Sifu: Full Skill Tree and Best Skills to Permanently Unlock

The kung fu game Sifu has many creative aspects to the game. One is the Skill Tree and how each skill is permanently unlocked. With the ability to transcend death, being able to have skills that travel across the ages is crucial to successfully enacting your revenge.

Below, you will find Outsider Gaming’s ranking of best skills in Sifu. Included will be how to permanently unlock each skill and tips for best uses of the chosen skills. After the ranking, you will find a full list of the Skill Tree, their in-game descriptions, and the requirements to unlock each skill. It is important to know that each set of skills has a maximum age to learn those skills.

1. Weapon Mastery (Max Age: 29)

Weapon Mastery allows you to use weapons until they fully break. This skill costs 1,500 XP to unlock and 5x 1,500 XP to permanently unlock. This means that if you want this skill to be unlocked regardless of replaying a level or a game over, you need to soft unlock the skill first at 1,500 XP and then invest another 7,500 XP for a total of 9,000 XP to permanently unlock the skill. It’s a steep price, but it’s worth the cost.

It is tied with Crotch Punch as the most expensive skill to unlock. However, it takes a place not just over Crotch Punch, but atop all skills for one main factor: it’s always a good idea to go into fights with an equalizer.

Rarely will you engage in battles with singular or small groups of enemies. Even then, weapons are plentiful so it’s best practice to head into a new area with a weapon in hand. Enemies take more damage from weapons, particularly if you’ve upgraded weapon damage through the green statues throughout levels.

2. Environmental Mastery (Max Age: 59)

A cousin to Weapon Mastery, Environmental Mastery allows you to use objects like seats and bottle as projectiles directly from your feet. This can give you an advantage by briefly stunning (and damaging) an enemy before you rush in and land some attacks. This skill costs 1,000 XP to unlock and 5x 1,000 XP to permanently unlock.

To perform this skill, hit R1 near an item. Any item you can use – whether as a weapon or to send directly at your opponent – will have a white highlight to them. When paired with a weapon, you can really turn the flow of battle to your advantage.

3. Strong Sweep Focus (Max Age: 60+)

The only Focus Attack that requires one bar, it also does not have a weapon requirement or restriction. To activate Focus, hold L2 and pick the specific Focus Attack. This skill costs 500 XP to unlock and 5x 500 to permanently unlock.

Not only is it advantageous because it only requires one bar of Focus, but it also grounds your opponent. This leaves them open for a grounded takedown by holding Circle next to a downed enemy. This will, in most cases, eliminate that opponent from the fight.

4. Pushback Cancel (Max Age: 59)

This skill costs 500 XP to unlock and 5x 500 XP to permanently unlock.

When your Structure is compromised, or when being hit with certain strong attacks, you may be pushed backwards. This may result in you being pushed into walls, tables, and other objects, stunning you briefly and opening you up for more damage. To perform this skill, press L1 while pushed. This will help prevent being pushed into walls, tables, and more.

With many fights taking place in narrow or cramped areas – like the hallway in The Squats resembling the scene in Oldboy – this skill will payoff more often than you may think at first glance.

5. Invert Throw (Max Age: 39)

This skill costs 500 XP to unlock and 5x 500 XP to permanently unlock.

You’ll often find yourself surrounded by enemies. To better your chances, improving your positioning is key. Invert Throw is one of the best ways to improve your position. After hitting an enemy, aim toward that enemy with the left stick and hit R2. You will switch positions with the enemy.

Use this to prevent being flanked and keep all enemies in front of you. This will be especially handy in the second stage, The Club.

6. Weapon Catch (Max Age: 59)

This skill costs 500 XP to unlock and 5x 500 XP to permanently unlock.

You’re not the only one who will enter fights with weapons. You may be surrounded by multiple enemies carrying weapons. Some will carry projectiles like bottles or bricks.

To perform this skill, you must time your Deflection (Parry) with L1 as an item is thrown at you. This will then give you the item to use as a weapon or projectile. While an item being thrown at you doesn’t happen too often, it tends to happen at inopportune times in groups of enemies. Being able to avoid damage and gain a weapon is always a good deal.

7. Snap Kick (Max Age: 60+)

This skill costs 500 XP to unlock and 4x 500 to permanently unlock. It’s the only skill that doesn’t require an additional investment of five times the initial soft unlock price.

One of the keys to surviving battles is to master spacing. Both you and your enemies tend to launch attacks from the same distance, so one of the best ways to counter this is to quickly close the distance. The Snap Kick does just that by rapidly approaching and launching an attack.

You can perform this attack with bare hands, bat, or bladed weapons. To perform the move, hit up on the left stick twice and then Triangle once it’s unlocked.

Skill Tree Set One (Max Age: 60+)

Set One provides five skills that cover different areas of fighting, making for a well-rounded set of skills while also providing two Focus Attacks to practice.

1. 360 Swing Focus

“A wide attack capable of knocking down multiple enemies.” This Focus Attack requires two Focus bars and staff weapons only. This skill costs 500 XP to unlock and 5x 500 to permanently unlock.

2. Strong Sweep Focus

“Powerful strike to the enemy’s knee, knocking them down for a while.”

3. Snap Kick

“Engage Attack with important forward movement.”

