The Skill Trees

As you kill enemies and fulfill objectives in Far Cry 4, you’ll earn Experience Points, also known as XP. And as you earn XP, you’ll earn Skill Points, which are used to unlock new abilities for Ajay and further customize his skills to your play style.

Each skill belongs to one of two “trees”, the Tiger or the Elephant. You begin the game with access to only the first six skills in each tree, but as you activate those skills and complete prerequisites like completing quests and activities and exploring Shangri-La, more advanced abilities will unlock.

Skills - The Tiger

Icon	Skill	Prerequisite	Description
	Death from Above	None	Able to jump or fall onto an enemy below you for a deadly takedown.
	Death from Below	Death from Above	Can take down one or two enemies on climbable ledges.
	Cover Takedown	Complete one Eye for an Eye quest.	Can silently dispatch an enemy while hiding behind cover.
	Grenade Takedown	Complete 1 Bomb Defusal quest.	Able to start a takedown, then use an enemy's grenade against him.
	Knife Throw Takedown	None	Gain ability to take down one enemy, then throw his knife at another.
	Handgun Takedown	Knife Throw Takedown	Gain ability to take down an enemy, take his gun, and use it to shoot others.
	Vehicle Takedown	Compete in one Kyrati Films: Racing quest.	Able to pull alongside an enemy's vehicle and hijack it, killing the driver and passenger.
	Chain Takedown	Defeat 1 retaliation party.	Gain ability to take down multiple enemies in sequence.
	Loot Takedown	None	You automatically loot an enemy while performing a takedown.
	Drag Takedown	Loot Takedown	Immediately after a takedown, you can grab and move the body.
	Bullet Sponge	Get 3 kills with a regular takedown.	Body armor is much more effective at absorbing damage.
	Heavy Takedown	Destroy 1 Pagan's Wrath convoy.	Gain ability to take down heavy gunners or heavy flamers.
	Running Reload	None	You can reload any weapon while sprinting.
	At the Ready	Running Reload	You can switch weapons and aim much faster.
	Stay on Target	Get 3 headshot kills.	You can reload handguns and sniper rifles while aiming.
	Ammo Wrangler	Complete 1 Longinus bonus mission.	Reload speed for all weapons is greatly increased.
	Moving Target	None	Able to aim and fire any sidearm while moving a body.
	Casual Marksman	Moving Target	Shooting from the hip (without aiming) is more accurate.
	Huntsman	Ring 2 Bells of Enlightenment in Shangri-La.	Sway when aiming a bow is greatly reduced.
	Breath Control	Complete 2 Hostage Rescue quests.	Greatly increases time you can spend underwater, using oxygen masks, or steadying sniper scopes.
	Focused Driving	None	Vehicles can take more damage before needing repairs.
	Moving Mountains	Focused Driving	Corpses of heavy gunners and heavy flamers can now be moved.
	Soft Landing	Liberate 2 outposts without being detected.	You take reduced falling damage.
	Non-Stop	Reach Karma Level 4	Sprint duration becomes infinite.

Skills - The Elephant

	Capable Strength	None	Gain an additional health slot, for three in total.
	Forceful Strength	Capable Strength	Gain an additional health slot, for four in total.
	Dominant Strength	Complete the mission A Key to the North.	Gain an additional health slot, for five in total.
	Unyielding Strength	Complete the mission Payback.	Gain an additional health slot, for six in total.
	Healing Syringe Lv2	None	Healing syringe restores four slots of health.
	Inner Strength	Healing Syringe Lv2	Partially drained health bars will regenerate much faster.
	Improvised Surgery	Complete 1 Armed Escort quest.	Manual healing (without health syringes) restores three health slots.
	Healing Syringe Lv3	Craft 3 syringes of any type.	Healing syringe restores six slots of health.
	Gadget Training	None	Repair tool operates more swiftly, camera shows collectibles and you can set them as waypoints.
	Trade Agreement	Gadget Training	Trading posts now sell explosive arrows, fire arrows, and sticky explosive upgrades.
	Overdose Syringe	Complete 1 Kyrat Fashion Week quest.	Can craft syringe to give and receive double damage for 30 seconds.
	Karma Boosts	Purchase 1 upgrade for the Ghale homestead.	Karma boosts increase by 5% (can be learned ten times).
	Harvester	None	Get twice as many leaves from each plant you harvest.
	Hunting Syringe	Harvester	Can craft syringe that highlights enemies and animals for 30 seconds.
	Hunting Syringe Lv2	Complete the mission Truth and Justice.	Hunting syringe now makes you virtually silent; animals won't attack or flee unless provoked.
	Duration Boosts	Complete 1 Yogi and Reggie bonus mission.	Hunting syringe lasts 5 seconds longer (can be learned five times).
	Rhino Skin	None	Fire and explosions damage you less.
	Survival Syringe	Rhino Skin	Player can craft syringe that reduces chance of getting knocked down and physical damage. Lasts 30 seconds.
	Survival Syringe Lv2	Purchase 1 Signature Weapon.	Can craft syringe that highlights enemies and animals for 30 seconds.
	Duration Boosts	Reach rank 2 in the arena.	Survival syringe lasts five seconds longer (can be learned 5 times).
	Elephant Rider	None	Can ride elephants, charging or bashing enemies at will.
	Focus Syringe	Elephant Rider	Can craft syringe that enables player to run and swim faster and spend more time underwater. Lasts 30 seconds.
	Focus Syringe Lv2	Complete the mission A Key to the North.	Focus syringe now makes you more difficult to hit with weapons fire.
	Duration Boosts	Complete 1 Kyrat Fashion Week quest.	Focus syringe now lasts 5 seconds longer (can be learned 5 times).

Generally speaking, the Tiger skills are geared toward offense, speed, and stealth, whereas the Elephant skills are more about health, healing, and defense. But don’t sweat it. You’re free to mix and match however you like, and a thorough player can easily unlock every skill on both trees long before the end of the game.

We thought the Knife Throw takedown was the coolest thing ever. Then we unlocked Elephant Rider.