This is a guide to the best Summoner build in Avowed. Read on to learn the best stats, spells and abilities, weapons, and armor to get in order to create a powerful Summoner build.

Best Summoner Build

Stat Priority for Summoner Builds

= > > = = Might = Perception > Resolve > Dexterity = Intellect = Constitution

Summoner builds do not rely on a singular stat to be effective damage-wise, and only really benefit from the Intellect stat for one of your Summons later on, allowing you to virtually slot yourself into any build and still function as a Summoner.

However, since Summons have a variety of "summon conditions" (e.g., the Beetle requiring you to parry) with the best one falling under the Ranger tree, it may be better to simply pilot a Hybrid Ranger build in order to keep your build identity cohesive.

For stat priority, prioritize Might and Perception since you'll be maining a Bow for damage. After that, go with Resolve for more Stamina. The last three, Dexterity, Intellect, and Constitution can be interchanged depending on your playstyle.

List of All Attributes and Stats

Best Abilities for Summoners

With Bear Ally being in the Ranger Tree, you can focus on leveling abilities that help you with gaining access to more personal DMG within that tree, and invest some into the Warrior tree for Critical Hits.

When reaching Level 15, be sure to grab the Bear Summon ability and level it whenever possible to maximize its effectiveness, as it will provdie more mileage for your Summoner build than most other Summons you will acquire.

Focus on Damage Passives Until You Get Bear Ally at Level 15

2	Tanglefoot	11	Steady Aim
3	Steady Aim	12	Marksmanship
4	Parry	13	Marksmanship
5	Steady Aim	14	Finesse
6	Marksmanship	15	Bear Ally
7	Finesse	16	Finesse
8	Devastating Criticals	17	Devastating Criticals
9	Devastating Criticals	18	Bear Ally
10	Steady Aim	19	Critical Strike
20	Bear Ally

Get 1 Level of Parry for the Beetle's Bulwark Summon

One of the Summoning Equipment, Beetle's Bulwark, requires you to have access to Parry in order to summon the Beetle from it.

You only need one level in Parry which you can get early, allowing you to consistently proc the Shield's effect with successful parries.

Best Summoning Equipment

When it comes to running a Summoner build, you need to get the proper summoning equipment that allows you to have access to these summons in the first place.

These equipment pieces occupy different slots on your person, enabling you to have multiple Summoning items equipped at the same time, maximizing your options during combat.

	Summoning Equipment	How to Get and Progression Explanation
1	Beetle’s Bulwark	How to Get: Can be purchased from Sanza in Northern Paradis, Dawnshore. Beetle's Bulwark is the most accessible summoning equipment on paper. However, you will likely be gated by its price during the early game, requiring you to come back and purchase it later. This will be your main Off-Hand shield and you should level this all the way to End Game.
2	Chanter's Panpipes	How to Get: Acquired from the Memory of the Deep side quest in Emerald Stair. Acquiring Chanter's Panpipes requires you to deliver the Mysterious Meteorite to Josep during the side quest to get it, or else you will be locked out from this summoning equipment.
3	Revenant Bell Collar	How to Get: Can be obtained during the Animancy Method by offering your corpse to Elia in Emerald Stair. Revenant Bell Collar can be easily acquired just by progressing through the game, as you will eventually reach this part of the story. Make sure to offer your corpse to Elia to receive this item.
4	Crystalline Egg	How to Get: Inside a container in a spider cave, found north from the the Sulfur Mines Basecamp in Shatterscarp. You can get this from open world exploration in Shatterscarp, and should find time to get this as it occupies a trinket slot instead of an amulet slot. You can keep this until End Game if you value the extra summons.
5	Necropants	How to Get: Acquired from a locked chest that needs 3 lockpicks on a temple near Tago's Tower in Shatterscarp. The Necropants occupies an Armor slot, giving you another summon unit without sacrificing your current Amulet or Trinket slot. These can be leveled with you all the way until End Game, but can be traded for more traditional armor options if you are struggling to survive.
6	Stoneheart	How to Get: Acquired from Galawain's Tusks after completing the A Cure For Rage side quest. In terms of Summons, Stoneheart is used in order to soak up damage from enemies and draw aggro away from you. This is more valuable than most Amulet summons, and you can already settle for Late Game with this if you value its tankiness more than summon damage.
7	Charm of Bones	How to Get: Acquired from a container within The Garden. This amulet will be the last summon item you acquire, and will overpower all other amulet summons if you have no issues with survivability. Summons three skeletons that can be used after your initial Bear Ally summon expires.

