Discover how to create the best Wand 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 Wand Build in Avowed is a ranged magic-focused build that uses a Wand as a primary weapon for casting damage-dealing spells. Wands allow you to deal elemental damage from a distance. Skills like Wand Mastery, Bounce, and Blast improve the effectiveness of the Wizard. Attributes play an important role in this build as your gameplay mostly depends on them. Selecting the right companion is essential as they can save your life and give you opportunities to deal additional magic damage. In this guide, we’ll cover the best Avowed Wand build and the gameplay tips along with gear to choose from.
Everything You Need To Know About Wand Build Guide in Avowed
Our Wand build focuses on sustained magical ranged attacks using Wands. Kai and Marius are the best companions that we include in this magic build. Wand Mastery, Bounce, Blackbow, Ring of Fire, and Tanglefoot are the best skills for the Wand build in Avowed. Whisper of Exiles acts as a primary weapon, Aurochs-Skin Grimoire is your off-hand weapon, and Minoletta’s Conduit is the secondary weapon. Intellect, Perception, and Might are the best attributes to focus on as they enhance the effectiveness of your spells.
Allocate the points wisely as your gameplay mostly depends on them. Choose the skills that boost the power of the Wand. Arcane Scholar is the best background for the Wand build because it complements your playstyle as a Wizard and your build as well. Your Essence bar will drain very quickly, so keep monitoring it. Carry the consumables like Thornfruit that provide additional Essence regeneration. However, this build offers lower burst damage and is less effective while fighting enemies in close-range combat.
Wand Build Pros | Wand Build Cons |
---|---|
Ranged Damage | Lower Burst Damage |
Flexible Playstyle | Less Effective in Melee Combat |
Crowd Control |
Wand Build Features & Mechanics
Below are the essential best Wand build features and mechanics for Avowed:
- Background: Arcane Scholar
- Attribute Points: Intellect, Perception, Might
- Weapon Choices: Whisper of Exiles, Aurochs-Skin Grimoire, Minoletta’s Conduit
- Best Skills: Bounce, Wand Mastery, Grimoire Mastery, Ring of Fire, Blackbow, Tanglefoot
- Recommended Companions: Kai and Marius
- Best Consumables: Thornfruit, Fine Aedyran Mead, Krakenhorn
Related:
Background

Arcane Scholar is the best background for the Wand build in Avowed. It modifies your character’s history and influences early gameplay elements. Choosing the Arcane Scholar background unlocks unique dialogue options related to your extensive knowledge. 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 the Wand build in Avowed. This build involves the strategic allocation of attribute points to enhance your magical prowess and overall effectiveness. Intellect increases the maximum essence and increases resistance to elemental statuses. Invest some points in Intellect to maximize your spellcasting capabilities. Perception increases critical hit chance and extends maximum range. This is beneficial for both spellcasters and ranged weapon players. Investing points in Perception allows you to increase your damage output and effectiveness in ranged combat.
Might, on the other hand, boost overall damage and increase carrying capacity. Enhance your damage with all attacks, including magical ones, by focusing on this attribute as well. You need to be mindful when allocating points in the attributes as your gameplay depends on it. Upon leveling up, you can earn additional attribute points, 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 maximum level of 30. Below is the distribution of the attribute points for the Wand build in Avowed.
- Constitution: 2
- Intellect: 12
- Perception: 5
- Might: 5
- Dexterity: 2
- Resolve: 1
Weapon Choices
Wand and Grimoire are the best weapons for the Wand build in Avowed. This build involves selecting weapons that enhance your magical abilities and complement your playstyle. The weapons you get at the early stage are less powerful than those obtained later in the game. Each weapon type comes with unique strengths, so selecting the one that complements your playstyle is crucial. The Wand is your primary weapon in Avowed, ideal for spellcasters seeking to engage enemies from a distance without expending Essence.
The primary weapon in this Wand build is Whisper of Exiles because it can eliminate enemies with its overpowered charged attacks. This is a top choice for Wand because it can harness the power of ice in combat. Whisper of Exiles comes with a passive ability called Freezing Lash. Use this passive to allow your hits to deal +10% bonus frost damage in combat. The base enchantment of this weapon is Flight in Autumn. Unlock this enchantment to let your full combo deal low Frost Accumulation to nearby enemies. This Wand is a freezing machine that allows you to disrupt enemy attacks. The physical damage and stun increase as you upgrade the Whisper of Exiles. The more you upgrade, the better it becomes and the more it deals damage in combat.
