Best Gun Mage Build
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This is a guide to the best Gun Mage build in Avowed. Read on to learn the best stats, spells and abilities, weapons, and armor to get in order to create a powerful Gun Mage build.
List of Contents
Best Gun Mage Build
Stat Priority for Gun Mage Builds
 =  >  >  >  >  Dexterity = Might > Perception > Intellect > Resolve > Constitution |
For a Gun Mage, fights will be fought mostly from long range. Investing in Dexterity and Might boosts reload speed and damage, which are both essential for your weapon loadout.
Next, your attacks will be relatively slow, so put points into Perception to make sure that your vital hits deal more damage. Having Intellect next is important to reliably have effective spellcasting as part of your attack rotation.
Look to boost Resolve next since you need some stamina to charge up Power Attacks with your guns. Lastly, Constitution is last since you ideally keep your distance from enemies, avoiding their attacks.
During Character Creation, it is recommended to invest 2 Points into everything except Constitution and Resolve,
Best Abilities and Spells for Gun Mage
The Gun Mage prioritizes the passive abilities Marksmanship, Steady Aim, and Sharpshooter to increase overall gun damage and help land headshots. At levels 12 and 13, investing two points into Quick Switch becomes the highest priority, as it allows you to swap loadouts and automatically reload the holstered gun while firing the other.
This setup is further supplemented by Grimoire Mastery, enabling you to cast powerful spells from Grimoires, especially the higher-level ones you unlock as you progress. These spells complement the Gun Mage playstyle, letting you weave magic from your off-hand while holding a Pistol in the other.
| Gun Mage Ability Progression | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lvl. 2 | Lvl. 3 | Lvl. 4 |
 Tanglefoot
|
 Minor Missiles
|
 Fan of Daggers
|
| Lvl. 5 | Lvl. 6 | Lvl. 7 |
 Marksmanship
 Steady Aim
|
 Grimoire Mastery
|
Grimoire Mastery
|
| Lvl. 8 | Lvl. 9 | Lvl. 10 |
 Evasive
|
 Shadowing Beyond
|
Marksmanship
Steady Aim
|
| Lvl. 11 | Lvl. 12 | Lvl. 13 |
 Scavenger
|
 Quick Switch
|
Quick Switch
|
| Lvl. 14 | Lvl. 15 | Lvl. 16 |
|
Grimoire Mastery
|
Marksmanship
Steady Aim
|
 Sharpshooter
|
| Lvl. 17 | Lvl. 18 | Lvl. 19 |
|
Grimoire Mastery
|
Sharpshooter
|
 Harvest Essence
|
| Lvl. 20 | Lvl. 21 | Lvl. 22 |
|
Sharpshooter
Harvest Essence
|
 Staggering Shot
|
Staggering Shot
|
| Lvl. 23 | Lvl. 24 | Lvl. 25 |
|
Staggering Shot
|
 Pull of Eora
|
 Blast of Frost
 Freezing Pillar
|
| Lvl. 26 | Lvl. 27 | Lvl. 28 |
 Meteor Shower
|
Pull of Eora
|
Freezing Pillar
|
| Lvl. 29 | Lvl. 30 (Max) | |
|
Pull of Eora
|
Freezing Pillar
|
Harvest Essence
|
Great AoE Spells for Gun Mage
At higher levels, you want spells with AoE to compensate for guns being able to deal with only one or two enemies at a time, especially in the late game areas where you are fighting large squads more frequently. These are high AoE spells that are worth investing in:
Missile Salvo - a great finisher for enemies with low HP since the projectiles automatically seek out enemies- Pull of Eora - effective CC for when enemies get close.
- Blast of Frost - useful for building Frost Accumulation to freeze enemies in place, making it easier to shoot weak points
- Freezing Pillar - useful for Frost Accumulation and CC, same as Blast of Frost
- Meteor Shower - high damage projectiles periodically fall within a wide area, effective for general AoE damage
Missile SalvoBest Weapons for Gun Mage
| Main Hand | Off-Hand | |
|---|---|---|
| Loadout 1 | Pistol | Grimoire |
| Loadout 2 | Arquebus | |
Click on a link above to see recommendations!
