With Horizon Forbidden West coming out early next year, now is a great time for newcomers to play the previous title, Horizon Zero Dawn, so they're up to date on the whole story. But with such a sprawling, fully realized open world to explore, It might take a while to experience everything this surprise hit has to offer, especially with so many dangerous machines roaming. That's why it's always a good idea to level up as fast as possible so that no challenge is too great to overcome.

The base game of Zero Dawn has a maximum of 50 levels, but with The Frozen Wilds DLC installed, the level cap is raised to 60, significantly improving the longevity of the game. There's a total of 84 skill points available in the base game. Up to 50 points can be earned by reaching the maximum level, and 34 points are available through quests. The Frozen Wilds adds 14 additional skill points to be earned, even before players decide to venture north to the new region. Gathered skill points can be put towards unlocking skill trees.

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Skill trees are divided into four categories: Prowler improves stealth and traversal, Brave focuses on general combat ability, Forager increases healing and gathering, and Traveler improves the usefulness of machines brought under Aloy's control. Remember that the Traveler tree is only available with The Frozen Wilds.

Some of the skills in each tree are more useful than others and should be focused on when playing on higher difficulties, though they should also be prioritized based on the preferred playstyle. Each time the player levels up, they're rewarded with a skill point, as well as a minor increase to the health bar. It should be kept in mind that Zero Dawn's skill trees are mainly based on improving utility and options to make in combat. At the same time, weapon damage and armor protection are done by acquiring better equipment with more modification slots.

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Gaining XP can be done in several ways. The most common methods are combating machines and completing both main story and side quests. But one of the best and generally overlooked ways is by completing the hunting grounds found in every major region of the map. The trials are activities run by representatives of the Hunters Lodge and are a way of gaining membership to the Lodge and its rewards/benefits. There are five hunting grounds located in areas of the base game, plus a sixth with the DLC.

Performance is judged based on the hunter's ability to complete the trial in an allotted time, for which they are awarded a Sun Mark. Each trial has a specific time limit for each Sun Mark rank; the shorter the time limit, the higher the rank. The marks included are the Half Sun, Full Sun and Blazing Sun. In addition to XP and reward boxes, if players manage to earn Blazing Suns for all three trials, they'll earn a free skill point. Completing all of these hunting grounds for Blazing Suns as soon as possible is an excellent way of quickly leveling up and outclassing most enemies you'll encounter in the game.

While there won't be any further levels to progress through after reaching the maximum level, XP can still be gained and tracked through something called Ghost Levels, which are rewarded for every 100,000 XP gained. Unfortunately, gaining Ghost Levels offers nothing in the way of heath increase, new skills, or anything to help players gameplay-wise. It mainly acts as a way of giving players prestige, showing how long they've played the game. Thanks to new game plus, players can experience the entire game again, but with all of their skill trees already unlocked and all of the weapons, armor, and other gear that was previously gathered. It also increases the health of all enemies and the damage they inflict on Aloy, so don't expect a new playthrough to be much easier.

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