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The Ranger class has a rich history in Dungeons & Dragons, and it stays true to its origins in the game Avowed. Whether you choose to focus on a single class or mix things up, Avowed offers numerous ability trees you can explore for either melee or ranged setups (with bows and firearms available). You can embrace playstyles that emphasize stealth, ranged control, or active combat. All of these approaches are enjoyable, but you’re limited to selecting just one.
The Stealth Archer is a timeless and often overpowered choice in RPGs, so that will be our focal point. When combining a few essential abilities with a powerful bow and dagger, you’ll easily dispatch foes from the shadows. It might take some time to realize, but you have the innate ability to silently eliminate enemies right away, thanks to a Godlike power (more on that later). This ability serves as an excellent foundation for your playstyle.
Avowed: Top Abilities for the Ranger (Stealth Archer)
Add Some Utility for Good Measure
In the early stages, you’ll be required to use Tanglefoot, which can certainly help manage the initial waves of enemies. Upgrading it to Rank 2 or 3 for added Poison damage and better control might tempt you, especially since damage output and survivability can be a bit low initially. However, concentrating on stealth kills and dealing substantial bow damage will likely prove more effective at the start.
As you get started, invest in Marksmanship (Rank 1) and consider adding Survivalist. Marksmanship is vital for damage output, and you’ll appreciate the sustainability it offers before fully diving into stealth and ranged attacks. Remember to make Marksmanship your priority. The enemies in Avowed can hit quite hard; I found myself reminded of this more than once after a swift defeat. As a result, early health recovery can be valuable.
Scavenger is also a great choice since you’ll be eager for weapon enhancements right away. Focus on Marksmanship first, but be sure to pick up Scavenger early to accumulate plenty of herbs for crafting Upgrade Materials. The Rank 2 upgrade at Level 8 is beneficial, allowing quicker access to more upgrades overall—just make sure to unlock damage abilities first. Keep in mind that Avowed encourages creative experimenting, so you might also opt to skip this in favor of upgrading abilities elsewhere.
Keep an eye out for herbs on your minimap! Gather them frequently and break down extra items like Bows at camp for other upgrade materials.
Once you reach Level 8, invest in Shadowing Beyond (Rank 2). This pairs excellently with Divine Thorn, enabling stealth melee kills, which will become essential until you ramp up your bow damage. I’ve dealt over 200 damage with these kills (nearly enough for a one-shot against early-game enemies), a feat I can’t quite say for bow attacks at that stage. When you find yourself reliably executing stealth kills and satisfied with your bow’s damage, consider respecing out of Survivalist and potentially dropping Scavenger. Then, focus on Piercing Thrusts, Finesse, and Marksmanship (all at Rank 2), positioning yourself for solid melee and ranged damage.
As you push past the mid-game and hit Level 15, add Critical Strike and Sniper. At this point, it’s wise to delve into the Fighter tree for Devastating Criticals, which significantly bolsters melee damage, ensuring you consistently deliver lethal stealth attacks. Afterward, pick up Sniper. By the time you’ve upgraded everything, your Ranger abilities should look like this:
| Ability | Rank | Level Requirements |
| Shadowing Beyond | 3 | 5/8/10 |
| Piercing Thrusts | 3 | 5/8/10 |
| Finesse | 3 | 5/10/15 |
| Marksmanship | 3 | 5/10/15 |
| Critical Strike | 3 | 15/18/20 |
| Devastating Criticals | 3 | 5/8/10 |
| Sniper | 3 | 15/18/20 |
| Scavenger | 2 | 5/8 |
Ideal Attributes for Ranger (Stealth Archer)
It’s All About Perception
Focusing on Perception and Might is essential for a Stealth Archer, as these traits enable you to maximize your initial strike damage while staying undetected. Other attributes are less significant, so long as you avoid investing heavily in Resolve, which offers little value for this build (often misleading). While Dexterity can help improve your overall efficiency, Intellect is mostly irrelevant, as your use of Shadowing Beyond won’t be influenced by it. Aim to distribute your points evenly between Perception and Might, leaning toward Might in the beginning.
Avowed: Unlock All Godlike Abilities – 11 Secret Abilities to Enhance Your Skills
As you progress through Avowed, you’ll unlock a total of 11 Godlike abilities that start off as unknown.
Might is advantageous as it enhances both bow and melee damage while also increasing your carrying capacity. While the latter isn’t crucial to your build, it certainly helps. On the other hand, Perception enables the effectiveness of your critical strike strategy, and the increased attack range allows for greater damage while facilitating stealth. Although you won’t achieve a high crit chance with bows for some time, the crit chance passive activates at Level 15, making this more beneficial for the late game.
Top Weapons, Armor, & Items for Ranger (Stealth Archer)
Choose Between Bows or Guns
The Ranger class is interesting because its abilities enhance both bows and guns equally, but since stealth is your priority here, guns can be passed over. Thankfully, you can efficiently eliminate enemies in Avowed with any weapon type, so you’d miss out on little by foregoing firearms. While a gun can ease the challenge of dealing with shielded foes, it’s entirely possible to wait for enemies to lower their guard or break their stance.
When it comes to bows, prioritize stats like Physical Damage and Critical Hit Chance. Stun can be useful (particularly later in the game if you invest in Staggering Shot), and a lower stamina cost is ideal, but these should be secondary concerns. To upgrade your bow, gather branches and herbs; you can find the former by dismantling other bows while exploring and looking for herb icons on the minimap will help you gather the latter.
Opt for Light Armor to ensure you maintain agility, as you won’t want to engage in close combat if you can avoid it. Medium and Heavy Armor would hinder your movement. Your focus should be on Damage Reduction with minimal Essence cost and, to a lesser extent, Stamina savings. For gloves, aim to enhance your Critical Hit Chance; the early game Deerskin Gloves are a solid choice. In terms of Trinkets and jewelry, seek out items that regenerate Essence or enhance your Critical Hit interactions.
How to Play Ranger (Stealth Archer) in Avowed
Stay Silent Yet Deadly for Optimal Results
You might think that starting combat with Shadowing Beyond is the best option, but that’s not always necessary thanks to your Godlike ability, Divine Thorn. Simply crouching behind an enemy can enable a stealth kill, provided your damage output is sufficient. Your default approach should be sneaking up on enemies to execute melee kills. Save Shadowing Beyond for situations that demand the extra damage from your Rank 2 upgrade or when things go awry. Once Shadowing Beyond reaches Rank 3 and you have enough Essence or regeneration, consider using it more regularly.
Your bow should be reserved for distant targets. Taking out enemies from afar will give you more opportunities for stealth melee kills, as fewer enemies around mean more room to maneuver. Solid aim is key; whether you’re on PC or Xbox, adjusting your sensitivity and deadzone settings can make the game feel more comfortable. If you stick to these strategies, you’ll enjoy a smooth and traditional Stealth Archer experience in Avowed. Enjoy the hunt!
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