assassin's creed odyssey character builds

With so many abilities to choose from in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, creating your ideal style of play can be more difficult than you might expect. Perhaps you have a penchant for devastating melee combat? Maybe you want to be invincible? Or are you all about stealth, striking from the shadows and then disappearing as if you were never there? There are a lot of options to consider when it comes to character builds.

In this guide, we're going to detail a number of characters builds that we've found to be effective. Each combines abilities that work well together, creating specific play styles. What's more, these builds can be easily altered and reshaped to suit your own personal needs. The hope is that they at least provide a little inspiration.

If you need advice on which abilities to unlock, be sure to check out our full abilities guide.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey Character Builds - How they work

To start things off, let's quickly break down how our character builds work.

In Assassin's Creed Odyssey, you have two sets of ability slots: one for melee abilities, and another for ranged abilities. Each has four slots, so you can equip eight abilities in total. This guide will recommend up to eight abilities for each build.

On top of active abilities (which are essentially special moves), there are also a number of passive abilities that you can unlock. Generally speaking, all of these abilities are worth unlocking no matter your play style, but we'll still list which ones are most relevant to each character build.

It's also worth noting that later in the game, you unlock a second set of melee ability slots. You can jump to this second set by switching weapons. However, for the sake of keeping things relatively simple, we'll be ignoring the second set for this guide. That said, the second melee set can allow for a quick change in play style, so you can always combine one character build with another and effectively switch between them depending on the situation.

assassin's creed odyssey best character builds

Assassin's Creed Odyssey Character Builds

This is where we get into the meat of the guide. Below, you'll find a bunch of Assassin's Creed Odyssey character builds that we've tried and tested, each of them bringing something unique to the table. Again, these aren't definitive builds by any means, but they do provide solid, reliable gameplay styles.

assassin's creed odyssey best abilities

Eagle Eye Sniper

Play style: The Eagle Eye Sniper build is all about tagging your targets and killing them from a distance before they even know where you are. It focuses on Hunter abilities.

Recommended weapon: Your bow is your best friend here, so go with any melee weapon that you're comfortable with.

Recommended abilities:

Bow abilities

  • Predator Shot - An obvious choice, this is the best sniping ability in the game, allowing you to take out enemies from huge distances with great accuracy. (Hunter)
  • Rain of Destruction - When it's time to kill more than one foe, Rain of Destruction is your go-to ability for putting down multiple enemies who are grouped together. (Hunter)
  • Devastating Shot - Perfect for targets who are a little closer to your position. A headshot with Devastating Shot is usually enough to kill any regular enemy. (Hunter)
  • Ghost Arrows of Artemis - A deadly skill that's ideal for taking out hard-to-reach targets due to its ability to bypass walls. (Hunter)

Melee abilities

  • Spartan Kick - As a sniper, you're going to be spending a lot of time perched on top of cliffs or walls, so with Spartan Kick, you've got a solid defensive option. If an enemy gets too close, simply kick them and let gravity do the rest. (Warrior)
  • Ring of Chaos - If you find yourself surrounded, Ring of Chaos can stun your aggressors, giving you either time to escape, or time to line up your next shot. (Warrior)
  • Vanish - A great panic move that lets you flee from danger if your foes get too close. (Assassin)
  • Call to Arms - Summoning one of your lieutenants can keep the heat off you while you fill your enemies full of holes. (Assassin)

Passive abilities

  • Sixth Sense - Ideally you won't be close enough to get spotted in the first place, but Sixth Sense can be a big help if you happen to get caught out. It gives you a chance to kill whoever's found you before they call for help or attack. (Hunter)
  • Archery Master - An obvious choice. You want to be dealing as much damage with your bow and Hunter abilities as you can. (Hunter)
assassin's creed odyssey character builds

Berserker

Play style: The Berserker build is all about dealing big damage with heavy weapons, while also being difficult to kill. It focuses on Warrior abilities.

Recommended weapon: High raw damage weapons like clubs and heavy blades.

Recommended abilities:

Melee abilities

  • Battlecry of Ares - Increasing your damage output across the board, Battlecry of Ares should be used as often as possible. Its invincibility lets you wade into the fray without fear. (Warrior)
  • Flaming Attacks - This ability bolsters your damage output further. (Warrior)
  • Ring of Chaos - As a Berserker, you're almost always going to be in the thick of battle, so having a reliable ability that hits all surrounding enemies is a must. (Warrior)
  • Second Wind - You're probably going to be tanking through a few hits here and there as a Berserker, so it's best to have a healing option in case you're at death's door and Battlecry of Ares is cooling off. (Warrior)

Bow abilities

  • Spread Shot - Using your bow like it's a shotgun, Spread Shot can tear through enemies, thinning the ranks when you have a bit of breathing room. (Hunter)

