Rufous

{
  "post": {
    "title": "Does a skill tree need to be active (equipped) for a passive ability to be in effect?",
    "selftext": "Its kind of infuriating that this isn’t explicitly stated in the game... (if it is, then I missed it.)\n\nFor example in Zanes skill Trees I like the passive abilities under the barrier action skill, however I would never use that skill in 1 player... if i don’t have barrier equipped do I still gain the buffs from passive abilities?",
    "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/Borderlands/comments/d4hqpe/does_a_skill_tree_need_to_be_active_equipped_for/"
  },
  "comments": [
    {
      "body": "If you have access to them, yes, else they are greid out"
    },
    {
      "body": " I was wondering the exact same thing. I tested it out by selecting a shield increase perk while having the SNTNL active and I could see that my shield did increase, so yes – passive perks from non-equipped skill trees do seem to work.",
      "replies": [
        {
          "body": "Okay thanks for the response, the game didn’t really make this clear, at least on PS4. You can’t even view all the skill trees simultaneously.\n\nWhy does this game feel like a step backwards from BL2..."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "body": "Skills are universal, you can have your main tree and if you like effects of other tree perks you can use them all at the same time. Also when you unlock the class mods you don’t need the skills unlocked to get the bonuses"
    },
    {
      "body": "You don't actually \"equip\" a specific skill tree, only the Action Skill belonging to that tree. That doesn't lock you into the tree or anything.\n\nAmara for example, can use the basic Action Skill of each of the three trees (Phaseslam, Phasecast, Phasegrasp) regardless of where she's putting her points. For example, a full melee build (green tree) can still use Phasegrasp (red tree) as the Action Skill just fine. And Zane can equip his Digi-Clone and his drone but still go down the Barrier tree if he wishes.\n\nWhat does force you down a specific tree is if you want to use a specific augment or Action Skill variant that is found down the tree."
    }
  ]
}