The skill tree is split into three branches for every hero. While the branches are separate, there are connections between them. However, these connections vary between combinations of branches.
The left branch is based on the class of the hero (Infantry, Ranged, or Support), and is exclusively bonuses related to armies. The middle branch is common to all heroes, regardless of faction or class. The right branch is based on the faction of the hero.
For example, all infantry units have the same class branch (left side, blue colored icons). They also have the same common branch (center, green icons) since all heroes have it. However, a Vaulter infantry hero will have a different faction branch (right side, orange icons) than a Broken Lord infantry hero.
Combinations
While the common skill tree is available on every hero not all combinations of faction and class trees are available through the default game. The possible combinations are listed below.
| Faction | Wild Walkers | Broken Lords | Vaulters | Necrophages | Ardent Mages | Roving Clans | Drakken | Cultists | Forgotten | Morgawr | Allayi | Haunts | Sisters of Mercy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranged | Yes | - | Yes | - | - | Yes | - | - | - | - | Yes | - | - |
| Infantry | - | Yes | - | Yes | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | - | - | - | Yes† |
| Support | - | - | - | - | Yes | - | Yes | - | - | Yes | - | - | - |
| Flying | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Yes* | - |
* See Eslek Tarosh.
†See Valete Sapiri Kugua.
Center Branch (Common)
Common Skill Tree
Common skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Indiana Bones | Level 1: Reduces by 10% the odds to loot nothing after a search on ruins. Increases by 5% the odds to get loot or an event. Level 2: Reduces by 10% the odds to loot nothing after a search on ruins. Increases by 5% the odds to get loot or an event. |
Army |
| 2 |  |
No Idle Hands | Level 1: +1 XP per turn on units. Level 2: +1 XP per turn on units. Level 3: +1 XP per turn on units. |
Army |
| 2 |  |
Fast Healer | Level 1: x2 recovery speed from the "Disabled" state on hero, -20% cost of the instant heal on hero. Level 2: x2 recovery speed from the "Disabled" state on hero, -40% cost of the instant heal on hero. |
Any |
| 3 |  |
Siege Mentality | Level 1: +15% Attack on units when being involved in a siege. Level 2: +15% Attack on units when being involved in a siege. |
Army |
| 3 |  |
Lord of the Trance | Level 1: +5  on infiltrated Hero. Level 2: +5 on infiltrated Hero. |
Spy |
| 3 |  |
Defender | Level 1: +50 Fortification  on city. Level 2: +50 Fortification on city. Level 3: +100 Fortification on city. |
City |
| 4 |  |
Thrifty | Level 1: -20%  on military upkeep. Level 2: -20% on military upkeep. |
Army |
| 4 |  |
Face Reader | Level 1: +15 security  on city. Level 2: +15 security on city. |
City |
| 4 |  |
Inspirational Leader | Level 1: +5%  on city, +5%  on city, +5%  on city, +5% on city. Level 2: +5% on city, +5% on city, +5% on city, +5% on city. Level 3: +10% on city, +10% on city, +10% on city, +10% on city. |
City |
| 5 |  |
Cold Operator | Level 1: No negative effects from winter. | Any |
Left Branch (Class)
Ranged Skill Tree
Ranged skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Agile Mover | Level 1: +1  movement on units. Level 2: +1 movement on units. |
Army |
| 2 |  |
Farsighted | Level 1: +1 vision on army. | Army |
| 3 |  |
Spare Quiver | Level 1: +1 extra accessory slot on hero. | Army |
| 4 |  |
Staggered Blows | Level 1: +12  attack on units. Level 2: +12 attack on units. Level 3: +26 attack on units. |
Army |
| 4 |  |
Perfectly Balanced | Level 1: +1 Range in battle on ranged units. | Army |
| 5 |  |
Artisan's Eye | Level 1: +15  Damage on units. Level 2: +10% Damage on units. Level 3: +10% Damage on units. |
Army |
Infantry Skill Tree
Infantry skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Strength of the Wild | Level 1: +10 defense  on hero. Level 2: +10 defense on hero. Level 3: +20% defense on hero.
|
Army |
| 2 |  |
Iron Taskmaster | Level 1: +25 Life  on units. Level 2: +25 Life on units. Level 3: +50 Life on units.
|
Army |
| 3 | 
|
Armor Engineer | Level 1: +1 Extra accessory slot on hero. | Army |
| 4 | 
|
Garb of Battle | Level 1: +5 defense on units. Level 2: +10 defense on units. Level 3: +10 defense on units.
