Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy — Best Skills to Unlock First

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy radically overhauls the series' familiar gameplay formula. The hide-and-sneak stealth of Innocence and Requiem gives way to an aggressive, fast-paced combat system built around melee. The protagonist, Sophia, is armed with a sword, a dagger, and a grappling hook.

The upgrade system revolves around Resonance Points, which you earn after fights and find in large chests while exploring. There are six core skills in all, each with two mutually exclusive upgrade paths (masteries). The system's big advantage: you can reset the skill tree completely free of charge at any time.

Here's a detailed guide to the best skills worth leveling first so you can hold your own in combat.

This section rounds up the key skills you should upgrade first.

Hero's Step lets you perform two dashes in a row instead of one.

Brutes — large enemies that unleash drawn-out chains of red, unblockable attacks — show up fairly early. A single dodge often isn't enough to get clear of a blow. This is a basic survival skill for the opening stretch.

If you press the dodge button just as you're about to be hit, Sophia grabs the attacker and hurls them into the crowd, stunning the whole group.

Be sure to level the branch that lets you counter yellow (guard-breaking) attacks. That spares you from having to dodge those powerful lunges and turns them into a chance for mass crowd control instead.

Bullbreaker Kick is a powerful double kick (double-tap the kick button) that knocks the enemy back a good distance and breaks their concentration.

Go for the upgrade that adds extra stun when an enemy slams into something solid (a wall or other enemies). Resonance has excellent collision physics. By flinging soldiers into one another, you fill up their Stun Bar quickly, opening the way for an instant dagger execution.

Skills are only half of your build. To maximize your damage, pair your upgrades with the right gear and a solid grasp of the game's core mechanics.

The grappling hook is available by default and works wonderfully with a good weapon. Pulling enemies in throws them off balance and opens a window for a Critical Strike that kills in a single hit. It's the perfect tool for quickly picking off single targets.

The campaign hides up to eight different blades, each with its own passive property. Don't stick with your starting weapon for too long. Look for:

In side areas you can find bracelets, rings, and coins. Equip the very first bracelet you come across and you'll get a chance to deal increased Critical Strike damage.

Don't try to play stealthily unless the game clearly calls for it. Combat rewards rhythmic parrying and using the environment — knocking enemies into one another. If you get surrounded, use the grappling hook to close the gap to the enemy on the edge of the group, or mass-stun them with Echo's Return.

Ultimately, success in Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy comes down to how effectively you adapt to its aggressive playstyle. Don't be afraid to experiment with combinations of skills and gear — since you can reset your progress for free, you can tailor your build to each specific challenge. Master the rhythm of parrying, turn the environment to your advantage, and remember to switch out your gear at the right moments. These simple steps will help you turn Sophia into a formidable force capable of handling any obstacle in her path.