This article was sponsored by Rend.
Rend is a competitive survival game about earning a spot in Valhalla so you can join the army of the gods. But that's not to say the path forward is laid out for you. You need to prove yourself as a warrior, but you can do so any way you see fit. Rend gives players countless ways to tailor their character to suit their play style, from skills and spells to equipment and mounts. That being said, building your character all starts with choosing your Archetypes.
Archetypes determine what skills and abilities you have access to, and what bonuses you get when you invest level-up points. There are four Archetypes in all, and you can select two. Once you lock your Archetypes in, you can't change them, so let's look at all four in order.
The Assassin Archetype is for stealthy hunters fond of long-range weapons like bows and crossbows. Assassins excel at dishing out debuffs like poison and weakness, and can deal major damage through critical hits. They're also exceptionally mobile and can even gain the ability to double jump.
Conversely, the Warlord is all about tanking up and intimidating enemies. By buffing their armor and survivability, Warlords are able to survive on the front lines of battle. And by using abilities like Cowering Shout and Intimidation, they can overwhelm enemy forces and create an opening for their allies.
Pathfinders, meanwhile, are resourceful rangers best suited to exploration and survival. Pathfinders are more resistant to the elements, can gather and transport resources more effectively, and are able to support their pets in combat through a variety of abilities. Pathfinder is an excellent Archetype for all-rounders who enjoy a good adventure and should not be overlooked.
Finally, we have the wise, otherworldly Shamans, who are not only the best spell casters, but also have access to many unique and magical abilities. Shamans can conjure a bow out of thin air, summon Spectral Lights to guide teammates through dark caves, and most importantly, enter the Spirit Realm to facilitate taming wild spirits. Shamans also grow more powerful at night, making them especially potent in midnight assaults.
On top of these four Archetypes, there are over a dozen skills which upgrade with use, from Adventuring skills like Woodcraft and Botany to Crafting skills like Construction and Cooking. Skills automatically level as you explore, craft and fight, and when you reach certain level milestones you can choose between several powerful perks. When upgrading your proficiency with the bow, for instance, do you want to draw arrows faster or reclaim stamina on a successful hit? When improving your Butchery, would you rather increase your meat or leather yields? There are countless decisions to make in Rend and when it comes to defining your character there are no wrong answers.
Rend will launch on Steam Early Access on July 31. You can find more information about Rend on its official site.
