D2 Survivors skills, evolutions, and re-drafts
I read skill-systems, the numbers page, and the difficulties page together on 29 October 2026. Nowhere does the wiki say you can refund a single point mid-run. The supported paths are Akara after the first Baal kill, a Token of Absolution, or a new run. That is the answer to “how can I change my 1st skill.”
The opening hand and the caps
A new run starts with no skills, then immediately offers three cards: one level-1 skill from each tree. You keep one. After that, every level offers three cards.
| Rule | Value |
|---|---|
| Normal slots | 6 skills + 6 passives |
| Nightmare / Hell | 8+8, then 10+10 |
| After Baal | +2 skills and +2 passives |
| Skill / evolution / passive caps | 8 / 1 / 5 (Telekinesis 3) |
| Reroll, skip, banish | 2 each; Charsi adds 1 per upgrade, max 5 |
| Skill modifiers | Up to 10 per class, plus 1 from the Horadric Codex |
What you can change inside a run
You cannot unlearn a picked skill point by point. You can rest a skill so it stops firing, banish it so it leaves the card pool, or let a later skill replace an earlier one when the draft offers that. Modifiers can be edited in the skill window at any time.
Bosses drop skill modifiers at 1.2%. The page says the rate can reach four times that if you go 25 runs without one. I am quoting that rate from the skill-systems page, not from a personal drop log.
Questions and answers
How do I change my first skill?
After you kill Baal once, Akara in camp offers Re-draft your skills. Nightmare, Hell, and Terror each give one free re-draft, then it costs gold. A Token of Absolution is a free full re-draft and also requires a Baal kill. Starting a new run lets you pick the opening card again.
When does a skill evolve?
It must be max level, you must hold the catalyst passive, and your character level must meet both requirements. The next chest evolves it. Evolutions do not come from level-up cards. Twenty-five evolutions can evolve again, such as Fire Bolt to Fire Ball to Meteor.
Is there a mana cost?
The skill-systems page says skills have no mana cost, except the Sorceress Energy Shield, which spends mana and is capped at 400 per hit.
Sources checked 2026-10-29
Source scope: the official site, FAQ, wiki and changelog share one publisher. Build IDs, installer sizes and detailed mechanics are single-source official claims unless a separate independent reference is identified. Several official links do not count as independent confirmation.
- Skill systems — cards, evolve, re-draft (checked 2026-10-29)
- Numbers — slot counts and caps (checked 2026-10-29)
- Difficulties — when Akara's re-draft opens (checked 2026-10-29)