Best Build & Class Guide
There is no wrong class — Fighter, Mage and Bow all clear the game. The one rule that beats every "optimal" stat spread: buy your weapon mastery tier first, then your primary attribute, then a single survival skill. A Trained fighter with 30 Strength out-damages an Untrained one with 50. See magic & runes, the trainers, or open the Build Planner.
| Fighter (melee)Pick | Mage (Fire) | Bow (ranged) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy — forgiving early | Hard early, strong late | Medium — safe but slow |
| Best camp | Old Camp | Old (Fire) / New (Water) / Swamp (Psionic) | Any — trainer is camp-free |
| Primary attribute | Strength | Mana | Dexterity |
| Key trainer | Scatty (Arena, Old Camp) | Corristo (Circle of Fire, Old Camp) | Cavalorn (Shadow, west of Old Camp) |
| Payoff | Claw of Beliar / Uriziel | Fireball & late-game spells | Kill from range, no armor needed |
Each weapon family has three tiers — Untrained, Trained, Master. Training the next tier is the single biggest melee upgrade available, and it is cheaper than the attribute points it replaces. Buy the tier before you stack damage attributes.
Weapon breakpoints — the only numbers that matter
Builds in this game are organised around weapon requirements, not arbitrary stat goals. Stop pouring points the moment you clear the breakpoint for the weapon you actually carry.
| Attribute | Threshold | Unlocks weapon | Build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | 30 | Longsword (40 dmg) | Fighter |
| Strength | 55 | Kalom's Sword (70 dmg) | Fighter |
| Strength | 95 | Claw of Beliar (110 dmg) | Fighter |
| Dexterity | 55 | Bow of Diego (70 dmg) | Bow |
| Dexterity | 73 | War Bow 05 (88 dmg) | Bow |
| Dexterity | 80 | Crossbow 04 (120 dmg) | Bow |
Fighter — stat & skill order
- 1
Buy melee mastery first
Visit Scatty in the Old Camp Arena (the only melee weapon-mastery trainer there) and grab the Trained tier before anything else.
💡 Trained at 30 STR beats Untrained at 50 STR.
- 2
Push Strength to your weapon breakpoint
Aim for STR 30 for the Longsword, then 55 for Kalom's Sword. Don't overshoot the weapon you actually hold.
- 3
Add one survival skill
Pick up acrobatics or a defensive option that fits how you play, then keep funneling points toward STR 95 and the Claw of Beliar.
✅ Pros
- Forgiving early game
- Cheapest path to top-tier weapons (Claw of Beliar, Uriziel)
- Old Camp has everything you need in one place
❌ Cons
- No ranged option without a second investment
- Has to close distance on packs of fast enemies
- Relies on finding/affording the big swords
Mage (Fire) — stat & skill order
- 1
Finish 'The Price of Magic' immediately
This Old Camp quest gets you into the Circle of Fire under Corristo and hands you Fire Bolt — accessible as early as Chapter 1.
- 2
Spam Fire Bolt
Fire Bolt is mana-efficient and repeatable; Fire is the highest raw-damage school, so it carries the early game on its own.
- 3
Climb the circles
Pour points into Mana, learn each new circle from a trainer, and graduate to Fireball and the late-game spells.
✅ Pros
- Highest raw damage of any school
- Fire Bolt is spammable and mana-cheap
- Can start as early as Chapter 1
❌ Cons
- Brutal before you have mana and spells
- Tied to the Old Camp / Circle of Fire
- Needs LP and mana investment to come online
Fire (Old Camp, Corristo) is highest raw damage. Water (New Camp, Saturas) trades damage for healing, crowd-control and ice — the hybrid-friendly choice. Psionic (Swamp) bypasses physical armor entirely but caps at Circle 4. See which camp for the full decision.
Bow — stat & skill order
- 1
Train with Cavalorn
Cavalorn is a Shadow west of the Old Camp — no faction or reputation needed, and he sells bows and arrows too.
- 2
Hit DEX 55 for the Bow of Diego
That's your first real ranged spike (70 dmg). Then push to 73 for the War Bow 05.
- 3
Consider the crossbow
At DEX 80 the Crossbow 04 (120 dmg) is the heaviest ranged hitter; Scorpio is the Colony's only crossbow trainer.
✅ Pros
- Camp-free training — no commitment required
- Kills before enemies reach you
- Cavalorn also stocks your ammo and bows
❌ Cons
- Slower kills than melee or Fire magic
- Dexterity scaling means many breakpoints to clear
- Weak if a fast enemy closes the gap
Frequently asked questions
Mage or fighter for beginners?
Fighter. It's the most forgiving early build — Mage is strong but punishing until you have mana and spells. Whichever you pick, buy the weapon-mastery tier before stacking attributes.
What's the single best upgrade for a melee build?
Training the next weapon-mastery tier. A Trained fighter with 30 Strength out-damages an Untrained one with 50. Do that before pouring points into Strength.
Which magic school does the most damage?
Fire (Old Camp, Corristo) has the highest raw damage. Water is the hybrid/utility school; Psionic bypasses armor but caps at Circle 4.
Can I play a ranged build without joining a camp?
Yes. Cavalorn, a Shadow west of the Old Camp, trains the bow with no faction or reputation requirement and sells bows and arrows.