Skill Trees – Gotham Knights

Each of the 4 playable characters starts the game with access to 3 unique Skill Trees. These are primarily made up of ability and stat upgrades, but also serve as an opportunity to specialize your character. Skills in these trees can make your character stronger, tougher, or faster, or can modify and improve Momentum Abilities. Later in the game, players will be able to unlock the Knighthood Tree, which functions similarly but offers significantly more powerful skills.

Read on to learn more about how Skills work, or scroll down/use the Contents button to see the Skill Trees for each playable character!

This guide was written prior to the release of the game: we will be continuously updating it with new information!

Completing missions, dealing with crimes, completing challenges, investigating mysteries, and defeating enemies will all grant you XP. (Not everything in the game will grant you XP: for example, attacking the City Police (GCPD) will not grant you rewards or experience.)

Once you gain enough points to level, you will earn Ability Points to spend in any of your Skill Trees. These abilities do not have levels, but they will cost a different amount of Ability Points and require that you unlock prerequisite skills. Navigate to the Skills tab on Batcomputer to view and unlock your Skills.

A note on switching characters: Your XP progress is shared between the four characters. If you decide to switch at any point in the game, you will have access to the same number of Ability Points that you have earned on your most played character.

Unfortunately, you can’t reset your Skill Tree points in the game. You should definitely give each skill you are about to purchase a thought. Our guide should help you plan ahead.

Of course, you still have New Game + to look forward to, with additional 10 levels to help you further progress in your Skill Trees.

For now, if you aren’t happy with the build you are playing, and would rather just have more points to unlock better skills — switch to a different character! The XP progress is shared, so by the time you come back to the character you switched from, you will have some Ability Points you can invest into new Skills to get you past the bump.

Aside from the 3 Skill Trees, each of the characters has a Knighthood Skill Tree, which will become available to unlock for all your characters as part of the game’s main story. A lot of Knighthood Skill Tree upgrades affect your Ultimate Momentum ability, while others serve as final upgrades for your character’s primary strengths.


Batgirl’s skill trees are diverse, with Justice making her one-on-one combat skills stronger, Grit making her tougher, and Oracle adding a multitude of useful passive effects.

This tree lets Batgirl deal significantly more damage to opponents, and improves her ability to Stun and interrupt foes.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Requirement(s)
Description
n/a
perfect evade
Perfect Evade
None
Batgirl performs a perfectly-timed evade that generates Momentum and allows for a perfect attack follow-up.
1
critical expertise
Critical Expertise
Perfect Evade
Increases Batgirl’s Critical damage by 20%.
2
heavyweight
Heavyweight
Perfect Evade
Increases Batgirl’s Heavy Melee Attack damage by 10% and stun Elemental Effect buildup by 20%.
1
elite beatdown
Elite Beatdown
Perfect Evade
Beatdown can’t be interrupted by most enemy attacks. Batgirl’s defense increases by 20% while using the Ability.
2
precise strikes
Precise Strikes
Critical Expertise
Increases Batgirl’s chance of landing a critical hit by 10%.
2
piercing beatdown
Piercing Beatdown
Elite Beatdown
This upgraded version of Beatdown can interrupt enemies’ Armored Attacks.
3
critical focus
Critical Focus
Piercing Beatdown or Precise Strikes
Increases Batgirl’s chance of landing a Critical hit by 10%. Increases Critical damage by 10%.

