{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-skill-tree","type":"mechanic","id":"game-mechanics--gm-skill-tree","lang":"en","title":"Skill tree","summary":"Progression points unlock linked nodes. A chosen path defines a specialization: some upgrades are immediate, while others require earlier investments.","updatedAt":"2026-10-21","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-skill-tree/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-skill-tree.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-skill-tree.md","aliases":["Skill trees"],"tags":["Game design techniques","Progression","Character"],"sourceIds":["source-722c8a012b5e794d","source-0fb531488d34e1c6","source-e6334788435add3d","source-5d6fd7309d3a0ef6","source-e90fabef292a4b97","source-099b58071670c2bb","source-9f2a915a1ac28603"],"sources":[{"id":"source-722c8a012b5e794d","title":"Game Mechanics: Skill tree","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/skill-tree","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-0fb531488d34e1c6","title":"Far Cry 3 (2012)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/skill-tree/game/far-cry-3","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-e6334788435add3d","title":"Far Cry 4 (2014)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/skill-tree/game/far-cry-4","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-5d6fd7309d3a0ef6","title":"Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Breakpoint (2019)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/skill-tree/game/tom-clancys-ghost-recon-breakpoint","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-e90fabef292a4b97","title":"Assassin's Creed Valhalla (2020)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/skill-tree/game/assassins-creed-valhalla","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-099b58071670c2bb","title":"Dying Light 2 Stay Human (2022)","url":"https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/skill-tree/game/dying-light-2","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-9f2a915a1ac28603","title":"Last Epoch","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/899770/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"Linked progression nodes govern the unlocking of abilities."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### How the technique works\n\n<a id=\"gm-skill-tree-rule\"></a>\n\n- Linked progression nodes govern the unlocking of abilities. <a id=\"gm-skill-tree-definition\"></a>"},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"All 199 Game Mechanics entries at the check date: player actions, systems, presentation techniques and contested patterns. Entries are grouped by their first source-card category; all categories appear in their descriptions. Definitions use original wording. References link to game-specific galleries; images and videos remain at the source."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"game-mechanics","id":"gm-skill-tree","title":"Game design techniques","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/game-mechanics/#gm-skill-tree","categoryIds":["gm-category-progression","gm-category-character"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-21","title":"Skill trees","description":"Progression points unlock linked nodes. A chosen path defines a specialization: some upgrades are immediate, while others require earlier investments.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/last-epoch-skill-tree.webp","width":1440,"height":810,"game":"Last Epoch","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/899770/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/899770/ss_e51b2a99932a05cc5e97da15080b358835c66343.1920x1080.jpg?t=1792426633","credit":"Eleventh Hour Games","rights":"© Eleventh Hour Games. All rights reserved.","caption":"Ballista upgrade branches","alt":"Last Epoch: a Ballista tree with allocated and empty nodes, connecting paths and three unspent points.","markers":[{"x":50,"y":22,"label":"Points still available to allocate"},{"x":57,"y":67,"label":"An allocated path connects several upgrades"}]},"tips":["Show a node’s requirements before a point is spent.","Distinguish changes in play style from numerical improvements."],"examples":[{"title":"Last Epoch","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/899770/"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Editorial reference index based on the 199 public Game Mechanics pattern pages checked on 2026-10-20. Original concise RU/EN definitions by gamemechanics.pro; pattern names, category associations and game-reference URLs retained from gamemechanics.org. The source gallery includes a film analogy. Linked materials retain their original rights; references are upstream attributions, not independent verification.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/game-mechanics"}}