Building an effective party is crucial in Underkeep. This classic tile-based RPG emphasizes strategic selection as players have only four character slots to create their team, which includes different classes, races, and abilities. The choices made at this stage deeply influence the gameplay since players cannot change a character’s class or race later.
To achieve success, understanding each class’s strengths, the races that complement them, and key skills that enhance performance is essential. The following information details the optimal party, race combinations, class rankings, and upgrade recommendations for skills in Underkeep.
As you set out on your epic journey, it’s super important to get a grip on how each class functions, which races mesh well with them, and what skills are worth investing your precious upgrade points into. This guide is here to help you navigate the best initial party composition, the ideal race pairings, class hierarchies, and the key skills you should prioritize leveling up in Underkeep. So gear up and let’s make your adventure as thrilling as it can be!
Underkeep Character Creation Guide
Underkeep allows players to form a party of four heroes. While premade characters are available, crafting your own team presents a superior level of control over the setup. In character creation, players can select each hero’s class, race, name, and visual style.
Although players cannot manually adjust starting attributes, they can reroll these stats until a satisfactory combination is achieved. This can significantly impact gameplay, as different classes benefit from varying attributes, making good starting stats crucial for a smoother adventure. Underkeep features seven distinct classes:
- Warrior
- Thief
- Paladin
- Ranger
- Voidcaller
- Wizard
- Blood Mage
While you can’t go in and manually tweak those starting attributes yourself, you do have the option to reroll their initial stats until you land on something that really clicks with you. This part is crucial, as each class shines with distinct attributes, and having strong starting stats can truly make your adventure much smoother. In Underkeep, you’re looking at seven exciting classes to dive into:
- Warrior
- Thief
- Paladin
- Ranger
- Voidcaller
- Wizard
- Blood Mage
When it comes to most classes, you’ll find them tapping into Stamina or Mana for their skills. But the Blood Mage is a unique contender, relying on Bones instead of the usual Mana. It’s a bit of a sacrifice—when you run low on Bones, you can actually give up some of your health to keep those abilities flowing. Despite this risky twist, the Blood Mage stands out as a powerhouse on the front lines, blending fierce physical strikes with dark curses and nasty bleeding effects. Talk about an intriguing playstyle!
Underkeep Class Tier List
S Tier
Warrior
Warriors represent a top-tier choice for the frontline, combining high durability with strong physical damage. They serve as essential tanks, capable of absorbing enemy attacks to shield weaker party members.
Ranger
The Ranger is adept at ranged damage and applying debuffs, making it viable for significant damage output. However, maintain a back-row position as their low durability exposes them to threats.
Wizard
Specialized in elemental magic and area spells, Wizards can efficiently deal with multiple enemies. Careful resource management is necessary, as their Mana depletes rapidly amidst intense battles.
S Tier
B Tier
Paladin
Paladins combine strength with abilities that excel against undead foes, requiring management of Zeal to maximize capability. Although not as directly lethal as Warriors, they prove valuable with proper skill upgrades.
C Tier
Voidcaller
Functioning as a healer or defensive support, the Voidcaller maintains the party’s health but lacks damage capability compared to other classes. While it aids in reducing reliance on healing items, it fills crucial support gaps in a balanced party.
Ranger
The Ranger is your go-to class for ranged damage dealing, specializing in inflicting pain on enemies while applying those sweet debuffs. While this class can dish out some serious damage, it doesn’t quite have the resilience to withstand a flurry of direct hits. Make sure to keep your Ranger positioned in the back row, using their skills to whittle down enemy strength before your other heroes go in for the finish. It’s all about strategy, so keep that distance and let the arrows fly!
Wizard
The Wizard class is truly a master of elemental magic and is renowned for unleashing devastating area-of-effect spells. They’re adept at handling crowds of foes, making them a top pick when facing groups. But here’s the catch: Wizards tend to burn through their Mana reserves pretty quickly. To keep your Wizard in fighting shape, you’ll want to be mindful of their resource management, ensuring you have enough Mana ready for those crucial moments in battle.
A Tier
Blood Mage
Ah, the Blood Mage—one of the most fascinating choices in Underkeep. This class seamlessly melds melee combat with an array of curses and bleeding effects, while also offering solid defensive capabilities, making it an adaptable contender on the front lines. The Blood Pact ability is particularly thrilling, as it allows you to send damage right back to your attackers. Plus, with Leechcraft, you can regain some health every time you deal blood damage, giving you that extra edge in sticky situations.
With the proper gear and skill enhancements, a Blood Mage can become an incredibly resilient force on the battlefield. One of the best parts? They aren’t reliant on traditional Mana and Stamina potions, making them a bit more independent in prolonged fights. It’s all about embracing the unique mechanics they offer!
