Discover how to create the best Grimoire build in Avowed, with recommendations for skills, attributes, weapons, companions, and leveling progression!

Avowed is a first-person RPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. Set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, the game takes place in the Living Lands, where you uncover a secret mystery. Grimoire build in Avowed allows for versatility in combat as you can use the Wand and Grimoire to deal damage from a safe distance. Combine your Wizard skills with the Fighter skills to complement your build. Focusing on the correct attributes is essential for the Grimoire build, as it will highly influence your gameplay. Choose the skills according to your playstyle and the ones that are more effective on a battlefield. The Grimoire build allows you to deal incredible amounts of damage with spells and gives you flexibility in combat. In this guide, we’ll cover the best Avowed Grimoire build along with some useful gameplay tips and the gear to choose from.
Everything You Need To Know About Grimoire Build Guide in Avowed
The Grimoire Build in Avowed is a spellcasting playstyle that uses Grimoire to access a wide range of spells. This is a versatile build that excels in crowd control, magic utility, and elemental damage. Our Grimoire build includes Wand as a primary weapon and Grimoire is your off-hand weapon. For dealing with enemies in close range combat, we also add Great Sword in the Avowed Grimoire build. This ensures that you don’t become vulnerable in melee combats. Arcane Scholar is the best background to select because it boosts intellect and Perception, which is essential for spellcasting.
Intellect, Perception, and Might are the best attributes to focus on for the Grimoire build. Intellect enhances Essence pool, Perception improves critical hit chance and spell range and Might enhance overall damage output. Kai and Giatta are the best companions for this spellcasting build. We also include skills like Grimoire Mastery, Grimoire Snap, Minor Missiles, and Blast to cast damage-dealing spells in tough encounters. Equip light armor for high spellcasting efficiency or medium armor for a balanced approach. However, this build requires proper cooldown management and your essence drains very quickly.
Grimoire Build Pros | Grimoire Build Cons |
---|---|
Variety of Sells | Limited Essence |
High Damage Output | Cooldown Management |
Elemental Effect |
Grimoire Build Features & Mechanics
Below are the essential best Grimoire build features and mechanics for Avowed:
- Background: Arcane Scholar
- Attribute Points: Intellect, Perception, Might
- Weapon Choices: Wand, Grimoire, Great Sword
- Best Skills: Grimoire Mastery, Grimoire Snap, Blast, Pull of Eora, Bleeding Cuts
- Recommended Companions: Kai and Giatta
- Best Consumables: Fine Aedyran Mead, Krakenhorn, Raw Bleathorn Milk
Related:
Background

Arcane Scholar is the best background for the Avowed Grimoire build. This background offers flexibility, allowing you to wield a Grimoire alongside other weapons effectively. It is particularly suitable for such a build due to its balanced attribute distribution. Choosing the Arcane Scholar background unlocks unique dialogue options related to your extensive knowledge. Arcane Scholar provides a flexible starting point for players interested in both magic and combat. This background grants a balanced distribution of attribute points, emphasizing intellect and versatility. Choose this background to enhance your character’s magical capabilities and gameplay experience.
Background plays a pivotal role in shaping your role-playing experience. It affects your dialogue options and determines your starting weapon during the tutorial. Your initial allocation of attribute points across six stats is also influenced. However, they do not restrict your access to any equipment or abilities as the game progresses. Regardless of your background, you can use any equipment and abilities. Avowed enriches your character’s backstory and provides initial attribute distributions and dialogue options by selecting the background.
Attribute Points

Intellect, Perception, and Might are the best attributes to invest in for the Grimoire build in Avowed. This build involves the strategic allocation of attribute points to enhance your magical prowess and overall effectiveness. Intellect increases the maximum essence and increases resistance to elemental statuses. Invest some points in Intellect to maximize your spellcasting capabilities. Perception increases critical hit chance and extends maximum range. This is beneficial for both spellcasters and ranged weapon players. Investing points in Perception allows you to increase your damage output and effectiveness in ranged combat.
