Best Avowed Ranger Build

Discover how to create the best Ranger build in Avowed, with recommendations for skills, attributes, weapons, companions and leveling progression!

ranger build avowed
ranger build avowed

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 takes place in the Living Lands, where you are uncovering a secret mystery. Ranger builds in Avowed focus on ranged combat, stealth tactics, and battlefield mobility. Rangers excel at using bows, firearms, and light melee weapons like daggers, making them ideal for players who enjoy hit-and-run tactics.

Selecting the best attributes is essential, as gameplay mostly revolves around them. The Ranger build offers high mobility and ambush capabilities along with less durability. Companions in this build are your bread and butter that can save your life when you’re having a bad day. We’ll discuss the best Avowed Ranger build along with some useful gameplay tips and gear to choose from.

Everything You Need To Know About Ranger Build Guide in Avowed

Ranger build in Avowed involves the strategic selection of abilities, attributes, and equipment to maximize your effectiveness in both ranged and stealth combat. Vanguard Scout is the best background for our Ranger build. This background provides initial boosts to Perception and Dexterity, enhancing your critical hit chance and attack speed. Dexterity increases your attack speed, action speed, and reload speed, while Perception boosts critical hit chance and maximum range. Marksmanship, Shadowing Beyond, Stead Aim, Beary Ally, Sniper, and Staggering Shot are the best skills that are included in our build.

We upgrade the skills to maximize their damage potential in combat, dealing additional damage and dominating enemies. Use the Marksmanship skill to increase damage with bows. Choose the light armor to preserve mobility. Equip the gear that offers bonuses to critical hit chance or damage reduction. Kai and Marius are the two best companions to complement your Ranger build. Pair your abilities with your companion’s abilities to defeat the enemy without taking any damage. Increases your combat effectiveness and battlefield control by pairing with these companions to create a balanced team. However, this Ranger build is highly dependent on positioning and requires proper resource management.

Ranger Build ProsRanger Build Cons
Crowd ControlDependency on Positioning
VersatilityLimited Heavy Armor Use
Stealth CapabilitiesResource Management
Mobility 

Ranger Build Features & Mechanics

Below are the essential best Ranger build features and mechanics for Avowed:

  • Background: Vanguard Scout
  • Attribute Points: Perception, Dexterity, and Might
  • Weapon Choices: Bow, Dagger, Spear
  • Best Skills: Bear Ally, Piercing Thrust, Steady Aim, Marksmanship, Sniper, Staggering Shot, Shadowing Beyond
  • Recommended Companions: Kai and Marius
  • Best Consumables: Mulled Musketeer, Tani Cream, Beetle Pie

Background

Avowed Character Background Choices

Vanguard Scout is the best background for Ranger build in Avowed. This background starts with higher Perception and Dexterity, attributes that enhance critical hit chance and agility. The Vanguard Scout begins with an axe, but you’ll soon have access to bows and other ranged weapons to suit your playstyle. You have the flexibility to adjust your attributes to align with your desired build without considering the background you choose. You can quickly acquire ranged weapons like bows or firearms, aligning with their stealth-oriented role. This background unlocks unique dialogue options and interactions, making your progression pretty much smooth.

Background plays a pivotal role in shaping your role-playing experience. It affects your dialogue options and determines your starting weapon during the tutorial. Your initial allocation of attribute points across six stats is also influenced. However, they do not restrict your access to any equipment or abilities as the game progresses. Regardless of your background, you can use any equipment and abilities. Avowed enriches your character’s backstory and provides initial attribute distributions and dialogue options by selecting the background.

Attribute Points

Attribute Points Avowed

Perception, Dexterity, and Might are the best attributes to focus on for the Ranger build in Avowed. Allocate points wisely to increase your effectiveness in ranged combat. Investing the attribute points in Perception boosts your critical hit chance and maximum range, making it essential for maximizing damage output with bows. You can engage enemies from a safe distance, ensuring you don’t take any damage. Dexterity improves attack speed, action speed, and reload speed. The higher the Dexterity, the more your attack speed and action speed will be in the game.

