Discover how to create the best Vanguard Scout 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. The Vanguard Scout build offers a playstyle centered on stealth, precision, and versatility. Investing in the best attributes makes your character powerful and enhances your effectiveness in combat. Opting for light armor is advisable, as it reduces stamina penalties.
The Vanguard Scout becomes a formidable force by focusing on the best strategies and customizing your build to your play style. You can adapt to various combat scenarios effectively with abilities like Steady Aim and Shadowing Beyond. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best Avowed Vanguard Scout build, including the best gameplay tips and gear to choose from while progressing.
Everything You Need To Know About Vanguard Scout Build Guide in Avowed
Our Vanguard Scout build includes Bows as a primary weapon, One-handed Sword as an off-hand weapon, and Dagger as a secondary weapon in Avowed. Bow allows you to deal damage from a safer distance, keeping you away from direct enemy attacks. A one-handed sword allows you to deal damage when fighting enemies at close range. A dagger is your backup weapon that allows for stealth takedown. Perception, Dexterity, and Might are the main attributes to focus on for the Vanguard Scout build. Perception increases your critical hit chances, Dexterity boosts attack speed and action speed, and Might enhance your overall damage output.
Abilities like Steady Aim, Marksmanship, Shadowing Beyond, and Sniper are your bread and butter for this ranged build. Vanguard Scout is background that excels in stealth tactics and is adept with bows, allowing for long-range engagements. Wearing the lighter armor reduces stamina penalties, enhancing movement and dodge efficiency. Use the Tanglefoot to immobilize groups, making them vulnerable to ranged attacks. Keep upgrading your weapons along with the abilities to enhance your combat effectiveness. Monitor stamina and essence levels, ensuring you have enough for critical abilities. Increases your attribute points by using the consumables you acquire while progressing the game.
Vanguard Scout Build Pros | Vanguard Scout Build Cons |
---|---|
Mobility | Resource Management |
Stealth Proficiency | Armor Limitations |
Effective in Ranged Combat | Limited Melee Capabilities |
Versatility |
Vanguard Scout Build Features & Mechanics
Below are the essential best Vanguard Scout build features and mechanics for Avowed:
- Background: Vanguard Scout
- Attribute Points: Perception, Dexterity, and Might
- Weapon Choices: Bow, One handed sword, Dagger
- Best Skills: Steady Aim, Sniper, Unbreakable, Shadowing Beyond, Bear Ally, Marksmanship
- Recommended Companions: Giatta and Marius
- Consumables: Health Potion, Magran’s Blessing, Strangebrew
Background

Vanguard Scout is the best background for Vanguard Scout build in Avowed. It offers a role-playing foundation that complements a scout-themed build. This background is ideal for players seeking a stealthy, ranged combat experience. You start with a common axe, such as a Vanguard Scout, and attribute points distributed to enhance critical hit chance, attack speed, and health. Stealth allows you to take down enemies without even letting them react. You can quickly acquire ranged weapons like bows or firearms, aligning with their stealth-oriented role. Vanguard Scout also unlocks unique dialogue options.
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

Perception, Dexterity, and Might are the best attributes to invest in for Vanguard Scout build in Avowed. Perception allows you to enhance critical hit chance and maximum range, which is essential for precise and effective ranged attacks. Investing some points in Dexterity increases attack speed and action speed, allowing for swift strikes and improved mobility. Might, on the other hand, Increase your overall damage output, ensuring that both melee and ranged attacks are more potent. Adjust your attributes to better suit your playstyle, as Vanguard Scout starts with a preset allocation. Your distribution must emphasize critical hits and attack speed, which is crucial for agility and precision.
You can earn additional attribute points upon leveling up, offering opportunities to customize your build. Also, 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. Vanguard Scout excels in both stealth and combat, making you a formidable player by focusing on the attributes.
Below is the distribution of attribute points for the Vanguard Scout build.
