Starting strong in Avowed isn’t just about skill; it’s about having the right gear from the get-go. The right items can make a massive difference, whether you’re looking to boost mobility, sustain in fights, or maximize damage. This guide will show you how to grab some of the best unique items early on, giving you a significant advantage before you’ve even completed many quests. Let’s get right into it!
How To Have The Absolute BEST Start
Good equipment in Avowed enhances your strengths, covers your weaknesses, and allows you to take on the fights with confidence. Whether it’s boosting your movement speed, increasing survivability, or amplifying your damage output, having the right items early on makes sure that you don’t struggle through the first few hours of the game.
Many powerful items can be obtained within the first areas of the game, giving you a significant edge before you even complete many quests. Instead of scraping by with basic gear, you can start with unique and specialized equipment tailored to your preferred playstyle. This means less frustration, fewer unnecessary deaths, and a much smoother adventure ahead. Here are some of the best items to give you a head start, as well as instructions and directions how to get them!
Arcanist’s Boots – Speed and Health Restoration
Location: Lighthouse near the starting area
One of the first things you should grab is the Arcanist’s Boots, which will immediately boost your mobility and sustain. From the start area, head towards the Lighthouse and climb the scaffolding until you find a gap in the wall. Look around for a Totem Fragment, then loot the nearby corpse to get a treasure map. Keep climbing until you reach a chest containing the Arcanist’s Boots.
These boots grant +10% movement speed and +5% health restoration from all sources, making them incredibly useful for keeping you agile and sustaining you in early fights. If you prefer a more defensive approach, you can opt for the Wayfarer’s Boots found in Fellowship Harbor, which offer resistance to poison and bleed accumulation, plus gradual health regeneration while walking.
Anextli’s Grimoire – Early Spells for Spellcasters
Location: Fractured Shores
If you’re playing a spellcaster, an early unique Grimoire can give you a huge edge in combat. Head to the Fractured Shores and navigate across the bridge into the area. Stick to the left route, breaking through some wooden crates to uncover the Grimoire hidden in a corner.
This Grimoire grants access to powerful spells like Arcane Veil, Fires of Flame, and Grimoire Snap, which significantly improve your offensive and defensive magic capabilities early in the game.
Steel Garrote Plate & Medallion – Heavy Armor & Amulet for Tanks
Location: Parad City Caves
For players who want to tank damage and play a more defensive role, getting the Steel Garrote Plate early is a game-changer. Enter the Parad City Caves (from the walls of the Parad City), gather any useful resources, and burn through webbed tunnels using fire abilities.
After passing the first set of tunnels, look for a corpse near a platform—it holds a resolve-boosting Steel Garrote Medallion. Though not the strongest, it can be a useful early pickup.
As you progress, you’ll encounter a boss fight, and once you defeat them, you’ll be rewarded with the Steel Garrote Plate from a nearby corpse. This armor provides high damage reduction, making it essential for tank builds. While it does require some stamina and essence management, it offers unparalleled protection in the early game.
Ondra’s Grace – Healing Ring & Essence Regeneration Ring
Location: Waterfall in the caverns (Parad City Caves)
After grabbing the Steel Garrote Plate, continue exploring the caverns until you reach an open area. From there, explore and go right until you reach a waterfall. Behind it, you’ll find a chest containing Ondra’s Grace, an incredible healing ring.
This ring grants additional healing when wet, meaning if you step into water before battle, you’ll have an extra survival boost. This is perfect for players focused on sustain and longevity in fights.
On the way to the ring behind the waterfall, keep an eye out for a statue holding an essence potion. In its other hand, you’ll find a switch that opens a nearby wall, revealing a unique ring that regenerates essence. This makes it an excellent choice for spellcasters or anyone relying heavily on essence-based abilities.
Wind and Wave – Unique Shield
Location: Treasure Cave near Ivona’s Threshold
Using the Treasure Map from the Lighthouse, head towards the riverbank and look for an underwater cave entrance. Swim through to discover a hidden treasure cache containing the Wind and Wave shield.
This shield is a fantastic early-game defensive option, providing +10% movement speed and increased frost resistance, making it ideal for mobility-focused defenders.
Last Light of Day – Fiery Sword
Location: Eothasian Temple
Melee fighters should prioritize acquiring Last Light of Day, a powerful sword that deals high fire damage. Head towards the Eothesian Temple through the northern canyon and accept a rescue mission from the NPCs. Complete the objective, return to the quest giver, and prepare for a final encounter. Once that’s completed, you’ll obtain the powerful fiery weapon.
This sword comes with a life-steal effect, allowing you to heal when killing enemies—perfect for aggressive melee playstyles.
Sheathed in Summer – Fire Dagger
Location: Ivona’s Threshold, Octav the Firebrand
If you prefer a more rogue-like approach, getting Sheed in Summer, a fire-infused dagger, is a great move. Travel to the upper region of the map and locate Octav the Firebrand, a formidable opponent. Be sure to save before engaging in battle. Once defeated, you’ll claim the dagger as your own.
This weapon specializes in bonus fire damage and accumulation, making it ideal for dual-wielders and hybrid fire builds.
Arcanist’s Gloves – Essential for Mages
Location: Shrine to Woedica
For spellcasters looking to enhance their power, the Arcanist Gloves are a must. Travel to the Shrine to Woedica in the northeast, climb to the top, and descend via scaffolding to a hidden path. Break the wooden barriers to reveal a chest containing the gloves.
These gloves grant +20 Essence (Mana) and increase parkour speed, which makes them invaluable for mages who need extra mobility and spellcasting resources.
Drawn in Winter Axe – Frost Build Weapon
Location: Watcher’s Mirror
If you’re planning a Frost Build, you’ll want to grab the Drawn in Winter Axe early on. Travel to the Watcher’s Mirror, cross the bridge, and locate a pond. The axe rests on a platform in the middle of the water—simple to get but incredibly effective.
This axe enhances frost damage and accumulation, making it a fantastic choice for slowing down and freezing enemies.
Wayfarer’s Ring – Enhanced Potion Healing
Location: Runyd’s House (North of Watcher’s Mirror)
For better healing from potions, make your way to Runyd’s House north of Watcher’s Mirror. Locate a broken bridge over a pond, use frost spells to create a platform, and follow the mountain path to find the Wayfarer’s Ring inside a cave.
This ring boosts healing effectiveness from potions and food by 20%, making it an excellent pick for survival-focused players.
Bonus: Stalgaer’s Pride Medium Armor via Treasure Map
If you’re looking for a solid medium armor set early on, grab a cheap treasure map from Claviger’s Landing and follow it to Watcher’s Mirror. The hidden chest will contain a full medium armor set, offering balanced defense and mobility.
Wrap-Up
By following this guide, you’ll set yourself up for success by grabbing some of the best unique items right from the start. Whether you prefer spellcasting, melee combat, or tanking damage, these early-game items will give you solid equipment to tackle whatever Avowed throws your way. Equip yourself wisely, and you’ll have a far easier and more enjoyable experience as you progress through the game.