The Arquebus and Pistol will be your main sources of damage throughout most of the game. The Grimoire provides utility through accumulations and AoE damage.
Get Magic Mistol in Galawain's Tusks
For Pistols, Magic Mistol makes the most sense as your best-in-slot, but it can only be obtained in Galawain's Tusks, the fourth and final open zone.
Thus, you can use the normal Pistol or Caeroc's Pride in Dawnshore and Emerald Stair for most of the early game.
Once you reach Thirdborn in Shatterscarp, you can get Fair Play. This is the second best pistol to get, and can even be the pistol you use until the end because of the sustain and critical hit chance it can provide.
| Progression and Area | Pistol | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dawnshore (Early Game) |
 Pistol
|
 Caeroc’s Pride Caeroc’s Pride Distant Thunder: Power Attacks deal high Shock Accumulation
Shocking Lash: Hits deal +10% bonus Shock Damage |
| 2 | Emerald Stair (Early Game) |
 Caeroc’s Pride Caeroc’s Pride Distant Thunder: Power Attacks deal high Shock Accumulation
Shocking Lash: Hits deal +10% bonus Shock Damage |
|
| 3 | Shatterscarp (Mid Game) |
 Fair Play Fair Play Recompense: Killing an enemy restores 5% of your Maximum Health and 25% of your Maximum Stamina
Vengeful Shot: Taunt and gain +100% Critical Hit Chance against enemies that Incapacitate one of your Companions |
|
| 4 | Galawain's Tusks (Late Game) |
 Magic Mistol Magic Mistol Infused Shot: Power Attacks deal very high Stun
For Seeker: Bullets seek and target enemies |
|
Get Grimoires With AoE Spells
The best late game Grimoires would be the Aurochs-Skin Grimoire or Eilara's Grimoire for their massive AoE spells.
You can use whatever Grimoire has the best AoE spells on your way to Shatterscarp and Galawain's Tusks.
| Progression and Area | Grimoire | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dawnshore (Early Game) |
 Grimoire of Elements
|
 Grimoire of Greater Elements
|
 Anextli’s Grimoire Anextli’s Grimoire |
|||
| 2 | Emerald Stair (Early Game) |
 Grimoire of Greater Elements
|
 Anextli’s Grimoire Anextli’s Grimoire |
 Grimoire of Rime
|
 Od Caura’s Grimoire Od Caura’s Grimoire |
||
| 3 | Shatterscarp (Mid - Late Game) |
 Od Caura’s Grimoire Od Caura’s Grimoire |
 Grimoire of Rime
|
 Aurochs-Skin Grimoire Aurochs-Skin Grimoire |
|||
| 4 | Galawain's Tusks (Late Game) |
Aurochs-Skin Grimoire Aurochs-Skin Grimoire |
 Eilara’s Grimoire Eilara’s Grimoire |
One Last Trick is the Best
One Last Trick is the best Arquebus to use because its passive provides increased Reload Speed and basically two shots at once against multiple enemies. It can also be found as early as Emerald Stair, making it accessible for most of your playthrough.
| Progression and Area | Arquebus | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dawnshore (Early Game) |
 Arquebus
|
 Arquebus
|
| 2 | Emerald Stair (Early Game) |
 One Last Trick One Last Trick Ricochet: Bullets bounce to hit an additional enemy within range
Gunnery: +20% Reload Speed |
|
| 3 | Shatterscarp (Mid Game) |
 One Last Trick One Last Trick Ricochet: Bullets bounce to hit an additional enemy within range
Gunnery: +20% Reload Speed |
|
| 4 | Galawain's Tusks (Late Game) |
 One Last Trick One Last Trick Ricochet: Bullets bounce to hit an additional enemy within range
Gunnery: +20% Reload Speed |
|
Best Armor for Gun Mage
Light Armor is the way to go since you don't need as much damage reduction from Medium and Heavy Armor if you fight from a distance. The Wavebinder Robes are the best for boosting gun damage because of it increases Critical Hit Damage for guns. The Gambeson of the Grand Empire, however, is a good alternative if you'd like to shoot faster, as it provides increased Reload Speed.
