Step into the Living Lands, and you'll quickly realize that Dawnshore isn't just a tutorial zone—it's a treasure trove disguised as a beginner area. Obsidian's action RPG scales its crafting and gear progression so elegantly that a trinket you snag in the first hour can dominate the final boss if you pour resources into it. So why wait until the late game to chase legendaries? The earliest maps are littered with unique items that any savvy envoy should hunt down immediately. From an amulet that makes you absurdly wealthy to a pistol that turns mobs into crackling lightshows, here are the ten best early-game items in Avowed that deserve a permanent spot in your inventory.
10. Enchanted Suolenet – Your Personal ATM
What's the one thing every RPG adventurer secretly craves? More coin. The Enchanted Suolenet is a humble amulet obtained from the quest Lost Suoles, handed out by Miteno in Shantytown. No combat, no boss fights—just a short parkour jaunt from Claviger's Landing. Its power is deceptively simple: a 20% bonus to all currency looted. Think about it. Every lockbox, every fallen enemy, every pile of coins suddenly becomes 20% fatter. This little charm can stay around your neck for half the game, effortlessly padding your wallet so you can afford those expensive unique weapons and upgrade materials without ever grinding. In a world where upgrading gear drains your funds, the Suolenet is a silent economic hero.
9. Arcanist's Gambeson – The Wizard's Best Friend
If you're dabbling in the Wizard skill tree, you know the agony of running out of essence mid-spell. The Arcanist's Gambeson steps in like a guardian angel. Its +20 essence is roughly equivalent to +4 intellect worth of attribute points, meaning you can fling fireballs and call down meteors far longer before reaching for a potion. On top of that, it boosts effect area by 15%, turning already devastating spells into room-clearing cataclysms. For any magic-focused envoy, this light armor isn't just recommended—it's the foundation of your build. Find it early, and watch your wizard transform from a squishy apprentice into an arcane hurricane.
8. Woedica's Totem – The Six-Piece Powerhouse
Scattered across every zone are totem fragments dedicated to the gods of Eora, and Woedica's Totem is the first complete set you can assemble. Yes, it demands more legwork than a single chest item, but the payoff is a collection of buffs that rival a legendary ring. Ranging from flat stat boosts to game-changing passive bonuses, this totem leans heavily into companion synergy—improving your allies' damage while rewarding you for ordering them into the fray. The fire accumulation bonus is the cherry on top for any pyromaniac build. Dare to ask: is six times the effort worth it? Absolutely, when you watch your team turn every skirmish into a burning spectacle.
7. The Long Touch – Stealth Archer Perfection
The stealth archer isn't just a meme; it's a time-tested way to dismantle Avowed's encounters from the shadows. The Long Touch, purchasable from a merchant in Northern Paradis the moment you unlock the city, is tailor-made for this playstyle. It bumps your critical hit chance, deals bonus damage to full-health targets, and can be enchanted to further boost crit or grant a speed-and-damage steroid after a kill. Picture this: you perch on a rooftop, draw the string, and delete an enemy before they even know they're in danger. Rinse and repeat. Even without stealth, the bow's raw stat package makes it arguably the best bow in the game—earning the top spot through lethality, not just novelty.
6. Gloves of the Strangler – Fingers of Shadow
Pair the Long Touch with the Gloves of the Strangler, and you’ve got the deadliest couple since poison and blade. These gloves, uncovered via a treasure map bought from Sanza and hidden near Paradis' eastern wall, boost critical chance and stealth attack damage. For a ranger, nothing feels better than cloaking with Shadowing Beyond, resetting stealth mid-battle, and delivering a critical backstab (or arrow) that one-shots an elite. Daggers, bows, even sneaky arquebus shots—the Strangler gloves make anything done from concealment hit like a freight train. And since they require little more than a map and some curiosity, there’s no excuse not to slip them on.
5. Band of Transcendent Suffering – High Risk, Higher Reward
This ring is a callback to the monks of Pillars of Eternity, and it asks a terrifying question: how much pain are you willing to trade for raw power? Equipping the Band of Transcendent Suffering grants a monstrous 35% extra melee damage, but it doubles all damage received. To many, that sounds like a death sentence. To a skilled envoy who parries, dodges, and blocks like a dancer, it becomes the single best melee ring in the game. Found in the Paradis canals after a bit of swimming, this ring forces you to master the combat system—and if you do, you’ll cleave through enemies like they’re made of parchment. Are you brilliant enough to wield it?
4. Drawn in Winter – Area-of-Effect Frost Machine
Elemental weapons are common, but Drawn in Winter plays in a different league. Wrenched from a stump in Watcher’s Mirror after a grueling undead ambush, this weapon accumulates frost in an area of effect without any enchantments. Most ice weapons only chill a single target unless you spend points; Drawn in Winter turns every swing into a crowd-freezing blizzard. Its high frost accumulation means enemies shatter into statues faster, and no other early-game weapon applies its debuff to multiple foes with such ease. The fight to claim it is tough, but surviving that undead wave feels like a rite of passage—and the reward is a permafrost companion for the rest of your journey.
3. White Key Cameo – The Unkillable Attrition Trinket
Have you ever been stuck in a boss fight, chugging health potions like they’re water, while your companions lie unconscious again and again? The White Key Cameo, found in Claviger Eamund’s Estate once you clear the blockade, flips that despair into strategy. Its effect: heal 50% of your health whenever you revive a companion. Since allies in Avowed love to get knocked out in prolonged battles, this amulet effectively gives you a free, repeatable half-heal. No consumable can match that consistency. Slot it in when facing a damage-sponge enemy, and suddenly those “oh no” moments become tactical resets. It’s the ultimate defensive early-game crutch.
2. Last Light of Day – The Flaming Legend
There’s something eternally satisfying about a blade that wreathes itself in fire. Last Light of Day delivers that visual spectacle while also packing serious mechanical depth. The 10% bonus damage and fire accumulation are great, but its secret weapon is the parry enchantment—successful parries deal massive stun. Build around parry buffs and stun, and you become a defensive juggernaut that locks enemies in endless stagger loops. The quest chain to earn this sword is also a narrative highlight, filled with the kind of morally grey writing Obsidian is famous for. Whether you’re a pyromaniac or a parry perfectionist, this sword feels like a story character in its own right.
1. Caeroc’s Pride – The Thunderous Finisher
Topping our list is Caeroc’s Pride, a pistol looted from the bounty target Tempestuous Luandi. It’s the premier horde-killing tool in Dawnshore. Its innate elemental shock damage is potent, but the real showstopper is the AOE enchantment that chains lightning between enemies, effortlessly spreading the shocked condition. Alternatively, the other enchantment gives a chance to cast a crackling bolt on a kill—adding a delightful chaos to every firefight. Watching a crowd of xaurips convulse in a chain of sparks is pure dopamine. Whether you’re clearing packs or just want a sidearm that doubles as a light show, Caeroc’s Pride is the best early-game weapon in Avowed, bar none.
Of course, the “best” item is always the one that fits your playstyle. Avowed’s Dawnshore is packed with unique gear catering to every imaginable build—dual-wielding dagger fiends, two-handed hammer crushers, or pistol mages blending gunpowder with spells. The list above merely scratches the surface. So take these recommendations, then go get lost on rooftops, in canals, and behind waterfalls. Because in the Living Lands, the best stories are the ones you loot yourself.