Rise of the Tomb Raider: Smart Upgrades for a Smarter Lara

So, you’re diving back into the Siberian wilderness with Lara Croft in Rise of the Tomb Raider? Excellent choice! It’s a fantastic game, and strategically upgrading Lara’s skills and equipment can dramatically improve your experience. The very first thing you should upgrade is Survival Skills -> Survivalist. This allows you to automatically gather more resources from each plant and animal carcass. Resource management is crucial in Rise of the Tomb Raider, and maximizing your yields early on will make crafting and upgrading later on significantly easier.

Why Survivalist First?

The entire upgrade system in Rise of the Tomb Raider is built around resource collection and crafting. You need materials to create ammo, upgrade weapons, and craft special items. Starting with Survivalist gives you a powerful advantage right from the beginning. Think of it as an investment that pays dividends throughout the entire game. You’ll spend less time hunting and gathering and more time exploring tombs and battling Trinity. Furthermore, resources are more difficult to come by in the early game so increasing resource acquisition is extremely effective.

Beyond Survivalist: A Recommended Upgrade Path

Once you’ve grabbed Survivalist, consider the following upgrade path, keeping in mind your playstyle:

• Combat Skills: Reflex Shot: This allows you to automatically aim your weapon after dodging. It’s incredibly useful for dodging enemy attacks and quickly retaliating.

• Hunter Skills: Avid Learner: This boosts the experience gained from all sources. Faster leveling means earlier access to more valuable skills.

• Weapon Upgrades: Bow and Arrows: Focus on upgrading your bow as soon as possible. It’s your most versatile weapon and can be used for stealth kills, hunting, and solving puzzles. Prioritize upgrades that increase draw speed, stability, and arrow capacity.

• Gear Upgrades: Climbing Axe: Improve your climbing axe to reach new areas and access hidden tombs.

This combination of skill and equipment upgrades will give you a well-rounded Lara Croft capable of handling most challenges the game throws at you early on.

Understanding the Skill Trees

The skill tree in Rise of the Tomb Raider is divided into three main branches:

• Brawler: Focuses on melee combat skills. Good for players who enjoy getting up close and personal.
• Hunter: Focuses on resource gathering, crafting, and survival skills. Essential for all players, regardless of playstyle.
• Survivor: Focuses on stealth, exploration, and problem-solving. Crucial for navigating tombs and avoiding detection.

As you progress through the game, you’ll earn skill points by completing objectives, finding artifacts, and leveling up. Spend these points wisely, focusing on the skills that complement your preferred playstyle. Don’t be afraid to experiment and respec your skills if needed.

Scavenging and Crafting: The Cornerstones of Success

Rise of the Tomb Raider heavily emphasizes scavenging and crafting. You’ll need to gather resources like wood, cloth, animal hides, and salvage to craft ammo, med kits, and special items.

• Always be on the lookout for resources. Scour every corner of the environment for plants, animals, and salvage crates.
• Craft frequently. Don’t hoard resources. Use them to craft ammo and med kits whenever possible.
• Upgrade your gear. Upgrading your weapons and gear will significantly improve your combat effectiveness and allow you to access new areas.

Exploring Tombs: Unlocking Powerful Rewards

Tombs are hidden throughout the game world and offer challenging puzzles and valuable rewards. Completing tombs will grant you new skills, weapon parts, and unique items.

• Pay attention to your surroundings. Look for clues and hidden passages.
• Experiment with different solutions. Don’t be afraid to try different approaches to solve puzzles.
• Be patient. Tombs can be challenging, but the rewards are worth the effort.

Gear Progression

Gear upgrades are crucial for survival and exploration. Here’s a general overview of gear progression:

• Climbing Axe: Essential for scaling icy walls and accessing new areas.
• Lockpicks: Allow you to open locked chests and doors, containing valuable resources and artifacts.
• Rope Ascender: Enables you to quickly ascend ropes, reaching higher platforms.
• Shotgun and Rifle: Obtain and upgrade these weapons as soon as possible to deal with tougher enemies.

Strategic Combat

Combat in Rise of the Tomb Raider is a mix of stealth and action.

• Use stealth to your advantage. Take out enemies silently whenever possible.
• Utilize cover. Stay behind cover to avoid enemy fire.
• Master the dodge. Dodging is essential for avoiding attacks and creating opportunities to counter.
• Use different types of ammo. Experiment with different ammo types to exploit enemy weaknesses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about upgrading in Rise of the Tomb Raider:

1. What are the best early game weapons to focus on?

Focus on upgrading your bow and pistol first. The bow is versatile for stealth and hunting, while the pistol provides a reliable backup weapon. The rifle and shotgun become more important later in the game when dealing with heavily armored enemies.

2. How important is crafting in Rise of the Tomb Raider?

Crafting is extremely important. It’s essential for creating ammo, med kits, and special items. Neglecting crafting will significantly increase the difficulty of the game.

3. Can I respec my skills in Rise of the Tomb Raider?

Yes, you can respec your skills at base camps. This allows you to experiment with different builds and adapt to different challenges.

4. What are the best Hunter skills to unlock early on?

Besides Survivalist, prioritize Avid Learner for increased experience gain and skills that improve hunting efficiency.

5. How do I find hidden tombs?

Explore thoroughly and look for clues in the environment. Listen for the telltale rumble of a hidden passage.

6. What are the benefits of completing tombs?

Completing tombs grants you new skills, weapon parts, and unique items, such as the Ancient Horn Bow.

7. Should I focus on stealth or combat upgrades?

It depends on your playstyle, but a balance of both is recommended. Stealth is useful for avoiding unnecessary fights, while combat skills are essential for dealing with tough enemies.

8. How do I unlock new gear?

New gear can be found in hidden tombs, purchased from merchants, or crafted.

9. What resources are most important to collect?

Cloth, salvage, wood, and animal hides are all essential for crafting and upgrading.

10. What does it mean to “fully upgrade a weapon”?

Fully upgrading a weapon means unlocking all available upgrades for that weapon, increasing its stats and adding new functionalities. Look for Weapon Parts to unlock better capabilities.

11. Are some skills mutually exclusive?

No, you can unlock all skills in the game eventually, but you need to prioritize early on to suit your play style.

12. How do I earn skill points?

You earn skill points by completing objectives, finding artifacts, and leveling up.

13. Does difficulty affect the resources I get?

While difficulty may affect enemy damage and health, it doesn’t fundamentally change the amount of resources gained through gathering.

14. What is the best way to farm XP?

Completing challenge tombs is a great way to earn experience and valuable rewards. Also, finishing side missions gives a good bump in XP.

15. What resources can the Games Learning Society offer for educational gaming research?

The Games Learning Society offers a wealth of research and resources related to game-based learning. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org (https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/) to explore their publications, conferences, and community, which provide valuable insights into the educational applications of games and game design principles.

By following these tips and prioritizing the right upgrades, you’ll be well on your way to conquering the challenges of Rise of the Tomb Raider and experiencing Lara Croft’s thrilling adventure to the fullest!