|
Army |
| 4 | 
|
Rallying Call | Level 1: +2 Reinforcement positions on army. | Army |
| 5 | 
|
Ice in the Veins | Level 1: Immunity to the movement reduction due to winter on army. Immunity to the attribute reduction due to winter on army. Level 2: +20% Defense on hero.
|
Army |
Support Skill Tree
Support skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Defensive Tactician | Level 1: +5 defense on units. Level 2: +5 defense on units. Level 3: +15% defense on units. |
Army |
| 2 |  |
Keen Observer | Level 1: +1 Reinforcement position on army. Level 2: +1 Reinforcement position on army. |
Army |
| 3 |  |
Battle Hymn | Level 1: +6 attack on units. Level 2: +8 attack on units. Level 3: +15% attack on units. |
Army |
| 3 |  |
Practiced Strike | Level 1: +5 Initiative  on units. Level 2: +7 Initiative on units. Level 3: +15% Initiative on units. |
Army |
| 4 |  |
Last Reserves | Level 1: +30 Life on units. Level 2: +30 Life on units. Level 3: +15% Life on units. |
Army |
| 5 |  |
Armor Ergonomics | Level 1: +1 Extra accessory slot on hero. | Army |
Flying Skill Tree
Flying skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
Practiced Strike | Level 1: +5 Initiative on units. Level 2: +7 Initiative on units. Level 3: +15% Initiative on units. |
Army |
| 2 |  |
Flight Master | Level 1: +2 on flying unit. Level 2: +2 on flying unit. |
Army |
| 3 |  |
Strike from Above | Level 1: +5 Damage on hero. Level 2: +7 Damage on hero. Level 3: +15% Damage on hero. |
Army |
| 3 |  |
Aerial View | Level 1: +2 Fortification Damage  per turn  on units. Level 2: +2 Fortification Damage per turn on units. Level 3: +4 Fortification Damage per turn on units. |
Army |
| 4 | |
Armor Ergonomics | Level 1: +1 Extra accessory slot on hero. | Any |
| 5 |  |
Battle Perspective | Level 1: +5 Damage on units. Level 2: +10 Damage on units. Level 3: +15 Damage on units. |
Army |
Right Branch (Faction)
Wild Walkers Skill Tree
Wild Walkers skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Functioning Insomniac | Level 1: -2 Assignment cooldown on hero. Level 2: -2 Assignment cooldown on hero. |
Any |
| 2 |  |
Woodland Forager | Level 1: +1 on terrain with forest. |
City |
| 3 |  |
Natural Resources | Level 1: +6 on city. Level 2: +6 on city. Level 3: +10 on city. |
City |
| 4 |  |
Behemoth Tamer | Level 1: -12% building production cost reduction on city. Level 2: -12% building production cost reduction on city. |
City |
| 4 |  |
Living Walls | Level 1: -30% on city upkeep. Level 2: -30% on city upkeep. Level 3: -30% on city upkeep. |
City |
| 5 |  |
Natural Architect | Level 1: +15% on city. Level 2: +15% on city. Level 3: +15% on city. |
City |
Broken Lords Skill Tree
Broken Lords skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Aquatic Dust | Level 1: +1 on terrain with river. Level 2: +2 on terrain with river. Level 3: +2 on terrain with river. |
City |
| 2 |  |
Dust Diviner | Level 1: +1 on terrain with dust. Level 2: +1 on terrain with dust. Level 3: +1 on terrain with dust. |
City |
| 2 |  |
Distributed Defenses | Level 1: +10% Defense on units. Level 2: +10% Defense on units. Level 3: +10% Defense on units. |
Army |
| 3 |  |
Mining Authority | Level 1: +0.5 resource (Strategic  and Luxury  ) on deposit. Level 2: +0.5 resource (Strategic and Luxury ) on deposit. Level 3: +0.5 resource (Strategic and Luxury ) on deposit. |
City |
| 4 |  |
Siege Engine | Level 1: +2 Fortification Damage per turn on units. Level 2: +2 Fortification Damage per turn on units. Level 3: +4 Fortification Damage per turn on units. |
Army |
| 5 |  |
Dust Trickery | Level 1: +15% on city. Level 2: +15% on city. Level 3: +15% on city. |
City |
Vaulters Skill Tree
Vaulters skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Alchemical Genius | Level 1: +2 on city center. +2 on district. Level 2: +2 on city center. +2 on district. Level 3: +2 on city center. +2 on district. |
City |
| 2 |  |
Escape Artist | Level 1: Allows the hero to leave besieged cities. | Any |
| 2 |  |
Thick Skinned | Level 1: +15 Defense on hero. Level 2: +20 Defense on hero. Level 3: +20 Defense on hero. |
Army |
| 3 |  |
Subterranean Networker | Level 1: +4 Fortification Recovery per turn on city. Level 2: +8 Fortification Recovery per turn on city. With ELCP: +1 per unused Fortification Recovery on terrain with Strategic Resources. Level 3: +8 Fortification Recovery per turn on city. With ELCP: +1 per unused Fortification Recovery on terrain with Strategic Resources. |