Thief
The Thief class shines when it comes to delivering critical hits, inflicting bleeding damage, and slipping away from danger. When you master the synergy of its skills and debilitative effects, you’ll find that it can unleash tremendous damage on your foes. However, optimizing this class requires a bit of strategizing, particularly when leveraging poison, bleeding, and other detrimental effects against your enemies. Take your time to prepare your setup, and you’ll see the Thief truly come to life in battle.
B Tier
Paladin
The Paladin is a robust combatant that brings a host of valuable abilities, particularly when facing off against those pesky undead and nefarious demons. Its powers revolve around Zeal, which you can activate to enhance its skills, so it’s crucial to be strategic about managing these abilities during fights. By doing so, you can make the most out of this class in various battle scenarios, ensuring to stay one step ahead of your enemies.
While the Paladin might not offer the same level of straightforward damage output and durability as the Warrior, it definitely holds its own as a solid choice. By focusing on upgrading its buffs and damage-dealing abilities, you can significantly boost its effectiveness in combat. With the right enhancements, this class becomes a force to be reckoned with, supporting your team in and out of battle.
C Tier
Voidcaller
The Voidcaller operates much like a traditional healer or cleric, serving as the guardian of your party’s health through healing spells and defensive boosts. While this class may not pack as much punch in terms of direct damage compared to other roles, it’s invaluable for reducing the burden of healing potions in your inventory. Having a Voidcaller by your side means a more sustainable approach to your encounters, allowing you to focus on conquering challenges rather than constantly worrying about health management.
While it may not hit as hard as some other classes, the Voidcaller plays a crucial role in maintaining a well-rounded party. Their abilities are vital for team synergy, ensuring that everyone can contribute effectively.
What’s the Best Starting Party in Underkeep?
When forming your starting party in Underkeep, the tried-and-true combination of Warrior, Thief, Wizard, and Voidcaller shines through. This mix offers a balanced blend of offense and defense, with each character fulfilling a specific role. The Warrior stands at the forefront, soaking up damage and shielding the rest of the crew from harm, while the Thief and Wizard focus on dishing out the hurt to enemies.
The Voidcaller plays a pivotal role in supporting the entire team with their healing spells, which makes those challenging encounters feel a bit more manageable. Not only does this setup allow for longer battles without total party wipeout, but it’s also super friendly for newbies since every character has a defined role to play in fights.
Let’s talk about the ideal positioning for your party:
- First Front Row: Warrior or Paladin – This is where your main tank should be positioned, ready to take the brunt of enemy attacks and keep the rest of the party safe.
- Second Front Row: Thief or Blood Mage – These characters excel at close-quarters combat, delivering solid damage while also having unique offensive talents to spice up your strategy.
- First Back Row: Wizard or Ranger – It’s smart to keep your primary ranged damage dealer in the backline, away from direct confrontation.
- Second Back Row: Voidcaller – This is where you’ll want your healer, tucked away to minimize the risk of becoming a target.
Bear in mind that the characters you place in the frontline will bear the brunt of enemy attacks, so when you’re selecting their races and initial attributes, durability should be your top priority. This will help ensure that your frontline can withstand the heat of battle!
For optimal success, the recommended starting party setup in Underkeep consists of a Warrior, Thief, Wizard, and Voidcaller. This combination strikes a harmonious balance between offensive output, defensive presence, and healing capabilities, making it suitable for newcomers.
Strategic positioning is also significant:
- Front Row: Warrior (or Paladin) – Protects the team by absorbing attacks.
- Front Row: Thief (or Blood Mage) – Delivers damage up close while providing offensive distractions.
- Back Row: Wizard (or Ranger) – Ranged attacker away from threats.
- Back Row: Voidcaller – Healer minimizes the chance of targeted attacks.
It’s essential to remember that the frontline characters will absorb the bulk of enemy attacks. Choosing durable races with sturdy attributes is beneficial for these roles.
Players can try other combinations. For instance, having a Paladin and Blood Mage together can create a formidable frontline, while combining a Ranger and a Voidcaller offers versatile support from behind.
Best Races for Each Class in Underkeep
Warrior – Dwarf
Dwarves are ideal for Warriors due to their impressive Strength and Endurance, enhancing physical damage output and survivability in combat.
They also possess increased elemental resistance, offering further damage mitigation.
Thief – Raven
Raven is a fitting selection for Thieves because of high Dexterity coupled with adequate Endurance for survival. If playing on Hard difficulty, Dwarves provide additional durability.
Warrior – Dwarf
Ranger – Elk
Elk supports a high damage output for Rangers in a glass-cannon build focusing on offensive capacity. However, they may need protective measures.
Raven and Human are alternative options for balanced play styles.
Voidcaller – Slugman
Slugman enhances the Voidcaller’s ability to heal with strong Wisdom and Endurance. It’s beneficial to gain some Strength or Dexterity points during stat rerolls to aid their combat contributions.
