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.

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 every attack counts. Having Intellect next is useful to reliably have 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

Invest in Abilities That Boost Guns

Your main source of damage as Gun Mage would be your Pistol and Arquebus, and your spells would be used for utility and AoE damage. You'll focus mainly on the gun damage with skills like Steady Aim, Marksmanship, Quick Switch and Critical Strike, then invest points in Grimoire Mastery to boost your spellcasting. At Level 20 to 22, you get Staggering Shot to fully maximize gun damage. At Level 23, you can invest points in the spells you have until Rank 2 to maximize Grimoire Mastery.

2	Charge	13	Quick Switch
3	Steady Aim	14	Steady Aim
4	Evasive	15	Steady Aim
5	Marksmanship	16	Critical Strike
6	Grimoire Mastery	17	Harvest Essence
7	Grimoire Mastery	18	Critical Strike
8	Marksmanship	19	Harvest Essence
9	Grimoire Mastery	20	Staggering Shot
10	Marksmanship	21	Staggering Shot
11	Grimoire Mastery	22	Staggering Shot
12	Quick Switch	23	-

Note: Charge is taken to deal with breakable walls, objects, and shatter frozen enemies. However, this skill can also be an escape tool when enemies get too close.

Boost your AoE Spells

You want spells with AoE to compensate for guns being able to deal with only one or two enemies at a time. These are several 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

Best Spells Tier List

Best Weapons for Gun Mage

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
2	Emerald Stair (Early Game)	Caeroc’s Pride
3	Shatterscarp (Mid Game)	Fair Play
4	Galawain's Tusks (Late Game)	Magic Mistol

How to Get Magic Mistol

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
2	Emerald Stair (Early Game)	Grimoire of Greater Elements	Anextli’s Grimoire
		Grimoire of Rime	Od Caura’s Grimoire
3	Shatterscarp (Mid - Late Game)	Od Caura’s Grimoire	Grimoire of Rime
		Aurochs-Skin Grimoire
4	Galawain's Tusks (Late Game)	Aurochs-Skin 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
3	Shatterscarp (Mid Game)	One Last Trick
4	Galawain's Tusks (Late Game)	One Last Trick

How to Get One Last Trick

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

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
2	Emerald Stair - Shatterscarp (Early Game)	Shoes of the Glimmering Merchant
3	Galawain's Tusks (Late Game)	Imp Catchers
4	The Garden (Point of No Return)	Wildwalker Boots

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
2	Emerald Stair (Early Game)	Wolf Gloves
3	Shatterscarp - Galawain's Tusks (Mid - Late Game)	Thirdborn Gloves	Wavebinder Bracers
4	The Garden (Point of No Return)	Wildwalker Gloves

Best Accessories for Gun Mage

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.

1. Ring of Pain Amplification: +15%Critical Damage
2. Ring of the Peerless Marksman: +10% Ranged Weapon damage
3. 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.

1. Torc of the Warrior King (Early Game): +1 Might.
2. Thirdborn Tira Nui Badge: +2 Might.
3. Scout's Reach (Late Game): +3 Perception.

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