Bills Must Be Paid Skill Tree Guide

Choose a branch by the limiting problem

The skill tree has multiple paths. The useful first question is not “which node is strongest?” but “what is stopping this run?”

Verified branch map

If the problem is…	Start by reading…	Verified direction
Too many hits per piggy	Grip strength	Hit harder
Too little stamina or recovery	Caffeine addiction	More stamina and faster recovery
Stamina disappears too quickly	Gym training	Slower stamina drain
Swings feel too slow	Wrist enhancement	Faster swings
Rare piggies are the goal	Luck	Rare piggies appear more often
Dense groups need area pressure	Hammer electrification	Electric hits chain between nearby piggies

The Skill Branch Database lets you search this map by affected system.

Why this is not a best-build list

Node prices, levels, current balance and the rest of a build change the value of an upgrade. A screenshot of the tree shows breadth, not a reproducible ranking. Without comparable current values, a numbered tier list would be an opinion dressed as a database.

A repeatable choice loop

Name the limiting problem from the last run.
Choose the branch whose described effect addresses that problem.
Record a run before and after the change.
Compare the same derived metric, such as income per stamina.
Keep or reconsider the direction based on your results.

The Run Comparison Tool supports step four. If the constraint is a hammer tradeoff instead, open the Hammer Database to separate damage, speed, critical chance and radius.

Related guides

Database