Aurochs-Skin Grimoire is your off-hand weapon in Avowed. Use this Grimoire to for the high-tier spells, making it the best weapon to use in late-game content. Use this Grimoire to for the high-tier spells, making it the best weapon to use in late-game content. Aurochs-Skin Grimoire allows you to get access to the spells like Blast of Frost, Missle Silo, and Freezing Pillar. Upgrading the Grimoire on the workbench allows you to increase its effectiveness by reducing ability costs and cooldowns.
Secondary Weapon

The secondary weapon for the Wand build is Minoletta’s Conduit because it offers strong missile spells and shock damage. This unique Wand is known for its strength and range, increased by the enchantment Charges Missile. The base enchantment allows you to gain +5% attack damage and +30% maximum Wand range. Minoletta’s Conduit comes with a passive ability called Shocking Lash. This passive allows your hit deals +10% bonus shock damage. These unique properties make this Wand a devastating attack tool at medium range. This is a viable choice due to its extended range and increased attack damage. Minoletta’s Conduit has excellent shock damage, increased attack damage, and extended range.
Skill Selection
Minor Missiles, Tanglefoot, Fan of Flames, Arcane Veil, Bounce, and Wand Mastery are the best skills to unlock at initial levels. 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.
Levels 1-10 Skills
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Wand Build for Avowed from levels 1 to 10:
Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | None | ||
2 | Minor Missiles Rank 1 | Wizard | Summons 3 magical projectiles that seek out enemies, dealing large amounts of damage to nearby enemies on impact. |
3 | Armored Essence Rank 1 | Wizard | Decreases the Essence penalty for Light and Medium armor by 15. |
4 | Tanglefoot Rank 1 | Ranger | Summon lingering entangling vines that root nearby enemies in place for 8 seconds. |
5 | Evasive Rank 1 | Ranger | Reduces the Stamina cost of Dodge by 25% |
6 | Fan of Flames Rank 1 | Wizard | Creates a cone of fire in front of the caster, spreading Fire Accumulation to anyone in the area of effect. |
7 | 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%. |
8 | Bounce Rank 1 | Wizard | Power Attacks with Wands bounce to a nearby enemy, dealing reduced damage but retaining any elemental Accumulation. |
9 | Wand Mastery Rank 1 | Wizard | Increases damage with Wands by 25%. |
10 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 1 | Wizard | Unlock level 5 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 10%. |
Levels 11-20 Skills
Fireball, Blood Magic, Ring of Fire, and Blackbow are the best skills to unlock in the mid-game. Upgrade your equipped abilities to make them more effective in combat. You need to enhance the damage effectiveness as you’ll encounter high-level enemies equipped with heavy armor.
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Wand Build for Avowed from levels 11 to 20:
Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
---|---|---|---|
11 | Bounce Rank 2 | Wizard | Bounce hits an additional enemy within range. |
12 | Fireball Rank 1 | Wizard | Conjures a bursting sphere of fire that leaves behind deadly lingering flames and Fire Accumulation. |
13 | Wand Mastery Rank 2 | Wizard | Increases damage with Wands by 40%. |
14 | Bristling Frost Rank 1 | Wizard | The caster is surrounded by a protective frost that increases Damage Reduction by 10% and deals Frost Accumulation to enemy melee attackers. |
15 | Blood Magic Rank 1 | Wizard | When Essence is depleted, you may continue casting by reducing your Health by 150% of the Essence cost. |
16 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 2 | Wizard | Unlock level 10 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 15%. |
17 | Ring of Fire Rank 1 | Wizard | The caster is surrounded by a protective flame that increases Damage Reduction by 15% and deals Fire Accumulation to enemy melee attackers. |
18 | Secret of Rime Rank 1 | Wizard | Increases the amount of Frost Accumulation you deal by 20%. |
19 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 3 | Wizard | Unlock level 15 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 18%. |
20 | Blackbow Rank 1 | Wizard | Summons a magical bow for 30 seconds with arrows that deal high Poison Accumulation. |
Levels 21-30 Skills
Upgrade your abilities to the higher rank to make them more effective and deal more Bleed hits during intense combat. The higher your abilities are, the more chances you get for the deadly hits.
