Here's how the survival skills typically work - you'll want to focus on abilities that help you manage resources and stay aware of your surroundings. I'd suggest starting with thorn in your side since it lets you pick up those crossbow bolts you've fired, which really helps save materials when you're trying to be stealthy. Catch your breath is another solid pick, making it easier to recover stamina after running which, trust me, you'll be doing a lot.

Something interesting to consider is hawkeyed - it shows plants on your mini-map making resource gathering way less tedious. Carry that weight is pretty much essential since you'll be picking up tons of stuff, and eagle-eyed gives you better range with your survival vision which is super helpful for spotting threats. Thief in the night is great too especially if you like sneaking around, since it makes your movements quieter.

Field repairs and focused shot are worth mentioning even though they're from different skill trees. Being able to fix your weapons with scrap and slow down time for precise shots can really save your hide when things get intense. Just remember that these skills work best when you combine them - like using eagle-eyed to spot enemies, then sneaking up with thief in the night for a silent takedown.