| Progression and Area | Armor | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dawnshore (Early Game) |
 Arcanist’s Gambeson
|
|
| 2 | Emerald Stair (Early Game) |
 Wolf Armor
|
|
| 3 | Shatterscarp (Mid Game) |
 Wavebinder Robes
|
 Gambeson of the Grand Empire
|
Best Clothing for Gun Mage
| Best Clothing for Gun Mage | |
|---|---|
| Boots | Gloves |
Use Boots With Attributes, Move Speed, or Dodge Distance
As a Gun Mage, being fast and nimble helps you position yourself safely, especially against multiple enemies.
| Progression and Area | Boots | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dawnshore (Early Game) |
 Blackwing Boots Blackwing Boots Item Bonus: +10 Dodge Distance Quick: +1 Dexterity |
|
| 2 | Emerald Stair - Shatterscarp (Early Game) |
 Shoes of the Glimmering Merchant Shoes of the Glimmering Merchant Item Bonus: +5 Maximum Essence Shrewd Negotiator: +2 Intellect and +1 Perception |
|
| 3 | Galawain's Tusks (Late Game) |
 Imp Catchers Imp Catchers Item Bonus: +10% Dodge Distance And Their Champion Fell, Sundered: +25 Maximum Stamina and +15% Move Speed |
|
| 4 | The Garden (Point of No Return) |
 Wildwalker Boots Wildwalker Boots Item Bonus: +10% Dodge Distance Stalker's Grace: +3 Dexterity |
|
Use Gloves With Attributes or Damage Buffs
You would want to finish fights quickly, without facing the enemy head on. Getting more damage-related buffs ensures you finish fights with one decisive attack.
| Progression and Area | Gloves | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dawnshore (Early Game) |
 Blackwing Gloves Blackwing Gloves Item Bonus: +1% Critical Hit Chance Lesser Annihilation: +10% Critical Damage |
|
| 2 | Emerald Stair (Early Game) |
 Wolf Gloves Wolf Gloves Item Bonus: +1% Critical Hit Chance Quick: +1 Dexterity |
|
| 3 | Shatterscarp - Galawain's Tusks (Mid - Late Game) |
 Thirdborn Gloves Thirdborn Gloves Item Bonus: +5% Power Attack Damage Tenacious: +2 Might |
 Wavebinder Bracers Wavebinder Bracers Item Bonus: -10% Ability Essence Cost Greater Gunnery: +15% Reload Speed |
| 4 | The Garden (Point of No Return) |
 Wildwalker Gloves Wildwalker Gloves Item Bonus: +1% Critical Hit Chance Ensnaring Strike: Critical Hits have a 15% chance to Root the Enemy in place |
|
Best Accessories for Gun Mage
| Best Accessories for Wizards | |
|---|---|
| Rings | Amulets and Trinkets |
Use accessories to balance out your build by providing attribute points to lacking stats.
Use Rings That Boost Gun Damage
The best Rings to use would be the ones that specifically boost your gun damage.
- Ring of Pain Amplification: +15%Critical Damage
- Ring of the Peerless Marksman: +10% Ranged Weapon damage
- Ashfall's Legacy (Late Game): +10% Attack Damage and +20% Critical Hit Damage on guns
Use Amulets or Trinkets With Attributes
Look for as much attributes as you can with your Amulet or Trinket to try and balance out your stats, so you can allocate your stat points better when you respec.
- Torc of the Warrior King (Early Game): +1 Might.
- Thirdborn Tira Nui Badge: +2 Might.
- Scout's Reach (Late Game): +3 Perception.
Avowed Related Guides
All Builds
| Best Builds | |
|---|---|
| Wizard | Fighter |
| Paladin | Ranger |
| Summoner | Gunslinger |
| Unarmed | Dual Wield |
| Wands | Gun Mage |
| Poison | - |
| Background Builds | |
| Arcane Scholar | Court Augur |
| Noble Scion | Vanguard Scout |
| War Hero | - |
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