Fundamentals is the tree every character has access to, regardless of build or specialization choice. It’s 23 nodes, with 10 points to spend (one at level 1, then one more per level up to 10) plus a free root node that costs nothing and unlocks automatically.

Reminder: this page describes the approved design. None of it affects combat yet — see Character XP & Levels 1–50 and PvM-Only Restrictions.

Three independent branches

Fundamentals splits into three branches hanging off the free root. You’re never required to commit to just one — a 10-point build commonly mixes two or three branches.

Vigor — survive

Damage reduction, big-hit mitigation, and self-sustain. This is the branch for “I want to not die as much,” useful on literally any build, melee or caster, pet-focused or not.

Edge — kill

Damage output for your own hits and spells — flat bonuses, a reward for attacking something that isn’t already focused on you, and a short damage buff after a kill. This is the “I want to hit harder” branch, and it applies to your own weapon and spell damage specifically, not to a pet’s.

Bond — coordination

Built around pets, summons, and party play — but written so it’s never a dead-weight branch for a character with no pet. Every Bond node has a payoff even with zero pets (party members count the same way a pet would for most of these effects); Tamers and summoners additionally get a pet-specific half of each node’s effect.

What this means for build planning

Because the three branches are independent, a Dexxer, a Mage, and a Tamer can each spend their 10 Fundamentals points completely differently and all end up with a coherent, useful result — there’s no single “correct” 10-point spread.