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Wand Build for Avowed from levels 21 to 30:
Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
---|---|---|---|
21 | Tanglefoot Rank 2 | Ranger | Vines deal Poison Accumulation. |
22 | Bounce Rank 3 | Wizard | Bounce hits an additional 2 enemies within range. |
23 | Ring of Fire Rank 2 | Wizard | Incoming melee damage creates an area of effect that deals Fire Accumulation to nearby enemies. |
24 | Blackbow Rank 2 | Wizard | Power Attacks pierce through enemies, only stopping when they hit the environment. |
25 | Wand Mastery Rank 3 | Wizard | Increases damage with Wands by 50%. |
26 | Blood Magic Rank 2 | Wizard | When Essence is depleted, you may continue casting by reducing your Health by 125% of the Essence cost. |
27 | Blackbow Rank 3 | Wizard | Increases summon duration to 45 seconds. |
28 | Fireball Rank 2 | Wizard | Increases the area of effect for Fireball. |
29 | Tanglefoot Rank 3 | Ranger | Increases the duration by 4 seconds. |
30 | Ring of Fire Rank 3 | Wizard | Reduces the cooldown of Ring of Fire by 5 seconds and increases Damage Reduction to 20%. |
Best Wand Skills Explained
Bounce, Wand Mastery, Grimoire Mastery, Ring of Fire, Blackbow, and Tanglefoot are the best skills for the Wand build in Avowed. Grimoire Mastery is a passive ability that enhances your spellcasting capabilities by unlocking higher-level grimoire spells. Bounce is a passive skill that increases the effectiveness of Wand power attacks by allowing them to strike multiple enemies. Wand Mastery is a passive ability within the Wizard class that enhances the damage output of Wand attacks. Ring of Fire is an active spell that provides both defensive and offensive benefits by surrounding the caster with protective flames. Blackbow is an active ability that conjures a magical bow, enabling ranged attacks with potent poison effects.
- Tanglefoot- Summons entangling vines that root enemies in place, slowing them down.
- Bounce- Allows power attacks with Wands to bounce to additional enemies, retaining elemental accumulation
- Wand Mastery- Increases damage dealt with Wands.
- Grimoire Mastery- Unlocks higher-level grimoire spells and decreases their essence cost.
- Ring of Fire- Creates a fiery barrier around the caster that reduces damage and burns melee attackers.
- Blackbow- Summons a magical bow that fires arrows causing high poison accumulation.
Companions
Kai and Marius are the best companions for the Avowed Wand build. Kai is the popular choice when equipping a Wand in the main hand due to its abilities like Fire and Ire and Second Wind. The Second Wind ability allows Kai to revive himself once per encounter, and Fire and Ire taunt enemies. You can cast spells from a safe distance while the Kai manages frontline defense. Kai can manage a cluster of enemies, creating opportunities for your magic users to unleash their spells. Kai serves as the team’s tank, absorbing damage and diverting enemy attention.
Marius, on the other hand, provides ranged support, targeting enemies from a distance. He can immobilize enemies, allowing you to engage enemies more strategically. Marius becomes available after progressing through the main story quest, “An Untimely End.” Marius has a Heart Seeker ability that increases damage dealt to low-health enemies. Create a balanced and formidable party by including Kai’s support and Marius’s offensive and tactical prowess. This setup increases your team’s ranged damage output but sacrifices some frontline durability.
Kai

Skill 1 | Skill 2 | Skill 3 | Skill 4 |
---|---|---|---|
Fire and Ire | Unbending Defense | Leap of Daring | Second Wind |
Fires a powerful shot from his blunderbuss | Regenerate Health and increase his Damage Reduction by 25% | Crashes down upon the enemy, Stunning and Taunting all nearby enemies | Revives himself when his health is reduced to zero |
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 |
Wand Gameplay & Tips
Use Kai and Marius as your companion for Wand build in Avowed. Choose the Arcane Scholar background to emphasize mastery over magic, offering a better spellcasting experience. Intellect, Perception, and Might are your main attributes to focus on to enhance your capabilities in the game. Intellect increases Maximum Essence and Elemental Resistance, while Perception enhances critical hit chance and maximum range. You need to adjust your attributes based on your preferred playstyle. Use skills like Minor Missile to launch magical projectiles at enemies or Armored Essence to mitigate stamina penalties for light and medium armor.