Thief – Raven
Blood Mage – Stoneborn
Stoneborn pairs well with Blood Mage due to great Strength and Endurance attributes. Though Dwarf is also a valid choice, remember Stoneborn can’t equip body armor, which may affect survivability.
When leveling up, characters receive one skill point each time they level, prompting players to make strategic choices regarding skill upgrades. It’s essential to focus on key abilities rather than spreading points too thinly across every option.
This concentration accelerates party strength and combat effectiveness in later encounters. Below are recommended skills to upgrade across different classes.
Paladin – Human
Thief Best Skills
1. Shadow Instinct
Enhances critical hit rate and attack effectiveness against armored foes.
2. Nightshade Mastery
Boosts the potency of negative status effects dealt by the Thief, increasing the effectiveness of hits.
Paladin Best Skills
1. Righteous Strike
This ability amplifies next attack damage and yields additional Zeal, making it crucial for resource maintenance.
2. Zealous Resolve
This boosts melee damage based on accumulated Zeal, enhancing Paladin’s damage capability.
Ranger – Elk
Voidcaller Best Skills
1. Void Mend
Your primary healing skill, essential for maintaining health points across the party.
2. Auras
Enables selection of passive bonuses; different aura types benefit varying gameplay stages.
Wizard Best Skills
1. Feel the Flow
Boosts maximum Mana to ensure robust spellcasting capabilities.
2. Dragon Arcana
Improves elemental damage quality and effectiveness, enhancing battle participation.
Voidcaller – Slugman
Party formation in Underkeep requires strategic party composition as once made, you cannot alter races or classes. New players will benefit from the party setup of Warrior, Thief, Wizard, and Voidcaller for their balanced strengths.
For those wishing to experiment, consider options like Blood Mage, Paladin, or Ranger while ensuring race selection and skill upgrades align with their strengths. With careful planning, journeying through Underkeep becomes significantly more manageable.
When you’re rolling for your starting stats, aim to snag at least 4 points in either Strength or Dexterity. This tweak will allow Voidcaller to better hold its own in combat, rather than depending solely on healing spells to get by.
Wizard – Elk or Slugman
If you’re leaning toward a Wizard and want to enhance your magical prowess, choosing Elk is a fantastic option. This selection boosts your Wisdom, which in turn ramps up your magical damage output and overall Mana functionality, helping you shine in the magical realm.
On the flip side, if you prefer a bit more reliability, Slugman stands out as a solid alternative due to its added Endurance. Wizards can become quite vulnerable when foes breach the backline, and a bit more survivability can truly tip the scales in your favor during intense encounters.
Blood Mage – Stoneborn
For those diving into the Blood Mage class, Stoneborn makes an excellent pick since it boasts impressive Strength and Endurance potential. These stats align beautifully with the Blood Mage’s blend of close-quarters attacks and blood magic capabilities, giving you a unique edge in battle.
If you’re after a different spin on attributes, Dwarf proves to be another solid contender. Just keep in mind that while Dwarves offer a different mix, Stoneborn characters come with a disadvantage—they can’t equip body armor, and that’s an important consideration when crafting your character’s build.
Underkeep Class Progression Guide: Best Skills to Upgrade
In Underkeep, each character levels up and earns themselves a shiny skill point. Since these points are limited, it’s wise to channel your upgrades into abilities that provide the most significant advantages instead of trying to spread your enhancements thinly across all skills. Prioritizing wisely can greatly enhance your gameplay experience!
As you dive into your adventures, you’ll find that most classes have a couple of key skills that are absolutely crucial to upgrade to Level 5. By focusing on these abilities, your team will be able to tackle tougher challenges with more gusto and efficiency, making your journey through the game all the more enjoyable.
Warrior Best Skills
1. Provoking Shout
When you use Provoking Shout, it’s like a magnet that draws all enemy attacks toward your Warrior, ensuring the rest of your party stays safe and sound. This ability is a lifeline for any tank, since it enables them to shield their more fragile allies from harm, allowing them to perform at their best during battles.
2. The Flow of Life
Investing in The Flow of Life skill significantly boosts your Warrior’s maximum health and grants them greater elemental resistance. By leveling this up, you’ll enhance your Warrior’s survivability against brutal onslaughts, letting them stand their ground in the heat of battle for a much longer stretch.
Thief Best Skills
1. Shadow Instinct
If you’re looking to amp up your Thief’s damage potential, then Shadow Instinct is your best friend. This nifty skill boosts your critical hit chances and grants you the ability to bypass some of that pesky enemy armor. As a result, it turns our stealthy friend into a formidable adversary, especially against foes who really know how to toughen up!
