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 survival. Whether you lean towards the thrill of close combat, the precision of ranged attacks, or the power of magical spells, these builds offer a strong start in *Avowed*.

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Two-Handed Brawler (War Hero Build)

The Two-Handed Brawler is all about unleashing brute force. This build is perfect if you're looking to deal massive damage and plow through enemies with ease. By focusing on high-damage two-handed weapons, you'll be delivering powerful hits while maintaining enough resilience to withstand enemy attacks. This straightforward yet deadly approach is highly effective in the early stages of Avowed.

To optimize your damage and durability, this build focuses on:

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

Might amplifies your melee damage, Constitution increases your health, and Dexterity aids in attack speed and dodging. Key abilities should revolve around charging into combat, boosting your damage, and regaining health during battles. The Charge ability is crucial as it allows you to rush into fights and smash enemies before they can react. Combine this with Bleeding Cuts to inflict damage over time and Toughness to increase your maximum health, turning you into an unstoppable force on the battlefield.

When selecting 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 thrive on a high-risk, high-reward melee style, aiming to swiftly eliminate enemies before they can retaliate.

Stealth Ranger (Vanguard Scout Build)

The Stealth Ranger is ideal for those who prefer mobility and precision, engaging enemies from a distance. This build emphasizes the use of bows, firearms, and stealthy movement, making it excellent for avoiding damage while landing significant critical hits. Unlike the Two-Handed Brawler, the Stealth Ranger focuses on accuracy, patience, and keeping foes at bay.

To maximize your effectiveness, this build prioritizes:

• Perception (3) – Enhances ranged accuracy and critical hit chance.
• Dexterity (3) – Improves movement and attack speed.
• Might (2) – Boosts the power of ranged weapons.
• Resolve (2) – Helps resist stuns and knockbacks.

Perception increases your chances of landing critical hits, Dexterity enhances your speed and evasion, and Might amplifies your ranged damage. With these stats, you'll be able to deliver deadly headshots while remaining agile. Key abilities include Tanglefoot to immobilize enemies, Marksmanship to boost your bow and gun damage, and Shadowing Beyond for temporary invisibility. These abilities ensure that enemies rarely get close enough to strike you.

For weaponry, a bow or arquebus is perfect for long-range engagements, while a pistol and a melee weapon serve as backups when enemies close in. This build is perfect for those who enjoy taking down enemies from a distance and then disappearing into the shadows. You can discover some of the best weapons hidden in various treasures throughout the world of Avowed.

Related: Complete List of Avowed Missions (All Main & Side Quests)

Frost Wizard (Arcane Scholar Build)

For those who wish to dominate the battlefield with powerful magic, the Frost Wizard offers the best early-game build. This build centers on freezing enemies, delivering high burst damage, and maintaining control over combat scenarios. It requires strategic positioning and efficient resource management, but when executed correctly, it's one of the most powerful setups in the game.

The Frost Wizard relies on:

• Intellect (3) – Increases the effectiveness of your spells.
• Perception (3) – Improves accuracy and spell critical hit chance.
• Dexterity (2) – Speeds up your spellcasting.
• Resolve (2) – Reduces interruptions while casting.

Intellect enhances your spell power, Perception aids in landing critical hits, and Dexterity accelerates your casting speed. Your abilities should focus on applying Frost Accumulation, which slows and eventually freezes enemies, making them vulnerable targets. Chill Blades is essential for freezing enemies in close combat, while Blast of Frost and Bristling Frost deal significant area-of-effect frost damage. If an enemy is frozen, using Charge (from the Fighter tree) will shatter them, causing bonus damage.

For weapons, a wand and a frost-based grimoire are crucial. Wands allow you to attack even when out of Essence, while a potent grimoire grants access to powerful frost spells. This build is ideal for players who enjoy controlling the battlefield with a spellcaster capable of locking down groups of enemies and inflicting heavy damage.

Melee Fighter (War Hero Build)

The Melee Fighter build strikes a balance between offense and defense, making it suitable for players seeking versatility. Unlike the Two-Handed Brawler, this build emphasizes quick attacks, blocking, and outlasting opponents rather than sheer damage output.

The Melee Fighter Build focuses on:

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

Might enhances your melee damage, Dexterity improves your speed, and Resolve increases your resistance to stuns and knockbacks. Core abilities should include Charge to close gaps, Shield Bash to stagger enemies, and Constant Recovery for passive health regeneration. This combination allows you to control battles while maintaining your health.

When choosing weapons, opt for a one-handed sword or axe paired with a shield. The shield provides additional defense while still enabling you to deliver consistent damage. This build is ideal for players who prefer a well-rounded playstyle capable of handling both offense and defense effectively.

Which Build Should You Choose in Avowed?

If you crave pure melee destruction, the Two-Handed Brawler is your go-to. For those who favor stealth and ranged combat, the Stealth Ranger is the perfect choice. 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 option.

Ultimately, your choice should reflect what you find enjoyable. Avowed's combat system is engaging and dynamic, so tailor your build to the aspects of the game that you enjoy the most.

Avowed is available now on PC and Xbox.