City |
| 4 |  |
Tunnel Rat | Level 1: No blockade penalty on FIDS | City |
| 5 |  |
Mechanical Exhibitionist | Level 1: +1 per trade route. +50% on city trade routes. Level 2: +1 per trade route. +50% on city trade routes. Level 3: +2 per trade route. +100% on city trade routes. |
City |
Necrophages Skill Tree
Necrophages skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Necrotic Agriculture | Level 1: +8 on city. Level 2: +8 on city. Level 3: +14 on city. |
City |
| 2 |  |
Slave Driver | Level 1: +12% Unit cost reduction on city. Level 2: +12% Unit cost reduction on city. |
City |
| 3 |  |
Roadside Picnic | Level 1: +5% Health regen in owned region on army. +5% Health regen in allied region on army. Level 2: +5% Health regen in owned region on army. +5% Health regen in allied region on army. Level 3: +5% Health regen in owned region on army. +5% Health regen in allied region on army. |
Army |
| 3 |  |
Cadaverous Pesticides | Level 1: +15% on city. Level 2: +15% on city. Level 3: +15% on city. |
City |
| 4 |  |
Berserker Pheromone | Level 1: +25% Attack on hero. |
Army |
| 5 |  |
Iron Constitution | Level 1: +5% Health regen in owned region on army. +5% Health regen in allied region on army. +5% Health regen in non-allied region on army. Level 2: +5% Health regen in owned region on army. +5% Health regen in allied region on army. +5% Health regen in non-allied region on army. Level 3: +5% Health regen in owned region on army. +5% Health regen in allied region on army. +5% Health regen in non-allied region on army. |
Army |
Ardent Mages Skill Tree
Ardent mages skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Renaissance Thinker | Level 1: +8 on city. Level 2: +8 on city. Level 3: +14 on city. |
City |
| 2 |  |
Seething Fire | Level 1: +10% Attack on units. Level 2: +10% Attack on units. Level 3 +10% Attack on units. |
Army |
| 2 |  |
Scientific Literacy | Level 1: +2 on terrain with anomaly. Level 2: +3 on terrain with anomaly. Level 3: +3 on terrain with anomaly. |
City |
| 3 |  |
Deadly Anatomy | Level 1: +15 attack on hero. Level 2: +20 attack on hero. Level 3: +20% attack on hero. |
Army |
| 4 |  |
Persuasive Methods | Level 1: -50% expansion disapproval received on city. Level 2: -50% expansion disapproval received on city. |
City |
| 5 |  |
Firestarter | Level 1: +15% on city. Level 2: +15% on city. Level 3: +15% on city. |
City |
Roving Clans Skill Tree
Roving Clans skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Traveling Salesman | Level 1: +2 on terrain with anomaly. Level 2: +3 on terrain with anomaly. Level 3: +3 on terrain with anomaly. |
City |
| 2 |  |
Feet on the Street | Level 1: +100% Ownership recovery rate on city. Level 2: +50% Ownership recovery rate on city. x0 Expansion disapproval on city |
City |
| 2 |  |
Safe Passage | Level 1: +25% trade route bonus on city trade routes. Level 2: +25% trade route bonus on city trade routes. Level 3: +50% trade route bonus on city trade routes. |
City |
| 3 |  |
Fast Trader | Level 1: +1 per trade route. +50% on city trade routes. Level 2: +1 per trade route. +50% on city trade routes. Level 3: +2 per trade route. +100% on city trade routes. |
City |
| 4 |  |
Game Theory | Level 1: +12% Unit cost reduction on city. Level 2: +12% Unit cost reduction on city. |
City |
| 5 |  |
Black Marketeer | Level 1: Allows the city to create trade routes with empires in cold war or war. | City |
Drakken Skill Tree
Drakken skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Irrigation Expert | Level 1: +1 on terrain with river. Level 2: +2 on terrain with river. Level 3: +2 on terrain with river. |
City |
| 2 (3 with ELCP) |  |
Raptor's Eye | Level 1: +1 Vision  on flying unit. |
Army |
| 3 |  |
Narrative Master | Level 1: +2  on city center. +2 on district. Level 2: +2 on city center. +2 on district. Level 3: +2 on city center. +2 on district. |
City |
| 4 (2 with ELCP) |  |
Friendly Banner | Level 1: Prevents the army from being attacked by roaming armies. | Army |
| 5 |  |
Cultural Ambassador | Level 1: +10  on city. With ELCP: +1 per Approval above 100 on terrain with Village. Level 2: +10 on city. With ELCP: +0.3 per Approval above 100 on terrain with Village. Level 3: +10 on city. |
City |
| 5 |  |
Battlesaur | Level 1: +10% Life on units. Level 2: +10% Life on units. Level 3: +10% Life on units. |
Army |
If you play with ELCP there is some changes:
- "Friendly Banner" is available earlier on Level 2 (when it is actually useful).
