to med kits for a change. Using a med kit causes an explosion and throws the surrounding zombies off-balance. You can achieve the best results by deliberately running through a group of monsters just before you use the med kit.
Skill name: Rallying Cry
How to unlock: Level up to XP level 8.
Description: You must have War Cry active if you want to use this ability. The cry can restore some health and additionally remove Status Effects such as fire, poison or paralysis.
Skill name: Ravenous
How to unlock: You can get this card for killing Butchers.
Description: This skill is linked to the Fury Mode. When you kill zombies during Fury Mode, this skill makes the fury last longer. This is especially useful during large battles.
Skills - Slayer
This skill category will eventually feature slots for 4 different skill cards (more slots will unlock when you level up). Some of the most interesting skills are listed below.
Skill name: Corpse Bomb
Description: When this skill is active, eliminating zombies in fury mode causes powerful explosions. This can be very helpful in weakening or killing the monsters close by.
Skill name: Janus Rage
How to unlock: the card can be found as loot. You can find it in a train car in the Subway.
Description: the skill can work in 2 ways - it can give you a stamina bonus when your fury bar is full, or a damage bonus if it's not full.
Skill name: No Mercy
Description: This is an excellent skill if you have weapons that can put status effects on enemies, e.g. shock or fire. They can then take more damage.
Skill name: The Limb Reaper.
How to unlock: Level up to XP level 14.
Description: This is one of the skills linked to regenerating the health bar. Maiming zombies (e.g. chopping off their limbs) allows you to regain lost health points.
Skill name: Voltaic Scream
How to unlock: Complete the challenge that involves defeating the Voltaic Screamers.
Description: this is a good skill if you have the Scream card active. Scream attacks can also shock the surrounding monsters.
Skills - Numen
The Numen skill category is locked at first. You will unlock it after defeating one of the main bosses in Ocean Avenue. Eventually, you'll gain access to slots for 2 different skill cards.
Skill name: Born Survivor
How to unlock: Automatically after unlocking the Numen skill.
Description: This is an autophage skill that can save you from dying - when you lose all your health, it uses up all available fury and generates an explosion. You can find it very handy when fighting elite monsters.
Skill name: Corpse Blossom.
How to unlock: Automatically after completing the main quest in Hollywood Boulevard.
Description: This skill improves the performance of weapons that use the elements. Killing an enemy with a fire, corrosion or shock weapon can cause a powerful explosion.
Important information about Skill Cards
- You can have max. 15 different skills active at any given time - 5 Abilities, 4 Survivor, 4 Slayer and 2 Numen. Not all skill card slots are immediately available. You will unlock more by levelling up.
- You can receive cards as rewards or find them as loot. Read the description of each card you acquire and, if possible, test its effect in battles against zombies.
- Some skills are reserved for specific characters. Check them, as they may be related to a particular character's perks (e.g. higher toughness or agility).
- You can freely insert and remove cards from the slots. Don't be afraid to change the card set or modify it e.g. before more challenging boss fights.