The Guides ◆ Avowed
What Is Avowed?
Avowed is a first-person RPG by Obsidian Entertainment set in the Living Lands — a wild, contested frontier region of Eora, the same world as Pillars of Eternity. You play as a Godlike, a rare being touched by one of Eora's gods, sent by the Aedyran Empire to investigate a spreading plague called the Dreamscourge that leaves its victims trapped in endless nightmares.
What you find in the Living Lands is far more complicated than a plague investigation. The frontier is a collision of colonial power, indigenous peoples, independent factions, and ancient forces that predate Aedyr's reach. Nearly every major decision you make has downstream consequences — for the people of the Living Lands, for your standing with different factions, and for the ending you reach.
You're not required to know anything about Pillars of Eternity to enjoy Avowed. The game is self-contained, though returning players will recognize familiar lore, deities, and factions. If you're new to Eora entirely, this guide has you covered.
Core Systems at a Glance
| System | How it works | Where to learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Builds | No class lock — invest freely across Fighter, Ranger, Wizard, and Cipher skill trees as you level. Your attribute spread defines your ceiling; your tree investments define your style. | Builds Guide → |
| Companions | Four companions join you across the journey — each has active abilities you can direct in combat. Party composition changes how encounters play out more than gear does. | Companions Guide → |
| Factions | Major groups across the Living Lands track your reputation. Raising standing with one faction often lowers it with another. Endings and questlines branch based on your accumulated reputation. | Factions Guide → |
| Grimoires | Wizard spell-books that determine which spells you can cast. You can carry multiple and swap mid-combat to change your spell loadout on the fly — the entire Wizard playstyle is built around this. | Abilities Guide → |
| Attributes | Six stats (Might, Constitution, Dexterity, Perception, Resolve, Intellect) that scale every part of your character — damage, health, speed, accuracy, concentration, and AoE size. Set at character creation; respect is limited. | Builds Guide → |
Guide Sections
Getting Started
Character creation, the first few hours, what the game doesn't explain, and the three decisions that shape your whole run.
Builds & Archetypes
Five complete builds — attribute spreads, core skills, weapons, and strategy notes. From pure spellcaster to soul-blade fighter.
Factions & Reputation
The major powers of the Living Lands, how reputation works, and a decision guide for the choices that matter most to each faction.
Abilities & Spells
Full skill tree breakdowns with combo callouts — which spells pair together and why.
Companions
Kai, Marius, Giatta, Yatzli — ability breakdowns, affinities, and party synergy picks.
Godlike Powers
All four Godlike types — passive powers, stat bonuses, lore, and which to pick for your build.
Weapons & Equipment
Weapon types, armor classes, enchanting system, and best-in-slot recommendations by build.
World & Zones
All five zones — recommended order, missable content, Adra pool locations, and hidden areas.
Quest Decisions
Interactive decision tree + full consequence guide — what locks, what changes, what you'll regret.
Boss Guide
All five major bosses — phase breakdowns, the one mistake that kills most players, and party recommendations.
Advanced Combat
Recovery timing, action economy, enemy type immunities, and optimal rotations for every build.
Build Planner Interactive
Allocate attributes, pick your trees, get a real-time build summary with synergy rating. Shareable URL.
Lore Compendium
Eoran theology, the gods, the Wheel of rebirth, the Dreamscourge fully explained. Essential for newcomers; a different lens for Pillars veterans.
Path of the Damned
What changes on PotD, which builds survive it, boss-specific tactics, and resource management on the hardest difficulty.
Completionist Checklist
Every missable quest, Adra Fragment, companion affinity trap, and achievement — zone by zone, with spoilers marked.
Starting Fresh? Here's Your Path.
If you haven't launched yet, read the Getting Started guide first. It covers the three character creation decisions that define your whole playthrough, explains the systems the tutorial glosses over, and tells you what the game doesn't warn you about before your first major quest decision.
If you're already in the Living Lands and trying to settle your build, go to the Builds guide. If you're stressing about faction choices, the Factions guide breaks down what each group actually wants and what your reputation with them opens and closes.
For combat system mastery, the Abilities guide maps out all four skill trees with full combo callouts. Trying to pick your party? The Companions guide has ability breakdowns, affinity tips, and synergy tables for all four companions.