- "Raptors Eye" moved to Level 3 and connects to "Narrative Master" and "Defender" in order to provide a better path towards "Inspirational Leader".
- "Cultural Ambassador" directly connects to "Narrative Master", "Cold Operator" and "Battlesaur", offering alternative skill paths for generals and governors.
Cultists Skill Tree
Cultist skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Impassioned Preacher | Level 1: +1 per  in city. +1 per in city. +1 per in city. +1 per in city. +1 per in city. Level 2: +1 per in city. +1 per in city. +1 per in city. +1 per in city. +1 per in city. Level 3: +1 per in city. +1 per in city. +1 per in city. +1 per in city. +1 per in city.
|
City |
| 2 |  |
Will of Cilginka | Level 1: +10% Attack on units. Level 2: +10% Attack on units. Level 3: +10% Attack on units.
|
Army |
| 2 | 
|
Will of Akili | Level 1: +15% on city. Level 2: +15% on city. Level 3: +15% on city.
|
City |
| 3 | 
|
Will of Isiver | Level 1: +10% Defense on units. Level 2: +10% Defense on units. Level 3: +10% Defense on units.
|
Army |
| 4 | 
|
Proselytizer | Level 1: +15% on city. Level 2: +15% on city. Level 3: +20% on city.
|
City |
| 5 | 
|
Tools of the Enemy | Level 1: +15% on city. Level 2: +15% on city. Level 3: +15% on city.
|
City |
Forgotten Skill Tree
Forgotten skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
Managed Torpor | Level 1: -2 Assignment cooldown on hero. Level 2: -2 Assignment cooldown on hero. |
Any |
| 2 |  |
Arboreal Dust Dowser | Level 1: +1 on terrain with forest. Level 2: +2 on terrain with forest. Level 3: +2 on terrain with forest. |
City |
| 3 |  |
Sang Froid | Level 1: +10% on units. Level 2: +10% on units. Level 3: +10% on units. |
Army |
| 3 |  |
Double or Nothing | Level 1: +50% Seniority bonus on hero. Level 2: +50% Seniority bonus on hero. |
Spy |
| 5 |  |
Ghost Force | Level 1: Confers stealth on all units of the army. | Army |
| 5 |  |
One Step Ahead | Level 1: -50% Turns in jail on captured hero. Level 2: Cannot be captured when performing an infiltration action. |
Spy |
If you play with ELCP there is some changes:
- "Arboreal Dust Dowser" connects to "Sang Froid". While Forgotten Heroes will never make for premium governors, this change makes at least "Inspirational Leader" easier to reach.
Allayi Skill Tree
Allayi skill tree.
| Level | Icon | Name | Effect | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Pathfinder | Level 1: Army ignores movement penalties from terrain difficulty. | Army |
| 2 |  |
Awestriker | Level 1: +25% Bribe cost reduction on army. With ELCP: +15 Dust on terrain with Village. Level 2: +25% Bribe cost reduction on army. With ELCP: Refreshes ruins in the governed region at the start of each winter. |
Army (and City with ELCP) |
| 3 |  |
Improved Auriga Affinity | Level 1: +20% Pearls  received when collecting. +2 XP per collected pearl cluster. Level 2: +30% Pearls received when collecting. +3 XP per collected pearl cluster. |
Army |
| 3 |  |
Zealous Hands | Level 1: +20% Building Pearl Cost reduction on city. Level 2: +20% Building Pearl Cost reduction on city. |
City |
| 4 |  |
Chosen of Auriga | Level 1: +50% Health Penalty Reduction when retreating on army. Level 2: +50% Health Penalty Reduction when retreating on army. |
Army |
| 5 |  |
Coup de Grace | Level 1: +X% Attack where X is the percentage of Life lost by the target. |
Army |