Sword builds: nimble duelist and greatsword

One-handed swords hit reliably early but deal modest late damage, especially against armor. This duelist is an accessible low-armor flank option, not a top-damage build. The Greatsword fills a separate crowd-control role.

Nimble sword duelist

Noble Sword

Choose strong melee attack and defense, then favor health and fatigue. Useful Initiative improves Dodge and Relentless. Wear light armor; use an Arming Sword early, then a Noble Sword if available. Keep a shield while leveling; empty the off hand for Duelist. Nimble goals: about 15 combined body/helmet fatigue penalty, 90–100 HP after Colossus and 45–55 resolve. These are goals, not cutoffs.

Immediate combat

Level	Perk
2	Colossus
3	Dodge
4	Gifted
5	Sword Mastery
6	Underdog
7	Nimble
8	Duelist
9	Berserk
10	Killing Frenzy
11	Relentless

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	Relentless + Gifted

Close from a safe flank and use Slash for steady attacks. Riposte only retaliates when a melee attack is dodged or blocked. Sword Mastery removes its old hit penalty, but Riposte still costs 19 Fatigue, so use it when enemies are likely to attack into you. This duelist is less effective against heavy armor; switch to a mace, hammer, or another specialist when armor is the problem.

Nimble greatsword

Greatsword

Choose strong melee attack, defense, health and fatigue. Use light Nimble armor and a Greatsword; level with a shield until the recruit can safely hold the front. Aim for 50–60 Fatigue available after gear, as a practical goal rather than cutoff: Sword Mastery makes Split and Swing cost 23 each, so two attacks use 46 before movement. Berserk and area attacks make this a high-Fatigue role.

Immediate combat

Level	Perk
2	Colossus
3	Dodge
4	Gifted
5	Sword Mastery
6	Reach Advantage
7	Nimble
8	Berserk
9	Killing Frenzy
10	Underdog
11	Pathfinder

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	Pathfinder + Gifted

Use Split when its 1–2 tile line is clear of allies. Use Swing only when its adjacent area will not hit allies; otherwise use a single-target attack. The Greatsword helps against lightly armored groups but performs poorly into thick armor. See the weapon-build index, Noble Sword, Greatsword, and combat guide.

Sources

Weapon and perk records; turtle225 and Abel’s In-Depth Perks Guide; community sword-build notes; build video.