Choosing the right build in *Avowed* can significantly impact your early game experience, helping you to efficiently tackle enemies while maintaining your survivability. Whether you lean towards close-quarters combat, long-range sniping, or the art of magical devastation, these builds are crafted to give you a strong start in *Avowed*.
Two-Handed Brawler (War Hero Build)
The *Two-Handed Brawler* build is the epitome of brute strength, perfect for those who wish to dominate with sheer force. By focusing on high-damage two-handed weapons, you'll unleash devastating blows while boasting enough resilience to endure enemy attacks. This straightforward yet lethal approach is highly effective in the early stages of *Avowed*.
To ensure maximum damage and durability, this build emphasizes:
- **Might (3)** – Enhances melee damage output.
- **Constitution (3)** – Boosts health and overall toughness.
- **Dexterity (2)** – Improves attack speed and dodging capabilities.
- **Resolve (2)** – Reduces the effects of enemy stuns and knockbacks.
Might amplifies your melee damage, Constitution increases your health pool, and Dexterity aids in quicker attacks and evasion. Your primary abilities should revolve around charging into combat, boosting your damage output, and recovering health during fights. The Charge ability is crucial as it allows you to swiftly engage enemies and deliver crushing blows before they can respond. Complement this with Bleeding Cuts for sustained damage over time and Toughness to enhance your maximum health, turning you into an unstoppable juggernaut.
For weapons, the Horsecutter two-handed sword or Drawn in Winter axe are top choices. Both deliver massive hits, ensuring quick and brutal encounters. This build suits players who thrive on a high-risk, high-reward melee style, aiming to eliminate foes swiftly before they can retaliate.
Stealth Ranger (Vanguard Scout Build)
The *Stealth Ranger* build is tailored for those who prefer agility and precision, excelling in ranged combat and stealth. This build emphasizes bows, firearms, and stealthy maneuvers, ideal for dealing significant damage from a distance while minimizing the risk of taking hits. It's a build that rewards patience and accuracy, contrasting sharply with the brute force of the Two-Handed Brawler.
To maximize its effectiveness, this build focuses on:
- **Perception (3)** – Increases ranged accuracy and critical hit chance.
- **Dexterity (3)** – Enhances movement and attack speed.
- **Might (2)** – Boosts ranged weapon power.
- **Resolve (2)** – Improves resistance to stuns and knockbacks.
Perception heightens your critical hit chances, Dexterity improves your speed and evasion, and Might amplifies your ranged damage. With these stats, you'll be able to deliver lethal headshots while maintaining high mobility. Key abilities should include Tanglefoot to immobilize enemies, Marksmanship to enhance your bow and gun damage, and Shadowing Beyond for temporary invisibility, ensuring enemies rarely get close enough to strike.
For weapons, opt for a bow or arquebus for long-range engagements, and carry a pistol with a melee weapon as a backup for close encounters. This build is perfect for players who enjoy sniping enemies from the shadows and then disappearing without a trace. You can discover some of the best weapons hidden in various treasures scattered throughout *Avowed*.
Frost Wizard (Arcane Scholar Build)
For those who wish to dominate the battlefield with magical prowess, the *Frost Wizard* build is an excellent choice for the early game. This build focuses on freezing enemies, delivering high burst damage, and maintaining control over combat scenarios. It demands strategic positioning and efficient resource management, but when executed correctly, it's one of the most powerful setups in *Avowed*.
The Frost Wizard build relies on:
- **Intellect (3)** – Enhances spell effectiveness.
- **Perception (3)** – Improves spell accuracy and critical hit chance.
- **Dexterity (2)** – Speeds up spellcasting.
- **Resolve (2)** – Reduces interruptions during casting.
Intellect boosts your spell power, Perception increases your critical hit chances, and Dexterity accelerates your casting speed. Your abilities should focus on applying Frost Accumulation to slow and eventually freeze enemies, making them vulnerable to attack. Chill Blades are essential for close-range freezing, while Blast of Frost and Bristling Frost deliver massive area-of-effect frost damage. If an enemy is frozen, using Charge (from the Fighter tree) will shatter them, dealing additional damage.
For weapons, carry a wand and a frost-based grimoire. Wands allow you to attack even when out of Essence, while a potent grimoire provides access to powerful frost spells. This build is ideal for players who relish controlling the battlefield with devastating magic.
Melee Fighter (War Hero Build)
The *Melee Fighter* build offers a balanced approach, blending offense and defense for players seeking versatility. Unlike the Two-Handed Brawler, this build focuses on swift attacks, effective blocking, and enduring longer fights rather than sheer damage output.
The Melee Fighter build emphasizes:
- **Might (3)** – Increases melee damage.
- **Perception (3)** – Enhances accuracy and critical spell damage.
- **Dexterity (2)** – Boosts attack speed.
- **Resolve (2)** – Prevents interruptions during casting.
Might enhances your melee damage, Dexterity increases your attack speed, and Resolve makes you more resistant to stuns and knockbacks. Your core abilities should include Charge to close distances quickly, Shield Bash to stagger enemies, and Constant Recovery for passive health regeneration, ensuring you can control the fight while staying alive.
When selecting weapons, a one-handed sword or axe paired with a shield is optimal. The shield provides additional defense while allowing you to maintain a steady offensive. This build is perfect for players who desire a well-rounded playstyle capable of handling both attack and defense.
Which Build Should You Choose in Avowed?
If you crave pure melee destruction, the Two-Handed Brawler is your go-to. For those who prefer stealth and ranged combat, the Stealth Ranger is ideal. If you're drawn to magic and battlefield control, the Frost Wizard is the way to go. And for a balanced mix of attack and defense, the Melee Fighter is your best bet.
Ultimately, your choice should reflect what you find most enjoyable. *Avowed*'s combat system is engaging and versatile, so tailor your build to the aspects of the game that you love most.
*Avowed is available now on PC and Xbox.*