This is the tree to use if you find yourself dying a lot — Grit skills add health and defensive bonuses, allow Batgirl to revive, and let her heal when defeating an enemy.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Requirement(s)
Description
1
hp +
HP +
None
Increases Batgirl’s base health by 40%. Does not apply to bonus health provided by gear.
1
enemy counter focus
Enemy Counter Focus
HP +
Batgirl receives a 75% defense bonus when hit by an enemy counter-attack.
1
unflinching heavy strike
Unflinching Heavy Strike
HP +
Most enemy attacks can’t interrupt Batgirl’s Heavy Melee Attacks.
3
second wind
Second Wind
Enemy Counter Focus or Unflinching Heavy Strike
Batgirl can revive herself once after her health is depleted. Restores 50% health.
2
second wind +
Second Wind +
Second Wind
Second Wind also grants Batgirl a full Momentum segment and 10% increased chance of landing a Critical hit for 15 seconds.
2
vigilante resolve
Vigilante Resolve
Second Wind
Batgirl can now use Second Wind twice.
2
sense of victory
Sense of Victory
Second Wind + or Vigilante Resolve
Batgirl regains 4% health upon defeating an enemy or 8% health upon defeating an enemy with a Grab Strike or a Takedown.

The skills in this tree vary wildly in function: some let Batgirl disable electronics or even overload enemy weapons, or prevent Batgirl from being seen by cameras. Hacking Overload makes Batgirl’s abilities do more damage, while Super Health Packs make healing items provide more health and an extra temporary defensive boost.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Requirement(s)
Description
1
remote hacking
Remote Hacking
None
Using AR Mode, Batgirl can disable certain devices, like cameras, turrets, mines, electronic panels, and laser control modules.
1
shocking devices
Shocking Devices
Remote Hacking
Batgirl can overcharge an enemy’s gun and/or device, instantly applying a Bioelectric Elemental Effect to the enemy (must wait after cooldown to re-use).
2
digital ghost
Digital Ghost
Shocking Devices
Electronic devices, such as sensors and cameras, cannot detect Batgirl.
2
gear overclocking
Gear Overclocking
Shocking Devices
Batgirl overclocks her abilities to deal 10% extra damage. She can also hack her allies’ abilities to give them a 15% damage bonus for 20 seconds.
2
hacking overload
Hacking Overload
Digital Ghost or Gear Overclocking
Batgirl’s Hacking changes the function of security systems and makes electrical panels explode.
2
super health packs
Super Health Packs
Hacking Overload
Health Packs provide an extra 20% health and grant a 50% Defense increase for 10 seconds.
2
health packs +
Health Packs +
Hacking Overload
Health Pack efficiency increases by 20%. Health Packs now also affect allies close to Batgirl.

Batgirl’s Knighthood tree adds a number of quality-of-life improvements, like letting her use her grapple in combat and improving her out-of-combat health regeneration. It also buffs her drone’s damage, and improves Batgirl’s ranged and melee combos. Naturally, this tree comes with a Heroic Traversal, the ability to Glide using Batgirl’s cape.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Description
n/a
glide
Glide
Batgirl uses her cape to glide through the air. She can adjust her pose to turn and gain or reduce her glide speed.
1
grapple pull
Grapple Pull
Batgirl uses her grapple to pull an enemy towards her. When used of a large enemy, Batgirl pulls herself toward the enemy.
1
fear takedown
Fear Takedown
Ambush Takedown inflicts Fear in nearby enemies. Critical damage and Critical chance increase by 15% for 10 seconds.
1
health regen +
Health Regen +
When outside of combat, Batgirl’s health automatically regenerates up to 40%.
2
enhanced combo
Enhanced Combo
Increases the number of attacks in Batgirl’s Melee and Ranged Attack combo by 1. The last Melee hit is a knockdown.
3
drone firepower
Drone Firepower
Increases firing rate of Batgirl’s drone.
3
drone ambush blast
Drone Ambush Blast
Once per summon, Batgirl’s drone unleashes a large burst of damage on all nearby enemies.

nightwing gk character summariesNightwing Skill Trees

Nightwing is an acrobatic character, and the Raptor and Acrobat skill trees lean into that archetype. The Pack Leader tree has skills that improve Nightwing’s Co-Op strength, allowing him to share bonuses with his allies.