Might, on the other hand, boost overall damage and increase carrying capacity. Enhance your damage with all attacks, including magical ones, by focusing on this attribute as well. You need to be mindful when allocating points in the attributes as your gameplay depends on it. You can earn additional attribute points upon leveling up, offering opportunities to customize your build. Enhance your attribute points by using the consumables you acquire while progressing. You can select 27 attributes at a maximum level of 30. Below is the distribution of the attribute points for the Grimoire build in Avowed.
- Constitution: 1
- Intellect: 14
- Perception: 5
- Might: 4
- Dexterity: 2
- Resolve: 1
Weapon Choices

The best weapons to choose for the Grimoire build in Wand, Grimoire, and Great Sword. Wand acts as your main-hand weapon, Grimoire is your off-hand weapon, and Great Sword serves as a Secondary weapon for this build. Wand allows you to deal magic damage from a safe distance and Grimoire unlocks the new high-level spells. Great Sword on the other hand allows you to deal massive damage in a close-range combat.
The Wand is your primary weapon in Avowed, ideal for spellcasters seeking to engage enemies from a distance without expending Essence. You can equip certain Wands that are equipped with enchantments that provide additional benefits in combat. It offers a constant damage output and elemental effects during combat. You can upgrade your Wand to make it more effective in intense combat. This weapon specializes in complementing your Grimoire build. Invest skill points in Wizard class to enhance your damage output with Wand.
Grimoire is your off-hand weapon for Grimoire build in Avowed. Grimoire unlocks high-tier spells, dealing devastating damage in the fight. You can cast multiple spells, providing flexibility in various combat situations. It complements the spells assigned to your main hand. Pairing a Wand in your main hand with a Grimoire in your off-hand is an effective setup. You can use this combination for a balance between constant damage and spell versatility.
Secondary Weapon
Great Swords are two-handed weapons and a perfect choice for inflicting a stun effect on the foes. This will make the enemies vulnerable and give you free room to eliminate them with the highest possible attack. Use this weapon to get a balance between reach, power, and blocking capability, making them effective for both offense and defense. It is effective against multiple enemies due to its longer reach than smaller melee weapons. This is ideal for players who prefer heavy-hitting melee combat due to their damage, crowd control, and Stun effects.
Skill Selection
Minor Missiles, Armored Essence, Blast, Wand Mastery, and Grimoire Mastery are the best skills to unlock at the initial level. Invest skill points to gain the skills that can keep you alive in the initial stages of the game. Passive skills are used to increase damage or survivability, while active skills require essence, and you can’t use them due to their cost.
Levels 1-10 Skills
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Grimoire Build for Avowed from levels 1 to 10:
Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | None | ||
2 | Minor Missiles Rank 1 | Wizard | Summons 3 magical projectiles that seek out enemies, dealing large amounts of damage to nearby enemies on impact. |
3 | Armored Essence Rank 1 | Wizard | Decreases the Essence penalty for Light and Medium armor by 15. |
4 | Parasitic Staff Rank 1 | Wizard | Summons a staff of negative energy for 30 seconds that restores Essence to the wielder with every strike. |
5 | Arcane Veil Rank 1 | Wizard | Invokes a powerful arcane shield for 20 seconds that makes your spell casting Uninterruptable and increases your Damage Reduction by 50%. |
6 | Blast Rank 1 | Wizard | Power Attacks with wands explode on impact, dealing reduced Stun and Explosive Damage to nearby enemies. |
7 | Wand Mastery Rank 1 | Wizard | Increases damage with wands by 25%. |
8 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 1 | Wizard | Unlock level 5 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 10%. |
9 | Evasive Rank 1 | Ranger | Reduces the Stamina cost of Dodge by 25%. |
10 | Grimoire Snap Rank 1 | Wizard | Forcefully snap your grimoire shut, expelling a shockwave of Explosive Damage that knocks nearby enemies back and deals Stun. |
Levels 11-20 Skills
Blood Magic, Bleeding Cuts, Spirit Lance, Secret of Rime, and Spirit of Decay are the best skills to use while fighting enemies in mid-game combat. Upgrade your equipped abilities to make them more effective in combat. You need to enhance the damage effectiveness as you’ll encounter high-level enemies equipped with heavy armor.
