Cultivation
Players can use essence in the cultivation tree to unlock upgrades as they progress through the game. The cultivation tree and the ability unlock system are one of the components of the game that is expected to be heavily reworked prior to launch. Current cultivation upgrades include things like increasing your max HP or max stamina, reducing incoming damage, or healing you each time you block.
Body Upgrades
Body upgrades are generally very simple, usually just increasing stats of the player. These require essence to purchase and upgrade.
Vitality
Increases the player's max health by 6 per level. This can be upgraded up to level 25, giving the player 400 max health. No prerequisites.
Endurance
Increases the player's max stamina my 10 per level. This can be upgraded up to level 20, giving the player 500 max stamina. Requires Vitality level 5.
Thrill of the Hunt
Allows the player to regain 5 stamina per second for 3 seconds after damaging an enemy. This can only be bought, not upgraded. Requires Endurance level 5.
Strength
Adds 1 damage to every hit dealt by the player. This can be upgraded up to level 7, giving the player's attacks 7 extra damage. Requires Vitality level 5.
Hardened
Reduces all damage taken by the player by 1 per level. This can be upgraded up to level 7, reducing all damage taken by the player by 7. Requires Strength level 1.
Resilience
Gives the player an extra 2 absorption, restoring 2 health to the player every time they sucessfully block an attack. This can only be bought, not upgraded. Requires Vitality level 10, Endurance level 10, Strength level 4, Hardened level 4, and Thrill of the Hunt.
Soul Upgrades
This tree is currently disabled.
Essence
Almost everything you do in the game gives you essence. To spend your essence on cultivation you must bank the essence by either completing the level or exiting to the main menu. In the tower, you lose half of your unbanked essence upon failing a climb.
Pure
Some areas in the game, such as the Arena, apply the "Pure" debuff which deactivates all cultivation upgrades so that all players are on equal footing. This is not permanent, and you will regain your upgrades when the debuff is lost. You can see the debuff icon under your health bar when it is active.