Consider allocating points into Might as a tertiary focus. Investing points in this stat allows you to increase damage from all sources, including ranged weapons. You also increase your carrying capacity, allowing you to manage more loot while exploring the world. Also, you can earn additional attribute points upon leveling up, offering opportunities to customize your build. You can enhance your attribute points by using the consumables you acquire while progressing. You can select 27 attributes at a max level of 30.

Below is the distribution of attribute points for the Ranger build.

  • Resolve: 2
  • Perception: 13
  • Dexterity: 5
  • Might: 4
  • Intellect: 1
  • Constitution: 2

Weapon Choices

Weapon Choices Avowed

Bow, Dagger, and Spear are the best weapons for the Ranger build in Avowed. The bow is your primary weapon that offers various benefits, particularly for players favoring ranged combat and stealth tactics. Dagger is your off-hand weapon that has low base damage but can take out enemies from the back effectively. A spear is a unique secondary weapon that keeps the enemies at a distance and deals massive damage in combat. Consider swapping your weapons according to the combat situation to avoid being vulnerable while fighting high-level enemies.

Bows excel in stealth scenarios, allowing players to perform surprise attacks with reduced noise. Equip the best bow when encountering enemies in ranged combat, allowing you to eliminate enemies silently. One of the best weapon bows is “The Long Touch,” which offers increased critical hit chance and other damage enhancements. However, the bow has limitations as well, such as projectile falloff affecting performance at longer ranges. Enemies like undead are resistant to bow damage in the game. This is a versatile option for players focusing on ranged attacks and stealth.

Daggers in your off-hand have a low stamina cost and high attack speed, allowing for a rapid succession of strikes. This weapon type has a higher critical hit chance compared to other melee weapons. Their swift attacks make daggers effective in close-quarters combat. This allows you to quickly engage and disengage from enemies. Equip the unique daggers, which come with special enchantments that enhance their effectiveness. Sheathed in Summer is one of the best daggers to use because it deals bonus fire damage and applies fire accumulation on full combo attacks.

Secondary Weapon

Spear is your secondary weapon for the Ranger build in Avowed. Its balanced damage and stun capabilities make it a reliable choice. It offers a unique combination of reach, critical hit potential, and adaptability. You can also use the spear to keep the enemy at a distance, reducing the risk of close-quarters combat. Spears can be paired with the shields for added defense, allowing for flexible combat styles.

Skill Selection

The game allows you to unlock skills at each level, starting at 2. One level gives you one more skill point to place in one of three skill trees. You can mix and match skill trees, but Ranger and Ranger synergize the best together. Moreover, you can reset skills at any time with gold, though it gets more expensive the more levels you increase.

Levels 1-10 Skills

ranger skills level 1-10 avowed
ranger skills level 1-10 avowed

Steady Aim, Shadowing Beyond, Marksmanship, Piercing Thrusts, and Quick Switch are the best skills to unlock at this level. Invest skill points to gain the skills that can keep you alive in the initial stages of the game. Passive skills are used to increase damage or survivability, while active skills require essence, and you can’t use them due to their cost.

Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Ranger Build for Avowed from levels 1 to 10:

LevelSkill NameTreeDescription
1None
2Tanglefoot Rank 1RangerSummon lingering entangling vines that Root nearby enemies in place for 8 seconds.
3Survivalist Rank 1RangerFood restores 20% more Health and Essence, and bonus effect durations are increased by 20%.
4Steady Aim Rank 1RangerHolding your Power Attack with a bow or gun slows time by 25%.
5Armored Grace Rank 1FighterDecreases the Stamina penalty for Medium and Heavy armor by 15.
6Devastating Criticals Rank 1FighterCritical Hits with melee weapons deal 30% more damage.
7Shadowing Beyond Rank 1RangerChannel the Beyond, becoming Invisible and draining Essence until your next combat action.
8Marksmanship Rank 1RangerIncreases damage with bows and guns by 25%.
9Piercing Thrust Rank 1RangerPower Attacks with daggers, swords, and spears deal +25% damage.
10Quick Switch Rank 1RangerIncreases your Equip Speed by 50%.

