Summary
- Skills in Dragonwilds level up as players perform actions, allowing focus and early advantages.
- Unlocking specific skills in categories like Mining and Woodcutting helps with gathering materials efficiently.
- Developing skills in Construction, Runecrafting, and Attack are key for crafting, building, and combat success.
The new co-op survival spin-off of the long-running Jagex MMO, RuneScape: Dragonwilds, released into early access in April. The game has received praise from most players, with Steam reviews at very positive so far, and sets a solid foundation for a survival game with enough of RuneScape's identity to appeal to fans of the MMORPG.
Skills in RuneScape: Dragonwilds progress as players perform actions in that skill category. So, Woodcutting increases when chopping trees, Attack increases when fighting enemies, and so on. There are seven overall categories (with two more announced to be added), and individual skills unlock at level milestones in these categories.
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That means that players can focus on leveling whatever skill they choose if they stick to one activity, and grind out those important milestone skills for an early advantage. Players will naturally level all their skills just by playing the game, but for an early head start, these are the best skills to unlock first in RuneScape: Dragonwilds.
11 Lift With Your Hips
Convenient Carrying
- Skill Category: Mining
- Unlocked: Level 5
- Effect: The weight of sand, clay, and stone is reduced by 25%
Players will need a lot of raw materials in RuneScape: Dragonwilds, and this level 5 skill in the Mining category will allow them to carry more sand, clay, and stone at a time. It might not seem like the most impressive upgrade, but players will appreciate it when gathering construction materials.
10 Axtral Projection
Tree Toppler
- Skill Category: Woodcutting
- Unlocked: Level 11
- Effect: Throw a spectral axe to cut down trees in its path
Another raw material that players will need a lot of is wood. The Woodcutting skill comes in handy, as this spectral axe lets players fell multiple trees in a row with one throw. Players will still need to chop the logs with the earlier overhead chop skill, which slows down the collection process a little, but throwing a spectral axe to chop down trees is a woodcutter's dream.
9 Middle Ground
Building Blocks
- Skill Category: Construction
- Unlocked: Level 3
- Effect: Unlocks medium building pieces
This is an essential skill for base builders, as it unlocks medium building pieces. Subsequent upgrades in the Construction tree allow for further unlocks, and thus more customization when building. Players will get construction experience naturally as they build, so it's not something players need to focus on, but expanding the options in this category allows for more convenience in the long run.
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8 Eye Of Oculus
A New Perspective
- Skill Category: Construction
- Unlocked: Level 11
- Effect: Unlocks a new perspective for construction
For players who want to spend a lot of time building and getting their structures just right, this level 11 skill unlock in the construction tree is worth getting. Eye of Oculus unlocks a separate viewpoint, similar to an isometric building mode, allowing players to build with more ease and precision.
7 Windstep
Jump High
- Skill Category: Runecrafting
- Unlocked: Level 8
- Effect: Jump higher and descend more slowly
Runecrafting is an essential skill to level, as players will want the ability to craft new runes as soon as they can get it. This skill in the Runecrafting category is useful, allowing players to jump higher and fall more slowly, which can be very handy for getting around in RuneScape: Dragonwilds.
6 Earth/Fire/Law/Nature Runes
Runesmithing
- Skill Category: Runecrafting
- Unlocked: Level 11/13/16/18
- Effect: Create earth/fire/law/nature runes at a rune altar
Runes are a core part of RuneScape: Dragonwilds, as long-time RuneScape players might expect. They're needed for all kinds of magical actions in the game, from throwing the spectral axe to casting spells. Players start with access to air and astral runes, but they're going to want to unlock the higher tiers of runes as soon as possible.
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Fortunately, players just need to mine enough Rune Essence to craft multiple batches of runes at a time at a rune altar, and the skill can be leveled quite quickly.
5 Parry
Perfect Timing
- Skill Category: Attack
- Unlocked: Level 5
- Effect: Block at the right time to stagger enemies and deal increased damage
As well as gathering and crafting, combat is a big part of RuneScape: Dragonwilds. Parry is the level 5 skill unlock in the attack tree, and it functions as a timed block that is an invaluable defensive move.
If players time their block well, they'll stagger the opponent and deal more damage with follow-up attacks. If players get into a few early-game fights, it won't be long until they unlock this essential move.
4 Melee Weapon Special Actions
Special Attacks
- Skill Category: Attack
- Unlocked: Level 8
- Effect: Unlocks unique special attacks for melee weapons
At level 8 in Attack, players get access to unique moves for each melee weapon. These attacks are different depending on the melee weapon being used, like a leaping slam for the mace or a thrusting stab for the sword, and deal more damage than standard attacks.
Some special weapons also get unique animations for their special actions, like the Abyssal Whip's ground-shattering effect.
3 Mine Crumbled Walls/Chop Thorny Vines
Access New Areas
- Skill Category: Mining/Woodcutting
- Unlocked: Level 20
- Effect: Access new areas by breaking walls/chopping vines
These skills are found at level 20 in the Mining and Woodcutting categories, and they're the only way players can access certain areas in RuneScape: Dragonwilds. That means that every player is going to want to work toward getting these two skills.
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Melee weapons are incredibly powerful in RuneScape: Dragonwilds because of their stagger abilities and high raw damage output.
Level 20 might sound like a goal that players won't reach for a while, but both mining and woodcutting are needed a lot in general gameplay, and players can always focus on either activity to level them faster.
2 Infernal Alchemy
Reset Buffs
- Skill Category: Cooking
- Unlocked: Level 20
- Effect: Reset all active food/drink buffs
Cooking doesn't have many milestone benefits until its later levels, but it's still a skill that players shouldn't ignore. Buffs from food and drink can come in very handy in the game, and players need to keep their character fed.
Players need to get to level 20 to unlock this skill, which allows them to reset the timers on their active food and drink buffs. Level 20 is a long way to go, but it helps that it's fairly easy to grind the cooking skill in the early game just by boiling water.