Top Early Game Strategies for Avowed

Choosing the right build in *Avowed* can significantly impact your early game experience, enabling you to efficiently tackle enemies while maintaining your survivability. Whether you're drawn to the thrill of close combat, the precision of long-range attacks, or the power of magical spells, these builds are designed to give you a strong start in *Avowed*.

Two-Handed Brawler (War Hero Build)

The *Two-Handed Brawler* is perfect for players who relish in brute force. This build is ideal if you aim to deal massive damage and plow through enemies with ease. Focusing on high-damage two-handed weapons, you'll be able to hit hard and withstand enemy attacks, making it a straightforward yet deadly approach that excels in *Avowed's* early stages.

To optimize damage and durability, this build emphasizes:

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

Might increases your melee damage, Constitution enhances your health, and Dexterity aids in attack speed and evasion. Your primary abilities should focus on charging into combat, boosting your damage, and recovering health during fights. The Charge ability is crucial as it allows you to rush into battle and smash enemies before they can react. Combine this with Bleeding Cuts for damage over time and Toughness to increase your maximum health, turning you into an unstoppable force.

For weapons, the Horsecutter two-handed sword or Drawn in Winter axe are top choices. Both deliver devastating blows, ensuring quick and brutal encounters. This build suits players who enjoy a high-risk, high-reward melee style, aiming to eliminate enemies swiftly before they can retaliate.

Stealth Ranger (Vanguard Scout Build)

The *Stealth Ranger* is the go-to build for those who prefer mobility and picking off enemies from a distance. This build centers on bows, firearms, and stealthy movement, making it excellent for avoiding damage while landing critical hits. Unlike the Two-Handed Brawler, the Stealth Ranger emphasizes precision, patience, and keeping enemies at bay.

This build maximizes effectiveness through accuracy, agility, and critical hits:

• **Perception (3)** – Increases ranged accuracy and critical hit chance.
• **Dexterity (3)** – Enhances movement speed and attack speed.
• **Might (2)** – Boosts ranged weapon power.
• **Resolve (2)** – Helps resist stuns and knockbacks.

Perception increases your critical hit chances, Dexterity improves your speed and evasion, and Might enhances your ranged weapon damage. With these stats, you'll be able to deliver deadly headshots while staying agile. Key abilities should include Tanglefoot to root enemies, Marksmanship to increase bow and gun damage, and Shadowing Beyond for temporary invisibility, ensuring enemies rarely get close enough to harm you.

For weapons, a bow or arquebus is ideal for long-range attacks, while a pistol paired with a melee weapon provides backup if enemies close in. If you enjoy sniping enemies before they even notice you and then disappearing into the shadows, this build is perfect for you. You can discover some of the best weapons in various treasures scattered throughout *Avowed*.

Frost Wizard (Arcane Scholar Build)

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

The Frost Wizard relies on intelligence, perception, and swift spellcasting:

• **Intellect (3)** – Enhances spell effectiveness.
• **Perception (3)** – Improves accuracy and spell critical hit chance.
• **Dexterity (2)** – Speeds up spellcasting.
• **Resolve (2)** – Reduces interruptions while casting.

Intellect boosts your spell effectiveness, Perception aids in critical hits, and Dexterity accelerates your casting speed. Your abilities should center around applying Frost Accumulation, which slows and eventually freezes enemies, making them easy targets. Chill Blades are essential for freezing enemies up close, 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 instantly, dealing bonus damage.

For weapons, carry a wand and a frost-based grimoire. Wands allow you to attack even when out of Essence, while a good grimoire provides access to powerful frost spells. If you enjoy playing a spellcaster who can lock down entire groups of enemies while dealing heavy damage, this build is ideal for you.

Melee Fighter (War Hero Build)

The Melee Fighter is a balanced build that combines offense and defense, making it suitable for players seeking versatility. Unlike the Two-Handed Brawler, this build focuses on quick attacks, blocking, and outlasting opponents rather than sheer damage output.

The Melee Fighter Build emphasizes attack damage and speed:

• **Might (3)** – Increases melee damage.
• **Perception (3)** – Improves accuracy and critical spell damage.
• **Dexterity (2)** – Enhances attack speed.
• **Resolve (2)** – Prevents interruptions while casting.

Might boosts your melee damage, Dexterity increases your speed, and Resolve makes you more resistant to stuns and knockbacks. Your core abilities should include Charge to close gaps, Shield Bash to stagger enemies, and Constant Recovery for passive health regeneration, ensuring you can control fights while staying alive.

When selecting weapons, a one-handed sword or axe paired with a shield is ideal. The shield provides additional defense while allowing you to deal consistent damage. This build is perfect for players who want a well-rounded playstyle capable of handling both offense and defense.

Which Build Should You Choose in Avowed?

If you crave pure melee destruction, opt for the Two-Handed Brawler. If stealth and ranged combat are more your style, choose the Stealth Ranger. For those who enjoy magic and battlefield control, the Frost Wizard is the way to go. And if you're looking for a balanced mix of attack and defense, the Melee Fighter is your best bet.

Ultimately, your choice should also reflect what you find fun. *Avowed*'s combat system is engaging and diverse, so tailor your build to the aspects you enjoy most.

*Avowed is available now on PC and Xbox.*