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Discover how to create the best Shock 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 takes place in the Living Lands, where you are uncovering a secret mystery. A Shock build in Avowed is a magic-focused playstyle that specializes in electric-based spells, and stunning enemies. It deals high burst damage with Shock Accumulation effects. This unique build is essential for players who like to inflict shock status effects on the enemy.
Shock spells chain between enemies, making them great for crowd control. The Shock build benefits from high Intelligence, improving spell damage in combat. Allocating points in correct attributes is crucial for the Shock build as your gameplay revolves around them. Wand and Grimoire are your bread and butter for this build, allowing you to deal damage from a safe distance. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best Avowed Shock build and useful Sniper gameplay tips along with the gear to choose from.
Everything You Need To Know About Shock Build Guide in Avowed
A Shock build in Avowed maximizes Shock Accumulation, stuns, and high burst damage. We include spells and Weapons that amplify electricity-based attacks. Wand is a primary weapon, Grimoire acts as an off-hand weapon, and Pistol is your secondary weapon, dealing shock damage. Intellect, Perception, and Might are the best attributes to focus on for this build. Intellect increases spell power & effectiveness and Perception boosts your critical hit chance, allowing you to dominate enemies in intense combat.
Use Grimoires to amplify Shock abilities and maintain high Essence regeneration to keep casting. Skills like Jolting Touch, Crackling Bolt, Returning Storm, and Heart of the Storm are the best to unlock. Upgrade them to a higher rank to make them more effective on the battlefield. The Shock build maximizes Shock Accumulation for frequent stuns and deals massive AoE damage with electric spells. However, you will be vulnerable to melee enemies and Essence will drain like sand from the hand.
| Shock Build Pros | Shock Build Cons |
|---|---|
| High Burst Damage | Less Effective in Open Areas |
| Crowd Control | Essence Consumption |
| Effective in Enclosed Spaces | Weak Against Shock Resistance Foes |
| Effective Against Multiple Enemies |
Shock Build Features & Mechanics
Below are the essential best Shock build features and mechanics for Avowed:
- Background: Arcane Scholar
- Attribute Points: Intellect, Perception, Might
- Weapon Choices: Wand, Grimoire, Pistol
- Best Skills: Heart of Storm, Returning Storm, Jolting Touch, Crackling Bolt, Flurry of Blows
- Recommended Companions: Giatta and Yatzli
- Best Consumables: Fine Aedyran Mead, Fruitful Wine, Krakenhorn
Related:
Background
Arcane Scholar is the best background for the Avowed Shock build. This background provides a high starting Intellect, which is essential for efficient spellcasting and maximizing shock damage. It reflects a character with extensive arcane knowledge, making it perfect for a Shock build. Arcane Scholar provides a flexible starting point for players interested in both magic and combat. This background grants a balanced distribution of attribute points, emphasizing intellect and versatility. Choose this background to enhance your character’s magical capabilities and gameplay experience.
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
Intellect, Perception, and Might are the best attributes to invest in for Shock build in Avowed. Intellect enhances your maximum Essence, allowing for more frequent spellcasting. It also enhances your resistance to elemental effects, including Shock. Perception Increase your critical hit chance and extend the maximum range of your spells. The higher the critical hit rate the higher the damage output, making your Shock spells more potent. Might increase damage from all sources, including spells. Invest attribute points in Might to make shock spells effective, enhancing your effectiveness in combat.
You can also invest points in Resolve to boost your maximum stamina and improve Second Wind efficiency. Allocate your attribute points to complement them with your gear to make Shock build lethal. You can earn additional attribute points upon leveling up, offering opportunities to customize your build. Enhance your attribute points by using the consumables you acquire while progressing. You can select 27 attributes at a max level of 30. Below are the attribute points distribution for the Shock build in Avowed.