Skills like Blizzard and Fireball to dominate the enemies if you upgrade them to a higher rank. Use Wand for ranged attacks and Grimoire to access additional spells and enhance existing ones. We recommend you wear light armor, providing mobility and minimal stamina penalties, or Medium Armor for protection and mobility. Use ranged spells and Wands to deal damage while staying at a safe distance. It’s best to keep checking your Essence Level as it will drain while fighting enemies in a tough encounter. Consider unlocking skills like Grimoire Mastery, which allows casting spells directly from grimoires.
Weapons and Armor
Beginner Weapon and Armor
Slot | Item | Bonus |
---|---|---|
Primary Weapon | Superb Wand | 77 Physical Damage 80 Stun 12 Stamina Cost 6% Critical Hit Chance |
Off Hand Weapon | Beothel’s Grimoire | -20% Ability Cost -15% Cooldown |
Secondary Weapon | Exceptional Wand | 55 Physical Damage 56 Stun 12 Stamina Cost 6% 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 | Ring of Pain Amplification | +15% Critical Damage |
Ring | Ring of the Founder | +10% damage against enemies with full health |
- Superb Wand (Wand)- Location is Shatterscarp. Can be purchased from Kampeki located at Leviathan Market, Thirdborn, Shatterscarp Region.
- Beothel’s Grimoire (Grimoire)- Location is Dawnshore. Purchased from Merylin in the Southern Paradis Market for 4,500 Skeyt in the Dawnshore region.
- Exceptional Wand (Wand)- Location is Emerald Stair. Can be purchased from Marynna after she relocates to the Infested Camp in Grim Wetlands in Emerald Stair Region
- 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.
- Ring of Pain Amplification- Location is Emerald Stair.Received 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 |
---|---|---|
Primary Weapon | Whisper of Exiles | 61 Physical Damage 56 Stun 12 Stamina Cost 6% Critical Hit Chance |
Off Hand Weapon | Aurochs-Skin Grimoire | -65 Ability Cost -45 Cooldown |
Secondary Weapon | Minoletta’s Conduit | 55 Physical Damage 56 Stun 12 Stamina Cost 6% 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 | Chitin Band | -5% damage from beasts |
Ring | Sigil of the Arcane | +20% ability cast speed. -20% ability Essence cost. |
- Whisper of Exiles (Wand)- Location is Shattersnarp. Acquired from a treasure chest requiring 5 lockpicks at the center of Great Sand Sea.
- Aurochs-Skin Grimoire (Grimoire)- Location is Shatterscarp. Can be accessed in the room where you find Ryngrim during the quest, Face Your Fears.
- 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.
- 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.
- Chitin Band- Location is Shatterscarp.Looted from a Skeleton Mage east of the Abandoned Mine.
- Sigil of the Arcane- Location is Shatterscarp.Right next to Captain Tago (Bounty) you’ll see 3 seals that require electricity to open a door. One is to the left facing them, one is directly above, and one is further up above.
Consumables
Thornfruit is also the consumable because it grants you 15 Health Regeneration and 15 Essence Regeneration. Fine Aedyran Mead is a consumable that grants +2 Perception and +10 Maximum Essence. Krakenhorn is another consumable that allows you to gain 15 Health Regeneration and 15 Essence Regeneration. 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 Wand in Avowed
What is the best Wand build in Avowed?
The best Wand build in Avowed uses Wand as a primary weapon along with the Grimoire in off-hand. Kai and Marius are the best companions that complement the Wand build.
Which is the best Background for Wand build?
Arcane Scholar is the best background in Wand build because it enhances your character’s magical capabilities and gameplay experience.
Which are the best skills for a Wand build?
Bounce, Wand Mastery, Grimoire Mastery, Ring of Fire, Blackbow, and Tanglefoot are the best skills for the Wand build in Avowed.
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