Top Early Game Strategies for Avowed

Choosing the right build in *Avowed* can significantly enhance your early game experience, enabling you to handle enemies more effectively while maintaining your survivability. Whether your preference leans towards close-quarters combat, long-range sniping, or unleashing powerful magic, these builds will set you up for success right from the start of *Avowed*.

Two-Handed Brawler (War Hero Build)

The *Two-Handed Brawler* build is designed for players who thrive on brute force and raw power. If you aim to deal massive damage and plow through enemies, this is your go-to build. Focusing on high-damage two-handed weapons, you'll hit hard and be resilient enough to withstand counterattacks. This straightforward yet lethal approach is highly effective in the early stages of *Avowed*.

To optimize your damage output and durability, prioritize the following stats:

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

Might amplifies your melee damage, Constitution boosts your health, and Dexterity aids in quicker attacks and evasion. Key abilities for this build should focus on charging into combat, enhancing your damage, and regaining health mid-battle. The *Charge* ability is crucial as it allows you to rush into fights and smash enemies before they can react. Complement this with *Bleeding Cuts* to inflict damage over time and *Toughness* to increase your maximum health, making you a formidable force on the battlefield.

The best weapons for this build are the Horsecutter two-handed sword or the Drawn in Winter axe, both known for their devastating impact, ensuring fights are short and brutal. This build is perfect for players who embrace a high-risk, high-reward melee style, aiming to eliminate enemies swiftly before they can retaliate.

Stealth Ranger (Vanguard Scout Build)

The *Stealth Ranger* build is ideal for those who prefer mobility and precision, excelling in picking off enemies from a distance. This build centers on bows, firearms, and stealthy movement, allowing you to avoid damage while landing critical hits. Unlike the Two-Handed Brawler, the Stealth Ranger emphasizes accuracy, patience, and maintaining distance from foes.

To maximize your effectiveness, focus on these attributes:

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

Perception enhances your critical hit chances, Dexterity boosts your speed and evasion, and Might increases your ranged damage. With these stats, you'll be able to deliver deadly headshots while staying agile. Key abilities for this build include *Tanglefoot* to immobilize enemies, *Marksmanship* to amplify bow and gun damage, and *Shadowing Beyond* for temporary invisibility, ensuring enemies rarely get close enough to strike you.

Opt for a bow or arquebus for long-range attacks, and carry a pistol alongside a melee weapon for close encounters. This build is perfect for players who enjoy sniping enemies undetected and then disappearing into the shadows. You can discover some of the best weapons scattered across *Avowed*'s expansive world.

Frost Wizard (Arcane Scholar Build)

For those who wish to dominate the battlefield with powerful magic, the *Frost Wizard* build is the best choice for the early game. This build focuses on freezing enemies, delivering high burst damage, and controlling the flow of combat. It requires strategic positioning and efficient resource management, but when executed correctly, it's one of the most potent setups in *Avowed*.

The Frost Wizard build relies on the following stats:

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

Intellect enhances your spell power, Perception increases critical hit chances, and Dexterity accelerates your casting speed. Your abilities should revolve around applying *Frost Accumulation*, which slows and eventually freezes enemies, making them vulnerable targets. *Chill Blades* is essential for close-range freezing, 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, dealing bonus damage.

For weapons, carry a wand and a frost-based grimoire. Wands allow you to attack even when out of Essence, and a powerful grimoire grants access to devastating frost spells. This build is ideal for players who enjoy controlling the battlefield with magic, locking down groups of enemies while dealing significant damage.

Melee Fighter (War Hero Build)

The *Melee Fighter* build offers a balanced approach, blending 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 the following stats:

• Might (3) – Increases Melee damage.
• Perception (3) – Improves accuracy and critical spell damage.
• Dexterity (2) – Increases attack speed.
• Resolve (2) – Prevents being interrupted while casting.

Might enhances your melee damage, Dexterity boosts your attack speed, and Resolve makes you more resistant to stuns and knockbacks. Core abilities for this build 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 maintain a steady offensive. This build is perfect for players who prefer 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 choice. For those who favor stealth and ranged combat, the Stealth Ranger is the way to go. If you're drawn to magic and battlefield control, opt for the Frost Wizard. And for a balanced mix of attack and defense, the Melee Fighter is your best bet.

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

*Avowed is available now on PC and Xbox.*