Donkey Kong Bananza breaks new ground for the Donkey Kong series by introducing a
Skill Point and Skill Tree system. This allows players to customize Donkey Kong with various new abilities and stat improvements, making exploration and combat more dynamic. While the Skill Tree automatically appears when you earn a Skill Point, knowing how to access it manually and efficiently earn those points is key to mastering the game.
Donkey Kong Bananza: How To Open Skill Tree
How to Get Skill Points in DK Bananza
Skill Points are the currency used to unlock new abilities in the Skill Tree.
- Collecting Banandium Gems: The primary way to earn Skill Points is by collecting Banandium Gems. These large, crystal-like bananas are scattered throughout every layer of DK Bananza. They serve as rewards for completing challenges, solving puzzles, and sometimes are simply hidden within the environment (requiring you to dig them up).
- Progress Bar: Whenever you find a Banandium Gem, a bar with five banana icons will appear in the middle of your screen, under the name of the Banandium Gem's location. Each Banandium Gem you collect fills up one segment of this bar.
- Earning a Skill Point: Once you collect your fifth Banandium Gem, the bar will fully fill, and Donkey Kong will earn one Skill Point.
- Tip for Finding Gems: Use DK's Hand Slam move (press R) to highlight nearby collectibles, including Banandium Gems, even if they are buried or obscured by terrain.
How to Open the Skill Tree in DK Bananza
The Skill Tree menu will automatically open whenever you earn a Skill Point, prompting you to spend it. However, if you choose to close it or want to access it later to review your skills or spend banked points:
- Manual Access: To open the Skill Tree at any time, simply press up on the left Joy-Con d-pad. This will bring up the full list of your available Skills and display your total current Skill Points.
- Status Screen: If you press R while the Skill Tree menu is open, you will switch to the Status screen. This screen shows the clothingand outfits you currently have equipped for DK and Pauline, along withany bonuses they provide.
How to Respec Skill Points
If you wish to reset your Skill Tree and reallocate your spent Skill Points, you need to find and speak to an Elder. Elders are specific NPCs located throughout the game. Finding themallows you to refund all spent Skill Points, letting you redistributethem into different abilities to suit your preferred playstyle orovercome specific challenges. The game features five Elders located invarious layers.
Best Early Skills To Pick First
At the beginning of the game, only ten skills are initially available inthe Skill Tree. As you progress through layers and unlock new Bananzatransformations, more skills will become accessible. However, some ofthe initial skills are highly beneficial for early-game progression andshould be prioritized:
- Improved Digging: This skill is crucial for quickly traversing the terrain and uncovering buried items, making exploration more efficient.
- Stronger Punch: Enhances DK's standard attack, making it more effective against enemies and destructible environments.
- Increased Movement Speed: A general quality-of-life improvement that helps with exploration and evasion.
- Better Sonar: Directly improves the range of DK's Hand Slam sonar ability, making itsignificantly easier to locate hidden Banandium Gems, Fossils, andChallenge Entrances. This is especially useful for a collectathon game.
By focusing on these foundational skills early on, players can setthemselves up for a smoother and more efficient journey through theworld of Donkey Kong Bananza. Avoid investing in highly specializedskills too early, saving your Skill Points for more impactful upgradesas you uncover them.
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch 2
Genre(s): Platform, adventure
Developer(s): Nintendo EPD
Release date: July 17, 2025
Mode: Single-player, multiplayer
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