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Discover how to create the best Gun build in Avowed, with recommendations for skills, attributes, weapons, companions and leveling progression!
Avowed is a first-person RPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. Set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, the game unfolds in the Living Lands, where players unravel a profound mystery. You take on the role of an envoy from Aedyr, who is sent to investigate a rising supernatural threat.
Avowed offers a rich, dynamic combat system blending melee, ranged, and magic-based abilities. Players can wield weapons in one or both hands, cast spells seamlessly, and tailor their character’s abilities to suit their playstyle. This guide will walk you through the key aspects of a gun build, helping you get the best possible start in the game.
This build has been updated for the Patch 1.2.2 version of Avowed.
Everything You Need To Know About Gun Build Guide in Avowed
In Avowed, guns are considered great for long-range high, damage and stun weapons. What makes them unique is their rate of fire, main hand or off-hand slots, and unique bonuses. Players who value high damage with range will enjoy the Gun build. This build uses two guns: an Arquebus (rifle) and a Pistol. This loadout gives you medium to long-range damage capabilities and unique weapons that trigger status effect damage.
The downside to a gun build is that you won’t be able to block or cast many spells. Moreover, your rate of fire will be slower, so you need to invest in the Dexterity attribute to speed up reloading. However, if you’re looking for big damage at range with guns in Avowed, this build is for you!
| Gun Build Pros | Gun Build Cons |
|---|---|
| High Burst Damage | Rate of Fire |
| Good Range | Bar Swapping |
| Elemental Effects | Slow Start |
Gun Build Features & Mechanics
Below are the essential best Gun build features and mechanics for Avowed:
- Background: Vanguard Scout
- Attribute Points:
- Perception
- Might
- Dexterity
- Weapon Choices: Pistols, Arquebus
- Best Skills
- Shadowing Beyond
- Arcane Veil
- Marksmanship
- Flurry of Blows
- Bear Ally
- Recommended Companions: Kai, Giatta
- Best Consumables: Beetle Pie, Magran’s Blessing
Related:
Background
The Vanguard Scout is the best background for a gun build due to the weapon and the story responses. Remember that backgrounds mainly affect dialogue and story; and your initial waepon after character creation. However, if you prefer a different background for role-playing reasons, go with what feels right for your character. Your background is chosen during character creation and cannot be changed later.
Vanguard Scout Description: Born to humble beginnings and driven to desperation by famine, your life was destined to end on the executioner’s block until the Emperor spared you. More at ease in the wilderness than at court, your cleverness and observant nature have made you one of the Emperor’s most trusted operatives. Whether tracking prey or spying on enemies, your skills are put to work both inside and outside of the throne room.
Attribute Points
Perception and Might are the best attribute points for the Gun build because perception increases critical hit chance and maximum range while Might gives a flat bonus to damage. Therefore, you balance burst, range, and overall damage with two stats. The third stat to invest in is Dexterity because guns have a long reload animation, and you want high attack and action speeds.
At a max level of 30, you can select 27 attributes, not including passive permanent bonuses given by companions. Below is our recommended attribute points selection for the Gun build:
- Might: 8
- Constitution: 3
- Dexterity: 6
- Perception: 8
- Intellect: 0
- Resolve: 2
Best Weapon Choices
Pistols and Arquebus are the best weapons for a gun builds because they benefit from the “gun” passives in the Ranger skill tree: Marksmanship, Steady Aim, Sniper, and Staggering Shot. Pistols will be used in dual wield, which allows you to charge both weapons simultaneously if you hold attack and block together. This shoots out two bullets when released. Meanwhile, the Arquebus is used on the back bar as a longer-range, burst weapon. Make sure to bar swap frequently and take the skill Quick Switch because Pistols are medium-range with high bursts, while Arquebus is a long-range opening shot.
Secondary Weapon choice
Your secondary weapon choice is a Bow, which is powerful at the start of the game. Many passives apply to the bow, so if you don’t like the Pistols or Arquebus, swap it out for a bow. Moreover, the Bow is meant for a single target, so if you feel that it lacks, swap the Arquebus for a Bow specifically.
Weak Point
Weak points are diamond-shaped areas on enemies that let you deal extra damage. Most of the time, these are headshot zones, but depending on the enemy, they can also be on the tail, back, or other spots. The Bow is great for hitting weak points because of its long-range, which can be improved with the Perception attribute.
To maximize damage, try using the Gun while aiming down sights and focus on hitting weak points. If you have trouble aiming, consider taking the Steady Aim passive, which slows time by 25% while aiming down sights.
Best Gun Passive
To increase your damage with guns in Avowed, invest in the following skill passives within the Ranger tree: Marksmanship, Steady Aim, Sniper, and Critical Strike. You reach diminishing returns, so the biggest boost is taking one rank initially, then at higher levels, taking more to increase overall damage. Moreover, look to gear of totems to increase critical damage (different than critical chance). Critical damage is harder to find in guns in Avowed, so that’s a stat you can fill out without passives.
Skill Selection
The overall goal of the gun skill selections is survivability at first, damage, and then burst. Initially, you’ll take a skill Arcane Veil that gives you a damage bubble. While it’s a Wizard spell, you can use it with essence (magic) and dramatically increase your survivability at the start of the game. Mid-levels, you’ll look to increase utility by gaining access to the Bear ally, which can tank for you. Finally, the last few levels will be all about overall damage and crowd control with Flurry of Blows and Staggering Shot.
Levels 1-10 Skills
The most important part of the initial start of the game is survivability. Use Arcane Veil when you take pressure vs. just blocking and dodging. At level 5, gain Shadowing Beyond and use it to get away, resurrect allies, or use Godlike ability stealth kill behind enemies. Moreover, focus on survivability at first as the game is brutal until level 10 and beyond.
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Gun Build for Avowed from levels 1 to 10:
| Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | None | ||
| 2 | Tanglefoot Rank 1 | Ranger | Summon vines to root enemies in place for 8 seconds |
| 3 | Arcane Veil Rank 1 | Wizard | Unlocks Arcane Veil, a shield with 50% damage reduction |
| 4 | Survivalist Rank 1 | Ranger | Food restores 20% more health and essence and bonus effect duration are increased by 20% |
| 5 | Shadowing Beyond Rank 1 | Ranger | Channel the beyond, becoming invisible and draining essence until your next combat action |
| 6 | Marksmanship Rank 1 | Ranger | increases damage with bows and guns by 25% |
| 7 | Steady Aim Rank 1 | Ranger | holding power attack with bow slows time by 25% |
| 8 | Shadowing Beyond Rank 2 | Ranger | While invisible, gain increased stealth attack damage and move speed |
| 9 | Evasive Rank 1 | Ranger | Reduces the stamina cost of dodge by 25% |
| 10 | Quick Switch | Ranger | Increase your equip speed by 50% |
Levels 11-20 Skills
From levels 11 to 20, you want to increase overall burst damage with skills like Marksmanship and Critical Strike. Furthermore, increase Arcane Veil to rank 2 so you can reflect projectiles. This allows you to pre-buff with Veil, then stand in the back shooting without the fear of ranged snipers taking you out. Also the Bear Ally will help your companion Kai and you may swap him out if he’s not needed after rank 2.
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Gun Build for Avowed from levels 11 to 20:
| Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Harvest Essence | Wizard | The Essence fragments dropped by defeated enemies restore 2 times as much essence |
| 12 | Survivalist Rank 2 | Ranger | Unlock recipes for strong healing food |
| 13 | Marksmanship Rank 2 | Ranger | increases damage with bows and guns by 40% |
| 14 | Save | ||
| 15 | Bear Ally Rank 1 Critical Strike Rank 1 | Ranger | Summon a bear ally increases your critical hit chance by 10% |
| 16 | Arcane Veil Rank 2 | Wizard | Reflects Ranged projectiles |
| 17 | Save | ||
| 18 | Bear Ally Rank 2 Critical Strike Rank 2 | Ranger | Bear Taunts increases your critical hit chance by 15% |
| 19 | Sniper Rank 1 | Ranger | Increases range weapon damage against unaware enemies by 25% |
| 20 | Flurry of Blows Rank 1 | Ranger | gain maximum attack speed, rapid stamina regerantion, and increase move speed for 10 seconds |
Levels 21-30 Skills
The final levels of the gun build focus on overall damage with Flurry of Blows, Marksmanship,a nd Critical Strike. Note that Flurry of Blows rank 2 gives you passive healing when attacking. Therefore, pre-buff with this skill before you jump into combat. You can stack Flurry of Blows with Arcane Veil giving you healing and a shield while your ranged weapons destroy targets from a distance.
