Weird West: How perks and abilities work

Weird West is an isometric immersive simulation with extensive RPG components spread throughout its five chapters. Each character has unique skills, and they all share a pool of perks that you may add to as the game progresses. There are no levels or XP to acquire in this game; instead, you improve through abilities, perks, gear, and simply improving your stealth and combat skills. In all four of those categories, here's how you 'level up.'

First and foremost, talents. To access these, you'll need one or two Nimp relics. Look for the purple light and collect as many of these stringy things as you can; they can also be offered as quest rewards, taken from larger opponents, or purchased from certain merchants. Every character has its own set of unique skills, such as the Protector's bear spirit and the Oneirist's teleport – here's a list of the top choices for each. There are also skills for each of the five weapon categories: pistols, shotguns, rifles, bows, and melee; explosives and other throwables are not included. While each character has their own set of talents, they all have access to the same weapon-specific skills.

There are also advantages that can be improved using Golden Ace of Spades Cards. These can be found in the same places as Nimp Relics, such as in the environment (look for the orange light), missions, looting, and merchants. Perks range from improved health to lower merchant rates; here's a selection of the greatest to choose from. Perks, unlike talents, are tiered. The first level costs one card, the second three, and the third five; each level enhances the benefits of the chosen perk. Furthermore, unlike talents, these benefits are shared by all five heroes.

Another excellent approach to level up your characters is through the use of gear. Enemies' health bars frequently have numbers next to them. That isn't a level, but rather an armour rating. The more armour you have, the less damage you take. Maintain a strong defence while on the lookout for new and improved weaponry. These can be found as treasure, provided as quest rewards, and sold by merchants, as expected. When your health is low, amulets provide additional benefits such as reduced fire damage and greater firepower.

Finally, you should constantly strive to better your own abilities. Weird West is packed with all kinds of weird mixes of components, as we mentioned in our review. To shoot, look for explosive and chemical barrels. To put your adversaries on fire, throw oil lamps. Experiment with several weapon types to see which one best suits your playstyle. There is no incorrect way to play Weird West, so keep honing your character's skills, bonuses, and gear sets. When you combine those factors with your own growing abilities, you'll be 'levelling up' in no time.