For other uses, see Skill (disambiguation).

Skills^[1][2] (スキル^[3][4], Sukiru^?) are a gameplay mechanic that appear in Sonic Frontiers. Each one of them is required to be unlocked by collecting Skill Pieces or freeing one of Sonic's friends in order for utilizing them in combat against enemies and Guardians during the Open Zone gameplay. Outside the combat, Skills are also included for multiple other purposes in the game. Almost all of unlockable Skills are displayed on a hierarchical visual system called Skill Tree^[5] (スキルツリー^[6], Sukiru Tsurī^?) in the game's Skills menu.

Overview[]

In Sonic Frontiers, each Skill is learned when the player collects required amount of Skill Pieces to fill the Skill Point gauge on the bottom right corner HUD during the Open Zone gameplay.^[1] Each single Skill Piece is worth twenty points on the gauge and they are obtained either by simply collecting them in Open Zone terrains, defeating enemies or opening breakable objects.^[5] After getting certain amount of Skill Points in the game, flickering "!" sign can be spotted on the Skill Point gauge that indicates new Skills being unlockable at that point. To unlock the Skill, the player has to enter the Pause menu by pressing +/OPTIONS/ and navigate to the separate Skills section.^[2][7] When entering the menu, the player receives a view of a simple formmated Skill Tree with each Skill depicted on diamond shaped icon connected together with outlines. With unobtainable Skills depicted in gray color scheme, icons on the Skill Tree marked with "!" point out, which Skills can be unlocked at the time. Each Skill costs different amount of Skill Points and after obtaining required amount, the player can press // to unlock the chosen Skill.

There are also set of three Skills listed separately from the Skill Tree, that don't require obtaining Skill Points, but they can be unlocked by rescuing one of Sonic's friends in the Starfall Islands.^[8] For example, freeing Amy Rose from the Cyber Cage in Kronos Island, will automatically unlock the Grand Slam in the Skills menu. After unlocking the Skill, the player can practice of executing its mechanic separately by entering the training simulator.^[5] All Skills can also practiced in the training simulator when the game is loading the Cyber Space stage or the player is returning back to the Open Zone gameplay.

Skills are only accessible to be used in one of Starfall Islands during the Open Zone gameplay and as such, they cannot be performed in Cyber Space stages. Regular enemies can be defeated with chain combo attacks or basic moves along with Skills. Guardians have special attacks and certain weak spots which the player has to learn determining the best strategy of using basic moves or Skills.^[9][5] As the game progresses, the player has to further rely on Skills to encounter different or already encountered enemies and guardians, which proceed evolving stronger and more durable in later Open Zone areas.^[5] Some Skills are not only direct combat attacks, but also abilities of increasing the effectiveness of the attacks such as the Phantom Rush,^[10] countering enemy attacks immediately before hitting the terrain like Recovery Smash,^[11] or automation mechanic to activate already unlocked Skills during Combos, like the Auto Combo.^[12]

Alongside the combat, Skills do also serve multiple other purposes such as in Main Story quests, as certain learned Skills are required for the player to use in order to complete minigame tasks within the time limit.^[13] Some of Skills such as Cyloop and Quick Cyloop, can be used to interact with Open Zone environment, completing Challenges, and reveal items hidden beneath the terrain including Rings, Memory Tokens, Seeds and other rare items.^[14]

List of Skills[]

Sonic the Hedgehog[]

Icon	Skill	Description	Skill Point cost
	Cyloop	Run around while leaving a light trail. After creating an enclosure with the light trail and then releasing the button, various effects can happen.	1
	Phantom Rush	When the combo meter is maxed out, Phantom Rush is activated, resulting in attacks being 1.2 times more powerful. Phantom Rush lasts until the combo meter reaches 0.	3
	Sonic Boom	A high-speed kick that unleashes shockwaves that pummels the enemy.	5
	Air Trick	Air Tricks can be performed when sparks surround Sonic while he is in the air. Perform Air Tricks to earn Skill Pieces.	5
	Wild Rush	A high-speed, zigzagging attack.	10
	Stomp Attack	A stomping attack that swoops down from above on to the enemy	10
	Auto Combo	Battle skills that have been unlocked will be automatically activated during combos. However, damage dealt will be reduced. After unlocking a skill, you can toggle auto combo ON/OFF from Options.	20
	Quick Cyloop	Quickly Cyloop around the enemy when the Cyloop meter has maxed out and turns blue. The meter fills up with every attack that hits an enemy and can be used continuously when it is still blue.	20
	Homing Shot	Launch a volley of energy spheres at the enemy.	30
	Loop Kick	A looping, rapidily accelerating kick attack in midair.	30
	Spin Slash	Surround an enemy with a multi-hit spinning attack.	40
	Recovery Smash	If Sonic is thrown back by an attack and successfully execute the on-screen prompt before he hits the ground, he can immediately counter with Recovery Smash.	50

There are three additional Skills to be unlocked automatically after freeing one of Sonic's friends during the Open Zone gameplay.^[8] Separated from the Skill Tree, these three Skills are as follows:

Icon	Skill	Description	Character	Requirement
	Grand Slam	Unleash a powerful attack by following the on-screen prompt.	Amy	5 Amy's Memory Tokens
	Cyclone Kick	Launch a powerful attack that delievers a flurry of hits as Sonic ascends.	Knuckles	30 Knuckles' Memory Tokens
	Cross Slash	Circle the enemy and let loose a stream of shockwaves.	Tails	20 Tails' Memory Tokens

Amy Rose[]

Icon	Skill	Description	Skill Point cost
	Jump	Jump into the air.	0
	Homing Attack	Do a Homing Attack on enemies or objects with target cursors on them.
	Double Jump	A small midair jump.
	Boost	Use the Boost Gauge to speed up. Boosting in midair will lead to an Air Boost.
	Card Float	Jump in midair while spinning Fortune Cards. Hold the button to ease back to the ground.
	Cyloop	Leave a light trail while moving. Enclosing the light trait may cause various effects to happen.	1
	Card Attack	Use Fortune Cards to attack forward. Press the button twice to attack twice in a row.	5
	Card Stomp	Drop in from above and deal damage to enemies below.	5
	Multi-lock	Automatically attack multiple targets by releasing the button after multiple target cursors appear.	10
	Card Spin	A spinning attack during a Card Attack. Use the analog stick during a Card Attack to move, and hold the button to spin for longer. Use it too much and Amy will become dizzy.	10
	Parry	Hold the buttons to repel attacks.	10
	Cyhammer	Generate a shockwave by using the gauge and swinging a hammer onto the ground. This move can also be used in midair. Use this near special signs to make objects and items appear.	15
	High Card Jump	After a Card Stomp, somersault and jump high into the air.	20
	Infinite Card Spin	Card Spin's speed increases and Amy won't get dizzy.	30
	Poison Parry	Enemies who are parried will have reduced health for a short while.	30
	Spin Dash	Press the button while running or in midair to roll into a ball form and run over enemies to deal damage.	40
	Card Spin Boost	Deal damage to enemies while boosting. Use the analog stick and the button to drift.	50

Knuckles the Echidna[]

Icon	Skill	Description	Skill Point cost
	Jump	Jump into the air.	0
	Wall Climb	Climb red and green walls at high speed.
	Double Jump	A small midair jump.
	Glide	Move forward through the air at high speed while gradually losing altitude. During a glide, use the analog stick to change direction.
	Boost	Use the Boost Gauge to speed up. Boosting in midair will lead to an Air Boost.
	Homing Attack	Do a Homing Attack on enemies or objects with target cursors on them.
	Cyloop	Leave a light trail while moving. Enclosing the light trait may cause various effects to happen.	1
	Heat Stomp	Drop in from above and deal damage to enemies below.	5
	Combo Attack	A close-range punching attack. Repeatedly press the button to unleash up to 3 punches in a row.	5
	Parry	Hold the buttons to repel attacks.	10
	Cyknuckle	Generate a shockwave by using the gauge and punching the ground. This move can also be used in midair. Use this near special signs to make objects and items appear.	15
	Drill Spin Attack	Automatically attack multiple targets in a drill spin state by releasing the button after multiple target cursors appear.	30
	Break Parry	Enemies who are parried will have reduced defense for a short while.	30
	Spin Dash	Press the button while running or in midair to roll into a ball form and run over enemies to deal damage.	40
	Infinite Glide	The glide speed increases and there is no loss of altitude.	40
	Drill Spin Boost	Enter a drill spin state and deal damage to enemies during a boost.	50

Miles "Tails" Prower[]

Icon	Skill	Description	Skill Point cost
	Jump	Jump into the air.	0
	Fly	Hold to fly up and then parallel to the ground. Tails can't fly forever and will eventually get tired and lose altitude.
	Double Jump	A small midair jump.
	Boost	Use the Boost Gauge to speed up. Boosting in midair will lead to an Air Boost.
	Cyloop	Leave a light trail while moving. Enclosing the light trait may cause various effects to happen.	1
	Wrench Attack	Throw a wrench a short distance. When a target cursor is displayed, the wrench will automatically find its mark.	5
	Spike Stomp	Transform the blaster into a pile bunker and launch a diving attack.	5
	Parry	Hold the buttons to repel attacks.	10
	Cyblaster	Use the gauge to fire a ball of light that will detonate upon contact with an object. Use the button to set it off manually. This move can also be used in midair. Use this near special signs to make objects and items appear.	15
	Cyclone Boost	Fly at high speed aboard the Cyclone. Hold the button and use the analog stick to adjust altitude and steer.	30
	Debuff Parry	Enemies who are parried will have reduced attack power for a short while.	30
	Charged Wrench Attack	Throw multiple wrenches that hover for a short time. They can be used as a platform just once.	40
	Spin Dash	Press the button while running or in midair to roll into a ball form and run over enemies to deal damage.	40
	Cyclone Cannon	Fire the Cyclone's high-powered beam to attack forward. Use the analog stick to aim.	50

Gallery[]

Screenshots[]

Gallery
Sonic's fully unlocked Skill Tree, Sonic Frontiers Amy's fully unlocked Skill Tree, The Final Horizon Knuckles' fully unlocked Skill Tree, The Final Horizon Tails' fully unlocked Skill Tree, The Final Horizon

References[]