When Obsidian Entertainment released Avowed in February 2025, it brought players back to the world of Eora, specifically the Living Lands, a rugged island in the far north. The premise was intriguing: investigate a mysterious plague that was supposedly spreading across the region. But what truly set Avowed apart from other fantasy RPGs wasn't just its setting—it was how it approached character building and combat. Now, over a year later, it's worth examining how the game's multiclass system and diverse enemy roster have shaped the player experience. 🤔
From the outset, Avowed promised a wide range of enemies, each requiring a specific strategy. Plague-infested bears, for instance, are not your typical wildlife—they are twisted by the very plague players are investigating. Then there are the Xaurips, a humanoid race of lizards that fight with cunning and ferocity. Each encounter forces players to adapt, and that's where Avowed's class-free skill system shines. Instead of locking players into a rigid class, the game lets them mix and match abilities from different trees. This flexibility means that no two characters need to be alike, and combat becomes a dynamic puzzle rather than a repetitive slog. 🐻🦎
But how does this multiclass approach actually work? Avowed doesn't completely abandon RPG classes; it simply reimagines them as skill trees that players can dip into freely. The game offers five main trees: Fighter, Ranger, Wizard, Godlike, and Companions. Each tree focuses on different aspects of combat and utility. For example, the Fighter tree emphasizes melee combat, two-handed weaponry, stamina management, shields, and heavy armor. The Ranger tree, on the other hand, is all about bows, guns, stealth, crowd control, and light armor. The Wizard tree deals with spells, magical implements, and crowd control. The Godlike tree is unique—it grants special abilities tied to the player's godlike nature. Finally, the Companions tree is a smaller tree that enhances the abilities of the player's chosen companions. 📊
| Skill Tree | Focus Areas |
|---|---|
| Fighter | Melee, two-handed weapons, stamina, shields, heavy armor |
| Ranger | Bows, guns, stealth, crowd control, light armor |
| Wizard | Spells, magical implements, crowd control |
| Godlike | Special godlike abilities |
| Companions | Companion enhancements |
This system gives players an incredible amount of freedom. Want to play a sneaky wizard who also wields a greatsword? Go for it. Prefer a ranger who dabbles in protective spells? That's possible too. The only restriction is that players can choose from just two races due to lore reasons, but the skill-based mechanics more than make up for that limitation. After all, who needs a dozen races when you can craft a character that plays exactly how you want? 🎭
Of course, not everyone loves multiclass systems. Some players prefer the clear identity of a traditional class. But Avowed caters to both camps. Those who want a rigid role can simply focus on one tree, effectively creating a classic Fighter, Ranger, or Wizard. Those who want to experiment can bounce around and discover synergies. It's a win-win. And in a genre where Baldur's Gate 3 has raised the bar for player freedom, Avowed's approach feels like a natural evolution. It's not about copying; it's about offering a different flavor of flexibility. 🎲
The enemy design reinforces this flexibility. Each enemy type demands a different approach. A plague-infested bear might require ranged tactics or fire magic, while Xaurips might call for crowd control and area-of-effect spells. Players who invest in multiple trees can adapt on the fly, switching from a shield-bearing tank to a spell-slinging damage dealer in the same fight. This makes combat more strategic and rewarding. Isn't that what every RPG player wants? ⚔️
Now that Avowed has been out for over a year, the community has had time to explore the depths of its systems. Some players have created bizarre but effective hybrids, while others have perfected single-tree builds. The game's ambitious mechanics have largely paid off, proving that you don't need a rigid class system to have meaningful character progression. In fact, the freedom might be the very thing that keeps players coming back. 🔁
In a world where fantasy RPGs are a dime a dozen, Avowed managed to stand out by embracing experimentation. Its multiclass approach and diverse enemy roster created a combat loop that rewards creativity and adaptation. Whether you're a traditionalist or a free-spirited adventurer, there's something here for you. And as we look back in 2026, it's clear that Obsidian's gamble paid off. The Living Lands are richer for it. 🌟