To equip abilities in the Roblox action RPG Derelict, you must first register an ability by placing its scroll into your hotbar and using it with Mouse 1. Afterward, rest at any Bonsai tree across the map, open the Abilities menu, select your unlocked Spell or Weapon Art, and click the green plus icon on an available slot.
Equipping abilities requires meeting specific stat thresholds and weapon restrictions. By understanding how Bonsais, ability slots, and scroll consumption work, you can customize your combat loadout without losing resources.
How to Unlock and Equip Abilities
Abilities in Derelict are divided into Spells and Weapon Arts. Before an ability appears in your menu, you must consume the item that teaches it. Follow these steps to unlock and assign abilities to your character:
- Obtain an ability scroll or drop: Acquire an Ancient Arts Scroll, a specific Weapon Art drop, or purchase a scroll from relevant NPCs or game passes. For example, Sir Percival rewards an Ancient Arts Scroll (Valiant Thrust) after completing his early combat tasks.
- Bestow the ability: Open your inventory, move the scroll to your active hotbar, hold the item, and press Mouse 1 to consume it. This permanently registers the skill to your character profile.
- Rest at a Bonsai: Walk up to any unlocked Bonsai tree (such as the one at Gideon's Camp) and interact with it to rest. Resting also restores your Health and Soul.
- Open the Abilities tab: Select the Abilities option from the Bonsai interaction interface.
- Assign the skill: Browse the category (such as Weapon Art, Fire, Frost, Holy, or Earth) and select the specific ability. A green plus icon will appear over your available ability slots. Click the highlighted slot to equip it.
Ability Slots and Loadout Rules
Your ability loadout operates under specific constraints regarding gear types and slot limits:
| Feature | In-Game Mechanic Rule | Source / Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Base Ability Slots | 2 slots (typically 1 combat skill and 1 magic spell) | Base character setup |
| Staff Slot Bonus | Increases available slot capacity by 1 | Equipping a magic staff |
| Non-Staff Spell Limit | Maximum of 2 spells usable when wielding standard weapons | Playing without a staff |
| Offhand Ability Priority | Offhand ability overrides the main weapon ability if both are equipped | Dual-equipping offhand gear |
| Resource Costs | Spells cost Souls; Weapon Arts cost Souls and sometimes Stamina | Combat casting requirement |
If you attempt to assign an ability and the green plus icon does not respond, verify that your character meets the required stat level (such as Sorcery or Logging/Mining for crafting related gear) and that your equipped weapon satisfies the ability's weapon category.
Where to Find Early Abilities and Scrolls
Players can unlock several starting skills through early exploration, side quests, and specific vendors:
- Valiant Thrust (Weapon Art): Acquired from Sir Percival's early questline around Gideon's Camp and the Monte Sant'Angelo structure.
- Crashing Embers (Fire Spell): Found in a chest at the Subjugation Stronghold area. Using this spell in combat against enemies like giant snails helps level up your Sorcery skill.
- Soul Artillery (Tier 1 Wizard Skill): Located inside the Inner Crystalline Caverns.
- Asher's Spell Essences: After defeating the boss Asher, Storm of Vengeance, you can speak to Asher as an NPC to purchase Spell Essences (Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Darkness) and have them inscribed onto scrolls. Note that game data indicates Dark Essence currently offers nothing learnable upon purchase.
- Early Sponsor Game Pass Skills: Purchasing the Early Sponsor game pass grants the exclusive Holy skill Angel's Respite and the Dark skill Arbiter's Penance, which can be equipped directly from the Bonsai abilities menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I see an ability in my Bonsai menu after finding a scroll?
Finding a scroll in a chest or from a quest does not automatically add it to your ability list. You must move the scroll to your hotbar and activate it with Mouse 1 to learn the skill before it appears under the Bonsai Abilities tab.
Where can I switch my equipped abilities?
Abilities can only be swapped while resting at a Bonsai tree. Regular Cozy Campfires allow cooking and health recovery, but they do not provide safe zones, storage access, or the Abilities menu.
What happens if I equip an ability on both my main weapon and offhand shield?
According to in-game mechanics, when an ability is equipped to both your weapon and your offhand slot simultaneously, only the offhand ability remains active and available during combat.
What resource is consumed when casting Spells and Weapon Arts?
Spells consume Souls to cast. Weapon Arts require Souls as well, and certain Weapon Arts also consume Stamina.