Levels 11-20 Skills

ranger skills level 11-20 avowed
ranger skills level 11-20 avowed

Barbaric Scout, Bear Ally, Sniper, and Flurry of Blows are the best weapons to unlock after reaching level 11. Upgrade your equipped abilities to make them more effective in combat. You need to enhance your damage potential as you’ll be encountering high-level enemies equipped with heavy armor.

Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Ranger Build for Avowed from levels 11 to 20:

LevelSkill NameTreeDescription
11Steady Aim Rank 2RangerHolding your Power Attack with a bow or gun slows time by 50%.
12Marksmanship Rank 2RangerIncreases damage with bows and guns by 40%.
13Shadowing Beyond Rank 2RangerWhile Invisible, gain increased Stealth Attack Damage and Move Speed.
14Barbaric Scout Rank 1FighterLet out a fearsome roar that interrupts enemies and empowers you against larger foes. Your weapon attacks become Uninterruptable and deal higher Stun.
15Bear Ally Rank 1RangerSummon a bear ally to aid you in battle for 30 seconds.
16Critical Strike Rank 1RangerIncreases your Critical Hit Chance by 10%.
17Piercing Thrust Rank 2RangerPower Attacks with daggers, swords, and spears deal +35% damage.
18Sniper Rank 1RangerIncreases ranged weapon damage against unaware enemies by 25%.
19Bear Ally Rank 2RangerYour bear ally roars when summoned, Taunting enemies and increasing the damage it deals.
20Flurry of Blows Rank 1RangerGain maximum Attack Speed, rapid Stamina regeneration, and increased Move Speed for 10 seconds.

Levels 21-30 Skills

ranger skills level 21-30 avowed
ranger skills level 21-30 avowed

At levels 21-30, you want to increase damage per second potential with high-level skills. You can use a bow in the main hand and a dagger in your off-hand to eliminate enemies in combat.

Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Ranger Build for Avowed from levels 21 to 30:

LevelSkill NameTreeDescription
21Staggering Shot Rank 1RangerPower Attacks with bows and guns deal +40% Stun.
22Inspiring Thriumph Rank 1FighterKilling enemies restores 10% of your Companion’s Maximum Health.
23Sniper Rank 2RangerIncreases ranged weapon damage against unaware enemies by 35%.
24Staggering Shot Rank 2RangerPower Attacks with bows and guns deal +70% Stun.
25Flurry of Blows Rank 2RangerEnables healing on weapon attacks
26Steady Aim Rank 3RangerHolding your Power Attack with a bow or gun slows time by 75%.
27Marksmanship Rank 3RangerIncreases damage with bows and guns by 50%.
28Inspiring Thriumph Rank 2FighterInspiring Triumph revives Incapacitated Companions and restores 20% of their Maximum Health.
29Piercing Thrust Rank 3RangerPower Attacks with daggers, swords, and spears deal +40% damage.
30Bear Ally Rank 3RangerIncreases the duration by 15 seconds.

Best Ranger Skills Explained

Bear Ally, Piercing Thrust, Steady Aim, Marksmanship, Sniper, Staggering Shot, and Shadowing Beyond are the best skills for the Ranger build in Avowed. Steady Aim is a passive skill that increases proficiency with ranged weapons, specifically bows and guns. Sniper is a passive ability that boosts your effectiveness with ranged weapons against unsuspecting foes.

Shadowing Beyond is an active ability that makes you invisible, facilitating stealth tactics and sudden attacks. Bear Ally allows you to summon a beat to help you in combat. Marksmanship is the passive ability that increases your proficiency with bows and firearms. Piercing Thrust is a passive skill that boosts your effectiveness with specific melee weapons.    Staggering Shot is a passive ability that enhances your proficiency with bows and firearms.

  • Staggering Shot- Boost the stun dealt by power attacks with bows and guns.
  • Shadowing Beyond- This ability allows you to be invisible and move stealthily, reducing Essence drain during invisibility.
  • Bear Ally- Summons a bear to fight alongside you, drawing enemy attention.
  • Marksmanship- This ability allows you to increase your damage output with bows and guns.
  • Steady Aim- Slows down time when aiming power attacks with bows or guns.
  • Sniper- Increase ranged weapon damage against unaware enemies.
  • Piercing Thrust- Increases the damage with daggers, swords, and spears.

