At a Glance
🐕 Upgrade Koo first if: you struggle with bosses and elite enemies—Koo is more skill-dependent than Emma, and his Bloom Arts dramatically improve once you unlock stronger abilities
⚔️ Upgrade Emma first if: you want stronger solo damage, smoother exploration, and more direct combat control
🔥 Best early balance: unlock Emma mobility skills (Helm Splitter, Roll) alongside Koo's core combat tools (Taunt, Mod: Healing Energy)
Emma or Koo First? Quick Answer
Most beginners should unlock Emma's Roll + Helm Splitter first, then invest into Koo's utility skills.
Choose Koo first if:
Bosses are killing you
You struggle managing multiple enemies
You rely heavily on elemental/status damage
If you are playing on higher difficulties, Koo's defensive and crowd-control tools become valuable earlier
Choose Emma first if:
You want smoother exploration
You prefer direct sword combat
You are still learning parry timing
The key insight: Emma makes you stronger. Koo makes difficult fights easier.
The Short Answer
Upgrade Koo slightly earlier if you're struggling with combat. Emma's base kit is already functional from the start—she can parry, attack, and dodge effectively. Koo's contribution, however, is almost entirely a function of what you have unlocked for him. Early points in Koo's tree convert into damage and utility faster than the same points spent on Emma.
That said, Emma's movement and weapon skills should not be ignored. Her traversal upgrades open exploration routes and create stealth opportunities that make the game more manageable.
Why New Players Underestimate Koo
Many players ignore Koo because his early abilities feel less impactful than Emma's sword attacks. The problem is that Koo scales harder with upgrades.
Emma starts strong:
Reliable katana attacks
Immediate parry access
Natural mobility tools
Koo starts weaker:
Requires unlocked Bloom Arts
Needs better mods
Gains value from status effects and crowd control
This contrast leads many players to dismiss Koo early, only to hit a difficulty wall later where his skills become essential. The game is designed around Emma and Koo functioning as one combat system, not two separate characters.
Emma vs Koo: Which Skill Tree Matters More?
What Emma Gives You
Emma's skill tree focuses on direct combat power, mobility, and weapon versatility:
Direct damage – Blade Arts that hit hard and apply status effects
Movement – Roll, Helm Splitter, and hair traversal abilities
Weapon flexibility – Different damage types and parry-activated effects
Exploration advantages – Extend, Lift, and Grapple open new routes
What Koo Gives You
Koo's skill tree is about support, crowd control, and turning the tide of battle:
Crowd control – Taunt, land mines, and flame traps
Healing – Healing Bouquet and Healing Garden restore HP
Elemental damage – Bloom Arts target enemy weaknesses
Status effect amplification – Mods that double the speed you can inflict statuses
Ignoring Koo's tree means you're only using half your available power.
Should You Split Skill Points Between Emma and Koo?
Don't spread every point evenly between both characters. Unlocking random passives across both trees without focus will leave you underpowered in the early game.
Do pick a main priority and support it with the other character.
How to Decide:
Struggling with bosses? → Lean Koo-heavy. His crowd control and status effects turn difficult fights into manageable ones.
Exploration-focused? → Invest in Emma's mobility upgrades early. They open new routes and shortcuts.
Balanced playstyle? → Unlock Emma's core mobility (Roll, Helm Splitter) then invest in Koo's utility (Taunt, Status Effect Amp).
Recommended First 5 Hours Upgrade Path
Balanced Beginner Build
Roll (Emma) – a genuine survivability upgrade that creates space when you need it
Helm Splitter (Emma) – powerful AoE attack that staggers groups
Taunt (Koo) – draws enemy aggression, creating breathing room
Mod: Status Effect Amp (Koo) – doubles the speed you inflict status effects
Mod: Healing Energy (Koo) – removes negative status effects
This gives you survival, damage, and utility—a solid foundation for the early game.
Best Early Emma Upgrades
These skills give you the most immediate return on investment in the first few hours:
1. Helm Splitter – Vitality 9, Hair Level 2
One of Emma's best early abilities. An area-of-effect attack that causes high damage and massive stagger by holding the attack button while airborne. Especially effective when enemies are grouped together.