- Resolve: 1
- Perception: 11
- Dexterity: 6
- Might: 5
- Constitution: 3
- Intellect: 1
Weapon Choices
A Bow, Sword, and Dagger are the best weapons to choose for the best Vanguard Scout build in Avowed. Choosing the best weapons is crucial to maximize the effectiveness of this build. The bow is your primary weapon for this build, so equip the advanced one to dominate enemies in combat. Choosing the best weapons is crucial to maximize the effectiveness of this build. Practice using the bow to enhance your archery skill, improving the draw speed. This weapon is excellent for stealth or ranged combat but is difficult in close quarters. You cannot block with a bow, making you vulnerable if enemies get too close. You can headshot with the Bow to defeat the enemies in one shot, allowing you to save ammo. Bow allows for stealth attacks, dealing moderately high damage.
The one-handed sword can deal melee damage in close-range combat. This weapon in your off-hand allows you to eliminate enemies with great physical damage. While facing the enemies in melee combat, your bow is effective, and that’s where your sword comes to save your life. Use the high-level sword for the bleeding effect and piercing the enemy’s armor during intense combat. Each weapon type comes with unique strengths, so selecting the one that complements your playstyle is crucial.
Daggers are your secondary weapon that is well known for stealth take down or attacking enemies from the back. Using a dagger in combat is hard when facing enemies directly. Use the dagger while fighting the enemies in close range or if you want stealth takedown. A Common Dagger comes with a modest damage output, suitable for early gameplay. Superb Dagger is a high-quality dagger offering enhanced damage and stun capabilities. Dagger is essential for players favoring speed and critical strikes in close-quarters combat.
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 Fighter 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

Steady Aim, Charge, Barbaric Scout, Marksmanship, and Piercing Thrusts 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 Vanguard Scout Build for Avowed from levels 1 to 10:
Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | None | ||
2 | Tanglefoot Rank 1 | Ranger | Summon lingering entangling vines that Root nearby enemies in place for 8 seconds. |
3 | 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. |
4 | Steady Aim Rank 1 | Ranger | Holding your Power Attack with a bow or gun slows time by 25%. |
5 | Constant Recovery Rank 1 | Fighter | After taking damage, slowly regenerate 50% of the last amount of Health lost. |
6 | 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. |
7 | Devastating Criticals Rank 1 | Fighter | Critical Hits with melee weapons deal 30% more damage. |
8 | Piercing Thrusts Rank 1 | Ranger | Power Attacks with daggers, swords, and spears deal +25% damage. |
9 | Marksmanship Rank 1 | Ranger | Increases damage with bows and guns by 25%. |
10 | Scavenger Rank 1 | Ranger | When picking herbs, occasionally receive an extra Upgrade Material. |
Levels 11-20 Skills

Shadowing Beyond, Unbreakable, Bear Ally, Sniper, and Critical Stike are the skills to invest in after reaching level 11. Upgrade some skills to make them more effective in combat. Upgrading Marksmanship allows you to increase the effectiveness of the bow, dealing additional damage.
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Vanguard Scout Build for Avowed from levels 11 to 20:
Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
---|---|---|---|
11 | Quick Switch Rank 1 | Ranger | Increases your Equip Speed by 50%. |
12 | Shadowing Beyond Rank 1 | Ranger | Channel the Beyond, becoming Invisible and draining Essence until your next combat action. |
13 | Unbreakable Rank 1 | Fighter | Decreases the Stamina cost when Blocking by 30%. |
14 | Charge Rank 2 | Fighter | Increases the distance traveled during Charge by 100% |
15 | Piercing Thrusts Rank 2 | Ranger | Power Attacks with daggers, swords, and spears deal +35% damage. |
16 | Marksmanship Rank 2 | Ranger | Increases damage with bows and guns by 40%. |
17 | Bear Ally Rank 1 | Ranger | Summon a bear ally to aid you in battle for 30 seconds. |
18 | Critical Strike Rank 1 | Ranger | Increases your Critical Hit Chance by 10%. |
19 | Barbaric Scout Rank 2 | Fighter | Barbaric Shout grants Temporary Health and Taunts all nearby enemies. |
20 | Sniper Rank 1 | Ranger | Increases ranged weapon damage against unaware enemies by 25%. |
Levels 21-30 Skills

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 one-handed sword in the off-hand to deal massive damage.