Companions

Kai and Marius are the best companions to choose for the Ranger build in Avowed. These companions in your Ranger build boost your effectiveness in both ranged and close-quarters combat. Kai excels at drawing enemy attention and absorbing damage. His Leap of Daring ability allows him to charge into battle and gather enemies. This creates opportunities for you to attack from a distance. Marius brings crowd control and damage-over-time capabilities to the party. His Binding Roots ability immobilizes groups of enemies.

This stops the enemies from approaching you in intense combat, allowing you to use the bow on them. His Wounding Shots apply bleed effects, dealing damage over time to make them vulnerable. Kai’s tanking abilities, combined with Marius’s crowd control, create a dynamic. Use this setup to maximize your damage output while minimizing risk. The Second Wind ability allows Kai to revive himself once per encounter, and Fire and Ire taunt enemies. Kai can manage a cluster of enemies, creating opportunities for your ranged attacks. Each of these companions brings unique abilities and backgrounds to your journey.

Kai

Kai is good at drawing aggro in Avowed (Image via Xbox Game Studios)
Skill 1Skill 2Skill 3Skill 4
Fire and IreUnbending DefenseLeap of DaringSecond Wind
Fires a powerful shot from his blunderbussRegenerate Health and increase his Damage Reduction by 25%Crashes down upon the enemy, Stunning and Taunting all nearby enemiesRevives himself when his health is reduced to zero

Marius

Marius is a skilled tracker in Avowed (Image via Xbox Game Studios)
Marius is a skilled tracker in Avowed (Image via Xbox Game Studios)
Skill 1Skill 2Skill 3Skill 4
Binding RootsHeart SeekerShadow StepWounding Shots
Entangle enemiesIncreases damage dealt to low-health enemiesDevastating BlowDamage over time

Ranger Gameplay & Tips

Use Kai and Marius as your companions to complement your Ranger build in Avowed. Their abilities can make your day if you synergize them with your skills. Use the bow when you encounter enemies at a distance. Take out your dagger when the enemies is closer to you for dealing high physical damage. If you want to take out the enemy without letting them, shift into stealth mode and use the dagger to kill them. Unlock skills like Marksmanship to increase your damage with bows, significantly boosting your ranged attack potency. You can also use Shadowing Beyond for temporary invisibility, allowing for strategic repositioning.

Keeping enemies at range is as crucial as Ranger. Use Tangleroot to immobilize foes and create space to deal damage with your spear or dagger. Allocate points into Dexterity and Perception to boost attack speed and critical hit chance. Keep checking your stamina and essence levels, as you’ll be vulnerable if they end. Equip light armor to preserve mobility, offering bonuses to critical hit chance or damage reduction. Make sure you’re equipped with quality gear, as they will protect you from incoming damage and allow you to deal additional damage.

