Most early-game skills in Gothic 1 Remake do one thing well. Acrobatics does two things well, and both of them matter from the moment you unlock it.
The first thing it gives you is the dodge roll. A proper combat movement that covers real distance and gets you out of situations. The second is a 50% reduction to all fall damage, which saves your health dozens of times as you explore. So, it is useful and you’d better master it to become a good fighter.
About Acrobatics:
What Acrobatics Does in Gothic Remake
Yes, you already have the sidestep option. But sidestep alone is not reliable against many enemies. The Acrobatics dodge roll covers far more distance. You can use it to dodge heavy attacks, escape a mob, or create space when you are in trouble.
The dodge roll is performed by pressing the dodge button twice in quick succession. The first press gives you the sidestep. The second press, timed right after the first, triggers the full roll.
Damage Reduction
Falling off cliffs and slopes happens regularly, especially when exploring. The 50% fall damage reduction from Acrobatics makes a real difference to your health bar over a long session. It is almost a free survival bonus on top of the combat upgrade.
How to Unlock Acrobatics
Acrobatics is taught exclusively at the New Camp, so your first task is getting there. The easiest way is to let Mordrag escort you via the Out of Sight quest. He fights enemies along the route for you.
Get the quest by talking to Thorus at the Old Camp castle gate and exhausting his dialogue. Find Mordrag near the south gate marketplace in the Old Camp.
Talk to him and tell him Thorus wants him gone. Mordrag can guide you to the New Camp, clearing or surviving the route much better than you can alone.
Though, it is completely possible for you to go there anytime and in any way you prefer. That was just a suggestion.
Find Buster
To unlock the skill, enter the New Camp cave and make your way to the main settlement area using the wooden bridge. Walk through the upper section until you find a path on your left, from which you will need to take the path up the slope on the left and reach the platform where Buster can be found.
Walking through the New Camp early on, helps you find location of Wolf and other in-camp NPCs easier.
You only need to learn Acrobatics once from Buster for 10 Learning Points and 60 Ore.
Note: If you don’t have enough Ore, loot enemies, sell trophies like wolf skin or Scavenger Teeth and things like these.
Note 2: Buster is available from chapter one to the end of the game (no matter which faction you join). Go for him as early as possible.
How to Use the Dodge Roll: Controls and Timing
Performing the dodge roll requires pressing the ALT key twice. It is recommended to press the directional key at least briefly before pressing the roll key, and to keep holding it until the dodge animation has fully finished.
Playing with PlayStation, press R1 twice and in Xbox press RB twice to perform the dodge roll.
Using Acrobatics Effectively in Combat
It may seem just a simple skill, but if you master it, Acrobatics will be really handy, both in regular and hard battles.
Combining the Roll with Melee Attacks
With a good one-handed weapon skill, you can combine the dodge roll with your attack animations. This lets you cancel out of an attack early and reposition before the enemy can punish you. It completely changes how aggressive you can be in fights.
The flow becomes: attack once or twice, roll back or sideways before the enemy can counter, then close in and attack again. This rhythm is far more effective than trying to block and trade hits directly, especially against enemies with strong knockback or long attack systems.
Acrobatics with Ranged Builds
Acrobatics is also useful if you are building around a bow. Against multiple enemies, the skill allows repositioning between shots. Rather than standing still and firing until enemies close in, you can roll sideways to create distance and then fire again. Against groups of fast enemies, this kiting pattern keeps fights manageable.
FAQs
Can I learn Acrobatics if I join the Old Camp?
Yes. Buster does not require you to be a New Camp member and he is accessible to any faction from Chapter 1 onward.
Does Acrobatics stack with other defensive skills?
It does not directly stack with other combat-specific skills like blocking or weapon parry, but it works alongside all of them.
Does Acrobatics affect mounted movement on the Scavenger?
No. Acrobatics is a character skill that applies just to your hero’s movement on foot.
