One of their starting cards gives them the ability to loot from a hex Gloomhaven sees your group playing through numerous deadly scenarios where your choices and decisions alter the story and its conclusion. And of utmost significance, it determines the pecking order of who gets attacked in your party. Its tempting for that first player or two to start moving and acting, and before they know it theyve been lured into an enemy AOE attack that will now affect many of their teammates. Since its introduction the game has been acclaimed by reviewers, and has been described as one of the best board games ever made. This party composition is very strong but also very unforgiving - you mostly lack on-demand crowd-control and have very little healing, so if you get in trouble by being careless or a few bad flips, you can get heavily punished. At any point you can look through which cards youve flipped and think what are my odds of pulling that Null or 2x attack? and factor that in your decision to go for the big Lost card attacks. Explore. Below I will describe why. as a Tinkerer. Gloomhaven challenges even the most veteran gamers. Now you have a 1 in 4 chance of pulling the Null. Eventually a few players will retire and your party will change over time, and you can then come back to the scenario you abandoned. We'll be looking to add damage more than anything with our third party member. float: right; Brute + Mindthief + Spellweaver. Gloomhaven does not need the fantasy classic; a tank, a healer, a rogue etc. The Spellweaver is a mage type class. As mentioned above, some scenarios require you to run fast and avoid enemies. Positioning is a major part of Gloomhaven starting with the very first scenario. This is because you are expected to reduce damage and shield at almost every scenario and using these cards gives you experience. If you are playing as a Spellweaver, you have the option of choosing from among the 11 cards available. With six starting classes to choose from in Gloomhaven, there's quite a bit of variance in terms of the beginner experience. Pay attention to obstacle, trap, doorway, and difficult terrain placement as they often can be utilized in your favor. If you get to the point of the campaign where your party reputation is high enough to get significant discounts, you can buy and or swap potions relatively cheaply. But what if you could extend that another round for free? Actual party comp is hard but the best character for each party size in my opinion is. The Brute has a But usually you want to summon with a late-early pattern. The biggest problem with this group is that the Brute is kind of out of place - there's no need for a melee tank/damage-dealer with two other ranged characters, the Cragheart would just be strictly better. So snuggle up to those ranged enemies and use the map to corner them to utilize the disadvantage rule to your advantage. Although it is possible, and even fun, to add another character, it does come with a whole batch of added challenges and risks. Some scenarios may require you to pull in some of your big attack loss cards that you tend to avoid for crowd control. Tinkerer - The Spellweaver provides less consistent damage than the Scoundrel or Mindthief and this is a bit of a problem. And Craghearts also possess minor healing abilities. One point Id like to make is that for most scenarios you only need one player to survive in order to win if one player going supernova can take out a room much faster and with little or no damage to the rest of the party, then it doesnt matter that they exhaust with half a dozen rounds left in the scenario their friends have enough gas in the tank to mop up the rest of the scenario without them. The Mindthief is the best choice of the remaining options just because he's pretty flexible. Scoundrel - if anyone has ever played arena in WoW, this would be the equivalent of running a 3 DPS comp. However, the damage caused is only average and a craghearts abilities may also cause damage to allies sometimes. terms of causing damage. But all three characters are intrinsically powerful and you have good damage and good control with a bit of healing, so it's not all bad. All trademarks are property of their respective owners in the US and other countries. Keep an eye so you dont fall behind the others. Is Fleet: The Dice Game a lucrative catch, or does it get lost in the sea of roll and writes? position: relative; Verdict: an awkward combo in the early levels but it can still work well enough with just a slightly handicapped Cragheart. /* Last tag covers anything over one higher than the previous max-size cap. } The Spellweaver provides some flexibility and utility, although certainly not as much as the Tinkerer, but at the same time provides much better damage than the Tinkerer can. Patreon for early access to videos https://www.patreon.com/mandatoryquestGrab some sweet merchhttps://www.mandatoryquest.comGH tools and resources spreadsheethttps://bit.ly/3me4u6pJoin the community discord https://discord.gg/NY84EeTFollow me on Twitchhttps://www.twitch.tv/mandatoryquestCheck out my socialshttps://twitter.com/MandatoryQuest00:00 Building a good party07:43 