ABOVE Skills Guide: Master Every Ability

Overview of Skills in ABOVE

In ABOVE, skills are the backbone of your alpine resort management. They determine how efficiently you rescue climbers, manage resources, and expand your mountain operations. Unlike traditional RPGs, skills here are tied to your shelter's development and the characters you encounter. Each skill unlocks new possibilities, from faster construction to deeper story interactions.

Skills are divided into three main categories: Survival, Management, and Exploration. You unlock them by completing specific objectives, building relationships with climbers, and upgrading your facilities. Mastering all skills is essential for creating the most welcoming and efficient high-altitude retreat.

Survival Skills: Keeping Guests Alive

Survival skills are the first you'll encounter. They focus on the basic needs of your shelter: warmth, food, and medical care. Without these, climbers will not survive the harsh winter conditions.

Key survival skills include Basic First Aid, which allows you to treat frostbite and minor injuries, and Fire Management, which improves the efficiency of your heating systems. As you progress, you'll unlock Advanced Medicine and Emergency Protocols, enabling you to handle severe weather events and mass rescues.

Management Skills: Running the Resort

Management skills transform your shelter from a simple refuge into a thriving resort. These abilities improve resource allocation, staff efficiency, and guest satisfaction. They are unlocked by upgrading your main lodge and completing story chapters.

Resource Allocation lets you prioritize food, wood, or medical supplies during shortages. Staff Training increases the speed at which your helpers complete tasks. The ultimate management skill, Logistics Mastery, unlocks after you have upgraded all major facilities to level 3. It reduces all build times by 25%.

For a deeper look at facility upgrades, visit our /en/guides/upgrades-guide/. Management skills synergize strongly with upgraded buildings, creating a compounding effect on efficiency.

Exploration Skills: Conquering the Mountain

Exploration skills are tied to route planning and mountaineering. They allow you to open new paths, discover hidden locations, and rescue climbers from dangerous terrain. These skills are unlocked by sending expeditions and finding map fragments.

Route Mapping reveals hidden trails on your mountain view. Ice Climbing unlocks access to high-altitude caves and shortcuts. Avalanche Forecasting is a late-game skill that warns you about dangerous conditions, allowing you to postpone expeditions safely.

1. Unlock Route Mapping

   Find 3 map fragments in the first area. This skill is essential for reaching the second mountain tier.

2. Master Ice Climbing

   Complete the 'Frozen Summit' story event. This skill opens 5 new rescue locations.

3. Learn Avalanche Forecasting

   Upgrade your weather station to level 2. This skill prevents expedition losses during storms.

Exploration skills directly affect your ability to gather rare resources and meet unique characters. They are the key to unlocking the game's deeper narrative.

Skill Synergies and Build Strategies

While ABOVE doesn't have a traditional class system, the order in which you unlock skills creates distinct playstyles. A Survival-first approach focuses on keeping everyone alive, ideal for players who enjoy careful resource management. A Management-first build prioritizes efficiency and growth, perfect for those who want to expand quickly.

The Balanced approach, which alternates between all three trees, is recommended for first-time players. It ensures you are prepared for the game's unpredictable events.

• Prioritize Basic First Aid before the first storm
• Unlock Resource Allocation before upgrading the kitchen
• Research Route Mapping as soon as you find two map fragments
• Save Emergency Protocols for the mid-game blizzard event

For more on character-specific abilities, see our /en/guides/character-collection/. Each rescued climber brings unique passive bonuses that complement your unlocked skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset my skills in ABOVE? No, skill unlocks are permanent. However, the game is designed so that no single skill is mandatory for completion. You can always progress by focusing on other areas.

How many skills are there in total? There are 18 skills across the three categories. Nine are unlocked through story progression, while the remaining nine require specific facility upgrades or rescue milestones.

Do skills affect the ending? Yes. Certain endings require specific skills to be unlocked. For example, the 'Peaceful Retirement' ending requires Logistics Mastery and Advanced Medicine. Check our /en/guides/endings-guide/ for details.

Are skills shared between playthroughs? No, each new game starts from scratch. However, knowing the unlock conditions makes subsequent runs much faster.