Passive abilities

  • Weapons Master - More damage for all of your Warrior abilities. A must. (Warrior)
  • Gear Master - Less damage from your foes. Another must, considering how often you'll be in direct combat. (Warrior)
  • Fire Mastery - Boost your Flaming Attacks ability, making it even deadlier. (Warrior)
  • Charged Heavy Attack - Charged heavy attacks break guards and can send enemies flying. What kind of Berserker doesn't rely on brute strength? (Warrior)
assassin's creed odyssey hunter builds

Ultimate Assassin

Play style: The Ultimate Assassin build is all about... Well, being the ultimate assassin. You kill your enemies silently from the shadows, and then disappear. It focuses on Assassin abilities.

Recommended weapon: Something fast and deadly, like daggers or regular swords.

Recommended abilities:

Melee abilities

  • Rush Assassination - Assassinate your enemies from a distance. Great for finishing off a final target. (Assassin)
  • Vanish - If your foes get too close, a quick Vanish lets you dart back to your nearest hiding place, resetting the situation. (Assassin)
  • Call to Arms - Call in one of your trusty lieutenants to keep your enemies busy, all while you sneak up on an occupied target or retreat back into the shadows. (Assassin)

Bow abilities

  • Predator Shot - Perfect for assassinating from a distance. (Hunter)

Passive abilities

  • Revelation - Great for picking up enemies that you may not have noticed. Activate it when you're not quite sure if there are any hidden enemies near your location. (Assassin)
  • Critical Assassination - If you have the adrenaline, Critical Assassination will greatly increase the damage of your assassinations. (Assassin)
  • Stealth Master - Less noise, less chance of getting caught. (Assassin)
  • Shadow Assassin - More damage for your assassinations -- an obvious choice. (Assassin)
assassin's creed odyssey warrior builds

Odd Job Mercenary

Play style: The Odd Job Mercenary does just about everything, relying on Hunter, Warrior, and Assassin abilities.

Recommended weapon: Whatever you're comfortable with using.

Recommended abilities:

Melee abilities

  • Second Wind - Instant healing is useful for any build, but it's especially helpful when you're having to adapt. (Warrior)
  • Shield Breaker - You never know when a shield-bearing enemy will arrive to ruin your fun. Make sure your enemy never has an advantage with Shield Breaker. (Warrior)
  • Rush Assassination - Whether it's fighting in rough battles or assassinating targets with your magic spear, the Odd Job Mercenary does it all. (Assassin)
  • Spartan Kick - Spartan Kick's a great all-round ability, and the fact that it's a non-lethal attack means you can use it to recruit some mercenary mates. (Warrior)

Bow abilities

  • Multi-Shot - Great for crowd control or taking out multiple enemies at once. (Hunter)
  • Devastating Shot - A versatile ability that can be used both in and out of combat, thinning the enemy numbers. (Hunter)

Passive abilities

  • Revelation - Again, Odd Job Mercenary is a bit of everything. Keep track of your immediate surroundings with this ability. (Assassin)
  • Charged Heavy Attack - Give combat an extra dimension with more powerful heavy attacks. It's all about options. (Warrior)
assassin's creed odyssey assassin builds

Commander

Play style: The Commander lets others do a lot of the fighting for you.

Recommended weapon: Anything you feel comfortable with using.

Recommended abilities:

Melee abilities

  • Spartan Kick - As a commander, you'll want to recruit the strongest allies, humans and animals alike. Spartan Kick is a non-lethal attack that lets you do this. (Warrior)
  • Call to Arms - Bring in one of your lieutenants to fight alongside you. (Assassin)
  • Bull Rush - Deal damage and knock down most enemies. This leaves them open for you and your allies to deal additional damage. (Warrior)
  • Shield Breaker - Your allies can struggle against shield-bearing opponents, so this ability lets you even the playing field. (Warrior)

Bow abilities

  • Devastating Shot - A versatile ability that suits the Commander. Lets you finish off wounded foes or soften up enemies for your allies. (Hunter)

Passive abilities

  • Beast Master - Tame animals that you've knocked out and have them travel with you. Your trusty ally can be a valuable asset. (Hunter)
assassin's creed odyssey hunter warrior assassin builds

Pain Bringer

Play style: Cripple your opponents with the Pain Bringer build, softening them up for their inevitable demise.

Recommended weapon: Something fast, like daggers or swords. Faster weapons let you inflict status effects like poisoning or burning more quickly.