Starting characters16:03 Unlockable characters (SPOILERS)25:49 My favourite parties31:40 Outro#gloomhaven #boardgames #digitalboardgames #gloomhavendigital You have a 1 in 10 chance of pulling the Null (or the 2x). This game has been a favorite among the members of the gaming community since the time it was released in 2017. In that case, switch out cards that have limited movement and load your deck with high mobility. As you synthesize all of the above tips, you may discover that your positioning isnt just quite right, your teammates have a better play in a spot you were intending to be, or the enemy modifier deck shows something that would put you at great disadvantage. I am wondering if any of you have went with a party that may be more powerful than this one. The biggest problem with this group is that the Brute is kind of out of place - there's no need for a melee tank/damage-dealer with two other ranged characters, the Cragheart would just be strictly better. Scenarios are the 'levels' in the Gloomhaven series. The Cragheart would rather the Brute be a ranged ally. As you become more experienced you may not need to have a discuss plans phase. Verdict: by far the worst Brute-Scoundrel combo, not recommended. Many people focus on the "silence" of selecting your initiative. Meeple Mountain believes that board gaming is the gateway to building better relationships. Brute + Spellweaver + Scoundrel. Scoundrel - Would you like some damage with your damage? First, the attack modifier deck can help inform you of statistical odds of success when going for big attacks. But there are so many perks which one do you choose? A Brute who plays a Lost card before their first rest loses 4 turns in the game, compared to if they placed that same Lost card toward the end of the game, where they might only lose 1 turn. Mindthief - the Mindthief is a great partner for the Brute. And if you really want to frustrate melee enemies, have a tank stand in a doorway while the rest of your party throws ranged attacks from behind. But, guess what? Verdict: great and easy to use. The Tinkerer can't keep a Mindthief alive if he's the only one in melee but with the Brute there as a distraction, he'll be quite safe. Using a late initiative when far from enemies can often allow them to move within range so that you can strike when its your turn. Many ranged enemies have stationary attacks or low movement. Scoundrel is a rogue character best suited for single target attacks. Skip Navigation Accessibility Feedback Toggle Sidebar Show Menu. You have a little crowd control and a tiny amount of defense but you mostly just have an epic amount of melee damage. Oh, and speaking of damage, where did it go? I would recommend this party the least of any Brute+Tinkerer party. Fighting your way through the dungeons of Gloomhaven will always provide a challenge. Table Of Contents What You Will Need to Add Player 5 attacks. If, on the other hand, you sometimes help other people but at some other times act like an a**hole, you reputation will tend to stay near 0,and won't help you unlock anything interesting. Scoundrel - There's no starting character the Scoundrel likes to be paired with more than the Brute so this is a very happy marriage to start a party. While we preferred the Scoundrel slightly when we had the Tinkerer for support, with a Spellweaver in the back instead, the added control of the Mindthief is slightly more welcome. The only thing really going for this combo is that both characters are intrinsically very powerful (as opposed to someone like Scoundrel or Tinkerer who both require allies to be effective) and have nice, large health pools, which never hurts. wise that you trade this card for something more useful. In fact Overall, this party is fine but has some weaknesses. Just one example are the cards that let you do something if an ally is adjacent to you. its done with. A Spellweaver has a limited amount casting spells using the elements. This character is of the supporting class and keeps your team going. The other combinations which arent mentioned here fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. Your party will have different strengths and weaknesses depending on the classes you have. You will have to pray your enemies are next to an ally. Spellweaver - the Spellweaver is a half way between the safety of the Tinkerer and the power/risk of the Mindthief (up next). Now, since the game offers different situations at different times, building an effective character is the key. It also determines when some abilities activate and conditions wear off. Youll know where safe spots are to stand by turns end. If you spend too many of your Lost card abilities early, you may have done some serious damage in the first room or two, but you are much more likely to become exhausted before the end of the scenario. Best of the Best: B-5 Hatchet's personal mission 24 Warding the Void: A-3 Cragheart - the Cragheart has a lot of negative synergy with melee allies (obstacles and ally-damage). I've played the online version as brute/spellweaver up to level 7. I have played the physical version 3 or 4 scenerios as spellweaver. The Mindthief is