Best Skills to Unlock First in Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
The best skills in Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy ranked: which of the 6 mastery branches to buy first, what each branch does, and how to spend 165 points.
Every skill in Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is paid for with Resonance Points — the glimmering white lights scattered through all 14 chapters — and since buying everything costs 165 of the 200 available points, your only real choice is the order. This guide ranks the six mastery branches for a smooth playthrough and explains the buying mechanics that catch players off guard.
How Skill Buying Works
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Currency | Resonance Points (white-light pickups + some combat rewards) |
| Structure | 6 mastery branches, each with a base skill and 2 sub-skills |
| Full tree cost | 165 points, fixed |
| Price scaling | Each purchase raises the price of later skills |
| Branch costs | 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 35 / 40 points |
| Menu path | Touchpad, Sophia, Skills |
| Trophy | Like a warrior (all branches complete) |
Because prices escalate, cherry-picking sub-skills across branches costs more in the long run than completing branches in sequence — but the differences are modest, so prioritize what fits your playstyle.
Branch Ranking for a First Playthrough
Tier 1: Buy These First
Combat survival branches dominate the early game because Resonance is far more melee-focused than earlier Plague Tale titles — Sophia fights head-on, and parry-related passives translate directly into fewer deaths (which also protects your unsaved Resonance Points at checkpoints).
Pair the first combat branch with a recovery branch if you find yourself dipping low in extended encounters.
Tier 2: Strong Mid-Game Picks
Utility and ability-duration branches gain value once combat encounters grow multi-wave in the middle chapters. Their sub-skills extend the tools you already use constantly.
Tier 3: Complete for the Trophy
The remaining branches still matter for Like a warrior — every branch must be fully bought, including both sub-skills. Since you need 165 points total and the game supplies 200, a diligent collector completes everything comfortably before the finale.
Recommended Buying Order
| Step | Purchase | Approx. Cumulative Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | First combat branch (base + sub-skills) | 15 |
| 2 | Second branch (recovery or parry focus) | 35 |
| 3 | Third branch | 60 |
| 4 | Fourth branch | 90 |
| 5 | Fifth branch | 125 |
| 6 | Sixth branch | 165 (trophy) |
Charm Synergy
Skills stack with the charm system: charms such as Bracelets can add critical-hit enhancements, while Signet Rings extend parry windows. If you are choosing between an extra chest detour and a skill point light, remember both systems feed the same combat loop — the lights are simply the only ones you can safely skip (35 of them, at most).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many skills are in Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy?
Six mastery branches, each with a base skill and two sub-skills — 18 skills total, costing 165 Resonance Points to unlock completely.
What are the best skills to get first in Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy?
Combat and parry-focused branches first: Resonance is more melee-driven than previous Plague Tale games, and surviving encounters protects your unsaved checkpoint progress. Follow with recovery and ability-duration branches.
How do I get more Resonance Points for skills?
Collect the glimmering white lights in every chapter — the game places 200 and you need 165. A few points also arrive automatically as combat rewards. Points cannot be farmed by replaying chapters.
Do skills carry over in Chapter Select?
Your unlocked skills persist, but your Resonance Point total resets to the amount you had when you first played a chapter — so you cannot use Chapter Select to re-earn points for more skills.