As the hero of Middle-earth: Shadow of War, Talion becomes stronger over the course of the story. Each time you level up toward the level 60 cap, you unlock a skill point. In addition, you can earn skill points from side and challenge missions, as well as certain collectibles. In total, completionists can expect to collect around 120 skill points, meaning there are plenty of decisions to make when looking at the skill tree.

Each skill Talion has can be upgraded by choosing from two or three unique options. For example, on one skill, I can augment it so that draining an enemy gives me more health and wrath, or I can opt to regain elf-shot ammunition. You can only choose one upgrade per perk at a time, but this level of customization allows players to craft their version of Talion to complement their playstyle.

Check out the many skills you can choose from when upgrading Talion. A handful of skills are being kept locked away by Monolith for fear of spoilers, but the vast majority of Talion's skills are represented in the list below.

Combat

Execution

When your might is full, you can execute enemies.

Upgrade 1: Grim Resolve

Gain might each time you are damaged in combat.

Gain might each time you are damaged in combat. Upgrade 2: Secret Might

Gain might for each kill while remaining undetected.

Gain might for each kill while remaining undetected. Upgrade 3: Fatal Might

Successful sword strikes gain much more might. Might fully resets after you take damage, miss an attack, or exit combat.

Perfect Counter

Well-timed counters knock down enemies.

Upgrade 1: Rain of Arrows

Well-timed counters replenish 1 Elf-shot.

Well-timed counters replenish 1 Elf-shot. Upgrade 2: Mighty Reversal

Gain might from each counter.

Gain might from each counter. Upgrade 3: Fatal Counter

Well-timed counters instantly kill enemy grunts. Ineffective against Captains and beasts.

Critical Strike

Melee attacks have a chance of causing Critical Hits for additional damage.

Upgrade 1: Reprisal

Your Critical Strike chance increases as your Health is reduced.

Your Critical Strike chance increases as your Health is reduced. Upgrade 2: Unstoppable

Your Critical Strike chance increases significantly as long as your hit streak is above 20.

Your Critical Strike chance increases significantly as long as your hit streak is above 20. Upgrade 3: Elven Precision

Timing a button press as your strike lands greatly increases your chances of a Critical Strike.

Ground Finisher

Decrease the amount of time it takes to perform Ground Executions on downed enemies.

Upgrade 1: Fury

Ground executions enable you to unleash a flurry of blows by rapidly tapping attack before finishing an enemy, gaining might on each hit.

Ground executions enable you to unleash a flurry of blows by rapidly tapping attack before finishing an enemy, gaining might on each hit. Upgrade 2: Wraith Shield

The Wraith can counter enemies while you complete a ground execution.

The Wraith can counter enemies while you complete a ground execution. Upgrade 3: Ground Drain

You can dominate or drain enemies who have been knocked down.

Brutal Aggression

Might can be double-charged, enabling Brutal Executions which cause nearby enemies to flee in terror.

Upgrade 1: Wraith Execution

Chain executions to additional enemies. Consumes Focus for each additional target.

Chain executions to additional enemies. Consumes Focus for each additional target. Upgrade 2: Ceaseless Might

Skills that require Might no longer fully deplete Might.

Retaliation

Time your Last Chance success perfectly to instantly kill the enemy targeting you. Does not apply to Captains, graugs, or drakes.

Upgrade 1: Adamant

Gain an additional Last Chance attempt.

Gain an additional Last Chance attempt. Upgrade 2: Vengeful Drain

Retaliation dominates or drains your attacker.

Retaliation dominates or drains your attacker. Upgrade 3: Burst of Might

Gain full might on a perfect Last Chance.

Predator

Elven Agility

You can get a burst of speed when leaping over objects, landing, or climbing. You can vault over a ledge at the top of a climb.

Upgrade 1: Spectral Dash

You can cross short distances or reach nearby enemies instantaneously while in stealth. Consumes focus.

You can cross short distances or reach nearby enemies instantaneously while in stealth. Consumes focus. Upgrade 2: Silent Runner

You can sprint without creating sound.

Brutalize

Perform a terrifying stealth kill, causing nearby enemies to flee while increasing both your Might and your hit streak.

Upgrade 1: Unyielding Ferocity

Using Brutalize gives a bonus to both your Might and hit streak.

Using Brutalize gives a bonus to both your Might and hit streak. Upgrade 2: Reckless Hate

Brutalize causes more enemies to flee.

Poison Tendril

You can poison grog barrels from afar.

Upgrade 1: Bursting Toxin

Grunts who drink from poisoned grog barrels explode, poisoning any nearby enemies.

Grunts who drink from poisoned grog barrels explode, poisoning any nearby enemies. Upgrade 2: Contagion

Enemies who drink from poisoned grog barrels go berserk and attack anyone nearby, spreading the poison.

Enemies who drink from poisoned grog barrels go berserk and attack anyone nearby, spreading the poison. Upgrade 3: Proximity Trigger

You can prime Morgai flies, cages, and bait to trigger when an enemy approaches.

