Welcome to Abiotic Factor v1.0 Guide for building the best character possible in the game. Whether you’re playing solo or co-op, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Jobs, Traits (Positive & Negative), and Skills — and how they all tie into smart, efficient character building.
Instead of just throwing tier lists at you, we’ll go over the actual gameplay impact of each choice, explain why certain traits or jobs are worth it (or not), and offer sample builds to help you hit the ground running.
Best Jobs
Each job offers bonus XP to specific skills and a set amount of trait points. You’ll unlock more skill choices later, so your starting job is more about early efficiency and free XP than anything else.
S Rank
- Epimedical Bionomicist
50% First Aid XP and passive XP just for crafting aid items. This makes First Aid easy to level — one of the most painful skills otherwise. Comes with 9 trait points and synergizes well with “Slow Healer” for extra build flexibility.
A Rank
- Trans-Kinematic Researcher
Levels Fortitude (which takes forever) while giving you 8 points. Easy to grind while idle at base, too. Solid pick for long-term tank builds. - Paratheoretical Physicist
Crafting and Throwing XP boosts are handy, especially if you use macros or like grenade builds. Still takes time to level but is worth it.
B Rank
- Summer Intern
Maximum trait points (+12), but no skill bonuses. Good for flexible builds, but you miss out on faster XP gains that other jobs provide.
C to Trash Rank
- Lab Assistant, Phytogenetic Botanist, Somatic Gastrologist, Archotechnic Consultant, Defense Analyst
These offer skill bonuses for things you can already level easily — or worse, come with penalties like “Slow Learner.” Unless you’re going for a themed or challenge build, skip these.
Best Positive Traits
Traits cost trait points (earned from your job or negative traits). The best ones provide meaningful boosts or save tons of time.
S Rank
- Wrinkly Brainmeat – 20% XP to ALL skills for just 4 points. Too good to skip.
- Decathlon Competitor – Faster XP for Strength, Sprinting, Throwing. Expensive (5 points) but impactful for active players.
A Rank
- Fanny Pack – 2 extra hotbar slots and 25% lighter hotbar items. Great quality of life, but expensive at 10 points.
- Buff Brainiac – +15% carry weight for only 4 points. Super handy early and late game.
B to F Rank
Traits like Weathered, Night Owl, and Thick Skinned provide niche or situational benefits, while traits like Naturally Moist or Self Defense either lock you out of better negatives or lose value in mid-game.
Trash Rank
- First Aid Certification, Bladder of Steel, Self Defense – Minimal impact for their cost, and they often block better options.
Negative Traits
Negative traits give you bonus trait points. Some are genuinely harmless. Others? A one-way ticket to misery.
S Tier Negatives (Safe Picks)
- Weak Bladder – Literally gives you crafting materials through “accidents.” +1 point, zero downside.
- Dry Skin – Just drink more water. Free 3 points.
A-B Tier Negatives
- Hearty Appetite – Food becomes a non-issue later on. Great for 3 points.
- Painfully Obvious – Easy to work around if you don’t care about stealth.
Trash Tier
- Fear of Violence – Locks you out of all combat. Game-breaking.
- Asthmatic – 40% less stamina. You’ll regret it constantly.
Sample Builds & Template
Min-Max Build (High Efficiency)
Job: Epimedical Bionomicist
Positive Traits: Wrinkly Brainmeat, Decathlon Competitor, Fanny Pack, Weathered
Negative Traits: Painfully Obvious, Hearty Appetite, Dry Skin, Slow Healer
Trait Balance: +12 points (after traits)
This build maximizes skill XP, grants major quality-of-life boosts, and plays well into support or solo styles thanks to easy First Aid leveling.
Starter-Friendly Build
Job: Summer Intern
Positive Traits: Weathered, Buff Brainiac, Night Owl
Negative Traits: Weak Bladder, Hearty Appetite
Trait Balance: High flexibility for experimentation
Skills
You’ll level every skill eventually, but some are must-haves while others are background noise. Here’s a quick rank rundown (with deeper commentary in the full sections):
Fitness Skills
- Sprinting [S] – Boosts movement, stamina, and dodge chances. Core for all builds.
- Strength [A] – Carry weight and melee. Very useful.
- Throwing [S] – Stun-locks enemies and saves ammo. Underrated gem.
- Sneaking [A++] – Stealth mechanics are odd, but perks are god-tier.
Combat Skills
- Sharp Melee [S+] – Bleeds, high damage, great perks.
- Accuracy [S+] – Needed for all ranged weapons.
- Blunt Melee [C] – Only decent early on or at [7], where it shines briefly.
Survival Skills
- Crafting [A+] – Needed for essential bench upgrades. Long grind but worth it.
- First Aid [C/D] – Multiplayer-focused. Painful to level solo unless Bionomicist.
- Cooking [B] – Good for buffs and group support.
- Agriculture [C] – Useful later. Skippable early game.
- Fishing [?] – If you enjoy it, go for it. Otherwise… traps exist.
FAQ
Q: Are the starting skill points that important?
A: Not really. The first 5 levels are easy to grind. Pick jobs based on trait points and passive XP bonuses instead.
Q: Can I respec later?
A: You can, around Chapter 3 — but it comes at a cost. Choose wisely early on.
Q: What if I just like a “bad” job?
A: Outside of Defense Analyst, there’s no wrong choice — just different trade-offs. Pick what feels fun.
Character building in Abiotic Factor isn’t just about raw stats. It’s about choosing trade-offs that match how you want to play — tanky support? Lone explorer? Combat-heavy thrower? There’s no single meta, but there are definitely smarter paths.