Sifu doesn't do well at explaining its mechanics, and a vital mechanic for your success is unlocking Permanent Skills. As you progress through the game, you can purchase all kinds of skills using your XP, but if you happen to get a game over, all those skills disappear on your next playthrough.
To make these skills stay permanently, you need to spend a lot of XP, five times the cost for each of the 24 skills. You will see two different costs on the skill tree menu as you select a skill, as each skill's XP cost may be different. For example, take 360 Swing Focus:
- Unlock costs 500 XP
- This is a single one time fee and it is yours the entirity of this run.
- Permanent Unlock 5x 500 XP
- This costs 2500 XP to unlock forever, but on every single run you will have this ability to use.
Related: How does the Death Counter work in Sifu, explained
It's 5x 500 XP because all XP is lost upon getting a game over, but it will permanently decrease by one every time you spend 500 XP once. So you can spend 500 XP on this skill over five runs, and it'll be perpetually unlocked. But on other runs, you have to unlock it first to purchase a permanent unlock.
Look at the image below. We have purchased a Snap Kick permanent upgrade once, and now we only need to do it four more times.
Having this system in place is beneficial, as you don't have to save up 2500 XP just to get this one ability. You can purchase this ability once to decrease the cost and use the remaining XP on other skills to help accomplish your current run.
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Mark Carpenter is the Assigning Editor at Pro Game Guides. With over four years of experience in the games media, his work has graced platforms such as Metro UK and Game Rant, along with other smaller publications. He has been a devoted gamer since the Amiga days, a journey spanning roughly 31 years. When not immersed in gaming, Mark enjoys delving into the worlds of D&D, strumming his guitar, and indulging in a good read. His heart belongs to RPGs, the Final Fantasy series, and The Legend of Zelda. Moreover, he has a keen affection for dogs.