Skills | The Basics Far Cry 4 Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
For performing some of the actions in the game (missions, finding collectibles, seizing outposts, revealing bell towers, killing opponents, etc.) you are rewarded with experience. With these, you gain successive experience levels, for which you receive skill points. You can spend these points on skills that facilitate combat and survival.
All of the skills have been put into two separate trees: the Tiger and the Elephant. With the Tiger tree, you can improve, mainly, on your offensive skills, e.g. various types of takedown. The Elephant tree expands the health bars and increases the potency of syringes. There are 6 subcategories to choose from - to unlock the third skill in a given column, you first need to obtain the first and the second one. Only then, can you spend your points on the skill that you want.
The Tiger
Name | How to unlock | Effect |
Death from above | Available from the beginning of the game | By jumping from above (e.g. from a rooftop) towards the opponent, you automatically execute a takedown. |
Death from below | Available from the beginning of the game | While below a ledge, you can draw one, or two opponents, off the ledge (e.g. into a chasm or water). |
Cover takedown | 1 "Eye for an Eye" mission | You can eliminate the opponent, while behind a cover. |
Grenade Takedown | 1 "Bomb Defusing" mission | You eliminate the opponent with his grenade. |
Knife throw Takedown | Available from the beginning of the game | After you eliminate an opponent, you can throw his knife at another one. |
Handgun Takedown | Available from the beginning of the game | After you eliminate an opponent, you can use his gun to fire at the rest of the enemies. |
Vehicle Takedown | 1 "Kyrati Films: races" mission | You can perform the takedown while on a vehicle and, automatically, change into the other vehicle. |
Chain Takedown | Defeat 1 penal expedition | Allows you to eliminate enemies close to each other, in a sequence of takedowns. |
Loot Takedown | Available from the beginning of the game | During the takedown, you automatically loot the corpse. |
Drag Takedown | Available from the beginning of the game | After the takedown, you can automatically drag the body. |
Bullet Sponge | Perform 3 takedowns | The bulletproof vest has higher protection factor. |
Heavy Takedown | Destroy 1 "Pagan's Wrath" convoy | Allows you to eliminate heavily-armored soldiers. |
Running Reload | Available from the beginning of the game | You can reload without stopping. |
At the ready | Available from the beginning of the game | Switching between the normal mode and the sight is faster. |
Stay on Target | Kill 3 enemies with headshots | You can reload sniper rifles and handguns, while aiming. |
Ammo wrangler | Complete 1 Longinus quest | Faster reload of all weapons. |
Moving Target | Available from the beginning of the game | You can fire your handgun, while carrying a body. |
Casual Marksman | Available from the beginning of the game | Improves your accuracy, while shooting from the hip |
Huntsman | Ring two bells of Enlightenment (in Shangri-La) | Reduced swaying, while aiming the bow |
Breath control | Complete 2 "Rescue the Hostages" missions | Expands the time for which you can hold your breath (underwater, while aiming). |
Focused Driver | Available from the beginning of the game | Vehicles resist higher damage. |
Moving Mountains | Available from the beginning of the game | You can carry the bodies of heavy soldiers. |
Soft Landing | Liberate 2 without being spotted | You take less damage, while falling. |
Non-Stop | Attain Karma level 4 | Endless sprinting and faster movement, while crouched. |
If you want to play a stealth game, it is a good choice to unlock, at the beginning, four skills that improve on your takedown: " Knife Takedown", "Handgun Takedown", "Loot Takedown" and " Drag Takedown". The first two make the path for two more interesting skills, of which the last one is the best ("Chain Takedown"). The next two allow you to unlock better protection for your bulletproof vest ("Bullet Sponge") and to the "Heavy Takedown" that becomes useful later into the game. You can unlock them relatively early and it is a good idea to do so, to expand your repertoire of attacks. Also, you are going to find useful "Death from below" and "Death from Above", available from the beginning of the game.
If you opt for more open warfare, "Heavy Takedown" will come in handy anyways. It makes it easier to kill the heavy opponents, at least at the beginning of the game. Also, It is a good idea to unlock the "Ammo Wrangler". Eventually, you will also find use for "Breath Control" and "Sprinter".
The Elephant
Name | How to unlock | Effect |
Capable strength | Available from the beginning of the game | Raises the number of health bars to 3. |
Forceful strength | Available from the beginning of the game | Raises the number of health bars to 4. |
Dominant strength | Complete the "Key to the North" main mission | Raises the number of health bars to 5. |
Unyielding strength | Complete the "Payback" main mission | Raises the number of health bars to 6. |
Healing Syringe level 2 | Available from the beginning of the game | Improves the potency of Health syringes - they restore 4 bars of health. |
Inner Strength | Available from the beginning of the game | Faster regeneration of health bars |
Improvised Surgery | Complete one "Armed Escort" mission | When out of healing syringes, heal 2 bars of health |
Healing Syringe level 3 | Craft 3 syringes (of any kind) | Improves the potency of healing syringes - they restore 6 bars of health. |
Gadget Training | Available from the beginning of the game | The speed of repairing vehicles is increased; better camera. |
Trade Agreement | Available from the beginning of the game | At store, you can buy special arrows and upgrades for sticky bombs. |
Syringe Overdose | Complete 1 "Kyrat Fashion Week" mission. | Allows you to craft an overdose syringe. |
Karma Boost | Buy an upgrade for Ghale Homestead | Adds a bonus to your karma rewards (can be upgraded 10 times). |
Harvester | Available from the beginning of the game | You harvest one plant for 2 leaves. |
Hunting syringe | Available from the beginning of the game | Allows you to craft "Hunting Syringes". |
Hunting syringe level 2 | Complete the "Truth and Justice" main mission | Upgrades hunting syringes |
Duration Boost | Complete a mission from Yogi and Reggi | Expands the duration of hunting syringes (can be upgraded 10 times) |
Rhino skin | Available from the beginning of the game | You take less damage from fire and explosions. |
Survival Syringe | Available from the beginning of the game | Allows you to craft a survival syringe. |
Survival Syringe level 2 | Buy 1 signature weapon | Upgrades survival syringes. |
Duration Boost | Gain rank 2 on the arena | Extends the duration of survival syringes (can be upgraded 10 times). |
Elephant Rider | Available from the beginning of the game | Allows you to ride elephants |
Focus syringe | Available from the beginning of the game | Allows you to craft Focus syringes. |
Focus syringe level 2 | Complete the "Key to the North" main mission | Upgrades Focus syringes. |
Duration boost | Complete 1 "Kyrat Fashion Week" mission. | Extends the duration of Focus syringes. |
The first skills that you should invest in are the ones that increase the number of available bars of health- "Capable strength" and "Forceful strength". After more skills become available (after you complete specific missions) remember about getting more. Also, it is a good idea to take interest, from the very beginning, in "Healing Syringe level 2" and "Inner Strength", thanks to which you can quickly unlock the "Improvised Surgery". Out of the available ones, also get "Rhino Skin" and the indispensable "Elephant Rider".
What skills you get from then on, depends on which syringes you want to craft. Inarguably, "Hunting Syringe" will come in handy, and you will also often use "Survival syringe" in case of open combat. Also remember to extend the duration of syringes, by investing into "Duration Boost" multiple times.
To learn more about the function of syringes, see "Basics-> Syringes".