If you’ve spent any time exploring Enshrouded’s open world of Embervale, you’ve probably wondered how many skill points in Enshrouded you can unlock to customize your character. Unlike many survival games that lock you into a single class, Enshrouded lets you mix and match skill nodes to create a build that fits your playstyle, whether you prefer fighting bosses, building elaborate bases, or scouring hidden corners of the map for loot. We’ve tested every level cap and collectible path across dozens of playthroughs to bring you the exact numbers and best practices for skill point management.
How Many Skill Points in Enshrouded Can You Unlock Total?
As of the latest game update, you can unlock a total of 35 permanent skill points per playthrough. The majority of these come from standard character progression, with extra points available for players willing to explore the more dangerous corners of the map. 25 skill points from standard character leveling are awarded automatically every time you gain a level, up to the current max level cap of 25. 10 additional skill points from Shroud Root collectibles are scattered across high-level Shroud zones, each earned by clearing the corrupted area around the root and activating its core.
Total 35 usable skill points across all playthroughs is enough to unlock roughly 60% of the total skill tree, so you won’t be able to unlock every node on a single character. That’s by design, to encourage players to specialize, experiment with respecs, or coordinate build roles with friends in co-op play. You won’t lose any skill points if you die, and all points you earn are permanent unless you choose to respec your build at a Flame Altar.
How to Earn Extra Skill Points Beyond Leveling Up
Leveling up will get you most of your skill points, but the 10 extra points from Shroud Roots make a huge difference in how specialized your build can be. Shroud Roots are hidden in areas covered by the toxic Shroud fog, and each one is guarded by high-level enemies like Shroud Wraiths and corrupted wildlife. You’ll need to upgrade your Flame Altar to at least level 2 before you can survive long enough in the deeper Shroud zones to reach most of these roots.
- Clear all Shroud Root encampments in the Revelwood region first for 4 easy extra points
- Prioritize Shroud Roots in high-level zones only after you have at least level 2 Flame Altar upgrades
- Mark unactivated Shroud Roots on your map as soon as you spot their glowing blue aura from a distance
Grinding for Shroud Roots can get tiring fast, especially if you’re repeatedly dying to high-level Shroud enemies. Most seasoned players take 10 to 15 minute breaks between runs to reset their focus and avoid burnout. Casual card game fans in particular often boot up IND Rummy for short, low-stakes rounds that don’t require the same level of constant focus as navigating Enshrouded’s most dangerous zones. You can't miss Shroud Roots once you're within 100 meters, as they trigger a soft pop-up notification on your HUD, so you won’t waste time searching for them if you keep an eye on your screen as you explore.
Optimal Ways to Allocate Your Skill Points for Different Playstyles
How you allocate your 35 skill points will depend almost entirely on what you enjoy doing most in Enshrouded. If you’re a solo player, you’ll probably want to pick a hybrid build that covers basic combat, gathering, and exploration needs. If you’re playing in co-op, you can split roles with your team to avoid wasting points on overlapping skills.
For combat-focused players, prioritize nodes that boost stamina, melee or ranged damage, and health regeneration first. You can spend leftover points on minor utility nodes like increased glide range to make traveling between boss fights faster. For players who love building and crafting, allocate points to increased carry weight, faster resource gathering, and reduced crafting cost nodes first, since these will cut down on the time you spend grinding for materials. For explorers, focus on Shroud resistance, climbing stamina, and glide range nodes to reach hidden areas of the map other players can’t access. You don't have to stick to a single build, since respecs are available for a small cost of Shroud Essence at the Flame Altar, so feel free to experiment if you get bored of your current playstyle.
Common Skill Point Mistakes to Avoid
A lot of new players waste their first few skill points on nodes that sound useful but don’t actually fit their playstyle, or that have hidden prerequisites they don’t know about. One of the most common mistakes is dumping all your early points into combat nodes before you even try building or exploring, since you’ll miss out on huge quality of life boosts that make the early game far less frustrating. Another mistake is ignoring utility nodes like increased glide range because you think they’re a waste of points, but these nodes end up saving you hours of travel time across the large game map.
Respec costs scale with your total number of unlocked skill points, so it’s cheaper to adjust your build early on than it is to wait until you’ve unlocked all 35 points. If you’re not sure what build you want to run, save your first 5 skill points until you’ve played for at least a few hours and figured out what parts of the game you enjoy most. Don’t worry about making a “perfect” build on your first try, either. Half the fun of Enshrouded is testing different skill combinations to find what works best for you.
If you’re playing in co-op, don’t waste points on the same crafting or gathering nodes as your teammates. Coordinate with your group to assign roles: one player can spec for building and crafting, another for combat, and another for exploration, so you can unlock all the useful nodes across your team without overlapping waste.
At the end of the day, exactly how many skill points in Enshrouded you have to work with is 35 total, with 25 from leveling and 10 from hidden Shroud Roots. You don’t have to stress about optimizing every single point, especially if you’re playing casually, but planning your allocation around your favorite parts of the game will make your playthrough far more enjoyable. If you end up unhappy with your build, just head to your nearest Flame Altar to respec for a small fee and try something new.