2. Nightshade Mastery
With Nightshade Mastery, you’re stepping your game up in the debuff department. This talent sharpens the negative status effects that your Thief inflicts on opponents. Not only does it ramp up the overall damage, but it also extends the duration of all those nasty tricks like poison and bleeding. With this mastery, your enemies will really learn to fear the shadows!
Paladin Best Skills
1. Righteous Strike
Ready to make your mark with a heavy-hitting attack? Righteous Strike is here to help! This ability boosts the damage of your next move and also gives you a nice little bonus of Zeal. It plays a crucial role in keeping your resources topped off while dishing out some serious punishment to your foes!
2. Zealous Resolve
If you’re looking to amp up your melee game, Zealous Resolve is the way to go! This ability boosts your melee damage in direct relation to the amount of Zeal you’ve built up. Pair it with Righteous Strike, and you’ll see just how powerful your Paladin becomes in terms of dealing hefty physical damage. It’s truly a synergy made in gaming heaven!
Ranger Best Skills
1. Hunter’s Prey
Let’s talk about Hunter’s Prey! When you mark an enemy with this ability, you’re effectively setting them up for a world of hurt, as they’ll take increased damage from everyone in your party. This little gem shines particularly bright when you’re facing off against tough opponents or fierce bosses, ensuring that your team can take full advantage of the heightened damage output. It’s like a team buffet of pain for your enemies!
2. Cloak of Swiftness
Now, let’s not overlook the brilliance of Cloak of Swiftness! With this ability, your Ranger will enjoy improved odds when it comes to hitting targets from a distance, plus an uptick in critical hit chances. This means that your attacks not only land more often but pack an even heavier punch overall. It’s a fantastic way to ensure that your damage continues to spike, making every arrow count!
Voidcaller Best Skills
1. Void Mend
Void Mend serves as your primary healing tool, an essential lifeline for you and your fellow adventurers. It not only replenishes health but also has the potential to clear out specific negative effects when you take the time to upgrade it.
Prioritizing this skill is crucial because keeping the health of your team members intact is the heart of what it means to be a Voidcaller. Your role hinges on ensuring that everyone survives the challenges ahead, making this ability one of your key focuses.
2. Auras
As a Voidcaller, you have the exciting option to select from various passive auras that can boost your effectiveness in combat. Whether you’re looking to enhance your offense, bolster your defenses, or reflect damage back to attackers, these auras offer unique benefits. The cool part? You can easily switch your aura selection each time your character levels up, allowing for flexible strategies based on your current needs.
If you’re just starting out, the Aura of the Void is a fantastic defensive choice that can help you survive those early encounters. But as you progress into the later stages of the game, consider shifting to the Aura of Thorns, which has the added perk of bouncing damage back to enemies who dare to attack you.
Wizard Best Skills
1. Feel the Flow
When you embrace the Feel the Flow upgrade, you’re effectively boosting your Wizard’s maximum Mana capacity. Given how much this particular class leans on its magical prowess, having an expanded Mana pool means you’ll be able to unleash a flurry of spells without worrying about hitting empty. This increase in resources makes your magical journey even more thrilling and ensures you stay in the action longer!
2. Dragon Arcana
With the Dragon Arcana upgrade, you’re taking your elemental spells and cranking them up to the next level. This enhancement is crucial for any player aspiring to turn their Wizard into a formidable force on the battlefield. Expect to deal more damage and invoke more impactful effects, making your character a key contributor to your party’s overall might and success.
Blood Mage Best Skills
1. Blood Pact
By choosing Blood Pact, you gain a powerful ability to send damage right back at your foes. This is especially beneficial for a frontline Blood Mage, where every enemy strike against you can become a source of their own pain. It’s a strategic move that can really turn the tides in battle, leveraging your enemies’ attacks against them in a beautifully ironic twist.
2. Leechcraft
With Leechcraft in your arsenal, you can enjoy the sweet satisfaction of lifesteal every time your Blood Mage unleashes blood damage. This ability not only brings a thrilling dynamic to combat but also enhances your character’s health restoration during battles. As you upgrade this skill, you’ll find that your dependence on healing potions significantly dwindles, allowing you to dive into fights with even more confidence.
Creating a powerful party within the depths of Underkeep calls for some thoughtful strategizing because, once you’ve chosen your race and class, those decisions stick with you for the rest of your adventure. For those just starting out, consider going with a solid mix of Warrior, Thief, Wizard, and Voidcaller. This quartet strikes a fine balance, giving you the strength to endure hits, deal impressive damage, and heal up when things get tough.
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to try your hand at various playstyles, you might want to explore classes like Blood Mage, Paladin, and Ranger. Just keep in mind that it’s essential to select races that pair well with the class you pick. Also, think carefully about how you allocate your skill points to enhance their core abilities. When you nail down the right combination for your party and invest wisely in your skills, you’ll find that moving through Underkeep becomes a much more manageable and enjoyable experience.