Choosing the optimal build in *Avowed* can significantly enhance your early game experience, enabling you to tackle enemies more effectively while maintaining your survival. Whether you're drawn to the brute force of melee combat, the precision of ranged attacks, or the strategic depth of magical spells, these builds will set you up for success in *Avowed*.

Two-Handed Brawler (War Hero Build)

The *Two-Handed Brawler* is all about raw power and dominance. Ideal for players who relish in dealing massive damage and bulldozing through foes, this build focuses on high-damage two-handed weapons. It's a straightforward yet deadly strategy that excels in the early stages of *Avowed*.

To maximize your damage output and durability, this build prioritizes:

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

Might enhances your melee damage, Constitution boosts your health, and Dexterity aids in faster attacks and evasion. Your primary abilities should focus on charging into enemies, boosting your damage, and recovering health during combat. The Charge ability is crucial here, allowing you to rush into battles and smash enemies before they can react. Combine this with Bleeding Cuts for sustained damage over time and Toughness to increase your maximum health, making you an unstoppable force on the battlefield.

For weapons, the Horsecutter two-handed sword or Drawn in Winter axe are top choices. Both deliver devastating blows, ensuring fights are short and brutal. This build is perfect for those who enjoy a high-risk, high-reward melee style, aiming to swiftly defeat enemies before they can retaliate.

Stealth Ranger (Vanguard Scout Build)

The *Stealth Ranger* is the go-to build for players who prefer mobility and striking from a distance. This build emphasizes bows, firearms, and stealthy movement, perfect for avoiding damage while landing critical hits. It's a build that thrives on precision, patience, and keeping enemies at bay.

To maximize effectiveness, this build focuses on:

• **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 increases your chances of critical hits, Dexterity enhances your speed and evasion, and Might amplifies ranged weapon damage. Your key abilities should include Tanglefoot to immobilize enemies, Marksmanship to boost your 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 engagements, while a pistol paired with a melee weapon provides backup if enemies close in. If you enjoy sniping enemies undetected and then disappearing into the shadows, this build is tailored for you. Explore the world of *Avowed* to uncover some of the best weapons hidden in various treasures.

Frost Wizard (Arcane Scholar Build)

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

The Frost Wizard build relies on:

• **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 speeds up your casting. Your abilities should focus on applying Frost Accumulation to slow and eventually freeze enemies, making them vulnerable to attacks. Chill Blades are essential for close-range freezing, while Blast of Frost and Bristling Frost inflict massive area-of-effect frost damage. If an enemy is frozen, using Charge (from the Fighter tree) will shatter them, dealing bonus damage.

For weaponry, carry a wand and a frost-based grimoire. Wands allow you to attack even when out of Essence, and a good grimoire provides access to powerful frost spells. If you enjoy controlling the battlefield with magical prowess, this build is your perfect match.

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 swift attacks, blocking, and outlasting opponents rather than sheer damage output.

The Melee Fighter build relies on:

• **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. 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.

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

Which Build Should You Choose in Avowed?

If you're after pure melee destruction, the Two-Handed Brawler is your choice. For those who prefer stealth and ranged combat, opt for the Stealth Ranger. If you're drawn to magic and battlefield control, the Frost Wizard is the way to go. For a balanced mix of attack and defense, the Melee Fighter is your best option.

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

*Avowed is available now on PC and Xbox.*