Skills define a character’s specialty and, where the skill supports growth, add stronger effects at later tiers. Blank tier cells mean the skill has no separate text for that tier; they are not filled with guessed bonuses.
For the named-character roster and confirmed recruitment triggers, see the characters guide.
Complete Skill Table
| Skill | Purpose | Growth | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army Driver | Benny’s bad sight also made him a careful driver so fuel economy with him at the wheel is a given. | No separate growth text | 25% fuel economy | - | - |
| Cold Eye | Miguel’s form of compassion has always been putting wounded enemies out of their misery for good. | No separate growth text | +10 marksmanship vs injured targets (under 50% HP) | - | - |
| Combat Veteran | Captain Adams might be retired but his medals speak volumes about his ability to terminate human life on command. | No separate growth text | +20% damage vs humans | - | - |
| CQB Expert | You were always sent in first when breeching rooms. You learn to act fast and shoot first. | Use pistols/SMG/shotguns to attack | -1AP with close range weapons | -2AP with grenades | You win all initiative rounds |
| Deer Hunter | Hunting deer with dad as a child gave Kaylee quite a steady hand with medium and long range rifles. | No separate growth text | +5 marksmanship with hunting and sniper rifles | - | - |
| Field Nurse | Lucy’s big mouth is only matched by her big heart and compassion for those in dire need of help. | No separate growth text | Starts with Tier 1 Medic and +50% medic perks bonuses | - | - |
| Fix-All | Owen has been fixing stuff around the townhall since ever. Give the man a tool kit and let him work his magic. | No separate growth text | Starts with Tier 1 Mechanic and +50% repair efficiency | - | - |
| Immune | You have a natural immunity to the zombie virus. Undead can still eat your brains, but you won’t turn. | No separate growth text | Immunity to the zombie virus | - | - |
| Mauler | An enraged Bear will smash through a brickwall with bare hands. Give him a melee weapon and he’ll do it twice as fast. | No separate growth text | -1AP with any melee attacks | - | - |
| Mechanic | You are qualified to use the toolbox to fix and fabricate items like a true bushcraft mechanic. | Craft and repair items | Ability to use toolboxes | You consume less of the toolbox when repairing | You consume less salvaged parts when repairing |
| Medic | You are qualified to use the field medical kit, with varying degrees of success. | Use any medical item | Ability to use medkits | Your heals also restore 30% stamina of your patient | You heal 50% of the lost life instantly, and the rest 50% is on fast recovery |
| Melee Expert | You are trained in martial arts and lethal attacks with melee weapons. | Use melee weapons to attack | +20% stamina damage on melee attacks | -20% stamina taken from melee damage | Unlocks special melee attacks |
| Night Ops | Jake has always preffered to work in the dark. Maybe because he can actually see through it better than most of us. | No separate growth text | 2 tiles extra vision at night | - | - |
| Pain Is Faith | Life as a cult monk has taught Samuel that the harder the pain is, the toughest the mind becomes. | No separate growth text | Takes -25% damage when below 50% HP | - | - |
| Scout | Your ability to move like a ninja is now matched by the skill to hit at the enemy’s vital points. | Sneak in enemy detection range | Sneak behind enemies without alerting them | Crouching makes no noise | Stealth melee attacks never miss |
| Smuggler | Life as Honest Joe’s errand boy has taught Bubba to see through any trader’s haggling technique and extract the best prices always. | No separate growth text | Traders always give best price (no faction bias) | - | - |
| Sniper | You have spent enough time on the range to confidently call yourself a sniper. | Use sniper rifles to attack | +5 marksmanship overall bonus | +5 marksmanship with sniper rifles | +5 marksmanship for headshots |
| Soldier | Grunt training done - you learned to keep low and put lead downrange fast. | Use hunting/assault rifles or crossbows to attack | -5 penalty for the enemy attacking you, when you are in cover | +5 marksmanship with assault/hunting rifles and crossbows | -1AP when shooting in burst fire mode |
| Tough Nut | Work on the farm paid off for Billy Bo - now he can haul the heaviest of backpacks without breaking a sweat. | No separate growth text | 50% extra carry capacity | - | - |
| Zombie Herder | Mary’s forced traning as a zombie herder removed her fear of the undead and replaced it with a pure rage at the sight of them. | No separate growth text | +20% damage vs zombies | - | - |
Reading the Tiers
Tier text describes the additional effect supplied at that level. When only Tier 1 is listed, use the skill’s main description as the complete effect rather than assuming later improvements.