Aloy’s Next Journey: The Obvious Path to a More Dynamic Skill Tree for Horizon 3

As the sun sets on Aloy’s adventures in the Forbidden West, fans are already looking to the horizon for the next installment in the critically acclaimed series. While Horizon Forbidden West made significant strides in expanding on its predecessor, one area that still has room for improvement is its sprawling skill tree. The system in Forbidden West, while more robust than the original’s, was a victim of its own generosity, leaving players with little reason to make meaningful choices. For Horizon 3, developer Guerrilla Games has an obvious opportunity to not only refine the existing skill trees but to make them a dynamic, impactful part of Aloy’s character progression. This is a topic that has generated a lot of discussion in the community, with key phrases like “Horizon 3 skill tree ideas,” “Horizon Forbidden West skill trees explained,” and “Horizon 3 new features” seeing a major uptick in interest.

In Forbidden West, the six distinct skill trees—Hunter, Warrior, Survivor, Infiltrator, Machine Master, and Trapper—were a clear step up from the three trees in Zero Dawn. They provided players with a variety of playstyles, from the melee-focused Warrior to the stealthy Infiltrator. However, a major flaw of the system was that players were given an abundance of skill points, allowing them to eventually unlock almost every skill in the game. This meant that by the late game, Aloy felt less like a unique, specialized warrior and more like a jack-of-all-trades. This diminishes the feeling of character progression and takes away the meaningful choices that a good RPG system should offer. For Horizon 3, Guerrilla can solve this problem in one simple way: by linking skill trees to Aloy’s gear.

The Gear-Based Skill Tree: The Next Evolution

The most logical and impactful way to improve upon Forbidden West’s system is to make skill trees dynamic and dependent on the gear Aloy is wearing. Instead of having a static skill tree that is filled out over the course of the game, Horizon 3 could feature a system where Aloy’s active skills and perks are determined by the outfit she is wearing. This would give a true sense of a “class” system to the game, and it would give a much-needed purpose to the dozens of outfits Aloy acquires throughout her journey. Here’s how it could work:

• Outfits as Skill Trees: Each outfit would not only come with a unique set of passive bonuses but would also be linked to a specific, unique skill tree. For example, a “Nora Brave” outfit would grant access to the Hunter skill tree, while a “Carja Commander” outfit would unlock the Warrior skill tree. As Aloy gains experience and skill points, she could invest them into the skill tree of her currently equipped outfit. This would force players to make a strategic decision before each encounter: do I want to be a stealthy Infiltrator, or do I want to be a powerful, close-quarters Warrior? This would add a layer of tactical depth to the game that was missing from its predecessor.
• Mastery and Hybridization: The system would not have to be a one-to-one conversion. Once a player has fully “mastered” a skill tree by maxing out an outfit’s associated skills, they could gain a permanent, passive ability that can be used with any outfit. This would allow players to eventually create a hybrid build that takes the best of each playstyle. For example, a player could master the “Infiltrator” skill tree to get a permanent boost to their stealth damage and then switch to a “Machine Master” outfit to take on a massive, heavily-armored machine. This would reward dedication and provide a path for players to truly feel powerful and unique in their own right.
• More Meaningful Rewards: In Forbidden West, the vast majority of outfits felt like cosmetic variations with minor bonuses. By linking skill trees to them, every new outfit would feel like a significant upgrade, a new path for Aloy to take. Upgrading an outfit would not only increase its base stats but would also unlock more advanced and powerful skills within its unique skill tree. This would give players a clear and tangible reason to hunt down rare machine parts and other crafting materials, as they would be directly contributing to Aloy’s progression and her ability to take on more formidable foes.

The Future of a Hero’s Journey

The proposed system would not only solve the problem of a lack of meaningful choice in Forbidden West but would also create a more immersive and dynamic world for Aloy. Her journey is one of learning and adapting, and her skill progression should reflect that. By making her skills and abilities directly tied to the gear she wears, Aloy’s power would feel more earned and more reflective of the tribes and environments she has learned from. This would be a major evolution for the series, one that would not only satisfy the most hardcore RPG fans but would also make the act of finding a new outfit a truly exciting and rewarding experience. As the team at Guerrilla Games begins to shape the next chapter of Aloy’s story, a more dynamic, gear-based skill tree is the most obvious and impactful way to take her journey to the next level.