2. Roll – Florescence 9, Tracking Shot Level 2
Emma starts with a side-step that barely moves her. The Roll upgrade is a genuine survivability improvement that creates space when you need it.
3. Iaido – Strength 9, Entanglement Overdrive Level 2
If you pause during any standard combo, Emma will sheathe her katana. Attack again during the flash, and she'll perform a wide-range attack capable of hitting many enemies at once.
4. Expand Entanglement Gauge – Entanglement Overdrive
Your Entanglement Gauge fuels Emma's most powerful abilities. Expanding it gives you substantially more offensive options in combat.
5. Recovery Effect Boost – Entanglement Overdrive
Improves the amount of health healed by recovery items and skills. Especially valuable because enemies hit hard.
Emma Skill Priority Table
| Priority | Skill | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Helm Splitter | AoE damage + stagger |
| 2nd | Roll | Survivability |
| 3rd | Iaido | Group damage |
| 4th | Expand Entanglement Gauge | More Blade Arts |
| 5th | Recovery Effect Boost | Better healing |
Best Early Koo Upgrades
These skills unlock Koo's potential as a true combat partner:
1. Taunt – Strength 9, Pounce Level 2
Once you get to the second zone, enemies can take you down in just two or three hits. Koo's Taunt draws enemy aggression away from Emma, giving you space to heal or attack from behind.
2. Mod: Healing Energy – Vitality 12, Guard Level 3
Using a Bloom Art with this mod equipped removes negative status effects from Emma and all build-up toward inflicting them. Keeps you alive longer and saves your Emergency Medicine for emergencies.
3. Mod: Status Effect Amp – Florescence 7, Incantation Level 1
Doubles the speed at which you can inflict status effects—excellent for opening battles or before pelting enemies with elemental ranged attacks.
4. Mod: Battleborn – Guard
Allows Emma to activate her weapon's special effects—a massive boost to damage output.
5. Mod: Shocking Vigor or Magmatic Mantle – Florescence 9, Incantation Level 2
Grants stat buffs when using a Bloom Art against enemies that are Shocked or Burning. Choose based on your preferred elemental build.
Koo Skill Priority Table
| Priority | Skill | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Taunt | Draws aggro, creates space |
| 2nd | Mod: Healing Energy | Status cleanse |
| 3rd | Mod: Status Effect Amp | Faster status build-up |
| 4th | Mod: Battleborn | Enables weapon effects |
| 5th | Mod: Shocking Vigor | Stat buffs |
Best Upgrade Path by Player Type
Aggressive Players
Focus on Emma's damage-oriented Entanglement Overdrive and Tracking Shot roots, then Koo's damage mods once you have your core Emma skills.
Emma → Iaido, Expand Entanglement Gauge
Emma → Recovery Effect Boost
Koo → Mod: Battleborn, Mod: Full Bloom Crit
Boss-Focused Players
Prioritize Koo's crowd control and status effect mods, then Emma's Entanglement Overdrive for damage windows.
Koo → Taunt, Mod: Status Effect Amp
Koo → Mod: Healing Energy
Emma → Expand Entanglement Gauge, Helm Splitter
Exploration-Focused Players
Prioritize Emma's Hair root for traversal abilities, then invest in combat when needed.
Emma → Sprout Shakuyaku, Helm Splitter
Emma → Roll
Koo → Taunt (for safety)
Attribute Priority
When spending Attribute Points rather than Skill Points, for most beginners the safest early attribute priority is:
Strength Should Be Your Primary Emma Attribute
Strength raises both Attack and Defense. One attribute does both, making it strictly better value than it looks.
Florescence Should Be Your Primary Koo Attribute
Florescence increases Koo's health and the power of all his skills, making him deal more damage whenever commanded.
Vitality Takes a Back Seat to Both
Enemies hit hard in this game—it's essential to withstand damage with high defense and dispose of enemies quickly with high attack power.
Your exact priority changes depending on build. Status-focused players may value Florescence earlier, while aggressive melee players benefit more from Strength.
Attribute Summary
Emma: Strength > Vitality > Florescence (initially)
Koo: Florescence > Strength > Vitality
Can You Reset Skills If You Choose Wrong?
