Rise of the Ronin Guide – How to Earn Skill Points and Rare Skill Points

Leveling up in Team Ninja’s Rise of the Ronin works much like other titles, granting Skill Points in the process. However, it mixes things up with the addition of the Karma system. Karma converted into Rare Skill Points to raise your four core stats – Strength, Intelligence, Dexterity and Charm. Since the latter affect things like Attack, Defense, Stagger and so on, it’s worth pursuing Karma.

The difference is that Karma is lost when you die. It’s recovered upon defeating the enemy who killed you (or breaking their poise and following up with a critical hit). Die again, and it’s gone forever. It’s worth noting that Karma is only earned from defeating enemies and must be converted to Rare Skill Points at a Veiled Edge Banner. Here’s how to earn Skill Points and Rare Skill Points quickly.

How to Earn Skill Points and Rare Skill Points

Equip Gear With Increased XP Acquisition

Like Nioh 1 and 2, different gear pieces can have passive skills that increase the amount of XP gained. The effect stacks with multiple pieces, so before venturing on a mission, make sure your equipment has these skills equipped. The more XP earned, the faster you can level up and gain Skill Points and Karma.

Complete Bond and Grass Roots Missions

Bond Missions involve completing tasks for characters of differing factions you’ve bonded with. They reward money, loot, items, Rare Skill Points and XP on their own, and for each enemy killed in a mission, you get Karma and additional XP. Grass Roots Missions are also a strong source of XP and other rewards, like Rare Skill Points.

Defeat Fugitives

Fugitives are often optional targets that you can go out of your way to take down. You’ll encounter them by exploring the regions and have to defeat weaker enemies before fighting them. Along with XP and Karma, they also provide Rare Skill Points for the Strength stat on top and even additional Combat Styles to equip.

Optional Activities

Completing different optional activities, whether it’s collecting cats, photography challenges or training, each important since they can provide Rare Skill Points for stats like Dexterity, Charm and Intellect. Collecting everything in an area also rewards Rare Skill Points for Strength.

Some of these also provide Silver Coins, traded for Treatises that give Rare Skill Points. Another way to accrue Karma and XP is through Public Order missions. They pop up when exploring a region and involve slaying several enemies. Once complete, they reveal a section of the map and open up more side missions.

Rise of the Ronin is available now on PS5. Check out our review and additional tips and tricks here.