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Gun Build for Avowed from levels 21 to 30:
Skill Name Tree Description Rank
| Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Flurry of Blows Rank 2 | Ranger | Flurry of blows grants lifesteal to your weapon |
| 22 | Flurry of Blows Rank 3 | Ranger | increases duration by 5 seconds |
| 23 | Inspiring Triumph Rank 1 | Fighter | Killing enemies restores 10% of your companions maximum health |
| 24 | Staggering Shot Rank 1 | Ranger | Power attacks with bows and guns deal +40% stun |
| 25 | Marksmanship Rank 3 | Ranger | increases damage with bows and guns by 50% |
| 26 | Critical Strike Rank 3 | Ranger | increases your critical hit chance by 20% |
| 27 | Staggering Shot Rank 2 | Ranger | Power attacks with bows and guns deal +70% stun |
| 28 | Staggering Shot Rank 3 | Ranger | Power attacks with bows and guns deal +90% stun |
| 29 | Arcane Veil Rank 3 | Wizard | Melee Attackers are knocked back |
| 30 | Blood Magic Rank 1 | Wizard | when essence is depleted, you may continue casting by reducing your health 150% of your essence cost |
Best Gun Skills Explained
Flurry of Blows, Arcane Veil, and Marksmanship are the best skills for a gun build. Flurry of Blows increases your overall damage and survivability and is used as a buff skill before combat. Arcane Veil is your primary survivability tool, giving you a powerful bubble that also lowers overall incoming damage. Marksmanship is your skill that boost damage passively. Below are all the best and most important skills for a gun build in Avowed:
- Arcane Veil: main survivability spell that gives you a bubble and damage reduction.
- Staggering Shot: this passive increases stun, allowing you to get free damage once their bar is full.
- Critical Strike: a passive boost to critical chance for more burst damage.
- Marksmanship: a passive boost to gun damage.
- Flurry of Blows: increase your stamina regeneration, survivability, and damage all in one skill.
- Bear Ally: use to summon an ally that can tank for you.
Best Companions
Kai and Giatta are the best companions for a Gun build because they tank and heal for you. Kai is your first companion and has two skills for taunting enemies. Therefore, use him as a tank to draw aggro and attention away from you while doing damage. Giatta is your healing, giving you health and damage reduction via her skills. Sometimes, she’s not needed due to your overall survivability. If that’s the case, swap to Yatzli who has more area damage.
Kai
Kai’s best skills are Fire and Ire and Leapof Daring. Look to rotate these two taunts back to back after their duration expires to keep targets off of you.
| Skill 1 | Skill 2 | Skill 3 | Skill 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire and Ire | Unbending Defense | Leap of Daring | Second Wind |
| Quick Reload | Iron Will | Leap of Pride | Refreshing Wind |
Giatta
Giatta is a healer where you want to use Purification and Accelerate to not only heal but provide damage reduction for a time.
| Skill 1 | Skill 2 | Skill 3 | Skill 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purification | Barrier | Acceleration | Reconstruction |
| Essence Shielding | Greater Barrier | Evade Attacks | Overcharge |
Gun Gameplay & Tips
The best way to play the Gun build is by starting combat off in stealth, crouched in the tall grass. This can give you increased damage, which stacks with weak points; therefore, aim for the head or the diamond on the target. Start off with the Arquebus and quickly bar swap to pistols if enemies close the distance quick. You can use grenades to trigger extra status effect damage while staying at range.
For survivability, use your companions to heal and taunt and dodge to the side to avoid attacks. Use Arcane Veil constantly when you expect pressure, as it reduces your damage and can reflect ranged attacks after upgrading to rank two. Moreover, use consumable food that has health regeneration rather than chugging potions to help with healing.
Weapons and Armor
Beginner
Here’s the best beginner gear for the Avowed Gun Build Guide:
| Slot | Item | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon 1 | Caeroc’s Pride | Restores health on kill |
| Off-Hand | The Disappointer | 9% critical hit chance |
| Secondary Weapon | One Last Trick | +5% damage against full health enemies |
| Armor | Blackwing Armor | Move speed while crouched |
| Gloves | Engwithan Gauntlets | -10% stamina cost while blocking |
| Boots | Blackwing Boots | +1 Dex |
| Trinket | Night-Mistress’ Favor | Regen essence near companion |
| Ring | Wayfarer’s Ring | 20% health and essence from food |
| Ring | Vindictive Band | Crits deal poison damage |
- Caeroc’s Pride (pistol): Found in Dawnshore. Defeat Tempestuous Luandi (bounty target) in Ondra’s Reach.