Recommended abilities:

Melee abilities

  • Venomous Attacks - Not only does poison damage your opponent, it also weakens them, lowering their attack and defence. (Assassin)
  • Flaming Attacks - Poison not quite doing it for you? Try setting your enemies on fire instead, swapping debilitation for more damage over time. (Warrior)
  • Shield Breaker - Rob some enemies of their best asset, stripping them of their shields and leaving them much softer targets. (Warrior)
  • Ring of Chaos - Stunning multiple opponents with one attack leaves them all open to big damage from your Venemous and Flaming attacks. (Warrior)

Bow abilities

  • Devastating Shot - Devastating Shot does big damage, but don't forget that it also increases an opponent's poison and fire build up, making them more susceptible to the status effects. (Hunter)
  • Multi-Shot - With so much passive damage to go around thanks to your poison and fire, Multi-Shot can be a great way of finishing off multiple enemies at once. (Hunter)

Passive abilities

  • Weapons Master - Keep stacking that damage. (Warrior)
  • Fire Mastery - Increase the power of your Flaming Attacks. (Warrior)
  • Poison Mastery - Increase the power of your Venomous Attacks. (Assassin)
assassin's creed odyssey character builds

The Fastest Blade in Greece

Play style: The Fastest Blade in Greece is all about speed, speed, speed, killing enemies with lighting fast attacks, and leaving them flailing at thin air.

Recommended weapon: Weapons with fast attacks, like daggers or swords.

Recommended abilities:

Melee abilities

  • Bull Rush - A fast attack for a fast build that does good, reliable damage. (Warrior)
  • Rush Assassination - Teleport in or out of combat, killing an enemy before they even realise where you've disappeared to. (Assassin)
  • Slow Time - Move like lightning as your opponents are left comparatively motionless. The bread and butter for this build. (Assassin)
  • Hero Strike - A quick and easy attack to use, good for finishing off opponents. (Assassin)

Bow abilities

  • Spread Shot - Spread Shot works well with Slow Time, allowing you to pump your enemies full of arrows before they can even react. (Hunter)

Passive abilities

  • Weapons Master - More melee damage, an obvious choice when the build is all about dishing out big punishment in bursts. (Warrior)
  • Archery Master - Spread Shot can use up a lot of your arrows, so Archery Master is a great choice. Not to mention the damage increase. (Hunter)
assassin's creed odyssey character builds

Unkillable

Play style: The Unkillable build is all about maximising suvivability, allowing you to fight and live through even the most brutal battles.

Recommended weapon: Something reliable so that you aren't caught out during longer animations. Swords are a good choice, as are spears, since you can sit at a safer distance while stabbing.

Recommended abilities:

Melee abilities

  • Second Wind - To survive you need health, and to restore health, you need Second Wind. (Warrior)
  • Ring of Chaos - If the going gets especially tough and you're surrounded, Ring of Chaos can be a lifesaver, stunning your foes and giving you a chance to reposition. (Warrior)
  • Battlecry of Ares - You're invincible while Battlecry of Ares is active, a perfect fit for this build. Use it for defence rather than offence. (Warrior)
  • Slow Time - Slowing time is fantastic for defence as well as offence. While active, you can easily avoid incoming attacks. (Assassin)

Bow abilities

  • Multi-Shot - Keep your foes off you with the crowd control of Multi-Shot. (Hunter)

Passive abilities

  • Gear Master - More armour makes you a lot harder to kill. (Warrior)
assassin's creed odyssey character builds

Battle Master

Play style: Battle Master is a straightforward, damage-dealing build that relies on multiple active abilities used in rotation. Never stop fighting and make the most of your special moves.

Recommended weapon: Whatever you feel comfortable with using.

Recommended abilities:

Melee abilities

  • Bull Rush - Your way of getting in on the opponent. (Warrior)
  • Shield Breaker - For when your other moves are ineffective against enemies with shields. (Warrior)
  • Hero Strike - A quick attack that you use when Bull Rush is in cooldown. (Assassin)
  • Ring of Chaos - Great for when there are too many enemies to single one opponent out. Start your offence with this when the going gets tough. (Warrior)

Bow abilities

  • Devastating Shot - When there's a bit of space between you and your opponent, consider Devastating Shot instead of Bull Rush, especially if there are multiple enemies. (Hunter)
  • Spread Shot - A solid option at closer ranges and your melee abilities are cooling down. (Hunter)

Passive abilities

  • Weapons Master - More damage from all of your Warrior abilities, which you're using as often as possible. (Warrior)
  • Archery Master - More damage from your Hunter abilities, which you're using in rotation. (Hunter)

Looking for more help with Assassin's Creed Odyssey? Check out or full skills and abilities guide for advice on how to spend your skill points. Or see our full mercenaries guide for tips on how to get the best out of the game's toughest enemies. And if you're brand new to the game, take a look at our beginner's guide for useful hints and tricks.

For smaller guides, here's how to drop bodies in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and here's how to switch between day and night. If you want to get stronger, here's how to level up in Assassin's Creed Odyssey.