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Vanguard Scout Build for Avowed from levels 21 to 30:
Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
---|---|---|---|
21 | Flurry of Blows Rank 1 | Ranger | Gain maximum Attack Speed, rapid Stamina regeneration, and increased Move Speed for 10 seconds. |
22 | Staggering Shot Rank 1 | Ranger | Power Attacks with bows and guns deal +40% Stun. |
23 | Bear Ally Rank 2 | Ranger | Your bear ally roars when summoned, Taunting enemies and increasing the damage it deals. |
24 | Marksmanship Rank 3 | Ranger | Increases damage with bows and guns by 50%. |
25 | Sniper Rank 2 | Ranger | Increases ranged weapon damage against unaware enemies by 35%. |
26 | Staggering Shot Rank 2 | Ranger | Power Attacks with bows and guns deal +70% Stun. |
27 | Shadowing Beyond Rank 2 | Ranger | While Invisible, gain increased Stealth Attack Damage and Move Speed. |
28 | Unbreakable Rank 2 | Fighter | Decreases the Stamina cost when Blocking by 30%. |
29 | Sniper Rank 3 | Ranger | Increases ranged weapon damage against unaware enemies by 40%. |
30 | Steady Aim Rank 2 | Ranger | Holding your Power Attack with a bow or gun slows time by 50%. |
Best Vanguard Scout Skills Explained
Steady Aim, Sniper, Unbreakable, Shadowing Beyond, Bear Ally, and Marksmanship are the best skills for Vanguard Scout 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. Unbreakable is a passive skill that mitigates the stamina cost associated with blocking attacks. It enhances your defensive capabilities in combat. 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.
- 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.
- Unbreakable- Reduces the stamina cost when blocking.
- 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.
Companions
Giatta and Marius are the best companions for Vanguard Scout build in Avowed. Giatta is your healer, and Marius offers crowd control and damage over time. Giatta’s healing and support abilities allow you to be in a peak condition during engagements. This allows you to maintain offensive pressure during intense combat. Use Marius’s Binding Roots ability to immobilize groups of enemies and Bleeding Cuts ability to inflict damage over time, weakening targets for your attacks. Mariu’s crowd control ensures that enemies remain at a distance, allowing you to use your ranged weapons effectively.
Giatta joins your party during the main story quest, “The Animancy Method.” You can create a synergistic team capable of handling intense combat situations by choosing the companions that complement your Vanguard Scout build in Avowed. Enhance your combat effectiveness with Marius’s DoT effects and dealing support. Use Marius’s Heart Seeker’s ability to increase damage dealt to low-health enemies. Giatta’s acceleration skills can increase movement and attack speed, while Marius’s wounding shot can damage enemies over time.
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 |
Marius

Skill 1 | Skill 2 | Skill 3 | Skill 4 |
---|---|---|---|
Binding Roots | Heart Seeker | Shadow Step | Wounding Shots |
Entangle enemies | Increases damage dealt to low-health enemies | Devastating Blow | Damage over time |
Vanguard Scout Gameplay & Tips
Use Giatta and Marous as your companions to help you in combat. Giatta provides healing and support spells, while Marius offers ranged attacks and crowd control. Focus on attributes like Perception, Dexterity, and Might to increase your effectiveness in the game. Select the high-level bow to deal enemies from a distance and use a one-handed sword while fighting enemies in range combat. Swapping your weapon is essential to win any fight. Take out your dagger if you want stealth takedown or if both your primary and off-hand weapons aren’t working on the battlefield.
Combine your Ranger skill with the Fighter skills for the multiclass and to make your character’s potential devastating. Use the grenades to deal damage over time. Equip a bow and start from stealth by crouching and shooting an arrow at the highest damage-producing target. Use skills like Steady Aim to slow time while aiming, allowing for precise shots. Marksmanship is the best skill to choose for the bow because it increases damage with bows and firearms. Shadowing Beyond provides temporary invisibility that encourages stealth approaches. You can also use abilities like Tanglefoot to immobilize enemies, making them vulnerable to ranged attacks. Keep checking your stamina bar and essence levels.