- Constitution: 1
- Intellect: 10
- Perception: 7
- Might: 4
- Resolve: 3
- Dexterity: 2
Weapon Choices
Wand, Grimoire, and Pistol are the best weapons for the Avowed Shock Build. A Wand acts as a primary weapon, Grimoire is your off-hand weapon, and Pistol acts as a secondary weapon. Each weapon type has unique strengths, so selecting the one that complements your playstyle is crucial. However, the beginning weapons are not as effective as the end-game weapons. A Wand is the best weapon for a Shock build because it maximizes ranged magical damage output, inflicting a shock effect on the enemy. Wands works well with the spells and passives that increase elemental damage. The wand offers elemental damage, giving spellcasters offensive options and a unique playstyle. Pairing it with a grimoire allows for a mix of ranged attacks and spellcasting for a balanced mage playstyle. The wand is a good option for a shock-focused build.
A Grimoire in your off-hand provides high burst damage, powerful Shock spells, and magical versatility. They contain unique and powerful Shock-based spells that deal massive AoE and apply shock accumulation. Grimoire can wipe out a cluster of enemies with bursts of magical spells. This weapon-type grant allows Wizards to expand their magical repertoire by equipping different tomes. A grimoire may determine which spells are available at a given time. However, some grimoires may offer buffs like faster casting speed, reduced mana cost, or elemental resistances. These weapons deal greater damage at the expense of defense, making them ideal for an aggressive playstyle.
Secondary Weapon
A pistol is a secondary weapon for a Shock build in Avowed, but it’s not the best primary choice compared to a grimoire or wand. Pistols deal high single-target damage, making them effective after casting Shock spells. Caeroc’s Pride has Shock-related effects such as extra Shock damage or Shock accumulation. You can make a combo like a pistol in one hand and a grimoire or wand in the other followed by quick ranged shots. Pistols deal physical damage unless they have a Shock enchantment. Pistol works best for a build that mixes spellcasting with firearm attacks.
Shock Status Effect
The shock status effect in Avowed plays a crucial role in both combat strategy and gameplay tactics. Shock is inflicted through repeated exposure to electric attacks. The meter fills when the electric damage accumulates on a target. The Shock status effect is triggered when this meter reaches its maximum value. Specific spells are primary sources for inflicting Shock. Certain weapons come with enchanted electric properties, creating Shock accumulation on enemies. The enemy or player releases a small shockwave that interrupts their actions when they become shocked. It can affect multiple targets, making Shock particularly useful for crowd control situations.
Shock Passive
Heart of the Storm is a passive ability from a Wizard skill tree that amplifies Shock damage and accumulation. This ability is specifically designed to enhance the effectiveness of your Shock-based attacks and spells. Heart of the Storm is the ability that boosts the amount of Shock Accumulation you deal with. It increases the rate at which Shock effects build up on enemies, allowing you to stun and disrupt foes.
Shock Grenade
The game offers various items and abilities to inflict shock damage on enemies. Electric Lily Seed is one such item that releases electrical energy upon impact, dealing shock damage to targets. It absorbs electrical energy from the environment and bursts and emits a powerful discharge once disturbed. However, the seeds can often be found near the Infected Homestead in the Shatterscarp region.
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 Wizard and Fighter 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
Charge, Arcane Veil, Grimoire Mastery, Jolting Touch, and Crackling Bolt are the best skills to unlock at the initial stages. Invest skill points to gain the skills that can keep you alive in the initial stages of the game.
| Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | None | ||
| 2 | Charge Rank 1 | Fighter | Dash forward and smash into anything in your way, interrupting enemies and dealing Explosive Damage to break enemy Blocks, destroy walls, and shatter frozen enemies for bonus damage. |
| 3 | Minor Missiles Rank 1 | Wizard | Summons 3 magical projectiles that seek out enemies, dealing large amounts of damage to nearby enemies on impact. |
| 4 | Arcane Veil Rank 1 | Wizard | Invokes a powerful arcane shield for 20 seconds that makes your spell casting Uninterruptable and increases your Damage Reduction by 50%. |
| 5 | Bounce Rank 1 | Wizard | Power Attacks with wands bounce to a nearby enemy, dealing reduced damage but retaining any elemental Accumulation. |
| 6 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 1 | Wizard | Unlock level 5 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 10%. |
| 7 | Jolting Touch Rank 1 | Wizard | Channels a beam of electricity that jumps from the caster’s fingers to the nearest enemy, and then to the next nearest enemy, causing decreasing amounts of Shock Accumulation. |
| 8 | Crackling Bolt Rank 1 | Wizard | Conjures a powerful bolt of electricity that bounces between enemies and the environment 3 times, dealing high Shock Accumulation and Stun. |
| 9 | Grimoire Snap Rank 1 | Wizard | Forcefully snap your grimoire shut, expelling a shockwave of Explosive Damage that knocks nearby enemies back and deals Stun. |
| 10 | Evasive Rank 1 | Ranger | Reduces the Stamina cost of Dodge by 25%. |
Levels 11-20 Skills
Quick Switch, Barbaric Scout, Returning Storm, and Heart of Storm are the best skills to unlock after reaching level 11. Upgrade your equipped abilities to make them more effective in combat. You need to enhance your Shock damage as you’ll encounter high-level enemies equipped with heavy armor.
