Avowed Beginner’s Guide#
Avowed doesn’t have a complicated start, but a few of its design choices are easy to get wrong: attribute points are all spent at character creation, upgrading your gear matters more than leveling up, and camps are a hub rather than a rest stop. The rundown below goes in order: character creation first, then the first five hours, then how each system unlocks.
Three Decisions at Character Creation#
Character creation comes down to three steps: pick a race, pick a background, and assign attributes. All three shape your opening experience, but none of them locks you into a particular build.
| Step | Options | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Race | Human, Elf, Dwarf, Orlan, Aumaua | Appearance and some dialogue reactions; no stat changes |
| Background | Five options (see table below) | Starting attribute leanings, starting weapon, some exclusive dialogue |
| Attributes | Six attributes, 8 points total, 3 points max in one attribute at creation | Directly determines how combat feels early on |
The Five Backgrounds#
| Background | Focus | Actual Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Arcane Scholar | Arcane knowledge | Intellect-based dialogue options and spell-related insights |
| Court Augur | Reading people and manipulation | Social influence and extra angles in political situations |
| Noble Scion | Status and wealth | Wealth-related options and courteous treatment among nobles |
| Vanguard Scout | Wilderness survival | Advantages in scouting, pathfinding, and outdoor scenes |
| War Hero | Frontline combat | Military recognition and a stronger voice in open confrontation |
Backgrounds don’t lock skill trees; they only shape dialogue routes and your starting gear. If you want a smooth start, pick the one that matches how you plan to play.
How to Assign the Six Attributes#
| Attribute | What It Does | Creation Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Might | Boosts damage from every source and increases carry capacity | The core damage stat; nearly every build wants it |
| Constitution | Raises max Health and resistance to poison and bleed | Secondary early on; pick it up later for melee or higher difficulties |
| Dexterity | Raises attack speed, cast speed, reload speed, and weapon swap speed | A feel-good stat with strong returns for both melee and firearms |
| Perception | Raises crit chance and the range of ranged weapons | Benefits melee and ranged alike; great value |
| Intellect | Raises max Essence and elemental resistance | A must for mages; pure physical builds can invest less |
| Resolve | Raises max Stamina and improves Second Wind | A universal stat that decides how long you can stay in a fight |
How you split your 8 points at creation depends on which playstyle you want to feel comfortable with first. The three spreads below are safe starting points.
| Goal | Spread |
|---|---|
| Sword and shield or two-handed weapons | Might 3, Perception 2, Resolve 2, Dexterity 1 |
| Bow or firearm | Perception 3, Dexterity 3, Might 2 |
| Wizard first | Intellect 3, Might 2, Perception 2, Resolve 1 |
You’ll gain more attribute points from leveling and from some gear later, so don’t over-invest in a single attribute early on — the returns diminish.
Choosing a Difficulty#
| Difficulty | Traits | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Story Time | The least combat pressure; ideal if you only want the story | Players who don’t want to engage with combat |
| Normal | Standard numbers, with room for mistakes | Most first-time players |
| Hard | Tougher enemies, and rewards that lean on gear | Veterans of action RPGs |
| Path of the Damned | Maximum pressure, with an exclusive achievement | Players chasing a challenge and full completion |
The anniversary update also added a custom difficulty option that lets you tune individual parameters such as enemy strength. You can lower the difficulty at any time without restarting.
How to Spend Your First Five Hours#
| Order | Location | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shipwreck Shore and Fort Northreach | Pick up your first weapon, learn to use mushrooms to solve an elemental puzzle, and unlock your first ability |
| 2 | The Fort Northreach decision | Decide whether to trust Ilora and set her free; this affects later dialogue |
| 3 | Arriving in Paradis | Contact the imperial ambassador and meet your first companion, Kai |
| 4 | First resonance | Resonate with the adra pillar, hear the voice in your head, and confirm your identity as a Godlike |
| 5 | First steps in Dawnshore | Explore the camp, get a feel for the workbench and enchanting table, and upgrade your first weapon |
The most common mistake in the first five hours is spending gold on merchants instead of materials. Upgrading your gear pays off far more than buying a new piece in the same tier.
Four Habits to Build Right Away#
| Habit | Why |
|---|---|
| Find the camp first in every new area | The camp is the only entrance to leveling, enchanting, cooking, and companion conversations, and it doubles as your return anchor |
| Break down any gear you can salvage | Salvaging is your main source of materials and beats selling for gold |
| Prioritize scavenging-type passives | More materials and cheaper upgrades; the earlier you take them, the more they pay off |
| When an enemy won’t die, check the skull icon first | If the enemy out-levels you, closing the gear-tier gap is more effective than grinding character levels |
How Systems Unlock#
| Progress | Unlocks |
|---|---|
| Start of the game | Your first combat ability, the camp, and the workbench |
| Mid-Dawnshore | The enchanting table, your first companion’s full ability tree, and the bounty board |
| Reaching Emerald Stair | Attribute investments start to pay off, and a second companion joins the party |
| Shatterscarp | High-tier materials appear, and gear tier becomes the main bottleneck |
| Galawain’s Tusks | Top-tier materials and the point of no return |
FAQ#
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need to restart if I picked the wrong background? | No. Backgrounds only affect dialogue routes, and the other options can be covered later |
| What if I spent my attribute points wrong? | You can respec your attributes for gold at any time |
| Should I buy gear early on? | Usually no. Prioritize upgrade materials and totem clues |
| Leveling too slowly? | Bounty board jobs and map exploration are the main sources of XP |
| Can’t beat a fight? | Lower the difficulty first, or upgrade your main weapon to the area’s recommended tier |