Weapons and Armor
Beginner Weapon and Armor
Slot | Item | Bonus |
---|---|---|
Weapon 1 | The Long Touch | 189 Physical Damage 182 Stun 12 Stamina 9% Crit. Chance |
Secondary Weapon | Last Light of Day | Restore health on enemy kill |
Off-Hand | Sheathed in Summer | 168 Physical Damage 130 Stun 11 Stamina 3% Crit. Chance |
Armor | Arcanist’s Gambeson | +15% boost to AOE damage |
Gloves | Death Knight Gloves | -10% Stamina cost while blocking +15% Frost Damage |
Boots | Arcanist’s Boots | +10% Move Speed |
Trinket | Berath’s Blessed Ward | -5% damage from Vessels |
Ring | Ring of Pain Amplification | +15% Critical Damage |
Ring | Ring of the Founder | +10% Damage against enemies will full Health |
Locations
- The Long Touch- Location is Downshore. Purchased at Paradisian Military Surplus in the Militia Headquarters in Northern Paradis for 4,320 Skeyt.
- Last Light of Day- Location is Dawnshore. Obtained by killing Sargamis at the end of the Dawntreader quest.
- Sheathed in Summer- Location is Dawnshore. Looted from the Dawnshore Bounty target Octav the Firebrand.
- Arcanist’s Gambeson- Location is Dawnshore. In the southeastern building of the Yellowband Camp in Dawnshore.
- Death Knight Gloves- Location is Emerald Stair. Kill Captain Aelfyr at the end of the Emerald Stair chapter.
- Arcanist’s Boots- Location is Dawnshore. Found in a chest on top of the Lighthouse southwest of Claviger’s Landing.
- 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
Slot | Item | Bonus |
---|---|---|
Weapon 1 | Ancient Alacrity | Slow the hit enemy by 15% for 5 seconds. |
Off-Hand | Meteor Blade | 120 Physical Damage 100 Stun 11 Stamina 3% Crit. Chance |
Secondary Weapon | Survivor’s Guilt | 137 Physical Damage 104 Stun 9 Stamina 9% Crit. Chance |
Armor | Councilor’s Garb | +50% Stealth Attack Damage |
Gloves | Sentinel Gloves | +15% Stun -50% Stamina Cost while blocking |
Boots | Wavebinder Boots | +15 Maximum Essence |
Trinket | Cartographer’s Companion | +1 Dex, +2 Perception |
Ring | Chitin Band | -5% damage from beasts |
Ring | Sigil of the Arcane | +20% ability cast speed -20% ability essence cost |
Locations
- Ancient Alacrity: Locked behind a door in the same room as Sibelius boss within the Solace Lava Tubs, in the Galawain’s Tusks region.
- Meteor Blade- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Crafted by Forgemaster Dela at Abydon’s Forge in Solace Keep at a cost of 1 Starmetal.
- Survivor’s Guilt- Inside Belderreno’s (Bounty Quest) Lair, there’s a root at the entrance you can climb up, and then a few ledges upward later, you’ll find this next to a skeleton.
- Councilor’s Garb- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Kill Kostya toward the end of the Main Story Quest, “Our Dreams Divide Us Still.”
- Sentinel Gloves- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Found in the building on the north side of Ash Forest Outpost. Head up the stairs towards where you rescue Petru, but take a right to jump over and drop into the building.
- Wavebinder Boots- Location is Shatterscarp. Found in a cave at the end of a stream to the east of the Sulfur Mines.
- 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. It can be found inside a lockbox inside a puzzle door at Shark’s teeth.
Consumables
Health Potion is the best consumable in Avowed for Vanguard Scout build because it restores 70% of your maximum health. Magran’s Blessing grants you +20% damage and +20% damage reduction. Strangebrew is also the best consumable as it revives downed companions and resets second wind. 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 Vanguard Scout in Avowed
What is the best Vanguard Scout build in Avowed?
The best Vanguard Scout build in Avowed includes a Bow as a primary weapon, a One-handed sword as an off-hand weapon, and a dagger as a secondary weapon. Perception, Dexterity, and Might are the best attributes to invest in for Vanguard Scout build in Avowed.
Which is the best Background for the Vanguard Scout build?
Vanguard Scout is the best background for Vanguard Scout build because it offers a role-playing foundation that complements a scout-themed build.
Which are the best skills for Vanguard Scout build?
Steady Aim, Sniper, Unbreakable, Shadowing Beyond, Bear Ally, and Marksmanship are the best skills for Vanguard Scout build in Avowed.
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