Yes. Beast of Reincarnation lets you reset your attributes and core skills later, so don't restart your save because of early mistakes.
When It Unlocks
Towards the end of Chapter 2, after defeating the boss Lacerta and meeting Mikoto. You'll reach this area about 4 hours into the game.
How It Works
After meeting Mikoto, you can call him from the Cleanse Walker's Communicator and select "Reset Attributes." This refunds:
Attribute Points (stats)
Skill Points spent on core skills (the roots of the skill tree)
Important Caveat
Skill Points spent on Nushi Skills (Blade Arts for Emma, Bloom Arts for Koo) are not refunded. These are the top "crown" parts of the skill tree. Plan those carefully.
Cost
The first respec costs around 2,200 Amber. You can respec as many times as you want, provided you have the Amber.
The Parry Connection
Parrying is the bridge between both characters. Every successful parry:
Negates damage
Grants Florescence Points (FP) for Koo's Bloom Arts
Grants Entanglement Points for Emma's Blade Arts
Activates your weapon's special effect
You earn FP to fuel Koo's abilities by parrying. If you're not parrying, you're not generating the resources needed to use either character's best abilities. This is why learning parry timing is more important than skill tree choices.
Related:
Before spending resources, learn which early mistakes waste upgrades in our Beast of Reincarnation Beginner Mistakes guide.
Emma's movement abilities are also important outside combat. Check our Emma's Hair Abilities & Traversal Guide for full coverage.
Quick Checklist: Skill Priority by Playstyle
| Playstyle | Priority 1 | Priority 2 | Priority 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggressive | Emma: Iaido | Emma: Expand Entanglement | Koo: Mod: Battleborn |
| Boss-Focused | Koo: Status Effect Amp | Koo: Taunt | Emma: Helm Splitter |
| Exploration | Emma: Helm Splitter | Emma: Roll | Koo: Taunt |
| Balanced | Emma: Roll | Koo: Taunt | Emma: Helm Splitter |
Final Verdict
Beast of Reincarnation's skill system rewards thoughtful investment over random spending. The game's combat loop is built around Emma and Koo working together, and your skill choices should reflect that synergy.
For most players, the best approach is balanced:
Unlock Emma's mobility skills (Roll, Helm Splitter)
Give Koo his core utility (Taunt, Status Effect Amp)
Adapt based on your playstyle from there
If you're struggling: prioritize Koo's defensive and crowd-control tools first. His skills make difficult fights easier.
If you're aggressive: lean into Emma's damage options first, then invest in Koo's damage mods.
Most importantly: Parry often. It fuels both characters' resource economies, and improving what your parries buy makes every defensive move worth more.
FAQ
Should I upgrade Emma or Koo first?
If you're struggling with combat, upgrade Koo first—he's more skill-dependent than Emma. Emma's baseline attacks are functional from the start, while Koo's contribution is almost entirely what you've unlocked for him.
What's the most important skill to unlock first?
Helm Splitter (Emma) for damage and Roll (Emma) for survivability are top early choices. For Koo, Taunt and Mod: Status Effect Amp provide immediate value.
What attribute should I prioritize?
Strength for Emma (raises Attack and Defense), Florescence for Koo (raises health and skill power). Vitality is less efficient early on.
Can I respec if I make mistakes?
Yes—unlocked in Chapter 2 after meeting Mikoto. Respec costs Amber and refunds attribute points and core skill points (but not points spent on Nushi Skills/Blade Arts).
Why are parries so important?
Parries generate FP for Koo's Bloom Arts and Entanglement Points for Emma's Blade Arts. No parries = no resources = harder fights.
Should I split skill points evenly between Emma and Koo?
No—pick a main priority (survival, damage, or exploration) and support it with the other character. Even spreading will leave you underpowered.
Beast of Reincarnation released August 4, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
English or Japanese? Best Voice Language for Your First Playthrough
Xbox Store Page – xbox.com/en-US/games/beast-of-reincarnation – Confirms day-one Game Pass availability and platform details
- Official Language Support - Beast of Reincarnation Steam Page
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