Guardians of the Galaxy puts you in direct control of Star-Lord, but the entire team plays a vital role in both combat and exploration. There are two main leveling systems throughout the game, perks that only apply to Star-Lord, and four different abilities for each Guardian.
While you can probably buy almost anything by the end of the game, it's all about choosing what gives you the most advantage. With that in mind, here are the best perks and abilities to get in Guardians of the Galaxy.
Best abilities to choose first
The five Guardians, including Star-Lord, have four different abilities they can unlock through the game. The fourth and final ability is automatically unlocked at the end of the story, but it's up to you how to spend your points for the rest.
After each battle, you'll get experience points that add to your ability gauge, so you'll almost always have points to spend. Here are the best abilities you'll want to acquire first.
- Star-Lord: Fan the Hammer (2 counts) – This is one of the highest damage abilities in the game, as Star-Lord bombards a single enemy with a stream of bullets. You can use it against large enemies that are staggered to quickly drop a heavy HP bar.
- Rocket: Gravistack Grenade (2 counts) – This is probably Rocket's most useful ability simply because it gathers a group of enemies together, setting them up perfectly for combos from other Guardians.
- Groot: Uproot (2 counts) – This is an important ability to unlock early for Groot, mainly because it's his only ability that actually does damage.
- Drax: Pound and Pummel (3 points) – Drax's Pound and Pummel is one of the best AoE attacks in the game, and it's perfect for pairing with other abilities like Rocket's aforementioned Gravistack Grenade. Just keep in mind that you'll need to unlock Drax's other ability first, which means you'll need five points in total.
Best Benefits to Choose First
Perks apply specifically to Star-Lord, and they can only be purchased at workbenches – found aboard the Milano as well as scattered throughout various missions.
Components are required to purchase Perks, and these can also be found scattered around the world. You'll always have a limited amount of components, so here's what you should invest in first.
- Component Locator – This perk is the very first one you need to unlock as it displays an icon on the screen whenever components are nearby, and also allows you to track them in your visor. This advantage helps you discover more components, which means more to buy advantages.
- Rapid Reload – When Star-Lords pistols overheat, you can press R2 at the right time to instantly reload them and increase damage. Considering how much you'll be shooting in battles, that's a pretty big advantage to have.
- Knockdown Dash – When Star-Lord is hit with a knockdown blow, you can press the dodge button to make him slide across the ground with his throw boosts. Being knocked down can really leave you open to damage, and this perk makes Star-Lord's exceptional mobility even better.
- Perfect Dodge – This perk slows down time when dodging at the last moment and can give Star-Lord a big advantage when getting out of tight spots.
- Shield Restoration Speed ​​– This perk increases your shield regeneration speed by 33%. there are other perks that increase your shields and such, but the regeneration speed will help keep you out of harm's way if you just focus on taking cover.
These are the best perks and abilities you'll want to buy first in Guardians of the Galaxy. Be sure to check out our dedicated guides hub if you need more help.
