Top Early Game Strategies for Avowed

Choosing the right build in *Avowed* can significantly impact your early game experience, enabling you to handle enemies efficiently while maintaining your survival. Whether you're drawn to the thrill of close combat, prefer sniping from a distance, or enjoy the power of magic, these builds will set you up for a strong start in *Avowed*.

Two-Handed Brawler (War Hero Build)

The *Two-Handed Brawler* is perfect for players who revel in brute strength. If your strategy involves dealing massive damage and charging through foes, this build is your best bet. It focuses on wielding high-damage two-handed weapons, allowing you to hit hard and absorb incoming attacks effectively. It's a straightforward yet devastating approach that shines in *Avowed's* early stages.

To optimize damage and resilience, this build emphasizes:

• Might (3) – Boosts melee damage output.
• Constitution (3) – Enhances health and overall durability.
• Dexterity (2) – Improves attack speed and evasion capabilities.
• Resolve (2) – Reduces the effects of enemy stuns and knockbacks.

Might amplifies your melee damage, Constitution increases your health, and Dexterity aids in faster attacks and dodging. Your primary abilities should revolve around charging into battle, enhancing damage, and recovering health during combat. The Charge ability is crucial as it allows you to swiftly engage enemies and deal devastating blows before they can respond. Combine it with Bleeding Cuts for sustained damage over time and Toughness to boost your maximum health, making you a formidable force on the battlefield.

For weapons, consider the Horsecutter two-handed sword or the Drawn in Winter axe, both renowned for their immense hitting power, which can make encounters brief and brutal. This build suits players who favor a high-risk, high-reward melee approach, aiming to eliminate threats swiftly before they can retaliate.

Stealth Ranger (Vanguard Scout Build)

The *Stealth Ranger* is tailored for those who thrive on mobility and precision, taking down enemies from a distance. This build centers on the use of bows, firearms, and stealth tactics, ideal for minimizing damage taken while maximizing critical hits. Unlike the Two-Handed Brawler, it emphasizes patience, accuracy, and keeping foes at bay.

To enhance effectiveness, this build focuses on:

• Perception (3) – Increases ranged accuracy and critical hit probability.
• Dexterity (3) – Boosts movement and attack speed.
• Might (2) – Enhances ranged weapon damage.
• Resolve (2) – Improves resistance to stuns and knockbacks.

Perception enhances your chances of landing critical hits, Dexterity improves your speed and evasion, and Might increases the power of your ranged attacks. Equipped with these stats, you'll be adept at delivering lethal headshots while maintaining high mobility. Key abilities should include Tanglefoot to immobilize enemies, Marksmanship to amplify your bow and gun damage, and Shadowing Beyond for brief invisibility, ensuring that enemies seldom get close enough to strike.

Weapon choices like a bow or arquebus are ideal for long-range engagements, while a pistol and a melee weapon provide close-quarters backup. This build is perfect for players who enjoy eliminating foes from a distance before disappearing into the shadows. You can uncover some of the best weapons in various treasures scattered throughout the world of *Avowed*.

Frost Wizard (Arcane Scholar Build)

For those who wish to dominate the battlefield with potent magic, the *Frost Wizard* is an excellent early-game choice. This build focuses on freezing enemies, delivering high burst damage, and maintaining control over combat scenarios. It demands careful positioning and resource management, but when executed correctly, it's one of the most powerful setups in the game.

The Frost Wizard depends on:

• Intellect (3) – Enhances spell potency.
• Perception (3) – Improves spell accuracy and critical hit chance.
• Dexterity (2) – Speeds up spellcasting.
• Resolve (2) – Minimizes interruptions during spellcasting.

Intellect increases the effectiveness of your spells, Perception aids in achieving critical hits, and Dexterity accelerates your casting speed. Your abilities should focus on applying Frost Accumulation, which slows and eventually freezes enemies, turning them into easy targets. Chill Blades are essential for close-range freezing, while Blast of Frost and Bristling Frost inflict substantial area-of-effect frost damage. If an enemy becomes frozen, using Charge from the Fighter tree can shatter them, dealing additional damage.

For weaponry, carry a wand and a frost-based grimoire. Wands allow you to attack even when your Essence is depleted, and a potent grimoire grants access to powerful frost spells. This build is ideal for players who relish playing a spellcaster capable of controlling and devastating groups of enemies.

Melee Fighter (War Hero Build)

The Melee Fighter offers a balanced approach, blending offense with defense, ideal for players seeking versatility. Unlike the Two-Handed Brawler, this build focuses on swift attacks, blocking, and outlasting opponents rather than sheer damage.

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 spellcasting.

Might enhances your melee damage, Dexterity improves your speed, and Resolve makes you more resilient to stuns and knockbacks. Core abilities should include Charge to close the distance, Shield Bash to stagger foes, and Constant Recovery for passive health regeneration. This combination allows you to dictate the flow of battle while ensuring your survival.

When selecting weapons, opt for a one-handed sword or axe paired with a shield. The shield provides additional defense while still enabling steady damage output. This build is excellent for players who desire a well-rounded playstyle capable of handling both offensive and defensive roles.

Which Build Should You Choose in Avowed?

If raw melee power is your goal, the Two-Handed Brawler is the way to go. For those who prefer stealth and ranged combat, the Stealth Ranger is your best choice. If you're drawn to the strategic use of magic and controlling the battlefield, the Frost Wizard is ideal. And for a balanced mix of attack and defense, the Melee Fighter is the optimal pick.

Ultimately, your decision should be guided by 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.*