Cooking in Tree of Savior: NEO is more than just a support feature—it’s a full-fledged life skill system that plays a key role in recovery, combat enhancement, and long-term character progression. By learning how to gather the right ingredients, craft powerful dishes, and level up your cooking efficiently, you can gain a crucial edge in both PvE and PvP scenarios. This guide covers everything you need to know about the cooking system in Tree of Savior: NEO, from unlocking the skill to creating the best dishes in the game.
What is Cooking in Tree of Savior: NEO?
Cooking is a non-combat life skill that allows players to prepare food items using ingredients gathered across the world of NEO. These dishes offer a wide variety of benefits, such as:
HP and MP restoration
Temporary stat boosts
Combat power enhancements for dungeons and PvP
Accessible early in the game, cooking serves as a reliable tool for survival and buffing, especially when venturing into tougher areas or preparing for boss encounters.
How to Unlock Cooking
Cooking becomes available once your character reaches around level 10 to 15. To start:
Travel to Norn City – the central hub where life skill NPCs are located.
Speak with the Cooking NPC – they will introduce you to the cooking system and provide initial recipes and materials.
Accept a short introduction quest (if available) to unlock the cooking interface and gather your first ingredients.
Once unlocked, you can cook freely using ingredients found in the wild or purchased from merchants.
How to Gather Ingredients
Ingredients for cooking come from Gathering Sites scattered across the game world. These include locations such as forests, lakesides, and open fields. The most common types of ingredients include:
Fish – caught from freshwater or coastal areas.
Meat – collected from animal-based monsters or wildlife.
Herbs and Spices – found near plants, bushes, or harvested from herbalist points.
Tip: Each region contains specific Gathering Sites with themed ingredients. Visiting multiple biomes increases your variety and recipe potential.
Gathering is not tied to combat level, so even non-combat players can explore and collect efficiently.
Types of Dishes and Their Effects
Cooking recipes in Tree of Savior: NEO fall into three main categories, each offering different benefits:
1. Restorative Dishes
Purpose: Quickly restore HP, MP, or stamina.
Examples: Grilled Fish, Herb Broth, Meat Stew.
Best Use: During field grinding, long exploration sessions, or in the middle of a tough dungeon.
These are the most frequently used dishes and ideal for consistent adventurers.
2. Attribute Dishes
Purpose: Temporarily boost stats such as strength, agility, or magic power.
Examples: Spicy Skewers (boosts attack), Energy Salad (boosts agility), Mana Curry (boosts magic output).
Best Use: Prepping for boss fights or enhancing specific roles in team compositions.
Use these when you need to gain a slight edge in timed or high-stakes combat.
3. Gourmet Feasts
Purpose: Major combat buffs for entire parties or raid teams.
Examples: Dragon Roast Platter, Royal Banquet Set.
Best Use: Endgame content, guild events, PvP tournaments.
These are expensive to craft but deliver some of the strongest bonuses in the game.
How to Level Up Cooking Fast
Raising your cooking level unlocks new recipes, increases cooking speed, and boosts success rates for high-tier dishes. Here are the most effective ways to level up your cooking skill:
1. Complete Daily Cooking Quests
Visit the Cooking NPC in Norn City for daily quests related to cooking. These may include:
Gathering certain ingredients
Cooking specific dishes
Delivering meals to other NPCs
Each quest offers a solid chunk of cooking XP.
2. Cook High-XP Recipes Repeatedly
Focus on recipes that grant high experience, even if the effect is minor. Repeating these recipes in bulk helps you level up more efficiently.
3. Use Rest Mode for Passive XP
When you log out or idle, you can activate Rest Mode at your campfire or inn. This grants bonus cooking XP over time, especially if you cooked or gathered earlier that day.
4. Combine Cooking with Gathering
Since gathering ingredients also contributes to your overall life skill progression, make gathering a regular part of your routine. This supports both cooking and survival-related mechanics.
Strategic Tips for Cooking in Combat and Progression
Always carry restorative dishes during exploration to minimize downtime.
Pair attribute dishes with your team’s class setup (e.g., boost agility for Hunters, attack for Guards).
Plan ahead for dungeons by preparing a stack of gourmet dishes—one meal can support your entire party.
Craft in bulk when resources are available to save time and gain faster XP.
Cooking is not just a side activity—it’s a core survival strategy for efficient leveling and endgame optimization.
Final Thoughts
Cooking in Tree of Savior: NEO is a valuable tool that enhances every aspect of gameplay. From healing in the field to preparing stat boosts for boss fights, mastering this life skill will help you progress more smoothly and strategically.
By learning where to gather ingredients, how to prepare different categories of food, and the most efficient ways to level up your cooking, you can become a reliable chef in both solo and party play. Whether you’re a dedicated crafter or a combat-focused player, cooking is a skill worth investing in for long-term success.
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