Not Many Summoning Equipment Choices Before Shatterscarp

Prior to Shatterscarp, you will have very few sources for summons, with only Beetle's Bulwark, Chandler's Panpipes, and Revenant Bell Collar as your only options.

Keep this in mind as you progress through the game, as you will have to rely on these few summons as well as your current build in order to make it to this point.

Best Weapons for Summoners

	Main Hand	Off-Hand
Loadout 1	Bow	-
Loadout 2	Axe or Sword or Spear	Shield (Beetle's Bulwark)

Click on a link above to see recommendations!

For a Summoner, you will be running a standard Ranged and Melee loadout similar to a Ranger, but you trade off the Ranger's standard Pistol off-hand for a Shield, as that will later on allow you to use Beetle's Bulwark.

Aim For Unique DPS Bows Like The Long Touch and Ancient Alacrity

Since the Bow is your main personal damage source, it is important that you go through substantial upgrade milestones for your Bow so that you are well-equipped for most of the game's combat at each phase.

1	Dawnshore (Early Game)	Start off with any Common Bow then reach Paradis to acquire The Long Touch. This will be your main weapon for most of the game and you can explore the eastern side of Dawnshore using this.
2	Emerald Stair (Early Game)	Upgrade The Long Touch to Exceptional quality and continue using this weapon until you make it to Shatterscarp, or keep it on Fine quality and rely on your melee weapons for the meantime.
3	Shatterscarp (Mid-Game)	You have the option of trading The Long Touch for Storm-Sworn once you reach Shatterscarp. While this is generally an upgrade, you do need to re-invest into the weapon and upgrade it to Superb.
4	Galawain's Tusks (Endgame)	At Galawain's Tusks, you'll want to upgrade Storm-Sworn to at least Legendary +0. This'll help you complete all side content in the region.
5	The Garden (Point of No Return)	Before or while inside the Garden, you can acquire Ancient Alacrity as the last Bow in your arsenal and level it all the way to Legendary +3.

Use Axes, Swords, or Spears For Melee Weapons

Similar to a typical Ranger, you can choose between Axes, Swords, or even Spears. Maces are off the table since they cost too much stamina to swing, and two-handed weapons will slow you down too much. Some good ones to get are:

1	Dawnshore (Early Game)	Last Light of Day	Drawn in Winter
2	Emerald Stair (Early Game)	Giant’s Slumber	Woodman’s Labor
3	Shatterscarp (Mid-Game)	The Emperor’s Reach
4	Galawain's Tusks (Endgame)	Meteor Blade	Ondra’s Offense

Best Armor for Summoners

Apart from the Necropants, none of the armor in the game affects summons or directly boosts them, which means you are better off just running armor that buff Dexterity, Perception, damage, Critical Hits, or all of the above.

1	Northreach (Tutorial)	Robe
2	Dawnshore (Early Game)	Blackwing Armor
2	Emerald Stair (Early Game)	Wolf Armor	Vailian Breastplate
3	Shatterscarp (Mid to End Game)	Necropants

Use standard Ranger armor pieces until you reach Shatterscarp and acquire the Necropants, which grant you another Summon to aid you in combat.

At this point, you can continue to level the Necropants to scale with you until the End of the Game.

Necropants Location and Stats

Best Clothing for Summoners

Best Clothing for Summoners
Boots	Gloves

Clothing pieces that directly benefit Summoners are not available, so equip clothing that gives you personal attribute bonuses. Look for and level up Dexterity and Perception to grant yourself damage bonuses so it allows you to invest into Might with your stat points.

Use Boots with Dexterity, Dodge Distance, or Attribute Bonuses

For early game, you can focus on getting Dodge Distance boots, and continue to find items related to dodge distance, dexterity, or perception until End Game.

1	Dawnshore (Early Game)	Boots of the Bricklayer	Blackwing Boots
2	Emerald Stair (Early - Mid Game)	Wolf Boots
		Vailian Boots	Tranton Family Greaves
3	Galawain's Tusks (Endgame)	Shadowdancer's Boots	Imp Catchers
4	The Garden (Point of No Return)	Wildwalker Boots

Use Gloves that Boost Attributes, Raise Essence, or Buff Damage

For gloves, you'll want the ones that can either boost your attributes or buff damage. Here are some you can get from early to late-game:

1	Dawnshore (Early Game)	Blackwing Gloves	Gloves of the Strangler
2	Emerald Stair (Early Game)	Tranton Family Gauntlets
		Vailian Gauntlets	Wolf Gloves
3	Shatterscarp (Mid-Game)	Bracers of Bloodletting	Trickster's Gloves
4	The Garden (Point of No Return)	Wildwalker Gloves

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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	-