Tomb Raider Skill Trees: Brawler

When it comes to unlocking skills, you need to have Lara level up and invest into the different trees. As she gains skills she will unlock higher ranking skills. The break down is as follows:
Rookie – No Other Skills
Hardened – 7 Skills
Specialist – 14 Skills

These are the skills for those who want to take Lara into Melee combat to save on Ammo or just like to brawl. They grant her additional attacks and toughen her up to take greater amounts of punishment.

Skill Name: Requisites
Description

Pain Tolerance: Rookie
Withstand more punishment and live to fight another day. This allows you to take more damage before dying.

Dirty Tricks: Rookie
Cleverly use dirt and rocks to blind your opponents and open them up to Lara's attacks. Press Dodge to scramble and collect dirt then hit Melee to throw dirt into the opponent's eyes and blind them.

Axe Strikes: Hardened
Deliver 2 swift strikes with the climbing Axe to stun your foes. Press Melee near foes to stun them with multiple Axe strikes.

Axe Expert: Hardened, Axe Strikes
Use your climbing Axe to kill off stunned foes. Press the Melee button near stunned foes to dispatch them.

Dodge Counter: Hardened
After dodging an enemy, stab them in the knee with an arrow to cripple them. This leaves them vulnerable to a killing blow. Use the Dodge button then the Melee button when prompted to perform this act.

Dodge Kill: Hardened, Dodge Counter
Dodge Lightly Armored opponents then strike them at close range to kill them instantly. Press the Dodge button then the Melee button when prompt to kill enemies without helmets

Dodge Kill Mastery: Specialist, Dodge Kill, Dodge Counter
Strike after Dodging to become even more deadly. This lets you kill almost any standard foe when performing a Dodge Kill.