Skills & Upgrades — Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Guide

Skills & Upgrades

Mastering the skill system in Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is crucial for survival, especially as you delve into higher difficulties and the challenging Raid Mode. This section will guide you through effective strategies for acquiring and allocating skill points, ensuring your characters are optimized for the trials ahead.

Understanding Skill Points

Skill points are earned primarily by leveling up your characters through combat and completing objectives. These points are then spent at the workbench to unlock and upgrade various abilities. Each character has a unique skill tree, though some universal skills are shared. Prioritize skills that complement your playstyle and the specific challenges of each episode.

General Skill Acquisition Tips

• Combat Efficiency: Focus on headshots and critical hits to dispatch enemies quickly and conserve ammo. More efficient combat leads to more experience points (XP) and thus, more skill points.
• Exploration: Thoroughly explore every area. Hidden items, documents, and even environmental puzzles can sometimes reward bonus XP.
• Daily Challenges (Raid Mode): In Raid Mode, always check and complete your daily challenges. These often reward "blue hearts" which are a valuable currency for specific upgrades and unlocks.
• Grinding (Raid Mode): If you find yourself struggling, replaying earlier, easier Raid Mode missions can be an effective way to accumulate XP and skill points before tackling tougher stages.

Character-Specific Skill Strategies

Claire Redfield / Barry Burton (Campaign)

For the main campaign, focus on skills that enhance combat effectiveness and survivability for both Claire and Barry. Remember that their skill trees are distinct, so tailor upgrades to their individual strengths.

• Claire's Priorities:
  • Weapon Handling: Invest in skills that improve reload speed and weapon stability for her primary firearms (pistols, assault rifles).
  • Dodge/Evasion: Skills that enhance her dodge ability are invaluable for avoiding enemy attacks, especially against faster, more aggressive infected.
  • Melee Boost: While not a primary focus, a few points in melee can help create space or finish off weakened enemies in a pinch.
• Barry's Priorities:
  • Firepower: Barry's magnum and shotgun are his bread and butter. Prioritize skills that increase damage output, critical hit chance, and ammo capacity for these weapons.
  • Defense: Skills that boost his overall health and reduce damage taken are highly beneficial, allowing him to tank more hits.
  • Explosives: If you frequently use grenades or Molotovs, consider investing in skills that increase their effectiveness or carrying capacity.

Moira Burton / Natalia Korda (Campaign)

Moira and Natalia's skills are focused on support and utility, which are equally vital for success.

• Moira's Priorities:
  • Flashlight Mastery: Upgrade her flashlight's effectiveness against invisible enemies and for revealing hidden items. This is paramount for finding crucial supplies.
  • Crowbar Combat: While not a primary damage dealer, enhancing her crowbar's stun capability can be a lifesaver for her partner.
  • Healing/Support: Skills that improve her ability to heal Claire or provide other support functions are excellent for team survivability.
• Natalia's Priorities:
  • Enemy Sense: Natalia's ability to sense enemies is her most powerful asset. Max out skills that increase her detection range and allow her to pinpoint weak spots.
  • Brick Throw: Upgrading her brick throw for increased stun duration or damage can be surprisingly effective against certain enemy types.
  • Item Detection: Skills that highlight hidden items from further away will ensure you never miss valuable resources.

Raid Mode Skill Recommendations

Raid Mode introduces a more extensive and complex skill system. Here, careful planning is key, as some skills become obsolete quickly, while others are essential for late-game success.

• Avoid Early Game Pitfalls:
  • Melee Punches/Knives: As noted by experienced players, avoid upgrading basic melee attacks (punches, knives). They become largely useless against stronger enemies in later chapters.
  • Pistol/SMG Perks: While useful early on, pistols and submachine guns often lack the stopping power needed for high-level Raid Mode missions. Focus on more powerful weapon types.
• Essential Raid Mode Skills:
  • Health Perk: This is a universal recommendation. Upgrading your health allows you to withstand more damage, which is critical in challenging encounters.
  • Magnum Perk: The magnum is an incredibly powerful weapon in Raid Mode. Investing heavily in its associated perks (damage, critical chance, ammo capacity) will pay dividends.
  • Shotgun/Rifle Perks: Depending on your preferred playstyle, prioritize perks for shotguns (for close-range crowd control) or rifles (for precision long-range damage).
  • Weapon Mastery (Specific Types): Once you find a weapon type you excel with, invest in its specific mastery skills to maximize its potential.
  • Character-Specific Skills: Before committing to a character, review their unique skill tree. Some characters have skills that synergize incredibly well with certain weapon types or playstyles. For example, characters with innate damage bonuses for specific weapons can become powerhouses with the right skill investments.
• Resource Management:
  • Sell Inferior Weapons: Regularly check your inventory and sell any weapons that are clearly inferior to your current loadout. This frees up inventory space and provides valuable gold for other upgrades.
  • Sell Unused Weapons: If you acquire a weapon type you never use, sell it. Don't hoard items that won't contribute to your success.

By following these guidelines, you'll be well-equipped to navigate the horrors of Resident Evil: Revelations 2 and emerge victorious, no matter the challenge.