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Grimoire Build for Avowed from levels 11 to 20:
Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
---|---|---|---|
11 | Blood Magic Rank 1 | Wizard | When Essence is depleted, you may continue casting by reducing your Health by 150% of the Essence cost. |
12 | Minor Missiles Rank 2 | Wizard | Summons 5 missiles. |
13 | Bleeding Cuts Rank 1 | Fighter | Power Attacks with axes and great swords deal Bleed Accumulation. |
14 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 2 | Wizard | Unlock level 10 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 15%. |
15 | Spirit Lance Rank 1 | Wizard | Summons a magical spear for 30 seconds that releases Explosive Damage around each successful hit, damaging nearby enemies. |
16 | Blast Rank 2 | Wizard | Power Attacks with wands deal increased Stun. Nearby enemies caught in the explosion receive the same amount of Stun as the original attack. |
17 | Spirit of Decay Rank 1 | Wizard | Increases the amount of Poison Accumulation you deal by 20%. |
18 | Secret of Rime Rank 1 | Wizard | Increases the amount of Frost Accumulation you deal by 20%. |
19 | Wand Mastery Rank 2 | Wizard | Increases damage with wands by 40%. |
20 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 3 | Wizard | Unlock level 15 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 18%. |
Levels 21-30 Skills
Upgrade your abilities to a higher rank to make them more effective and deal more magic damage with your Grimoire during intense combat. The higher your abilities are, the more chances you get for the deadly hits.
Below is a list, in order, of the skills for the Best Grimoire Build for Avowed from levels 21 to 30:
Level | Skill Name | Tree | Description |
---|---|---|---|
21 | Bleeding Cuts Rank 2 | Fighter | Increases the Bleed Accumulation dealt by Bleeding Cuts. |
22 | Grimoire Snap Rank 2 | Wizard | Grimoire Snap deals increased Stun and can knock tougher enemies back. |
23 | Blast Rank 3 | Wizard | Nearby enemies caught in the explosion receive the same amount of damage as the original attack. |
24 | Blackbow Rank 1 | Wizard | Summons a magical bow for 30 seconds with arrows that deal high Poison Accumulation. |
25 | Grimoire Snap Rank 3 | Wizard | Reduces the Essence cost by 30%. |
26 | Pull of Eora Rank 1 | Wizard | Cast upon a location to pierce the Beyond, pulling 2 nearby enemies and suspending them in the vortex. |
27 | Blackbow Rank 2 | Wizard | Power Attacks pierce through enemies, only stopping when they hit the environment. |
28 | Grimoire Mastery Rank 4 | Wizard | Unlock level 20 Grimoire spells and decrease the Essence cost of all Grimoire spells by 20%. |
29 | Arcane Seal Rank 1 | Wizard | Conjures an Arcane Seal at your feet for 30 seconds. Your Essence regenerates while you stand within the seal’s lingering area of effect. |
30 | Pull of Eora Rank 2 | Wizard | Affects 3 enemies. |
Best Grimoire Skills Explained
Grimoire Mastery, Grimoire Snap, Blast, Pull of Eora, and Bleeding Cuts are the best skills for the Avowed Grimoire build. Grimoire Mastery is a passive ability that enhances your spellcasting capabilities by unlocking higher-level grimoire spells. Wand Mastery is a passive ability within the Wizard class that enhances the damage output of Wand attacks. The pull of Eora is designed for crowd control, enabling you to defeat multiple enemies. Blast is a passive ability that increases wand attacks by causing power attacks to explode on impact, dealing reduced stun and explosive damage.
- Bleeding Cuts- Cause your power attacks with axes and great swords to deal with bleed accumulation.
- Grimoire Mastery- Unlocks higher-level grimoire spells and decreases their essence cost.
- Grimoire Snap- Forcefully closes your grimoire, creating a shockwave that knocks back enemies and stuns them.
- Blast- Power attacks with wands explode on impact, dealing stun and explosive damage.
- Pull of Eora- Creates a vortex that pulls and suspends enemies, affecting multiple targets.
Companions
Kai and Giatta are the best companions for the Grimoire build in Avowed. You need to choose companions who can protect you and enhance your magical capabilities. Kai serves as the team’s tank, absorbing damage and diverting enemy attention. Giatta, on the other hand, excels in healing and providing support buffs to the party. She can heal your character when you take damage during combat. Giatta joins your party during the main story quest, “The Animancy Method.” Each of these companions brings unique abilities and backgrounds to your journey. Giatta’s Purification ability restores health to allies and can be upgraded to include crowd control effects.
