Like all great RPGs, Avowed offers players a wealth of skills to choose from, allowing for diverse playstyles and character builds. What sets it apart is the freedom to mix and match abilities from different skill trees rather than being locked into a single class. However, this flexibility can also make it overwhelming to decide which skills to unlock first. Whether you’re new to Avowed or a veteran of Pillars of Eternity, this guide will help you maximize your effectiveness early on by focusing on the most valuable skills in each tree.

Understanding Skill Progression

Each time you level up in Avowed, you gain one attribute point and one skill point. Attribute points enhance core stats, while skill points unlock new abilities across the Fighter, Ranger, and Wizard trees. Skills provide powerful buffs and combat techniques, shaping how your character fights and survives in the Living Lands.

One of the best parts of Avowed is the ability to respec your skills at any time. The first respec only costs 100 currency, with subsequent respecs increasing to 250 currency. This makes it easy to experiment with different builds without long-term consequences.

Let’s dive into the best early-game skills for each tree to help you get the most out of your journey.

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Best Fighter Skills: Tanking and Heavy-Hitting Combat

Fighter skills are designed for close-quarters combat, allowing you to withstand heavy hits while dealing massive damage. If you want to be a frontline powerhouse, these are the best skills to prioritize:

• Charge (Mandatory Unlock) – This ability lets you rush into enemies, knocking them back and stunning them. It’s a great gap-closer and an essential first skill.
• Armored Grace (Reduces Stamina Drain in Heavy Armor) – Medium and heavy armor reduce your maximum stamina, but this skill offsets that penalty, allowing for more sustained attacks and dodges.
• Constant Recovery (Health Regeneration Over Time) – A passive healing effect that’s crucial for melee combatants, reducing reliance on potions.
• Barbaric Shout (Level 5 Skill – Interrupts Enemies and Makes Attacks Unstoppable) – Interrupt enemy actions, then unleash uninterruptible attacks with increased stun damage. This ability turns you into an unstoppable force in battle.

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Best Ranger Skills: Agility, Stealth, and Precision Combat

Rangers excel at mobility and precision, using quick strikes, dodges, and tactical advantages to control the battlefield. If you prefer a hit-and-run approach or ranged combat, these skills will serve you best:

• Tanglefoot (Mandatory Unlock – Root Enemies in Place) – This starting ability entangles enemies, restricting their movement and setting them up for easy attacks.
• Parry (Counterattacks After Perfect Blocks) – Not only does this negate incoming damage, but it also knocks back foes, dealing bonus stun damage.
• Evasive (Dodge More Efficiently – Reduces Stamina Cost of Dodging by 50% at Max Rank) – Allows you to dodge more frequently, making it easier to avoid damage while staying on the offensive.
• Shadowing Beyond (Level 5 Skill – Turns You Invisible & Enables Devastating Sneak Attacks) – This ability is borderline overpowered, letting you vanish mid-fight and reposition for massive backstab damage.

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Best Wizard Skills: Magic, Elemental Control, and Protection

Wizards wield powerful spells but need the right skills to mitigate their weaknesses. If you want to cast devastating magic while ensuring survivability, these are the must-have abilities:

• Minor Missiles (Mandatory Unlock – Magic Dart That Homes in on Targets) – Functions similarly to D&D’s Magic Missile, providing an easy-to-use ranged attack.
• Armored Essence (Reduces Essence Drain from Medium/Heavy Armor) – Essential for hybrid builds who want to wear stronger armor without losing access to their magic.
• Arcane Veil (Makes Spellcasting Uninterruptible & Reduces Damage Taken) – This skill provides immense protection, ensuring that spells go off without interruption, even in the heat of battle.
• Grimoire Mastery (Level 5 Skill – Unlocks Higher-Level Magic Spells) – The most important skill for magic users, allowing access to stronger spells and dramatically increasing combat effectiveness.

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The Godlike Tree: Unique Powers & A Must-Have Healing Ability

Technically, Avowed has a fourth skill tree—the Godlike tree. Unlike other trees, its skills unlock automatically as part of the story. However, one early ability is incredibly important and should be prioritized:

• Divine Thorn (Automatic Unlock – Prologue Ability) – Grants access to powerful stealth attacks.
• Dream Touch (Unlock by Rescuing Ambassador Hillgard in Strangleroot – Area Healing & Revival Spell) – One of the best healing abilities in the game, restoring health for the whole party and reviving downed allies. Since you’ll rely on this throughout the game, it’s critical to unlock early.

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Final Thoughts: Choosing the Best Path for Your Playstyle

By focusing on the right early-game skills, you’ll maximize efficiency and reduce frustration while exploring Avowed’sdangerous world. Here’s a quick recap of the best skills by playstyle:

• If you like melee combat, focus on Constant Recovery, Armored Grace, and Barbaric Shout.
• If you prefer agility and ranged attacks, grab Parry, Evasive, and Shadowing Beyond.
• For spellcasters, prioritize Arcane Veil, Armored Essence, and Grimoire Mastery.
• No matter your class, unlock Dream Touch as soon as possible for its powerful healing effects.

With the ability to respec at any time, feel free to experiment and adjust your skills as you go. Whether you choose to specialize in one tree or mix-and-match abilities, these foundational skills will set you up for success early in the game.

Want more tips on Avowed’s quests, combat, and crafting? Keep an eye on our other guides to make the most of your journey through the Living Lands!