Atomfall features a light RPG-style upgrade system with a twist — there’s no traditional XP or leveling up. Instead, the path to unlocking skills is built entirely around exploration and scavenging for rare items. If you’re confused about how to earn more skills or how best to spend your upgrade points, this guide has you covered.
How the Upgrade System Works
There are nine different skills in the game, spread across four categories. Each skill has a point cost, usually ranging from 2 to 7 points. As you explore the world, you’ll come across opportunities to spend points on skills that improve your character’s abilities, survivability, or quality of life.
However, there’s no leveling system in Atomfall — no XP, no levels, no skill trees unlocked by grinding enemies. So how do you get more skill points?
How to Get Skill Points: BARD Training Stimulants
The answer lies in BARD Training Stimulants, a special collectible resource that functions as the game’s currency for unlocking skills.
Where to Find BARD Training Stimulants
Training stimulants are found throughout the game world, most frequently in areas related to the BARD organization. They can be located in:
Large Orange BARD Stash Boxes
These are the most reliable sources. Always open them when you find them.
Metal Briefcases with Red Trim
Usually contain stimulants and other high-value loot.
Small Training Stimulant Boxes
Often found sitting on countertops or desks in BARD-controlled facilities.
Each container can hold anywhere from 1 to 3 stimulants, so collecting them requires diligent exploration. Make a habit of searching every room, every box, and every corner in any BARD facility you encounter.
Important Tips for Finding More Stimulants
Explore every BARD facility thoroughly. These locations are your best bet for finding stimulants.
Don’t skip visual clutter. Boxes and cases can sometimes blend in with the environment. Look carefully.
Use the environment to your advantage. Some containers may be hidden behind objects or up on shelves.
Listen for audio cues. Some stash boxes emit a faint humming sound that can help you locate them.
Can You Unlock All Skills?
In short — no. Even with thorough exploration, you’re unlikely to find enough stimulants to unlock every single skill. The game is designed to make you choose wisely.
But that’s not a bad thing. Many of the available skills offer only minor quality-of-life upgrades that aren’t essential to survival or progress. Instead, focus your stimulants on the most impactful upgrades.
Which Skills Are Worth It?
While every player’s playstyle will differ, here are some general guidelines:
Prioritize combat effectiveness and utility. Look for upgrades that improve survivability, weapon efficiency, or resource usage.
Avoid minor QoL perks. Skills that just speed up crafting, slightly improve item detection, or reduce stamina drain by a tiny margin are often not worth the cost.
Plan ahead. Some of the best upgrades are more expensive (6–7 points), so it’s worth saving up and investing in the long-term benefits.
The skill system in Atomfall is intentionally limited and exploration-driven. By design, you won’t unlock everything — but you don’t need to. As long as you commit to scavenging BARD stash boxes and choosing wisely, you’ll have more than enough training stimulants to unlock the best upgrades the game has to offer.
So grab your flashlight, head into the next BARD facility, and keep your eyes peeled — your next game-changing upgrade might be hiding in a red-trimmed case behind a desk.
