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Skills Guide & Effects

Skills Guide & Effects | Borderlands 3

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Find out everything there is to know about the Skills in Borderlands 3 in this guide. Includes the basics on Skills, different types, what they do, how to unlock, equip, and more!!!

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More About Vault Hunters Skill & Traits

All Character Tree - Build & OverviewCheck Out the Beginner Tips & Guide

What are Skills?

Characters have Their Own Skills & Skill Trees

Characters have Their Own Skills & Skill Trees

All of the playable Vault Hunters will have their own unique set of skills that dictates their gameplay! These skills provide new abilities, buffs, and more depending on which skills you use in your build.

Check Out All Vault Hunters Here!

Skill Trees Follow a Theme

All of the Skill Trees have a theme that dictates what type of skills they will have. Example of these themes include elemental damage focus, stealth, AOE damage, & even critical damage!

Unlocked by Using Skill Points

Skills are unlocked using Skill Points earned by leveling up your character. Each level will reward you with a Skill Point that can be used in any accessible skill in a skill tree.

Check Out How to Level Up Fast Here!

Progress Through Skill Tree to Unlock Skills

Players will gain access to more Skills down a skill tree by progressing through Skill Tree levels. You'll need to invest a specific number of Skill Points per level to unlock the each one.

Respec in Quick Change Stations

Although you can activate a Skill on the fly, the only way to redo your skills is by respeccing in the Quick Change Station Every respec will cost money & will return all of your Skill Points.

What are Action Skills?

Changes Active Skills of Characters

Changes Active Skills of Characters

Action Skills are active skills that players can use to change the tide of battle. These are extremely powerful skills, considered as the trump card of each character.

Multiple Action Skills to Choose From

All characters have multiple Action Skills that they can choose to use. Some characters can only have 1 Action Skill, while others can have two at a time.

Marked by a Hexagon Icon

Marked by a Hexagon Icon

You'll find out which skills are Action Skills by their icon shape. Every Hexagon-shaped skill in a Skill Tree is an Action Skill!

What are Passive Abilities?

Adds Abilities that Activate on their Own

Adds Abilities that Activate on their Own

Passive Abilities provide buffs and new features that will activate on their own. Some of them may have requirements before being used, but players won't have to activate them on their own.

Make Use of Multiple Passive Abilities

Can Have Multiple Passive Skills at a Time

Skill Trees are predominantly made up of Passive Abilities. Having multiple of them active at a time is a necessity to progress down Skill Trees and unlock other skills.

More Skill Points Invested, the More Powerful

Unlike other types of Skills, Passive Abilities can have multiple action skills added to them. This will make them more powerful with better stats or higher duration.

What are Action Skill Augments?

Adds Additional Features to Action Skills

Action Skill Augments are skills that adds new features to a character's skills. These can include additional status effects, damage, or even attributes to whichever Action Skill is active.

Icon is Shaped Like a Downward Arrow

Icon is Shaped Like a Downward Arrow

In Character Skill Trees, you'll find skills in the shape of a downward arrow. These skills are Action Skill Augments with each skill trees for every character having multiple of these to chose from.

Can Equip Multiple Skill Augments at a Time

Can Equip 2 Skill Augments at a Time

Players can choose multiple Action Skill Augments to use simultaneously. These will not overwrite one another and can combo if their effects work well together. The number of Skill Augments depend on the character.

Does Not Require Skill Points

Activating an Action Skill Augment will not use up any of your Skill Points. They're basically a free Skill you can use so long as you've unlocked it.

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