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Like any good RPG, especially one from the wizards over at Obsidian, you have the opportunity to choose your starting background at the very beginning of Avowed. It roughly translates to a starting class and stat allocation, though the choice isn’t all that definitive as you venture deeper into the game and can fine tune your character to your liking. The only immutable differences are a few unique dialogue options and your starting weapon, though, even then, you’ll find no shortage of weapons as soon as you gain control of your god-like and take on quests.
In other words, Obsidian offers quite a bit of flexibility when it comes to assigning stats so even if you start as a magic-wielding wizard you can easily pivot to an arrow-slinging ranger or warrior. All gear, abilities, and skills are available regardless of what your background you choose. Nevertheless, that initial decision can feel momentous, so in this guide we’ll walk you through the best starting background and stats in Avowed.
Arcane Scholar. Captured by VideoGamer
Court Augur. Captured by VideoGamer
Noble Scion. Captured by VideoGamer
Vanguard Scout. Captured by VideoGamer
War Hero. Captured by VideoGamer
Best starting background in Avowed
We’ll cut to the chase: there’s no ‘best’ background. It all depends on what playstyle you prefer. To help you choose, here’s a quick breakdown of what each background correlates to:
| Background | Description | Starting Weapon |
|---|---|---|
| Arcane Scholar | A magic-wielder spellcaster or wizard with strong Intellect stats. | Common Dagger |
| Court Augur | A mobile melee caster with strong Perception, Intellect, and Resolve attributes that can wield heavy weapons. | Common Mace |
| Noble Scion | A smooth-talking noble with balanced all-round stats. | Common Sword |
| Vanguard Scout | A mobile ranger with superb survivability that favors the bow above other weapons and has strong Dexterity and Perception stats. | Common Axe |
| War Hero | An in-the-thick-it tanky melee fighter or warrior with high Might and Resolve stats. | Common Spear |
If want a classic warrior character, go for War Hero. If you fancy playing as a wizard, Arcane Scholar is the way to go. If you want a rogue-archer hybrid, opt for Vanguard Scout. If you want a balanced background, Noble Scion is the way to go. If you want a battle mage, choose the Court Augur.
Best starting stats in Avowed
Again, ‘best’ is a bit of a misnomer here as your best option is to choose stats (or attributes as they are called in Avowed) that work with your playstyle. Here’s a quick breakdown of each stats:
| Stat/Attributes | Description |
|---|---|
| Might | Damage output from all sources (melee, magic, and guns) and carry capacity, allowing you to wear heavier gear. |
| Constitution | Overall health and resistance to poison and bleed status effects. |
| Dexterity | Attack speed of weapons and abilities but also action speed, which determines how fast you equip different weapons, consume potions and food, reload guns, and jump, grapple, and climb. |
| Perception | Maximum range of weapons (wands, bows, and guns) along with critical hit chance. |
| Intellect | Maximum Essence (needed to cast spells) and resistance to various elemental statuses (fire, ice, and lightning). |
| Resolve | Overall stamina, which is needed to perform melee attacks (the heavier the weapon, the more stamina is required) along with Second Wind, Avowed revive mechanic. |
If you’re ever unhappy with how you’ve spent your ability points, there’s the option to reset them for 100 gold. This is available at all times and there’s no limit on how many times you reset, so don’t hesitate to experiment as there’s no penalty for doing so.
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