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Shock Build for Avowed from levels 11 to 20:
| Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Jolting Touch Rank 2 | Wizard | Jolting Touch hits an additional 2 enemies within range. |
| 12 | Crackling Bolt Rank 2 | Wizard | Bounces between enemies and the environment 6 times. |
| 13 | Quick Switch Rank 1 | Ranger | Increases your Equip Speed by 50%. |
| 14 | Barbaric Scout Rank 1 | Fighter | Let out a fearsome roar that interrupts enemies and empowers you against larger foes. Your weapon attacks become Uninterruptable and deal higher Stun. |
| 15 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 2 | Wizard | Unlock level 10 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 15%. |
| 16 | Returning Storm Rank 1 | Wizard | Conjures a powerful thunderstorm that strikes the earth with lightning bolts, dealing Stun and Shock Accumulation to nearby enemies. |
| 17 | Heart of Storm Rank 1 | Wizard | Increases the amount of Shock Accumulation you deal by 20%. |
| 18 | Charge Rank 2 | Fighter | Increases the distance traveled during Charge by 100% |
| 19 | Arcane Veil Rank 2 | Wizard | Incoming arrows or similar projectiles are reflected back at enemies |
| 20 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 3 | Wizard | Unlock level 15 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 18%. |
Levels 21-30 Skills
Upgrade your abilities to the higher rank to make them more effective in combat. Use them wisely as you will encounter some high-level enemies.
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Shock Build for Avowed from levels 21 to 30:
| Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Crackling Bolt Rank 3 | Wizard | Bounces between enemies and the environment 8 times. |
| 22 | Arcane Veil Rank 2 | Wizard | Increases effectiveness |
| 23 | Returning Storm Rank 2 | Wizard | Enemies caught at the beginning of the storm are Rooted in place for 4 seconds. |
| 24 | Heart of Storm Rank 2 | Wizard | Increases the amount of Shock Accumulation you deal by 35%. |
| 25 | Jolting Touch Rank 3 | Wizard | The bolt is concentrated when used against a single enemy, dealing increased Shock Damage and Shock Accumulation. |
| 26 | Flurry of Blows Rank 1 | Ranger | Gain maximum Attack Speed, rapid Stamina regeneration, and increased Move Speed for 10 seconds. |
| 27 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 4 | Wizard | Unlock level 20 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 20%. |
| 28 | Returning Storm Rank 3 | Wizard | Increases the frequency of lightning bolt strikes. |
| 29 | Heart of Storm Rank 3 | Wizard | Increases the amount of Shock Accumulation you deal by 45%. |
| 30 | Arcane Seal Rank 1 | Wizard | Conjures an Arcane Seal at your feet for 30 seconds. Your Essence regenerates while you stand within the seal’s lingering area of effect. |
Best Shock Skills Explained
Heart of Storm, Returning Storm, Jolting Touch, Crackling Bolt, and Flurry of Blows are the best skills for the Avowed Shock build. Heart of the Storm is a passive skill that increases your character’s proficiency with Shock-based attacks. Returning Storm is an active ability that boosts your Shock-based arsenal. Jolting Touch is an active ability that delivers Shock damage to enemies. Crackling Bolt is an active ability that unleashes potent Shock damage. A flurry of Blows is an active ability that increases your combat capabilities by boosting attack speed, stamina regeneration, and movement speed.
- Flurry of Blows- Grants maximum attack speed, stamina regeneration, and movement speed.