The Raptor tree is all about Nightwing’s deadly strikes: it’s filled with boosts to his critical chance and damage, and upgrades to his Pounce Ability.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Requirement(s)
Description
n/a
perfect evade
Perfect Evade
None
Nightwing performs a perfectly-timed evade that generates Momentum and allows for a perfect attack follow-up.
1
critical expertise
Critical Expertise
Perfect Evade
Increases Nighwing’s Critical damage by 20%.
2
assassins mark
Assassin’s Mark
Perfect Evade
Marks an enemy, increasing Nightwing and his allies’ damage to the foe by 10%. Hold the prompt while aiming at an enemy.
1
trampoline
Trampoline
Perfect Evade
Nightwing’s Pounce ability is automatically followed by a high jump on the enemy. This ability cannot be used if Nightwing is under a low ceiling.
2
precise strikes
Precise Strikes
Critical Expertise
Increases Nightwing’s chance of landing a critical hit by 10%.
2
aerial bounce
Aerial Bounce
Trampoline
Nightwing bounces off an enemy following an aerial attack to propel himself back into the air. Can be used up to 3 times in succession.
3
critical distance
Critical Distance
Aerial Bounce or Precise Strikes
Hitting an enemy with a Melee Attack from a large distance increases the Critical chance and Critical Damage by 15%.

The Acrobat Tree boosts Nightwing’s sustain (momentum and, later, health), as well as his mobility skills around the battlefield, rewarding him for evading attacks.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Requirement(s)
Description
1
aerial damage +
Aerial Damage +
None
Increases Nightwing’s aerial attack damage by 20%.
1
extra momentum bar
Extra Momentum Bar
Aerial Damage +
Grants Nightwing an extra Momentum bar.
1
momentum gain +
Momentum Gain +
Aerial Damage +
Increases Nightwing’s Momentum gain by 15%.
3
evade chain
Evade Chain
Extra Momentum Bar or Momentum Gain +
Nightwing chain evades by performing a quick succession of back jumps.
2
halys favorite
Haly’s Favorite
Evade Chain
Completing an Evade Chain knocks down all nearby enemies.
2
evade chain momentum
Evade Chain Momentum
Evade Chain
Performing an evade chain during combat restores a portion of Nightwing’s Momentum.
2
mind and body
Mind and Body
Haly’s Favorite or Evade Chain Momentum
Using Momentum Abilities restores a portion of Nightwing’s Health.

The Pack Leader tree is fantastic for co-op play. Not only do Nightwing and his allies benefit from higher damage and faster regeneration, but Nightwing himself becomes much harder to take down, and can even instantly revive an ally from a distance with enough points invested.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Requirement(s)
Description
1
family ties
Family Ties
None
Increases Nightwing’s defense and resistance by 10%. Working with allies also grants him additional bonuses: Batgirl – Melee Damage +15%. Red Hood – Ranged Damage +15%. Robin – Stealth Damage +15%.
1
health bolstered defense
Health Bolstered Defense
Family Ties
When Nightwing’s Health is at least 70% or more, he gets a +5% Defense bonus scaling up to 20% when at full health.
2
momentum regen
Momentum Regen
Health Bolstered Defense
Nightwing’s Momentum regenerates over time. Regeneration stops after filling 1 Momentum segment. Gaining any Momentum activates regeneration again. Working with allies increases regeneration speed.
2
shared skill
Shared Skill
Health Bolstered Defense
Passive Skills increasing Damage, Critical Chance, Defense, Momentum Regeneration, and Ultimate Cooldown are shared with allies at 50% of their value.
2
elemental smart darts
Elemental Smart Darts
Momentum Regen or Shared Skill
Nightwing’s darts inflict Elemental Effect build up on enemies or heal allies over time.
2
elemental smart darts +
Elemental Smart Darts +
Elemental Smart Darts
Nightwing’s darts also reduce enemies’ defense by 10% and increase damage inflicted by allies by 5% for 10 seconds.
2
revive darts
Revive Darts
Elemental Smart Darts
Nightwing’s darts can be used to instantly revive an ally from afar. Maximum 1 use per night.