Kai is the preferred companion for the Grimoire build due to its abilities like Fire and Ire and Second Wind. The Second Wind ability allows Kai to revive himself once per encounter, and Fire and Ire taunt enemies. You can cast spells from a safe distance while the Kai manages frontline defense. Giatt’s healing and defensive capabilities ensure you maintain optimal health. This combination allows you for uninterrupted spellcasting in an intense fight. Kai can manage a cluster of enemies, creating opportunities for your magic users to unleash their spells. Make sure Kai is handling frontline defense and drawing enemy aggression while Giatta provides healing, shields, and support buffs.
Kai

Skill 1 | Skill 2 | Skill 3 | Skill 4 |
---|---|---|---|
Fire and Ire | Unbending Defense | Leap of Daring | Second Wind |
Fires a powerful shot from his blunderbuss | Regenerate Health and increase his Damage Reduction by 25% | Crashes down upon the enemy, Stunning and Taunting all nearby enemies | Revives himself when his health is reduced to zero |
Giatta

Skill 1 | Skill 2 | Skill 3 | Skill 4 |
---|---|---|---|
Purification | Barrier | Acceleration | Reconstruction |
Essence Generator | Protective shields to reduce incoming damage | Increases the movement and attack speed | Heal and restore health |
Grimoire Gameplay & Tips
Use Kai and Giatta as your companion for the Grimoire build in Avowed. Choose the Arcane Scholar background to emphasize mastery over magic, offering a better spellcasting experience. Intellect, Perception, and Might are your main attributes to focus on to enhance your capabilities in the game. Intellect increases Maximum Essence and Elemental Resistance, while Perception enhances critical hit chance and maximum range. You need to adjust your attributes based on your preferred playstyle.
Consider unlocking skills like Grimoire Mastery, which allows casting spells directly from grimoires. Skills like Blizzard and Fireball to dominate the enemies if you upgrade them to a higher rank. Use Wand for ranged attacks and Grimoire to access additional spells and enhance existing ones. Wear light armor, providing mobility and minimal stamina penalties, or Medium Armor for protection and mobility. Use ranged spells and wands to deal damage while staying at a safe distance. Keep monitoring your Essence levels closely because skills like Harvest Essence replenish resources.
Weapons and Armor
Beginner Weapon and Armor
Slot | Item | Bonus |
---|---|---|
Primary Weapon | Exceptional Wand | 55 Physical Damage 56 Stun 12 Stamina Cost 6% Critical Hit Chance |
Off Hand Weapon | Beothel’s Grimoire | -20% Ability Cost -15% Cooldown |
Secondary Weapon | The Philosopher’s Riddle | 284 Physical Damage 260 Stun 20 Stamina Cost 3% Critical Hit Chance |
Armor | Tranton Family Brigandine | 25% Damage Reduction -45 Maximum Stamina -45 Maximum essence |
Gloves | Blackwing Gloves | +1% Critical Hit Chance +10% Critical Damage |
Boots | Tranton Family Greaves | +20 Maximum Health +20% Dodge Distance +10% Move Speed |
Trinket | Berath’s Blessed Ward | -5% damage from Vessels |
Ring | Ring of Pain Amplification | +15% Critical Damage |
Ring | Ring of the Founder | +10% Damage against enemies will fully restore Health |
Location
- Exceptional Wand (Wand)- Location is Emerald Stair. Can be purchased from Marynna after she relocates to the Infested Camp in Grim Wetlands in Emerald Stair Region
- Beothel’s Grimoire (Grimoire)- Location is Dawnshore. Purchased from Merylin in the Southern Paradis Market for 4,500 Skeyt in the Dawnshore region.
- The Philosopher’s Riddle (Great Sword)- Location is Dawnshore. Found in the ruined building on the northwest of Castol’s Folly in Dawnshore.
- Tranton Family Brigandine- Location in Emerald Stair. Killing Big Wylie Tranton of the Trantons’ bounty target in the Overgrown Homestead in the southwest of The Wildwoods in Emerald Stair
- Blackwing Gloves.