Weapons and Armor

Beginner Weapon and Armor

SlotItemBonus
Weapon 1The Long Touch+10% Critical Hit chance while Fine Aiming
Secondary WeaponGiant’s Slumber48 Physical Damage 48 Stun 13 Stamina 6% Crit. Chance
Off-HandSheathed in Summer
Fire Accumulation on full combo attack
ArmorStelgaer’s Pride+5% Stamina regen rate
GlovesDeath Knight Gloves-10% Stamina cost while blocking
BootsTranton Family Greaves+20 Maximum Health +20% Dodge Distance +10% Move Speed
TrinketBerath’s Blessed Ward-5% damage from Vessels
RingRing of Pain Amplification+15% Critical Damage
RingRing of the Founder+10% Damage Against enemies with full health
  • The Long Touch- Location is Downshore. Head northeast to find the Paradisian Military Surplus shop and purchase The Long Touch.
  • Giant’s Slumber- Location is Emerald Stair. Found stabbed in the body of a dead creature in the ruins under Naku Tedek Grounds, accessed toward the end of the Emerald Stair chapter.
  • Sheathed in Summer- Location is Downshore. Looted from the Dawnshore Bounty target Octav the Firebrand.
  • Spear- Location is Downshore- You can purchase it from Gwyneth in the Market District of Paradis, Dawnshore.
  • Stelgaer’s Pride- Location in Downshore- Found in a chest north of the Yellowband Camp.
  • Death Knight Gloves- Location is Emerald Stair. Kill Captain Aelfyr at the end of the Emerald Stair chapter
  • Tranton Family Greaves- Location is Emerald Stair. Killing Conner Tranton of the Trantons bounty target in the Overgrown Homestead in the southwest of The Wildwoods in Emerald Stair.
  • Berath’s Blessed Ward- Location is Emerald Stair. Complete the side quest “Elder Offerings” in Emerald Stair and don’t report the food theft.
  • Ring of Pain Amplification- Location is Emerald Stair- Obtained from Dolina as a reward for defeating Amadio and the Xaureps in the Fortified Xaurep Camp in the northeastern Grim Wetlands of Emerald Stair.
  • Ring of the Founder- Found in the Ancient Grotto, on the body of the Idol of Secret Hatred Totem Piece.

Endgame Weapon and Armor

SlotItemBonus
Weapon 1Ancient AlacritySlow the hit enemy by 15% for 5 seconds.
Secondary WeaponGiant’s Slumber80 Physical Damage 84 Stun 13 Stamina 6% Crit. Chance
Off-HandSheathed in SummerFire Accumulation on full combo attack
ArmorLave-Forged Plate+45% resistance to Fire Accumulation
GlovesGloves of the Strangler+15% Sneak Attack Damage
BootsCouncilor’s ShoesIncreases your health restoration from all sources by 5%
TrinketCartographer’s Companion+1 Dex, +2 Perception
RingChitin Band-5% damage from beasts
RingSigil of the Arcane+20% ability cast speed. -20% ability Essence cost.
  • Ancient Alacrity: Locked behind a door in the same room as Sibelius boss within the Solace Lava Tubs, in the Galawain’s Tusks region.
  • Sheathed in Summer- Location is Dawnshore. Looted from the Dawnshore Bounty target Octav the Firebrand.
  • Lave-Forged Plate- Location is Galawain’s Tusk. You can find it in the chest inside Mt. Forga Quarry.
  • Gloves of the Strangler- Location is Dawnshore. Behind a secret door on the outer wall of Paradis, slightly southwest of the Paradis Hightown gate.
  • Councilor’s Shoes– Kill Councilor Koysta and save Solace Keep during Our Dreams Divide Us Still in Galawain’s Tusks
  • Cartographer’s Companion- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Found on a dead dwarf near the Bounty target Urvolnau west of Berath’s Bounty.
  • Chitin Band- Location is Shatterscarp. Looted from a Skeleton Mage east of the Abandoned Mine.
  • Sigil of the Arcane- Location is Shatterscarp. Can be found inside a lockbox inside a puzzle door at Shark’s teeth.

Consumables

Mulled Musketeer is the best consumable because it grants +40% action speed and reload speed. Tani Cream allows you to gain +2 Dexterity and +5% maximum stamina. Beetle Pie is another consumable that provides you +2 Might and +10% damage. You need to take three points into the survivalist skill in the ranger tree. Once unlocked, you can craft advanced food and buffs that drastically increase your survivability, damage, and regeneration.

FAQs about Ranger in Avowed

What is the best Ranger build in Avowed?

The best Ranger build in Avowed uses a Bow as a primary weapon, a Dagger as an off-hand weapon, and a Spear as a secondary weapon. Perception, Dexterity, and Might are the best attributes to focus on for the Ranger builds in Avowed.

Which is the best Background for Ranger build?

Vanguard Scout is the best background for Ranger build in Avowed. This background starts with higher Perception and Dexterity, attributes that enhance critical hit chance and agility.

Which are the best skills for Ranger build?

Bear Ally, Piercing Thrust, Steady Aim, Marksmanship, Sniper, Staggering Shot, and Shadowing Beyond are the best skills for the Ranger build in Avowed.


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