Skills are abilities players can unlock on the Power Wheel and then interchange as they progress through The Secret World. Players can only have fourteen skills available to them at any one time: seven active and seven passive. They can change which skills they use at anima wells.
Templates, or suggested build paths, are available to give players an idea of where to start with skill point allocation. Player-created builds can be saved to allow skills and associated gear to be swapped together.
Skill points are acquired through gaining experience, which can be earned by completing missions, defeating enemies, exploring, crafting, and PvP.
New skills can be purchased at outposts and faction headquarters. Skills deeper in a cell have increased costs, and purchase restrictions may exist. Skills automatically scale with changes to chakras, weapons, and other skills.
An individual player can eventually learn all of the skills available to them, based on faction, though this process is expected to be lengthy.
Characters can test all of the basic skills available in their faction's training room. Once they leave the training room, the skill is purchased. Once skills are purchased, they cannot be refunded.
The skill system allows players to adapt to different situations without being locked into a traditional class. Players can switch builds, adjust abilities, and combine active and passive powers to support different play styles.
This flexibility makes it possible for a single character to fill different roles depending on the mission, group, or encounter.
Active skills must be triggered to be used and usually have a cooldown period. Active skills may be builders, exploiters, or abilities that place the player or target into a specific state.
Builders are abilities that stack counters on the player, allowing access to special abilities that may do more damage or healing. Some special abilities may add more counters rather than using them.
Exploiters are abilities that stack counters on the target, allowing access to special abilities that do more damage.
Passive skills are always active while equipped. They may interact with active skills or improve base skill abilities.
There are three categories of skills to choose from, each with three specialization paths.