My overall recommendation

My overall recommendation Don't spend the whole game playing with only the first couple of attacks you learned. That's where a combat system with a lot of options can start feeling smaller than it actually is. My suggested order is reliable defense first, better traversal early, then the branch that fits how you enjoy fighting. Prioritize useful answers to the enemies you're actually facing. Finish the expensive endpoint skills as the points become available. You can unlock the full set in the original playthrough. Remastered doesn't require a separate NG+ skill grind to obtain these nodes. The more important decision is what makes your next few hours more enjoyable while you're working toward the complete tree.