# Mechanics

Mercenaries earn one talent point for each level gained, which they can use to develop their unique skill sets. The talent tree is divided into three sections: **Core Talents**, **Keystone Talents**, and **Mastery**.

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* **Core Talents** and **Keystone Talents** can each be upgraded up to five levels, while **Mastery** has only one level.
* The talent tree is tiered, with **Core Talents** split into three layers. Investing five points into one layer unlocks the next.
* For every 15 points spent on Core Talents, players can invest five points into **Keystone Talents**, and each set of five points in Keystone Talents unlocks a **Mastery**.
* Keystone Talents are divided into four sets, with each set containing two mutually exclusive talents.

By the time a mercenary reaches the maximum level of 40, an ideal build would include 30 points in Core Talents, 10 points in Keystone Talents, and two Masteries, giving them a highly specialized skill set.