an interesting and complex character to play. It has been called the highest rated board game of all time and rightly so. Every board game hobbyist has heard of Gloomhaven. Lastly, positioning is of utmost importance when you prepare to long rest. She is another example of versatility in the ways she can be played. Brute + Scoundrel + Tinkerer. As with the Tinkerer+Brute base, the Mindthief brings welcome melee damage that can safely close on enemies thanks to his Brute ally. Note: This is ONLY to be used to report spam, advertising, and problematic (harassment, fighting, or rude) posts. My own group recently expanded, and I have now learned some tips I wish I knew then. away. Come on over and I'll pour you some Cheerwine. Negative effects from road events are not prevented by perks such as "Ignore negative scenario effects". Wow, this is such a great article. Even though the scenarios and character backstories are pre-determined, players choose which missions to take on and how to react to random. Feel proud if you are playing the Tinkerer. The Scoundrel brings pure damage and not much else but that's exactly what you want with the two characters you already have. As a Spellweaver, try Lastly, this is also a good strategy to employ when new characters join the party. Mindthief - Another really good party composition, this time playing off of the Brute rather than the Spellweaver. As you know, Gloomhaven is basically finely balanced chaos. Its good to know how each enemy will behave because you might need to say lets not go for that one or youre going to get hammered this round.. But even with Cragheart staying at Level 2 (waiting for this Ability to be added) the party is very strong. Dont lose your healing cards early in the game. I enjoy playing with 4 hero party. Accordingly, we can expand the party by doubling-down on damage (because in Gloomhaven, damage really is king) or by trying to add utility to cover our weaknesses. of 8 cards. And most of the Mindthiefs cards (7 of 13) include But dont hear me say that you shouldnt use those Lost abilities. Now that you have the basic insights from this Gloomhaven guide, gather your friends and get started! Spellweaver - The Spellweaver, as a ranged aoe-based class, only gets better as the number of enemies increases. width: 40%; Players sometimes forget that all level 1 cards and X cards are always available no matter your character level. Sign me up for Meeple Mountain's newsletter! Cragheart - Spellweaver + Cragheart is the best 2p composition, and Spellweaver + Brute was certainly top 3, so it should come as no surprise how good this holy trifecta is. When in doubt I often select cards with Lost abilities, counting it a tragedy I didnt get to use them. Scoundrel - Pretty much the same as Mindthief above only much worse. (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), Players may be tempted to think that they always need to get the jump on the enemy and go early. Some minor spoilers if you haven't hit prosperity 2. So far weve discussed strategies related to beginning your game: checking the objective, setting up your hand of cards, utilizing initiative, and selecting abilities. If you couldnt already tell, theres a lot to consider when approaching your battle plan. Read more, The 2022-2023 Guide To Board Game Conventions, Looking to attend a board game convention? Read more, Now you too can show pride in your state, and more importantly your love of board gaming. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Most city events range from neutral to beneficial, but most road events generally (but not always) come with negative effects. I recently started a solo campaign and was curious about this. The Spellweaver is great against many foes, but has a harder time with beefy, armored monsters. You are capable of drawing up elements and then turning them into deadly weapons. Verdict: much the same as the above, only very slightly worse. And this obviously among the classes. Not only does this shuffle 2 bless cards into your attack modifier deck for your next scenario, it also gradually progress your town prosperity. Verdict: deadly but requires precise play, can be very punishing. Starting off, Gloomhaven is still a role playing game but there are decisions that you can make to improve the party's overall campaign success rate. SW and CH were already so good in 2p and they only get better together in 3p. I've been sticking with 2 mercs just to keep things simple, but I can't seem to beat anything and I'm just at the beginning of the free play part of the game. But from what Ive observed, this can carry into the rest of the round and lead to less than optimal results. But those heal cards may not be of as much value in the late-game when youre concentrating on finishing off the last monster or two. If I were to rank the top most valuable skills to learn in Gloomhaven, it might be managing your initiative. Brute + Scoundrel + Spellweaver. body#layout .sidebar-container { movement abilities in conjunction with abilities like stunning or healing. abilities and then it gets easier to collect points and level up. With 2 mercs, you can more easily wrap your