Wraith Chain

You can target an additional enemy during a stealth kill. Each additional target consumes focus.

Upgrade 1: Monster Hunter

Stealth Kills can be used against Beasts.

Stealth Kills can be used against Beasts. Upgrade 2: Shadow Blade

Your first chained stealth kill consumes no Focus.

Deadly Spectre

While using attract you can leave behind a Wraith that will kill your target.

Upgrade 1: Terrifying Presence

Your Wraith will brutalize its target.

Your Wraith will brutalize its target. Upgrade 2: Spirit Drain

Your Wraith will dominate or drain its target.

Ranged

Detonate

You can Shadow Strike into a firepit, detonating it and lighting nearby enemies on fire.

Upgrade 1: Spider Song

Detonate a firepit and cause spiders to swarm the area.

Detonate a firepit and cause spiders to swarm the area. Upgrade 2: Bursting Arrow

Shoot firepits to detonate them without Shadow Striking into them.

Shoot firepits to detonate them without Shadow Striking into them. Upgrade 3: Matron's Scent

Detonate a firepit and cause ghûls to swarm the area.

Freeze Pin

Shooting an enemy's foot freezes them in place.

Upgrade 1: Brutal Cold

Freeze pin causes nearby enemies to flee in terror.

Freeze pin causes nearby enemies to flee in terror. Upgrade 2: Savage Ice

Freeze pin affects olog-hai and beasts.

Freeze pin affects olog-hai and beasts. Upgrade 3: Deep Freeze

Freeze pin duration is doubled.

Bird of Prey

Focus is consumed at a slower rate while in the air.

Upgrade 1: Eagle Sight

Focus is consumed at a slower rate while in the air.

Focus is consumed at a slower rate while in the air. Upgrade 2: Talon Strike

While falling, you can aim at the ground to strike the ground with a damaging blast that also stuns nearby enemies. Consumes Elf-shot.

Mighty Shot

When your Might is full, you can fire an explosive shot.

Upgrade 1: Firestorm

Mighty Shot causes a fire explosion.

Mighty Shot causes a fire explosion. Upgrade 2: Freeze Blast

Mighty Shot causes a frost explosion.

Mighty Shot causes a frost explosion. Upgrade 3: Venom

Mighty Shot causes a poison explosion.

Shadow Strike

Instantaneously reach an enemy to kill them or stun them. Consumes Elf-shot.

Upgrade 1: Chain of Shadows

You can chain to additional enemies from a Shadow Strike. Consumes focus for each additional target.

You can chain to additional enemies from a Shadow Strike. Consumes focus for each additional target. Upgrade 2: Shadow Strike Pull

Pull a targeted enemy to you and kill or stun them.

Pull a targeted enemy to you and kill or stun them. Upgrade 3: Shadow Dominate - Unlocked by completing Eltariel quests

While aiming at an enemy, you can reach them instantaneously and dominate them.

Wraith

Brace of Daggers

You can quick-throw a dagger that damages and staggers enemies.

Upgrade 1: Serrated Edge

Thrown daggers have a chance of causing critical strikes.

Thrown daggers have a chance of causing critical strikes. Upgrade 2: Swift Barrage

Three daggers can be thrown rapidly.

Three daggers can be thrown rapidly. Upgrade 3: Rain of Blades

Throw five daggers at once to hit multiple enemies.

Elven Light

Unleash a powerful blast when your might is full, stunning and temporarily blinding nearby enemies.

Upgrade 1: Cleansing Blaze

Elven Light also sets enemies on fire.

Elven Light also sets enemies on fire. Upgrade 2: Winter's Breath

Elven Light also freezes enemies.

Elven Light also freezes enemies. Upgrade 3: Poison Blast

Elven Light also poisons enemies.

Ice Storm

Freeze enemies, then follow with a flurry of sword strikes.

Upgrade 1: Shower of Ice

Freeze all enemies in an area in front of you. The higher your hit streak, the larger the area of effect.

Freeze all enemies in an area in front of you. The higher your hit streak, the larger the area of effect. Upgrade 2: Frostbite

Ice Storm finishers also cause critical strike.

Ice Storm finishers also cause critical strike. Upgrade 3: Shattering Blow

An Ice Storm finisher shatters your target, causing nearby enemies to flee in terror.

Consume

When your Might is full, you can dominate and drain an enemy quickly during combat.

Upgrade 1: Chain of Souls

During Consume you can dominate or drain additional enemies. Consumes focus for each additional target.

During Consume you can dominate or drain additional enemies. Consumes focus for each additional target. Upgrade 2: Lord of Wrath

Consume increases Wrath.

Consume increases Wrath. Upgrade 3: Olog Lord

Consume works against Ologs

Treasure Hunter - Unlocked by finding all Gondorian artifacts in the open world

Automatically collect loot from defeated enemies.

Upgrade 1: Discerning Eye

Increase your chances of high-quality gear drops from Captains or higher-ranking Orcs.

Increase your chances of high-quality gear drops from Captains or higher-ranking Orcs. Upgrade 2: Mind Breaker

Increases Domination speed.

