Top Early Game Strategies for Avowed

Choosing the right build in *Avowed* can significantly impact your early game experience, allowing you to efficiently tackle enemies while maintaining your survivability. Whether you're drawn to the thrill of close-quarters combat, the precision of ranged attacks, or the strategic power of magic, these builds will set you on the path to success in *Avowed*.

Two-Handed Brawler (War Hero Build)

The *Two-Handed Brawler* is the ultimate choice for players who relish in brute force. This build is perfect for those who want to unleash massive damage and plow through adversaries with ease. By focusing on high-damage two-handed weapons, you'll be delivering devastating blows while possessing the resilience to endure enemy attacks. This straightforward yet lethal approach is highly effective in the early stages of *Avowed*.

To optimize both damage and durability, prioritize the following attributes:

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

Might amplifies your melee damage, Constitution fortifies your health, and Dexterity aids in attack speed and evasion. Your primary abilities should revolve around charging into combat, amplifying your damage output, and sustaining health during battles. The Charge ability is crucial as it allows you to swiftly engage enemies and strike before they can react. Complement this with Bleeding Cuts for sustained damage over time and Toughness to bolster your maximum health, turning you into an unstoppable force.

When selecting weapons, opt for the Horsecutter two-handed sword or the Drawn in Winter axe. These weapons deliver crushing blows, ensuring quick and brutal encounters. This build is ideal for players who thrive on a high-risk, high-reward melee style, aiming to dispatch enemies rapidly before they can retaliate.

Stealth Ranger (Vanguard Scout Build)

The *Stealth Ranger* is tailored for those who prefer agility and striking from afar. This build emphasizes the use of bows, firearms, and stealthy maneuvers, making it perfect for avoiding damage while landing critical hits. Unlike the Two-Handed Brawler, the Stealth Ranger excels in precision, patience, and keeping enemies at bay.

This build hinges on accuracy, agility, and critical hits to maximize its effectiveness:

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

Perception heightens your critical hit chances, Dexterity boosts your speed and evasion, and Might amplifies your ranged weapon damage. These attributes enable you to deliver lethal headshots while staying nimble. Key abilities should include Tanglefoot to immobilize foes, Marksmanship to enhance bow and gun damage, and Shadowing Beyond for temporary invisibility, ensuring enemies rarely get close enough to strike.

For weapons, a bow or arquebus is ideal for long-range engagements, while a pistol paired with a melee weapon serves as a backup if enemies close in. This build suits players who enjoy sniping from the shadows and then disappearing. Some of the best weapons can be discovered in numerous treasures scattered throughout *Avowed*.

Frost Wizard (Arcane Scholar Build)

If you're inclined towards dominating the battlefield with potent magic, the *Frost Wizard* is the optimal early-game build. It focuses on freezing enemies, dealing high burst damage, and maintaining control over encounters. This build demands strategic positioning and effective resource management, but when executed correctly, it stands as one of the most powerful setups in the game.

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

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

Intellect enhances your spell power, Perception improves critical hit rates, and Dexterity accelerates your casting. Your abilities should focus on applying Frost Accumulation to slow and eventually freeze enemies, making them easy targets. Chill Blades are essential for freezing foes in close combat, while Blast of Frost and Bristling Frost unleash 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 perfect for players who enjoy controlling the battlefield with devastating magical attacks.

Melee Fighter (War Hero Build)

The Melee Fighter offers a balanced approach, blending offense and defense, making it suitable for players seeking versatility. Unlike the Two-Handed Brawler, this build focuses on swift 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 during casting.

Might amplifies your melee damage, Dexterity boosts your speed, and Resolve enhances 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, ensuring you can control fights while staying alive.

When choosing weapons, a one-handed sword or axe paired with a shield is ideal. The shield provides additional defense while allowing you to maintain a steady offensive. This build is excellent 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 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 bet.

Ultimately, your choice should reflect what you find most enjoyable. *Avowed*'s combat system is engaging and diverse, so tailor your build to the elements that resonate with you.

*Avowed is available now on PC and Xbox.*