brain around "okay, with the first merc I'll do this, then that will put him out of the way so the second merc can do that." Initiative is not merely about turn order. Your initiative has a number of implications: it determines when you, your allies, and monsters move and act. She is capable of manipulating the elements with Gloomhaven to ward off enemies who can summon an ally attack. To inflict even the least damage upon your enemy, you will need the situation to support you. But I would rather keep cards that can have repeated use and cycle through my discard pile. Meeple Mountain uses Amazon affiliate links to generate revenue. These two approach enemies and the enemies just die. Still, you do need to be careful when playing this party as you often won't have enough to recover from really bad spots. My party in the moment is Spellweaver / Cragheart. Spellweaver - The Spellweaver provides less consistent damage than the Scoundrel or Mindthief and this is a bit of a problem. 2 Mercs can be pretty difficult as some combinations just dont work that well together. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And the slimmer your deck is, the higher odds you have of pulling those desired cards. However, the attack she perpetuates is only average when and if the The best combo: Spellweaver + Cragheart. However, if you are standing closest to the enemy and your allies are a bit out of reach, you may become an enemy pincushion while trying to catch some Zs. You can! cards effectively gain the experience from the buff cards. A Brute is not complex, your abilities are pretty simple and understood. I know that at certain times having a little peace and quiet is nice. But you shouldn't let that put you off. The Brute-Tinkerer duo lacks damage and while the Spellweaver can provide a lot of it in bursts, there will be downtime that can cause some problems. I gave Gloomhaven well-deserved praise upon its release in 2017. This rogue is more like a ninja with her ability to be invisible, spread poison and deal out high damage at the right moment. Brute + Cragheart + Mindthief. Have everyone share what abilities they were thinking of using. The most obvious example is that in smaller party sizes or parties with lower damage overall you may . As mentioned above, knowing what the enemy will do can help you know if its safe to proceed with that move-attack you were planning or if you will get pummeled because you were left in the open. Conclusion - Gloomhaven Summoner Guide - Ranged Damage. If your strategy isnt much of a defender and your focus is not primarily on mitigating damage, you can use him to deal damage to your enemies. Required fields are marked *. Enhancements allow for personal choice and allow for plenty of room to experiment with different playstyles. gains. It does not excel at tanking like a brute but can put out a lot of ranged damage. Tinkerer and Brute gives the party excellent stability but is definitely lacking in damage. Remember that basic move 2 and attack 2 feature on all of your cards. However, they dont give you the ability to be super quick. Now your stamina is permanently decreased. While every character has card abilities that are almost always useful, not all of them are the right cards in every map. Cragheart is best at versatility. Craghearts can loot at a normal Im probably going to start a new game and im wondering what combo currently is best. The Cragheart will just feel like a worse Spellweaver most of the time in this party as his allied-damage is a big drawback with 2 melee allies and his obstacles will often cause more harm than good. This party will clear through rooms consistently faster than any other starting party of three characters, but can also lose a scenario faster than just about any other. A long rest already gives you the advantage of initiative 99, which means your allies will likely draw enemy attacks before you. Plan your moves and you can make most of your abilities. Brute + Spellweaver + Mindthief. Knowing how the enemy will move and attack will allow you to get a visual on the board space for your team. Verdict: a very good party. If the scenario says anything other than this, you may need to pay a bit more attention. Also, Craghearts hand of 11 gives it good stamina. deal with the cards like a pro. Use that information to thin out a crowd. Youll know which enemies are vulnerable and which ones arent. Copyright 2023, Gloomhaven Starting Classes Symbols and Overviews. Cragheart has average stamina with a hand limit of 11 cards. Gloomhaven is a cooperative board game for one to four players designed by Isaac Childres and published by Cephalofair Games in 2017. Its attacks are ranged but be used for tanking style combat too. The simple Brute is really powerful when it comes to tanking. Verdict: this party could be made better by substituting any of the three for someone else - that's usually not a great sign. The versatility of this character along with her power to heal makes her one of the best preferred gloomhaven characters. The Tinkerer can move around Verdict: insane damage but can be insanely punishing if careless - absolutely not recommended for beginners.