4. Spin Hook Kick

“Combo leading to a powerful high kick capable of knocking down multiple enemies.” It does not have any weapon requirements or restrictions. To perform this move, hit Triangle Triangle · Triangle. This skill costs 750 XP to unlock and 5x 750 to permanently unlock.

5. Charged Backfist

“Unleash a powerful punch that stuns any enemy.” You can perform this attack with bare hands, bat, and bladed weapons. To perform this move, hold Triangle. This skill costs 1,000 XP to unlock and 5x 1,000 XP to permanently unlock.

Skill Tree Set Two (Max Age: 59)

Set Two is a unique set in that, aside from the Focus Attack, the other four skills are all timing-based as opposed to input-based.

1. Face Smash Focus

“A direct attack to daze your enemy.” This Focus Attack requires two Focus bars and bat weapons only. This skill costs 500 XP to unlock and 5x 500 XP to permanently unlock.

2. Weapon Catch

“Parry at the right moment to catch an item thrown at you.”

3. Pushback Cancel

“When pushed, regain your balance.”

4. Ground Counter

“While on the ground, parry to counter your enemy’s attack.” To perform this skill, you need to time L1 while grounded and being attacked by an enemy. Being struck while knocked down does more damage, so avoid this. Further, you’ll also reverse position with the enemy. This skill costs 750 XP to unlock and 5x 750 XP to permanently unlock.

5. Environmental Mastery

“Throw an item, weapon, or object directly from the ground.”

Skill Tree Set Three (Max Age: 49)

Set Three sees mostly attacks that either pushback or stagger your enemies.

1. Double Palm Focus

“Straight strike that applies a destructive push to your enemy.” This Focus Attack costs two Focus bars and has no weapon requirements or restrictions. Your enemy will end up being pushed back by the attack, a good way to create some space. This skill costs 500 XP to unlock and 5x 500 XP to permanently unlock.

2. Flowing Claw

“Fast and evasive strike that leaves your back facing the enemy.” You can perform this attack with bare hands and staff weapons only. To perform this skill, quickly hit Square then Triangle. If done correctly, the last last strike should be a spin kick after turning your back to the enemy. This skill costs 750 XP to unlock and 5x 750 XP to permanently unlock.

3. Chasing Strikes

“Attack on a pushed enemy to follow them up and deliver a powerful series of strikes.” To perform this attack, hit Square on a pushed enemy. This skill pairs well with Double Palm Focus. This skill costs 1,000 XP to unlock and 5x 1,000 XP to permanently unlock.

4. Crooked Foot

“After a successful parry, knock your enemy down with a quick throw.” This skill can be performed with bare hands, bat, and staff weapons. To perform this attack, hold Triangle after a successful Parry. Your enemy will be grounded after this move. This skill costs 1,250 XP to unlock and 5x 1,250 XP to permanently unlock.

5. Duck Strike

“Ducking move with forward movement.” You can perform this skill with bare hands, bat, and bladed weapons. To perform this skill, hold Square. It is particularly effective at enemies who attack your head. This skill costs 1,500 XP to unlock and 5x 1,500 XP to permanently unlock, the most expensive skill of the first three sets.

Skill Tree Set Four (Max Age: 39)

Set Four mainly focuses on skills that help your positioning in battle. Remember, never get flanked!

1. Vertical Strikes Focus

“A powerful blow in the solar plexus that stuns the enemy for a long time.” This Focus Attack requires two Focus bars and has no weapon requirements or restrictions. This skill costs 500 XP to unlock and 5x 500 XP to permanently unlock.

2. Invert Throw

“Dodge towards your targe just after a hit to grab them and invert your positions.”

3. Hook Intercept

“Hook that can withstand attacks during its buildup.” Similar to attacks from enemies where their limbs light up like on fire, the Hook Intercept can power through enemy attacks. To perform this skill, hold L1 and Triangle. This skill costs 750 XP to unlock and 5x 750 XP to permanently unlock.

4. Chasing Trip Kick

“Attack on a pushed enemy to follow up and knock them down.” To perform this skill, press Triangle on a pushed enemy. This would pair well with Double Palm Focus. This skill costs 1,000 XP to unlock and 5x 1,000 XP to permanently unlock.

5. Crotch Punch

“Quick, ducking punch that avoids high strikes.” This skill can be performed with bare hands, bat, and bladed weapons. To perform this skill, hit up on the left stick twice then Square. This skill costs 1,500 XP to unlock and 5x 1,500 XP to permanently unlock.

Skill Tree Set Five (Max Age: 29)

The only set with four skills, Set Five focuses on the strongest skills.

1. Thigh Cut Focus

“A damaging slash attack.” The only Focus Attack that requires three Focus bars, this is for bladed weapons only. This skill costs 500 XP to unlock and 5x 500 XP to permanently unlock.

2. Raining Strikes

“A combo leading to a series of lightning fast attacks.” To perform this skill, hit Triangle · Triangle. his skill costs 1,000 XP to unlock and 5x 1,000 XP to permanently unlock.

3. Slide Kick

“Perform a slide kick while running that knocks down enemies.” To perform this attack, run by hold R2 and hit Triangle. his skill costs 1,250 XP to unlock and 5x 1,250 XP to permanently unlock.

4. Weapon Mastery

“Continue to use a weapon until it breaks completely.”

There’s your full list of skills, their requirements, and Outsider Gaming’s ranking of the best skills to unlock. Which skills will you prioritize as you embark on your deadly journey?