New to Tomb Raider and not sure where to start? Don’t worry, this Tomb Raider beginner guide will help you. You’ll learn how to survive early fights, explore the island, and find all the useful loot. We’ll also show you the best upgrades for Lara. These tips and tricks will help you progress faster, avoid mistakes, and enjoy your adventure on Yamatai.
Contents
Focus on the Right Skills
Early skill choices won’t ruin your run, but picking the right beginner skills will make the game feel smoother and way more fun. As an interesting part of the Tomb Raider experience, these early upgrades help you level faster, stay stealthy, and survive tougher fights without wasting ammo:
|
Skill |
Why It’s Great for Beginners |
|
Survivalist |
Boosts XP from food, animals, and caches helps you level up faster and unlock more skills early. |
|
Advanced Salvaging |
Get more salvage from containers, so you can craft and upgrade gear sooner. |
|
Animal Instincts |
Makes animals glow with Survival Instinct. Easy hunting and early crafting materials. |
|
Steady Shot |
Extends slow-mo bow aiming for precise headshots and reliable stealth kills. |
|
Arrow Retrieval |
Automatically recovers arrows from killed enemies/animals. Endless ammo for silent bow takedowns. |
Combat Basics to Follow
If there’s one combat rule every Tomb Raider beginner should learn early it is stealth which carries you much farther than guns ever will. Tomb Raider isn’t a run-and-gun shooter. The moment you start firing wildly, enemies swarm you, ammo disappears fast, and fights become way harder than they need to be.
Your bow is your best friend here. Silent headshots let you clear enemies one by one without alerting the entire area, and once you unlock Steady shot, landing those shots feels incredibly satisfying. Take your time, aim carefully, and let patience do the work. A single well placed arrow is always better than an empty magazine.
Guns still have their place, especially in emergencies, but treating them as a last resort will make combat smoother and more rewarding. Play smart, stay hidden, and you’ll quickly see why stealth is the true combat king in Tomb Raider.
Hunt & Craft to Get Overpowered Early
If you want Lara to feel powerful early on, hunting and crafting are where the magic happens. A lot of new players rush past animals, but stopping to hunt a few deer or rabbits can quietly turn you into a powerhouse. The upgrades you craft from animal pelts make exploration smoother, combat easier, and survival far less stressful.
Hunting isn’t just busywork. It directly fuels your best gear upgrades. Use Survival Instinct to spot animals, line up a clean shot, and aim for vital areas to get perfect pelts. The better you hunt the faster you can unlock upgrades that actually matter.
To get the most out of your early game as a Tomb Raider beginner, here’s what you should prioritize first:
-
Hunt animals regularly - Hunting animals like deer and rabbits are useful for crafting materials.
-
Go for clean kills - headshots or heart shots give better pelts for faster upgrades.
-
Craft at base camps - Upgrade your bow quiver first, craft holsters, and improve weapons whenever possible.
Unlock Skills and Gear Through Tombs
As a Tomb Raider beginner, it’s easy to overlook optional tombs and challenges, but doing them early can give you a big advantage. Tombs are short, self-contained puzzle areas that are perfect for experimenting with your skills and gadgets. Not only are they fun to explore, but also reward you with skills, weapons and upgrades that make the rest of the game much easier. They are like mini training grounds where Lara gets stronger while you learn the ropes.
Why should you tackle them early? It is because you get so many perks with it as follows:
-
Quick rewards: Skills, weapons, and XP that boost early progression
-
Safe learning: Short puzzles teach you game mechanics without high stakes
-
Exploration perks: Use Survival Instinct to find entrances and hidden paths
-
Completion satisfaction: Optional, but finishing them adds to outfits and collectibles
-
Easier backtracking later: Once you have the right gear, you can 100% areas more efficiently
Weapons and Ability Upgrades
Lara’s weapons and tools in this game aren’t just for shooting or swinging. They’re key to exploring, surviving, and taking down enemies in style. Nd upgrades for these weapons are also playing a major role for the success but remember, upgrades aren’t handed to you automatically. Many are hidden in optional tombs, secret areas, or tied to the story.
If you want the perfect upgrades, collecting resources and exploring thoroughly lets you improve your gear, unlock new abilities, and make combat and exploration feel way smoother. Make these upgrades early to turn a good Tomb Raider run into a great one.
At the beginning, these tools and weapons with their upgrades will help you to fight and explore better in future.
|
Upgrade |
Why It’s Useful |
|
Makeshift Bow / Compound Bow |
For ranged attacks and shooting rope targets |
|
Pry Axe / Climbing Axe |
Open doors, break containers, climb walls |
|
Handgun / Assault Rifle |
Essential for early combat against enemies |
|
Rope Arrow / Rope Ascender |
Access high or distant areas, zip-line across gaps |
|
Firestriker |
Light torches, ignite traps, solve puzzles |
One-key Macro: Easily execute combos to boost your combat efficiency.
Keyboard Mapping: Enjoy PC-like control experience with a keyboard and mouse, customize control with high sensitivity and precise skill casting to carry your team.
High FPS: Enjoy a smooth, no-lag gaming experience with high FPS and wide screen
Video Recorder: Record highlights and turn them into shareable videos
Smart Mechanics to Play Like a Pro
Some of the game’s best tricks aren’t explained clearly, and missing them can make exploration and combat feel harder than it needs to be as you’re a Tomb Raider beginner. Small mechanics like rappelling longer or switching weapons quickly can save you time, make stealth easier, and just generally make Lara feel way more agile.
Here’s a simple breakdown of these hidden gems so you can master them early and play smarter:
|
Mechanic |
How to Use It |
|
Rappelling Longer |
Hold the shoulder button while clinging to a wall to extend the rope. Let go safely. Don't panic and pull the stick down to swing or reach farther. |
|
Quick Weapon Selection |
Press the D-pad to open the weapon wheel, then use the right stick to select a weapon. Even faster: tap the corresponding D-pad direction to pull out the weapon instantly. |
People Also Ask
Can I Replay Areas to Get Missed Collectibles or Upgrades?
Yes! You can go back to most areas, especially after getting new abilities or gear. This lets you pick up missed collectibles, complete optional tombs, and upgrade weapons. It’s an easy way to make sure Lara is ready for tougher challenges later.
Are There Any Hidden Shortcuts or Secrets in Yamatai?
Absolutely! Yamatai is full of secret paths, hidden ledges, and optional tombs. Keep an eye out for climbable walls, rope targets, and unusual terrain. Exploring carefully often leads to extra loot, upgrades, and experience points that make the adventure smoother.
Do I Need to Complete Every Challenge to Finish the Story?
No, you don’t have to complete every challenge to finish the main story. However, challenges and optional tombs give extra experience, loot, and abilities that make combat and exploration easier.
Conclusion
That’s a wrap for our Tomb Raider beginner guide! With these Tomb Raider tips, you now know how to survive Yamatai. By following this guide, you’ll explore without getting stuck. Keep practicing, take your time, and remember every secret and collectible you find makes Lara even stronger in her journey.
