Complete Guide to All Skill Book Locations in Atomfall

Atomfall offers a diverse array of skills that enhance your gameplay, including ranged and melee combat, crafting, and stealth capabilities. Unlike traditional RPGs, there is no experience point system; instead, players must discover books known as Training Manuals to learn new skills.

There are a total of eight distinct Training Manuals hidden throughout the quarantine zone. This comprehensive guide will help you pinpoint their locations, making your journey more manageable.

Acquiring New Skills in Atomfall

Before unlocking skills, you need to collect items called Training Stimulants. These stimulants grant you skill points that can be used in the Skills menu. They can typically be found in yellow B.A.R.D. Crates or obtained as rewards for completing specific quests.

In Atomfall, skills are categorized into four major types: Ranged Combat, Melee Combat, Survival, and Conditioning. Each category features three separate skill trees. Initially, you’ll have access to only one tree in each category, with the remaining ones locked behind the Training Manuals.

Locating Ranged Combat Training Manuals

Firearms Mastery Manual

To find the Firearms Mastery Manual, head to Skethermoor Prison, a location you’ll access later in the game. This manual is located in the Loading Bay, where you must rescue Dr. Garrow. You’ll need a Signal Redirector to access the Master Control Room; it can be found in the Security Room near her cell, along with the Security Keycard. After obtaining the keycard, you can access the Electric B Room to retrieve the manual.

Alternatively, you can trade with Corporal “Bootsy”Hughes at a trading post in Skethermoor, located at coordinates 36.3 E, 76.2 N.

This manual unlocks the following skills:

Firearms Stability: Reduces weapon recoil.
Firearms Handling: Decreases firearm sway while aiming.
Firearms Focus: Boosts damage when your heart rate is low.

Bow Mastery Manual

At the Druids’ Camp in Casterfell Woods, you’ll discover a large castle. The Bow Mastery Manual is located near the main entrance, specifically at coordinates 19.5 E, 83.9 N, resting on a wooden crate.

Unlockable skills from this manual include:

Draw Speed: Enhances bow draw speed.
Draw Control: Removes heart rate’s impact on draw duration.
Bow Focus: Activates a brief slow-motion effect when the bow is fully drawn by pressing L3.

Locating Melee Combat Training Manuals

Stealth Manual

In Casterfell Woods, you can find Datlow Hall located at coordinates 26.2 E, 85.4 N. Here, you can initiate the Datlow Hall Lead to find Jenks, a character tied to the quest from Prudence Rook. Completing this side quest awards you the Conservatory Key, which you can use to unlock the conservatory where the Stealth Manual resides.

You can also obtain this manual from Molly Jowett, who trades out of Slatten Dale, located at coordinates 26.4 E, 79.1 N.

The Stealth Manual unlocks these valuable skills:

Quiet Takedown: Minimizes noise during takedowns.
Quiet Movement: Reduces footstep sounds, making stealth easier.
Surprise Attack: Boosts damage dealt to unaware enemies.

Melee Combat Manual

The Outlaw Cave is located at coordinates 24.4 E, 75.3 N within Slatten Dale. Eliminate the outlaws found inside to locate the Melee Combat Manual on a crate. Watch out for a tripwire trap before reaching it!

This manual unlocks the following skills:

Melee Weapon Attack Power: Increases melee weapon damage.
Seasoned Brawler: Greatly reduces heart rate costs for melee attacks.
Heavy Melee Attack Power: Boosts damage from Heavy Melee attacks.

Locating Survival Training Manuals

Crafting Manual

Finding the Crafting Manual involves several steps. First, you must power up Data Store Delta using an Atomic Battery within The Interchange. After powering it, attempt to unlock the storeroom on the lower level. However, be advised that this area is flooded with electricity. You’ll need to navigate across computer servers to reach a platform with the corpse of a scientist, looting it for the Data Store D Store Room Key. From there, proceed to the storeroom to obtain the Crafting Manual.

Alternatively, you can acquire this manual by completing the St. Katherine’s Church Lead, where you investigate a murder case. While at the Brewery Cellar in Wyndham Village at coordinates 30.5 E, 80.5 N, you’ll find notes that reveal the murderer as Morris Wick, the Village Shop owner. After confronting him, you can negotiate for the Crafting Manual in exchange for keeping his secret.

Please note that if you kill Morris, the Crafting Manual will be unattainable. To get it, you must allow him to escape justice.

This manual unlocks the following skills:

Crafting Speed: Significantly reduces crafting time.
Deep Pockets: Allows you to carry more crafting materials and ammunition.
Gunsmith: Unlocks recipes for crafting upgraded weapons.

Consumables Manual

You can receive the Consumables Manual as a reward for completing The Bakery Lead in Wyndham Village. This quest involves assisting Iris Baxter and her husband Phillip, who is suffering from an infection. However, if morality isn’t your concern, you can expedite the quest by eliminating Iris, stealing the Bakery Bedroom Key from her corpse, then killing Phillip in the bedroom to retrieve the Consumables Manual.

If you prefer to avoid violence, you can barter with Billy Gorse located in Casterfell Woods at coordinates 21.5 E, 89.6 N to obtain the manual.

This manual grants access to these skills:

Blue Fingers: Harvest young spores from heavily infected sources.
Buff Duration: Extends the effects of consumables.
Gut Health: Grants a damage resistance buff from food consumables.

Locating Conditioning Training Manuals

Resistances Manual

To find the Resistances Manual, you must first obtain the Church Cellar Key from the Medical department of The Interchange. You’ll encounter an infected scientist, Dr. Holder, in the cellar beneath St. Katherine’s Church. To progress his questline and attain the manual, retrieve Sample One from the Auditorium using the keycard Dr. Holder gives you. Before exiting into the Medical Tunnels, search behind Sample One for the manual sitting on a crate.

This manual unlocks valuable skills:

Burn Resistance: Provides defense against all burn sources.
Bleed Resistance: Offers protection from bleeding.
Poison Resistance: Guards against all poison sources.

Experimental Inoculation

Interestingly, the final manual is not a traditional manual. It also necessitates finding the Church Cellar Key to visit Dr. Holder in the cellar. Once you’re there, look for the Experimental Inoculation on his desk. Using it automatically grants you the Infection Resistance skill, which protects against infection build-up.

Moreover, this inoculation opens up these additional skills: