Donkey Kong Bananza Skill Tree Guide

When I first opened the skill tree in Donkey Kong Bananza, I was super confused.

There were branches, icons, and nodes I didn’t even recognize and tbh the game doesn’t really walk you through what to unlock first.

If you have been staring at it like, “Uhh, do I go power or utility?”, you are not alone.

In this guide, I you will learn how the skill tree in Donkey Kong Bananza works, which upgrades are worth getting early, and the strategy that helped me unlock the best abilities without wasting Banandium Gems.

What the Skill Tree in Donkey Kong Bananza Is and How It Works

The skill tree in Donkey Kong Bananza is where you unlock all your core movement and combat upgrades.

Stuff like the Jump Shot, Dig Dash, and Banana Magnet are tucked away in here.

To unlock these skills, you will need Skill Points, which you earn by collecting Banandium Gems.

Each skill node costs a set number of points, and you can only unlock a skill if you’ve reached it through its branch.

There are three major branches:

• Power – Focused on strength, punch damage, and terrain-breaking.
• Mobility – Includes jumps, dashes, and stamina.
• Utility – Stuff like resource pickups, cooldowns, and support skills.

Best Early Skills to Unlock in Donkey Kong Bananza

I made the mistake of going straight into Power at first but don’t be like me.

Here’s what I wish I did instead:

1. Jump Shot (Mobility)

Absolutely essential.

Lets you double jump, which opens up way more areas.

2. Banana Magnet (Utility)

Pulls nearby bananas to you automatically.

Saves you time and makes collecting smoother.

3. Dig Dash (Mobility)

Lets you burst through walls underground and dodge mid-air.

Super fun and useful.

4. Punch Charge (Power)

Gives your punches extra knockback.

Helps in combat and breaking tougher terrain.

**Once you have these, feel free to experiment.

But these four give you a solid foundation for exploring and fighting.

How to Earn Skill Points Fast in Donkey Kong Bananza

To unlock more skills, you’ll need Skill Points, which come from Banandium Gems.

Here’s how I earn them:

• Challenge Courses – They drop the most gems consistently.
• Hidden Treasure Chests – Often include either gems or chips.
• Banandium Chip Trade-In – 10 chips = 1 gem. Worth it when you’re short.

Also: do the tutorial missions. I skipped one and missed a huge gem drop early on.

Mistakes Players Can Make With the Skill Tree in Donkey Kong Bananza

1. Spreading Too Thin

Don’t try to unlock every branch at once.

You will burn points and end up underpowered.

2. Skipping Mobility

I see so many players ignore jump upgrades.

But Bananza is all about verticality , so you need those jumps.

Trending: How To Use The Double Jump In Donkey Kong Bananza

3. Forgetting to Equip

Some skills need to be equipped in your loadout menu after unlocking.

If it’s not working, check that first.

Conclusion

The skill tree can feel confusing at first, but once you understand what each branch does, it’s honestly one of the best parts of the game.

Just make sure to prioritize movement early, then branch out into power or utility based on your playstyle.

Additional Reading

Where To Find Banandium Gems in Donkey Kong Bananza (And What They Do)

What Is a Voxel in Donkey Kong Bananza?

Is There Co-Op in Donkey Kong Bananza? (Yep, And It’s Good)