Nightwing’s Knighthood Tree boosts his Nest Ability, his darts, melee attack distance, and gives him an additional attack for the Melee combo. When this tree becomes available, so does the Flying Trapeze, a glider which regains speed when Nightwing bounces from walls.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Description
n/a
flying trapeze
Flying Trapeze
Nightwing uses his Flying Trapeze to glide through the air. He can also rebound off of walls to gain altitude and speed.
1
triple darts
Triple Darts
Nightwing shoots 3 darts at once instead of 1.
1
strike distance +
Strike Distance +
Nightwing’s Melee Attacks can strike enemies from farther away.
1
guardian
Guardian
Defeating an enemy reduces Nest Ability cooldown by 15%.
2
combat expertise
Combat Expertise
Increases the number of attacks in Nightwing’s Melee combo by 1. The last hit is a knockdown.
3
nest buffs +
Nest Buffs +
Nest damage is increased by 150%, and the healing effect is increased by 100%.
3
bigger nest
Bigger Nest
Increases the size of Nightwing’s Nest.

red hood gk character summariesRed Hood Skill Trees

Red Hood’s skill trees are all relatively similar, in that they’re mainly focused on dealing more damage — the Marksman tree buffs ranged damage, the Brawler tree improves his grappling, and Vengeance adds general DPS.

This tree focuses on ranged damage output per second, speeding up your attacks, boosting your critical attacks, or rewarding longer aim time with increased damage.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Requirement(s)
Description
n/a
evade
Perfect Evade
None
Red Hood performs a perfectly-timed evade that generates Momentum and allows for a Perfect Attack follow-up.
1
focused fire
Focused Fire
Perfect Evade
Red Hood can aim longer at a target to deal 4x more damage.
2
lucky rounds
Lucky Rounds
Perfect Evade
Every round Red Hood shoots has a small chance to deal 5x the damage. Only applies to Ranged Attacks and Precision Aim.
1
critical expertise
Critical Expertise
Perfect Evade
Increases Red Hood’s critical damage by 20%.
2
precise strikes
Precise Strikes
Critical Expertise
Increases Red Hood’s chance of landing a critical hit by 10%.
2
focused fire +
Focused Fire +
Focused Fire
Aiming time of Focused Fire is reduced by 50%.
3
quickfire expert
Quickfire Expert
Focused Fire + or Precise Strikes
The critical chance and critical damage of Red Hood’s Range Attack combo is increased by 15%.

This tree boosts Red Hood’s melee capabilities, with a particular emphasis on grappling. This skills below improve his grab ability as well as their damage.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Requirement(s)
Description
3
human bomb
Human Bomb
None
When Red Hood throws an enemy, he attaches a concussion mine to them that explodes when shot.
1
large grab
Large Grab
Human Bomb
Red Hood can perform grab moves on large enemies.
1
extended grab window
Extended Grab Window
Human Bomb
Enemies can now be grabbed at 50% health or less.
2
human bomb enhanced
Human Bomb Enhanced
Large Grab or Extended Grab Window
Increases damage and radius of the concussion mine explosion.
1
grip expertise
Grip Expertise
Human Bomb Enhanced
Increases Red Hood’s damage when performing a grab move by 10%.
2
iron grip
Iron Grip
Human Bomb Enhanced
Grabbing an enemy prevents Red Hood from being interrupted by most attacks.
2
human bomb multiplied
Human Bomb Multiplied
Grip Expertise or Iron Grip
Detonating the concussion mine deploys 6 additional concussion proximity mines on the ground.