- Tranton Family Greaves- Location is Emerald Stair.Killing Conner Tranton of the Trantons’ bounty target in the Overgrown Homestead in the southwest of The Wildwoods in Emerald Stair.
- Berath’s Blessed Ward- Location is Emerald Stair.Complete the side quest “Elder Offerings” in Emerald Stair and don’t report the food theft.
- Berath’s Blessed Ward- Location is Emerald Stair. Complete the side quest “Elder Offerings” in Emerald Stair and don’t report the food theft.
- Ring of Pain Amplification- Location is Emerald Stair. Obtained from Dolina as a reward for defeating Amadio and the Xaureps in the Fortified Xaurep Camp in the northeastern Grim Wetlands of Emerald Stair.
- Ring of the Founder- Found in the Ancient Grotto, on the body of the Idol of Secret Hatred Totem Piece.
Endgame Weapon and Armor
Slot | Item | Bonus |
---|---|---|
Primary Weapon | Whisper of Exiles | 61 Physical Damage 56 Stun 12 Stamina Cost 6% Critical Hit Chance |
Off Hand Weapon | Eilara’s Grimoire | -20% Ability Cost -15% Cooldown |
Secondary Weapon | Hel’s Tongue | 284 Physical Damage 260 Stun 20 Stamina Cost 3% Critical Hit Chance |
Armor | Councilor’s Garb | +50% Stealth Attack Damage |
Gloves | Sentinel Gloves | +15% Stun |
Boots | Berserker Boots | -10% incoming Fire, Frost, and Shock Damage |
Trinket | Cartographer’s Companion | +1 Dex, +2 Perception |
Ring | Chitin Band | -5% damage from beasts |
Ring | Sigil of the Arcane | +20% ability cast speed. -20% ability Essence cost. |
Location
- Whisper of Exiles (Wand)- Location is Shattersnarp. Acquired from a treasure chest requiring 5 lockpicks at the center of Great Sand Sea.
- Eilara’s Grimoire (Grimoire)- Location is Galawain’s Tusks.Found on the Parapet of the Living Archives in a chest next to The Book of Oaths.
- Hel’s Tongue (Greatsword)- Location is Shatterscarp. Found atop Twin Offerings Overlook, past the Bounty target Xaurip Chief Grithin, and up by the Ancient Memory.
- Cartographer’s Companion- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Found on a dead dwarf near the Bounty target Urvolnau west of Berath’s Bounty.
- Chitin Band- Location is Shatterscarp.Looted from a Skeleton Mage east of the Abandoned Mine.
- Sigil of the Arcane- Location is Shatterscarp.Right next to Captain Tago (Bounty) you’ll see 3 seals that require electricity to open a door. One is to the left facing them, one is directly above, and one is further up above.
- Councilor’s Garb- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Kill Kostya toward the end of the Main Story Quest “Our Dreams Divide Us Still.”
- Sentinel Gloves- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Found in the building on the north side of Ash Forest Outpost. Head up the stairs towards where you rescue Petru, but take a right to jump over and drop into the building.
- Berserker Boots- Location is Galawain’s Tusks. Found in a chest in the Outcast Cave Camp west of Warden’s Rest.
Consumables
Fine Aedyran Mead is a consumable that grants you +2 Perception and +10% Maximum Essence. Krakenhorn is another consumable that allows you to gain 15 Health Regeneration and 15 Essence Regeneration. Raw Bleathorn Milk provides you with 10 Health regeneration. You need to take three points into the survivalist skill in the ranger tree. Once unlocked, you can craft advanced food and buffs that drastically increase your survivability, damage, and regeneration.
FAQs about Grimoire in Avowed
What is the best Grimoire build in Avowed?
The best Grimoire build in Avowed uses Wand as a main-hand weapon, Grimoire as an off-hand weapon, and Great Sword as a Secondary weapon. Intellect, Perception, and Might are the best attributes to invest in for the Grimoire build in Avowed.
Which is the best Background for the Grimoire build?
Arcane Scholar is the best background for the Grimoire build in Avowed because it increases your effectiveness while using spells in a fight.
Which are the best skills for a Grimoire build?
Grimoire Mastery, Grimoire Snap, Blast, Pull of Eora, and Bleeding Cuts are the best skills for the Avowed Grimoire build.
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