Estoc builds: Skewer or Perforate

The Estoc is a two-handed dagger with three attacks and 75% armor damage. Dagger Mastery cuts Stab from 5 to 4 AP and Perforate or Skewer from 6 to 5 AP; Duelist does not apply. Choose Skewer for initiative-scaled penetration or Perforate to exploit allies’ injuries. Skewer can bypass armor at high initiative even though the weapon strips armor less efficiently than many two-handers.

Initiative Skewer

Estoc

This specialist needs strong melee attack, melee defense and initiative, plus enough fatigue to keep using special attacks. Raise those stats according to the recruit’s rolls; do not sacrifice defense or health to chase a single initiative target. Use light Nimble armor and a hyena mantle. Dagger Mastery makes the Estoc’s attacks cheaper, while Relentless helps preserve initiative as fatigue accumulates.

Immediate combat

Level	Perk
2	Colossus
3	Dodge
4	Gifted
5	Dagger Mastery
6	Relentless
7	Nimble
8	Berserk
9	Killing Frenzy
10	Pathfinder
11	Overwhelm

For a recruit protected while leveling, use these changes. Keep other levels unchanged; at 11, spend the normal and returned points. Student and Gifted.

Student route	Perk
2	Student
4	Colossus
11	Overwhelm + Gifted

Use Skewer when current initiative is high enough to improve its armor penetration; at 175 current initiative it reaches 100%. That is a strong target for a dedicated Skewer build, not a recruit-stat floor. Overwhelm uses high initiative to support allies against bulky targets. Berserk and Killing Frenzy are kill-dependent; a kill can fund a second 5-AP swing only when fatigue permits. Recover is optional for long fights; even starting from a full 9 AP, a 5-AP Skewer kill followed by Berserk leaves at most 8 AP. A first-action 4-AP Stab kill is the exception that can restore the full 9 AP for Recover.

Perforate injury finisher

This version is less dependent on extreme initiative. Choose a recruit with solid attack and defense and enough fatigue for a brief forward move and special attack. Raise attack and defense first, then health and fatigue; take initiative when it is already a good roll. Nimble armor still suits the role. Dagger Mastery makes Perforate a 5 AP attack; this build does not require extreme initiative.

Immediate combat

Level	Perk
2	Colossus
3	Gifted
4	Executioner
5	Dagger Mastery
6	Pathfinder
7	Nimble
8	Berserk
9	Killing Frenzy
10	Reach Advantage
11	Footwork

For a recruit protected while leveling, use these changes. Keep other levels unchanged; at 11, spend the normal and returned points. Student and Gifted.

Student route	Perk
2	Student
3	Colossus
11	Footwork + Gifted

Have crossbows, throwing weapons or other attackers inflict injuries first. Perforate hits twice, plus one hit for each injury already on its target; each successful hit can also build Reach Advantage. Two flat-ground movement steps cost 4 AP; with Perforate at 5 AP, that uses all 9 AP. Berserk and Killing Frenzy pay off only when the setup and fatigue allow a kill. Footwork costs 3 AP: use it as an escape if you began adjacent, or after Berserk refunds 4 AP for a kill; after the two-step approach it fits only if Berserk triggers. Recover is an optional swap for a long fight: even starting from a full 9 AP, a 5-AP killing special plus Berserk leaves at most 8 AP; after the 4-AP approach it leaves only 4, both short of Recover’s 9 AP cost. A first-action 4-AP Stab kill is the exception. Do not send the Estoc brother into an untouched enemy line alone. Check the weapon reference and combat guide when choosing a target.

Sources

1.5.2.3 data; Calandro’s Estoc mechanics; Estoc build; Perforate setup. Further viewing: Estoc and Executioner’s Sword in Update 1.5.2.2 (Alone With The Games).