- Heart of Storm- Enhances the shock accumulation you deal with.
- Returning Storm- Conjures a thunderstorm that strikes enemies with lightning, rooting and stunning them.
- Jolting Touch- An electric spell that casts a beam of electricity, casting it allowing the effect to hit its target, and then jumps to the next nearest enemy causing an accumulation of Shock.
- Crackling Bolt- Launches an electrical bolt that bounces between targets, increasing the number of bounces and stuns.
Companions
Yatzli and Giatta are the best companions for the Avowed Shock build. Yatzli is an offensive spellcaster that launches projectiles that can be upgraded to deal with Shock accumulation. These companions complement your Shock-based abilities, either by amplifying damage or granting crowd control. Yatzli aligns perfectly with a Shock build, allowing for elemental attacks. Giatta is your support healer that heals all allies and provides shields to absorb damage, enhancing survivability. Giatta’s Purification ability restores health to allies and can be upgraded to include crowd control effects.
Giatt’s healing and defensive capabilities ensure you maintain optimal health. Enhance your combat effectiveness with his DoT effects and dealing support. Yatzli is a ranged magic damage dealer who excels in delivering high burst damage from a distance. This makes her an excellent companion for players focusing on melee or Shock build. Arduous Delay of Motion is her crowd control ability that can hinder foes, allowing you to take control over the battlefield. Her Blast ability ensures that attacks affect multiple enemies, which further increases overall damage output.
Giatta
| Skill 1 | Skill 2 | Skill 3 | Skill 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purification | Barrier | Acceleration | Reconstruction |
| Essence Generator | Protective shields to reduce incoming damage | Increases the movement and attack speed | Heal and restore health |
Yatzli
| Skill 1 | Skill 2 | Skill 3 | Skill 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essence Explosion | Minoletta’s Missile Battery | Arduous Delay of Motion | Blast |
| Increases the size of the blast caused by Essence Explosion. | Increases the rate of fire for missiles from Minoletta’s Missile Battery. | Creates an area of effect that afflicts all enemies within its radius. | Deals explosive damage, breaking enemy Blocks, destroying walls, and shattering frozen enemies for bonus damage. |
Shock Gameplay & Tips
Use Giatta and Yatzli as your companions complementing your Avowed Shock build. Intellect, perception, and Might are the best attributes to invest your points. Intellect enhances your maximum Essence and enhances elemental resistances. Perception, on the other hand, increases critical hit chance and extends the range of your spells. This affects your shock effects from a distance, allowing you to dominate enemies in intense combat. Heart of the Storm enhances Shock accumulation and Arcane Veil provides a defensive shield, allowing you to cast Shock spells without any interruption.
Initiate the combat with Charge ability to close gaps and deliver explosive damage, complementing your Shock abilities. Grimoire of Storms is the best weapon to use as it contains powerful Shock spells that can deal significant AoE damage. Choosing Yatzli as your companion allows you to deal additional Shock damage. Use Shock-related abilities to disrupt and stun multiple enemies. These strategies allow you to control the battlefield and prevent enemies from overwhelming you.
Weapons and Armor
Beginner
| Slot | Item | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon 1 | Minoletta’s Conduit | 55 Physical Damage 56 Stun 12 Stamina Cost 6% Critical Hit Chance |
| Off-Hand | Anextli’s Grimoire | -20% Ability Cost -15% Cooldown |
| Secondary Weapon | Caeroc’s Pride | 69 Physical Damage 80 Stun 20 Stamina Cost 3% Critical Hit Chance |
| Armor | Many-Hued Doublet | -15% incoming Fire, Frost, and Shock Damage |
| Gloves | The Hands Occult | +10% Shock Damage |
| Boots | Stormdancer Boots | -10% incoming Fire, Frost, and Shock Damage |
| Trinket | Berath’s Blessed Ward | -5% damage from Vessels |
| Ring | Stormdancer Ring | +10% Shock Damage |
| Ring | Ring of the Founder | +10% Damage Against enemies with full health |
- Minoletta’s Conduit (Wand)- Location is Emerald Stair. Purchased from Abritt Porrya at Porrya & Vellino in Fior mes Iverno in the Emerald Stair for 3,780 Skeyt.
