In Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, abilities are key to winning battles. As you combine every Guardian’s power to your advantage, the results can be very damaging to enemies when all of them are unlocked.
Star-Lord, while human, is still able to produce a substantial amount of damage. Gamora, the deadliest assassin in the universe, can slice through enemies without struggle. Drax is a heavy hitter and can tank any damage he can take. Rocket can damage multiple enemies with his bombs, and Groot can temporarily disable enemies. Combine all of these and you’ll be unstoppable. These abilities can be unlocked by leveling up.
How to unlock Abilities in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
How progression works in Guardians of the Galaxy is the Ability Points (AP) are shared across all of the Guardians. You get 1 AP every after you reach 1,000 experience points. Earning experience points (XP) in the game isn’t difficult. You can simply get XP by defeating enemies and performing better during fights.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Abilities
Each Guardian only has 4 abilities to unlock with one of them as their ultimate, and you should be able to unlock everything before you finish the game. As part of our Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy guide, this article will guide you through all the abilities and upgrades the game has to offer.
Peter Quill a.k.a Star-Lord Abilities
Vantage Point
Star-Lord is covered initiates a prolonged burn of his jet boots, rising to a tactically advantageous position to give orders or attack enemies.
Ability Point Cost: 1
Effectiveness Breakdown
- Target: 1
- Stagger: 0
- Damage: 0
- Cooldown: 1
Fan the Hammer
Star-Lord unleashes rapid fire blaster shots, dealing Heavy Damage spread across one or more enemies.
Ability Point Cost: 2
Effectiveness Breakdown
- Target: 2
- Stagger: 0
- Damage: 3
- Cooldown: 1
Eye of the Hurricane
Star-Lord spirals up into the air, lobbing several generates at the enemies below. All foes caught in the blast area receive Moderate and Heavy Stagger.
Ability Point Cost: 3
Effectiveness Breakdown
- Target: 2
- Stagger: 2
- Damage: 2
- Cooldown: 1
Shield of Spartax – Ultimate Ability
Star-Lord is covered by an impenetrable shield which provides complete resistance to all attacks for a short duration.
This ability can only be unlocked by progressing through the story. No AP is required.
Effectiveness Breakdown
- Target: 1
- Stagger: 0
- Damage: 0
- Cooldown: 1
Rocket Abilities
Cluster Flark Bomb
Rocket blasts all enemies caught in a radius around the initial target with Moderate Damage.
Ability Point Cost: 1
Effectiveness Breakdown
- Target: 2
- Stagger: 0
- Damage: 2
- Cooldown: 2
Gravistack Grenade
Rocket tosses a grenade at an enemy, drawing others towards the initial target’s position, and grouping them for a follow-up attack.
Ability Point Cost: 2
Effectiveness Breakdown
- Target: 2
- Stagger: 0
- Damage: 0
- Cooldown: 1
Glowing Pains Grenade
Rocket lobs a grenade that releases several darts on impact. These shock and deal Light Stagger to each enemy for a short duration. Enemies affected also take more Stagger damage while under the effect.
Ability Point Cost: 3
Effectiveness Breakdown
- Target: 2
- Stagger: 2
- Damage: 0
- Cooldown: 3
Five Barrel Barrage – Ultimate Ability
Rocket reveals the entirety of his massive arsenal to bombard the enemy area with bullets, missiles, and various projectiles. Applies Massive Damage to area around the target.
This ability can only be unlocked by progressing through the story. No AP is required.
Effectiveness Breakdown:
- Target: 4
- Stagger: 0
- Damage: 3
- Cooldown: 4
Groot Abilities
Entangle
Groot grapples multiple enemies in place.
Ability Point Cost: 1
Effectiveness Breakdown:
- Target: 2
- Stagger: 0
- Damage: 0
- Cooldown: 1
Uproot
Groot causes roots to shoot up from the ground, dealing Moderate Damage to enemies in range, and launching small to medium enemies in the air.
Ability Point Cost: 2
Effectiveness Breakdown:
- Target: 2
- Stagger: 0
- Damage: 2
- Cooldown: 2
Mammoth Grab
Groot grapples a single large enemy in place, dealing Moderate Stagger.
Ability Point Cost: 3
Effectiveness Breakdown:
- Target: 1
- Stagger: 2
- Damage: 0
- Cooldown: 3
Gift of the Florae – Ultimate Ability
Groot revives all downed Guardians, and their abilities cooldown reset. If this ability is available when Star-Lord is incapacitated, Groot will automatically revive him.
This ability can only be unlocked by progressing through the story. No AP is required.
Effectiveness Breakdown:
- Target: 2
- Stagger: 0
- Damage: 0
- Cooldown: 4
Drax Abilities
Destroy
Drax hits a single enemy with a powerful attack, dealing Light Damage and Heavy Stagger.
Ability Point Cost: 1
Effectiveness Breakdown:
- Target: 1
- Stagger: 3
- Damage: 2
- Cooldown: 2
Katathian Charge
Drax charges forward, dealing Moderate Stagger to all enemies in a line.
Ability Point Cost: 2
Effectiveness Breakdown:
- Target: 2
- Stagger: 2
- Damage: 1
- Cooldown: 1
Pound and Pummel
Drax shatters the ground, dealing Moderate Damage to one enemy and Light Damage to nearby enemies.
Ability Point Cost: 3
Effectiveness Breakdown:
- Target: 2
- Stagger: 1
- Damage: 3
- Cooldown: 3
Wrath of Katath – Ultimate Ability
Drax roars and attacks, dealing Heavy Stagger to a single enemy, and Moderate Stagger to all nearby enemies. He also deals more Stagger while raging.
This ability can only be unlocked by progressing through the story. No AP is required.
Effectiveness Breakdown:
- Target: 4
- Stagger: 4
- Damage: 0
- Cooldown: 4
Gamora Abilities
Deadly Strike
Gamora deals Heavy Damage to a single enemy.
Ability Point Cost: 1
Effectiveness Breakdown
- Target: 1
- Stagger: 0
- Damage: 3
- Cooldown: 2
Shadow Strike
Gamora dashes between enemies, striking each one once, and dealing Moderate Damage. If only one enemy is present, she will attack it several times.
Ability Point Cost: 2
Effectiveness Breakdown:
- Target: 2
- Stagger: 0
- Damage: 2
- Cooldown: 3
Stagger Wave
Gamora strikes a single enemy, dealing Moderate Damage, followed by a wave of energy that deals Moderate Stagger to all enemies behind the initial target.
Ability Point Cost: 3
Effectiveness Breakdown:
- Target: 3
- Stagger: 2
- Damage: 1
- Cooldown: 1
Executioner
Gamora strikes a single enemy multiple times, dealing Massive Damage.
This ability can only be unlocked by progressing through the story. No AP is required.
Effectiveness Breakdown:
- Target: 1
- Stagger: 0
- Damage: 4
- Cooldown: 4
For other guides for Guardians of the Galaxy, here are our list of guides:
- Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy – All PlayStation Trophies and How to Get Platinum
- Is Guardians of the Galaxy on Xbox Game Pass?
- Guardians of the Galaxy – All Outfit Locations Guide
- Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy – Review
- Guardians of the Galaxy – Where to find all Drax outfits
- Guardians of the Galaxy – Where to find all Gamora outfits
- Guardians of the Galaxy – Where to find all Rocket outfits
- Guardians of the Galaxy – Where to find all Groot outfits