A strictly DPS tree, with some skills focused on doing damage to a specific type of enemy. Notably, Combined Fire lets Red Hood do more damage when aiming at the same foe as an ally.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Requirement(s)
Description
1
coup de grace
Coup De Grace
None
Red Hood inflicts 10% more damage on enemies with 30% health or less.
1
freak justice
Freak Justice
Coup De Grace
Increases Red Hood’s damage by 15% and critical damage by 5% when fighting Freaks.
2
regulator justice
Regulator Justice
Freak Justice
Increases Red Hood’s damage by 15% and critical damage by 5% when fighting the Regulators.
2
mob justice
Mob Justice
Freak Justice
Increases Red Hood’s damage by 15% and critical damage by 5% when fighting the Mob.
2
combined fire
Combined Fire
Regulator Justice or Mob Justice
Red Hood and his allies inflict increased damage when focused on a single target. Only applies to Ranged Attack combos and precision aim.
2
unrestricted fire
Unrestricted Fire
Combined Fire
After using Two-Fisted Reload, Red Hood can shoot unlimited rounds for a short period of time.
2
double vortex
Double Vortex
Combined Fire
After using Two-Fisted Reload, Red Hood shoots double the number of rounds for a short period of time.

Red Hood’s Knighthood tree adds some crowd-control to his kit, causing both his grabs and his knock-out ranged attacks to inflict Fear in nearby enemies. It also adds some oomph to his headshots and weak spot targeting, and improves his ranged attack combo and his Ultimate Momentum Ability. With this tree comes the Heroic Traversal Mystical Leap, which allow Red Hood to use Spirit Platforms to leap through the air.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Description
n/a
mystical leap
Mystical Leap
Red Hood traverses through the air using spirit platforms.
1
ranged terror
Ranged Terror
Every shot that knocks out a target inflicts Fear in nearby enemies.
2
weak spot damage+
Weak Spot Damage +
Increases headshot and weak spot damage by 15%.
1
grab dread
Grab Dread
Grabbing a target inflicts Fear in nearby enemies.
2
combat mastery
Combat Mastery
Increases the number of attacks in Red Hood’s Ranged Attack combo by 1. The last hit is a knockdown.
2
ducra's training
Ducra’s Training
Mystical Rounds requires 50% less time to lock on targets.
3
shadow vengeance
Shadow Vengeance
Mystical Rounds shoots 2 rounds instead of 1.

robin gk character summariesRobin Skill Trees

Robin’s skill trees are all very different, with Slugger boosting damage, Shadow improving stealth tactics, and Tinkering buffing Robin’s elemental and Pellet attacks.

This tree significantly increases Robin’s damage — especially when attacking enemies from behind — and also contains improvements to his decoy that allow it to reflect damage and/or explode.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Requirement(s)
Description
n/a
perfect evade
Perfect Evade
None
Robin performs a perfectly-timed evade that generates Momentum and allows for a perfect attack follow-up.
1
critical expertise
Critical Expertise
Perfect Evade
Increases Robin’s Critical damage by 20%.
2
back damage +
Back Damage Plus
Perfect Evade
Robin deals 20% more damage when attacking enemies from behind.
1
elemental decoy
Elemental Decoy
Perfect Evade
When attacked, Robin’s decoy inflicts a large amount of Elemental Effect damage on the attacking enemy.
2
precise strikes
Precise Strikes
Critical Expertise
Increases Robin’s chance of landing a critical hit by 10%.
2
exploding decoy
Exploding Decoy
Elemental Decoy
Robin’s decoy explodes, leaving behind Elemental residue that deals Elemental Effect damage to any enemy that walks into it.
3
elemental focus
Elemental Focus
Exploding Decoy or Precise Strikes
Robin’s Critical damage and chance of landing a Critical Hit increase by 20% on targets with an active Elemental Effect.