- The Disappointer (pistol): Purchased from ‘Extremely Legal Goods’ merchant in Pardis Hightown alley for 3,600 gold.
- One Last Trick (arquebus): A reward for completing the Steel Resolve quest in Emerald Stair. Use The Long Touch bow early in Dawnshore.
- Blackwing Armor: Spoiler regarding your assassin quest at the end of Dawnshore.
- Engwithan Gauntlets: Pre-order bonus. Swap to Blackwing gloves if you don’t have a southern Paradis backpack on the roof of the Aedryan Embassy.
- Blackwing Boots: Bought from Extremely legal goods in Philosopher’s alley in Northern Paradis.
- Night-Mistress’ Favor: Complete the side quest a lady never tells, speak with Concerned Couresan north of Pearl District in Paradis Dawnshore.
- Wayfarer’s Ring: Can be found from a skeleton south of Runyd’s Home in Dawnshore to the west of Shrine of Woedica.
- Vindictive Band: Complete sidequest Cabin Fever, started in Claviger’s Landing, Dawnshore by NPC Dehengen.
Advanced
The following table presents the best end-game gear for the best Avowed Gun Build Guide:
| Slot | Item | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon 1 | Fair Play | Kill enemies restores health and stamina |
| Off-Hand | Magic Mistol | Bullets seek and target enemies |
| Secondary Weapon | Moonstrike | Power Attacks deal Frost to nearby enemies |
| Armor | Gambeson of the Grand Empire | +15% Reload Speed |
| Gloves | Wavebinder Bracers | +15% Reload Speed |
| Boots | Councilor’s Shoes | +2 Dexterity |
| Trinket | Ashfall’s Legacy | +10% Attack Damage and +20% Critical Hit Damage with pistols and arquebuses |
| Ring | Ring of Pain Amplification | +15% Critical damage |
| Ring | Ring of the Peerless Marksman | +10% damage with ranged weapons |
- Fair Play (pistol): Purchased from ‘Fish in a Barrel’ merchant in Thirdborn (Shatterscarp). The merchant is on the right from the city entrance.
- Magic Mistol (pistol): Found at the Ekidan Workshop in the Slumbering Fields of Galawain’s Tusks.
- Moonstrike (arquebus): Give a piece of Starmetal to Forgemaster Dela at Solace Keep. Give him a second piece and he can upgrade it to Heavenstrike.
- Gambeson of the Grand Empire: Help Leoflaed escape in Dawnshore, then received from Leoflaed and Glaedwine in Thirdborn in Shatterscarp.
- Wavebinder Bracers: Bought from Merchant in Thirdborn, Shatterscarp for 3,750 gold.
- Councilor’s Shoes: Kill Councilor Koysta and save Solace Keep during Our Dreams Divide Us Still in Galawain’s Tusks
- Ashfall’s Legacy: Record for Warden’s Warding sidequest in Galawain’s Tusk.
- Ring of Pain Amplification: Reward in Nature vs Nurture quest for defeating Amadio in Fortified Xaurep Camp in the Northeastern part of Emerald Stair.
- Ring of the Founder: Quest reward for completing Missing Strangers quest.
Consumables
Consumables are extremely powerful and can stack together like Beetle Pie and Magran’s Blessing. When both are consumed, you will gain 30% increased damage that stacks on top of other bonuses. You will need to unlock the Survivalist rank ability to gain access to better recipes. Rank 3 gives you powerful recipes and is worth considering. Stock up in towns because the supplies are very cheap, and often heal as good as a potion just slower. Therefore, pre-buff before big fights by loading up on consumables and having high regeneration.
FAQs about Gun build in Avowed
Which is the best gun in avowed?
The best gun is the Pistol Fair Play with the Recompense bonus: Killing an enemy restores 5% of your Maximum Health and 25% of your Maximum Stamina
What is the best class for gun build?
The Ranger is the best class because of the passives that boost gun damage like Marksmanship, Steady Aim, Sniper, and Staggering Shot.
Is the gun build helpful in Avowed?
Yes, the Guns (pistols and Arquebus) have great damage, range, and high fun factor and a powerful unique build in Avowed.
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