Increases Domination speed. Upgrade 3: Prospector

Increase your chances of receiving higher quality Gems from defeated enemies.

Mounted

Caragor Rider

Dominate and ride a broken caragor.

Upgrade 1: Pounce

Devouring enemies while in stealth restores more of your caragor's health.

Devouring enemies while in stealth restores more of your caragor's health. Upgrade 2: Bestial Rage

You can perform an execution or howl to summon additional caragors even when your Might is not full. Instead, your action consumes some of your mount's health.

Graug Rider

You can dominate and ride a broken graug.

Upgrade 1: Devouring Force

Graug executions restore more of your graug's health.

Graug executions restore more of your graug's health. Upgrade 2: Enduring Fury

Graug basic attacks gain more Might.

Call Mount

You can summon a dominated caragor and command it to attack targeted enemies.

Upgrade 1: Dire Caragor

You can summon a Dire Caragor.

You can summon a Dire Caragor. Upgrade 2: Graug Call

You can summon a graug.

You can summon a graug. Upgrade 3: Dragon Song - Unlocked by completing the Carnán quests

You can summon a drake.

Shadow Mount

Instantly mount a broken graug, caragor, or drake (Dragon Rider skill must be unlocked) with Shadow Strike.

Upgrade 1: Caragor Breaker

Shadow Mount unbroken caragors.

Shadow Mount unbroken caragors. Upgrade 2: Packmaster

When Shadow Mounting a broken caragor, other nearby caragors are dominated.

Dragon Rider

You can Dominate and ride a broken drake.

Upgrade 1: Soaring Rage

Your drake can shoot fireballs even when your might is not full. Instead, your action consumes some of your mount's health.

Your drake can shoot fireballs even when your might is not full. Instead, your action consumes some of your mount's health. Upgrade 2: Scales of Iron

Your drake takes far less damage from attacks.

Story

Drain

You can recover health by draining life from orcs or dominating orcs and beasts.

Upgrade 1: Domination

Drained enemies are also dominated and will fight for you.

Drained enemies are also dominated and will fight for you. Upgrade 2: Quiver of Souls

Draining an enemy replenishes Elf-shot.

Draining an enemy replenishes Elf-shot. Upgrade 3: Bright Lord's Wrath

Draining or dominating an enemy fully recovers health and gains wrath.

Spectral Glaive

You can initiate a heavy sweeping attack.

Upgrade 1: Mighty Swing

Releasing attack the moment your glaive is charged generates might for each enemy hit.

Releasing attack the moment your glaive is charged generates might for each enemy hit. Upgrade 2: Deadly Striker

Double-charge your glaive for more follow-up attacks.

Elven Rage

Each kill gives wrath energy. When your wrath is full, you can slow time, making every melee strike lethal and enabling you to unleash unlimited executions.

Upgrade 1: Final Blaze

When Elven Rage ends, a fiery blast is detonated.

When Elven Rage ends, a fiery blast is detonated. Upgrade 2: Freezing Burst

When Elven Rage ends, a freezing blast is detonated.

When Elven Rage ends, a freezing blast is detonated. Upgrade 3: Poisonous Wrath

When Elven Rage ends, a poisonous blast is detonated.

Shadow Strider

You can double jump while leaping. Allows you to cover wider gaps or change direction between jumps.

Upgrade 1: Hammer of Eregion

You can vault over an Uruk and freeze them.

You can vault over an Uruk and freeze them. Upgrade 2: Waters of Lórien

Upgrade dodge to instantly flash past enemies. Consumes focus.

Upgrade dodge to instantly flash past enemies. Consumes focus. Upgrade 3: Eagle's Eyrie

While vaulting an enemy you can leap off their head and perform a double jump. If Bird of Prey is unlocked, you will be able to enter Bird of Prey as you jump.

Call Followers

Summon a group of warriors to fight alongside you. You can command your warriors to attack targeted enemies.

Upgrade 1: Bodyguard

Assign a Captain to be your bodyguard in the army menu.

Assign a Captain to be your bodyguard in the army menu. Upgrade 2: Cluster of Spiders - Unlocked by finding all Shelob memories

Summon a cluster of spiders. Spiders have poison attacks which can exploit the weakness of a Captain or higher-ranked orc.

Summon a cluster of spiders. Spiders have poison attacks which can exploit the weakness of a Captain or higher-ranked orc. Upgrade 3: Iron Guard - Unlocked by completing all Gondor quests

Summoned Warriors are tougher.

Dominate Captain

Dominate a Captain whose will has been broken. Orc Captains who are higher level than you cannot be Recruited.

Upgrade 1: Destroy Followers

You can explode the heads of nearby followers, causing enemies to flee in terror.

You can explode the heads of nearby followers, causing enemies to flee in terror. Upgrade 2: Lifeblood

You can heal all nearby followers by consuming your health. Any followers who are bleeding out are unaffected.

You can heal all nearby followers by consuming your health. Any followers who are bleeding out are unaffected. Upgrade 3: Enrage Followers

You can enrage nearby friendly Captains. Consumes wrath.

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