This stealth-focused tree lets Robin move unheard and unseen. It also adds some unique takedowns, and allows Robin to heal significantly from sucessful takedowns.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Requirement(s)
Description
1
light footed
Light Footed
None
Robins produces no sound while running and moves faster while crouched. (Does not apply to while sprinting.)
1
stealth damage +
Stealth Damage +
Light Footed
Robin’s damage is increased while undetected. Melee and Ranged attacks by +10%. Takedowns and Stealth Strikes by 20%.
3
turnabout takedown
Turnabout Takedown
Light Footed
Robin can perform Takedowns and Stealth Strikes on large enemies.
2
vantage hanging takedown mine
Vantage Hanging Takedown
Stealth Damage +, or Turnabout Takedown
Robin can perform a special takedown that suspends enemies from a vantage point. While perched on a vantage point, tap the prompt when an enemy is below Robin.
2
reduced visual stim
Reduced Visual Stim
Vantage Hanging Takedown
Robin is harder to spot and enemies take longer to notice him.
2
vantage hanging takedown mine
Vantage Hanging Takedown Mine
Vantage Hanging Takedown
Performing a Vantage Hanging Takedown also drops a proximity mine that lures enemies.
2
shadow renewal
Shadow Renewal
Reduced Visual Stim or Vantage Hanging Takedown Mine
Successful takedowns restore 25% of Robin’s health.

This tree, which syngergizes with the Slugger tree, boosts Robin’s elemental damage, and improves his ranged attacks, modifying them to work like a temporary mine when they hit surfaces.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Requirement(s)
Description
1
elemental charge
Elemental Charge
None
Elemental Effect build up inflicted by Robin is increased 25% faster.
1
sticky pellet
Sticky Pellet
Elemental Charge
In Precision Aim, Robin’s pellet can stick to surfaces, creating a temporary mine. Placing a second mine deactivates the first.
2
sticky pellets x3
Sticky Pellets x3
Sticky Pellet
Robin can place up to 3 sticky pellets at once.
2
enhanced sticky pellets
Enhanced Sticky Pellets
Sticky Pellet
Sticky pellets inflict 33% more damage and last up to 10 seconds.
2
elemental resistance
Elemental Resistance
Sticky Pellets x3 or Enhanced Sticky Pellets
Robin’s Elemental Effect resistance increases by 40%.
2
elemental burst
Elemental Burst
Elemental Resistance
When Robin deals Elemental Damage, he gains a 5% chance of dealing additional Elemental Damage in an area. Elemental Burst also reduces enemies’ Elemental Effect resistance by 50% for 10 seconds.
2
enhanced elemental effects
Enhanced Elemental Effects
Elemental Resistance
Elemental Effects inflicted by Robin last twice as long.

Robin’s Knighthood tree further improves and encourages the use of his takedowns, granting him buffs for sucessful ones. It also gives him a tool to reenter stealth after attacking from above, improves his microbots ability, and makes his combos stronger. Robin’s Heroic Traversal Slideways (teleportation) also unlocks when this tree becomes available.

AP Cost
Icon
Ability
Description
n/a
slideways
Slideways
Robin activates and enters a temporary portal, which he can use to relocate to a new position.
1
stealth takedown +
Stealth Takedown +
Performing a Takedown increases Robin’s damage, Critical Chance, Defense and Elemental Effect build up for 15 seconds.
1
aerial attack smoke
Aerial Attack Smoke
Robin’s aerial attacks are followed by a small cloud of smoke, allowing him to re-enter stealth.
1
microbots cooldown reduction
Microbots Cooldown Reduction
Robin’s Microbots Ability cooldown is reduced by 20%, allowing Robin to call them more often.
2
combat expertise
Combat Expertise
Increases the number of attacks in Robin’s Melee and Ranged combos by 1. The last Melee hit is a knockdown.
3
slideways takedown
Slideways Takedown
Robin opens a small portal and pulls an enemy through it to perform a takedown (not applicable on bosses).
3
microbot target +
Microbot Target +
Robin improved the particle accelerator in the microbots’ core engine. He can now call 5 microbots instead of 3.
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Mila Grish
Mila Grish

Dedicated contributor at EIP Gaming and a part-time collector of books she will never have time to actually read. Jumps on the newest releases just as quickly as on the uncovered dusty collections from the basement. For her, shiny graphics can never be an excuse to not have a polished player experience or an immersive story.

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