- Anextli’s Grimoire (Grimoire)- Location is Dawnshore. Found on a cliff edge southeast above the Graveyard (Berath’s Gateway), you can pick this up after the Pyromancer blows himself up.
- Caeroc’s Pride (Pistol)- Location is Dawnshore. Looted from the Dawnshore bounty target Tempestuous Luandi.
- Many-Hued Doublet- Location is Dawnshore. Purchased from Merylin in the Southern Paradis Market for 500 Skeyt.
- The Hands Occult- Location is Dawnshore. Found in a chest behind a wooden wall east of the Southern Paradis south gate.
- Stormdancer Boots- Location is Shatterscarp. Don’t give Keipo the Leviathan Heart at the end of the Side Quest “Heart of Valor.”
- Berath’s Blessed Ward- Location is Emerald Stair. Complete the side quest “Elder Offerings” in Emerald Stair and don’t report the food theft.
- Stormdancer Ring- Location Shatterscarp. Don’t give Keipo the Leviathan Heart at the end of the Side Quest “Heart of Valor.”
- Ring of the Founder- Found in the Ancient Grotto, on the body of the Idol of Secret Hatred Totem Piece.
Advanced
| Slot | Item | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon 1 | Cruel Command | 99 Physical Damage 104 Stun 12 Stamina Cost 6% Critical Hit Chance |
| Off-Hand | Eilara’s Grimoire | -20% Ability Cost -15% Cooldown |
| Secondary Weapon | Magic Mistol | 173 Physical Damage 200 Stun Stamina Cost Critical Hit Chance |
| Armor | Sentinel Mail | -30% incoming Fire, Frost, and Shock Damage |
| Gloves | Stormdancer Gloves | +10% Ability Cast Speed |
| Boots | Berserker Boots | -10% incoming Fire, Frost, and Shock Damage |
| Trinket | Cartographer’s Companion | +1 Dex, +2 Perception |
| Ring | Disciple’s Ring | +60 Maximum Essence |
| Ring | Ashfall’s Legacy | +10% Attack Damage +20% Critical Hit Damage |
- Cruel Command (Wand)- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Purchased from Stockkeeper Eberk at the Warden Quartermaster’s Supplies for 58.500 Skeyt.
- Eilara’s Grimoire (Grimoire)- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Found on the Parapet of the Living Archives in a chest next to The Book of Oaths.
- Magic Mistol (Pistol)- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Found on a lower floor at the entrance of the Ekidan Workshop behind a boarded-up wall.
- Sentinel Mail- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Found in the Pargrun Cache east of the Living Archives.
- Stormdancer Gloves- Location is Shatterscarp. Don’t give Keipo the Leviathan Heart at the end of the Side Quest “Heart of Valor.”
- Berserker Boots- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Found in a chest in the Outcast Cave Camp west of Warden’s Rest.
- Cartographer’s Companion- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Found on a dead dwarf near the Bounty target Urvolnau west of Berath’s Bounty.
- Disciple’s Ring- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. In a chest inside Razvan’s Hut in the Lost Village.
- Ashfall’s Legacy- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Obtained as a reward from Radut for establishing peace between Amalia’s Outcasts during the Side Quest “Wardens Warding.”
Consumables
Fine Aedyran Mead is a consumable that grants +2 Perception and +10 Maximum Essence. Fruitful Wine provides you with a +2 Constitution and +5 damage reduction. Krakenhorn is another consumable that allows you to gain 15 Health Regeneration and 15 Essence Regeneration. You must 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 Shock in Avowed
What is the best Shock build in Avowed?
The best Shock build uses a Wand as a primary weapon, a Grimoire acts as an off-hand weapon, and a Pistol is your secondary weapon, dealing shock damage.
Which is the best Background for Shock build?
Arcane Scholar is the best background for the Avowed Shock build. This background provides a high starting Intellect, which is essential for efficient spellcasting and maximizing shock damage.
Which are the best skills for Shock build?
Heart of Storm, Returning Storm, Jolting Touch, Crackling Bolt, and Flurry of Blows are the best skills for the Avowed Shock build.
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