Blog

Feb 22, 2025

Avowed's huge 66GB update includes major improvements for the game's whole progression system, along with key bug fixes and buffs for companions | PC Gamer

Patch 1.2.2 is surprisingly extensive for a launch day update. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. As I was playing through Avowed

Patch 1.2.2 is surprisingly extensive for a launch day update.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

As I was playing through Avowed ahead of release, probably my least favourite element in an otherwise very charming RPG was the tier system. Basically every weapon or piece of armour has a tier, and so do enemies—and this is what determines relative power, rather than levels, almost like a simplified form of Destiny's gear score.

As it was, using a piece of equipment lower tier than a foe meant that blows practically bounced off them, even if you'd already given it several upgrades. The result was an annoyingly stop-start progression, where you'd suddenly hit a wall of feeling completely powerless (often after moving into a new area) and either have to swap your gear around with whatever random higher tier equipment you'd found, or scrabble around for rare upgrade materials to get yourself back in business. In an otherwise smooth and accessible action-RPG, it was an unwelcome wrinkle.

Avowed unique weapons: Grab these earlyTotem of Rightful Rulership: Find all the piecesIntimidating Feline Codpiece: Treasure map solutionKai romance: Soldier through togetherAvowed Ygwulf: How to handle the assassin

The good news? They've already fixed it, or at least made serious improvements. The newly released patch, 1.2.2, softens the whole system, making the jump from one tier to another much less severe and better accounting for how close your weapon is to the next tier. Where before enemies at a higher tier would receive a huge defence bonus against you and have no reaction at all to your attacks, now those bonuses only kick in if there's a major gulf in upgrades between you, and enemies at least flinch when hit with a lower tier weapon instead of ignoring it altogether.

I've not been able to test the changes exhaustively myself yet, but I had a go at exploring Shatterscarp with lower tier weapons, and it did feel much better. My "Fine" pistol still does noticeably lower damage to "Exceptional" enemies, but it doesn't feel completely useless anymore, and I can win fights with it just with determination and good tactics rather than a backpack full of grenades and healing potions.

That's a huge boon to respeccing, too. Previously after a certain point in the game, switching up your build became a pain, because you'd often lack the materials to get your new gear up to snuff. Now even if trying out a new style means going down a tier, it's not a dealbreaker, and you can still have fun even when you're saving up for upgrades. I think tonight I might be giving Rob's Dishonored rogue-mage build a try after all…

It also helps that the patch is giving companions a bit of a buff. Previously, they could feel a bit paper-thin, going down too easy in battle. Obsidian's tweaked their health up, and also made them gain back more health when you revive them—both welcome changes that will make them a bit better at compensating for any weaknesses in your loadout.

Beyond that, there are lots of bug fixes, particularly for broken quests. Anyone who's been stuck in Delemgan Glade for example can rejoice, as the bramble doors will now open properly for you instead of leaving you to spend the rest of the game in the queen's throne room. It's a pretty extensive list, though I will say several issues I've run into seem to remain untouched—I still can't turn in the spider bounty in Dawnshore for example because the trophy never spawned, and the captive ranger in Emerald Stair with a conspicuous exclamation mark over his head still refuses to give me his sidequest. But given how quickly this pretty major patch came along, it seems like Obsidian's moving fast—maybe they'll get to those sooner rather than later.

Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.

The fixes also include a look at the Blast ability for wands, which thanks to a lack of visual or audio effects had previously appeared to do nothing at all. Turns out it was giving you those explosive attacks all along, but now you'll actually be able to see them happening, which is definitely a bonus.

I will say, it would have been nice if players in the advance access period had been given a bit of a heads up that this patch was on the way. Paying extra to play a less polished version does rather come with the territory with these dumb collector's edition play early perks, but I do sympathise with anyone who put nearly a week into the game already only to find out the launch day patch overhauls the whole progression system. Us games journalists are used to that kind of thing, but it's a bit uncomfortable seeing it happen to regular players too now.

Still, the important thing is that the game's already changing for the better. Now I just need an update to deal with the out of control bear population.

Here are the full patch notes:

Community-Requested Fixes

Missing NPCs

Quest & Exploration Fixes

Companion & NPC Improvements

Merchants & Economy

Crashes & Major Issues

Quest & Area Design

Systems & Gameplay Improvements

Audio Improvements

Visual & Art Fixes

User Interface (UI) & Controls

Formerly the editor of PC Gamer magazine (and the dearly departed GamesMaster), Robin combines years of experience in games journalism with a lifelong love of PC gaming. First hypnotised by the light of the monitor as he muddled through Simon the Sorcerer on his uncle’s machine, he’s been a devotee ever since, devouring any RPG or strategy game to stumble into his path. Now he's channelling that devotion into filling this lovely website with features, news, reviews, and all of his hottest takes.

RPGs like Avowed need to stop letting me steal everything that isn't nailed down

I got murdered by the ancient Swiss in this life sim about being Julius Caesar's top guy

XCOM's creator wants to know where XCOM 3 is just as badly as you do: 'I'm sure there's an audience for it'