Best Early Builds in Avowed

Selecting the optimal build in *Avowed* can significantly enhance your early game experience, enabling you to tackle enemies effectively while maintaining your survivability. Whether your style leans towards close-quarters combat, long-range sniping, or the art of spellcasting, these builds offer a solid foundation to excel in *Avowed*.

Two-Handed Brawler (War Hero Build)

The *Two-Handed Brawler* is designed for players who thrive on brute force. Ideal for those who wish to deal massive damage and plow through adversaries, this build focuses on wielding high-damage two-handed weapons. It's a straightforward yet lethal strategy that proves effective in the early stages of *Avowed*.

To optimize both damage and resilience, prioritize the following:

• Might (3) – Enhances melee damage output.
• Constitution (3) – Boosts health and overall durability.
• 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, and Dexterity aids in attack speed and evasion. Your primary abilities should revolve around charging into battle, boosting your damage, and recovering health during combat. The Charge ability is crucial as it allows you to rush into fights and crush enemies before they can respond. Combine this with Bleeding Cuts for ongoing damage and Toughness to enhance your maximum health, transforming you into an unstoppable force.

For weaponry, the Horsecutter two-handed sword or Drawn in Winter axe are top choices, both delivering devastating blows that make encounters quick and brutal. This build suits players who embrace a high-risk, high-reward melee approach, aiming to swiftly eliminate foes before they can retaliate.

Stealth Ranger (Vanguard Scout Build)

The *Stealth Ranger* is perfect for those who prefer mobility and picking off enemies from a distance. This build emphasizes bows, firearms, and stealthy movement, ideal for minimizing damage taken while maximizing critical hits. In contrast to the Two-Handed Brawler, the Stealth Ranger focuses on precision, patience, and keeping foes at bay.

To maximize your effectiveness, focus on:

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

Perception heightens your critical hit probability, Dexterity enhances your speed and evasion, and Might increases your ranged weapon power. Key abilities should include Tanglefoot to immobilize enemies, Marksmanship to amplify bow and gun damage, and Shadowing Beyond for temporary invisibility, ensuring enemies rarely close the distance.

For weapons, opt for a bow or arquebus for long-range engagements, and carry a pistol with a melee weapon for close encounters. This build is ideal for players who relish sniping enemies unnoticed and then melting back into the shadows. You can discover some of the best weapons hidden in treasures scattered throughout *Avowed*.

Frost Wizard (Arcane Scholar Build)

For those who wish to dominate the battlefield with potent magic, the *Frost Wizard* is the top early-game build. It centers on freezing enemies, delivering high burst damage, and maintaining control over combat. This build demands strategic positioning and efficient resource management but, when executed correctly, is among the most powerful setups in *Avowed*.

The Frost Wizard 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 spellcasting.

Intellect boosts 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. 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 freezes, using Charge from the Fighter tree will shatter them instantly, causing bonus damage.

Equip a wand and a frost-based grimoire for your weapons. Wands allow you to attack even when out of Essence, and a potent grimoire grants access to formidable 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 build strikes a balance between offense and defense, making it suitable for players seeking versatility. Unlike the Two-Handed Brawler, this build emphasizes swift attacks, blocking, and outlasting opponents rather than sheer damage output.

The Melee Fighter Build focuses on:

• 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 amplifies your melee damage, Dexterity improves your attack 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 the fight and stay alive.

Choose a one-handed sword or axe paired with a shield for your weapons. The shield provides additional defense while allowing you to maintain a steady offensive. This build is ideal for players who seek a balanced approach, capable of handling both attack and defense effectively.

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, the Stealth Ranger is your best choice. For those who enjoy magical control and battlefield dominance, the Frost Wizard is the way to go. And if you prefer a balanced mix of attack and defense, the Melee Fighter is your ideal build.

Ultimately, your choice should also reflect what you find fun. *Avowed* offers engaging and dynamic combat, so tailor your build to the aspects of the game you enjoy most.

*Avowed is available now on PC and Xbox.*