If you’ve been keeping a close eye on Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming RPG, you know that gear isn't just about raw stats. It’s about the lore. The Heart of Valor Avowed is one of those specific items that bridges the gap between gameplay mechanics and the deep history of Eora. Honestly, players coming over from Pillars of Eternity might recognize some of the naming conventions here. It’s not just a shiny piece of loot you find in a random chest after killing a Xaurip. It represents a specific connection to the Living Lands, the wild, lawless frontier where the game takes place.
The Living Lands are messy. They're chaotic.
When you first encounter the Heart of Valor Avowed, it’s easy to mistake it for just another buff-providing accessory. But you shouldn't. In the context of Avowed’s first-person combat system, which mixes traditional steel with high-fantasy spellcasting, your equipment needs to do more than sit in an inventory slot. Obsidian has been pretty vocal about the fact that they want items to feel "heavy" with history. The Heart of Valor is tied to the concept of the soul and the Adra—the substance that makes the world of Eora tick.
What exactly is the Heart of Valor?
Think of it as a conduit. In the Pillars universe, valor isn't just a personality trait; it’s a tangible energy that can be infused into objects. We’ve seen similar mechanics in the past where artifacts react to the player's "Soul Weaving" abilities. Because you play as an envoy from the Aedyr Empire, your relationship with these artifacts is different than a local’s. You aren't just using the Heart of Valor Avowed; you’re arguably resonating with it.
The item is designed to reward aggressive playstyles. If you’re the type of player who likes to get in the face of a plague-ridden bear or a hostile soldier, this is your bread and butter. It typically triggers bonuses when your health drops or when you're surrounded by enemies. It’s a "clutch" item. Basically, it’s there to make sure that when things go south, you have a fighting chance to turn the tide.
How the Heart of Valor Avowed Changes Your Build
Let’s talk about the actual "crunch" of the game. Avowed doesn't use a rigid class system like Dungeons & Dragons. You don't just pick "Fighter" and stay a Fighter for 60 hours. Instead, you're looking at a fluid system where you can swap between dual-wielding pistols, swinging a two-handed sword, or casting frost spells on the fly. This makes the Heart of Valor Avowed incredibly versatile.
For a melee-focused build, it’s essential.
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Imagine you’re deep in a dungeon, your stamina is flagging, and you’ve got three enemies closing in. The Heart of Valor often provides a passive boost to your "Might" or "Resolve" equivalents—stats that determine how much punishment you can take and how hard you hit back. It’s the difference between a death screen and a narrow victory.
- It scales with your level, usually. Obsidian likes items that grow with the player so you don't just sell them the moment you find a "Blue" tier sword.
- It interacts with your companion's abilities. If Kai (your coastal Aumaua companion) is tanking for you, the Heart of Valor might provide a resonance bonus that helps you both.
- It’s deeply tied to the "Godless" theme of the game. Since the gods of Eora are... let’s say complicated, relying on an artifact of human (or elven/dwarven) valor feels more grounded.
You've got to be careful, though. Relying too much on one artifact can leave you vulnerable if you run into enemies that specifically drain soul energy or shatter enchantments. Variety is the point of the Living Lands.
Finding the Artifact in the Living Lands
You won't find the Heart of Valor Avowed sitting in a shop in the early game. Obsidian likes to hide their best stuff behind narrative choices or difficult environmental puzzles. Historically, in the Pillars games, "Valor" items were often found in ruins associated with the Inquisition or the knights of the Crucible. In Avowed, you’ll likely be trekking through biome-heavy regions like the fungal forests or the sun-drenched canyons to track down the components or the item itself.
Don't just rush the main quest.
The best loot in this game is tucked away in side stories that explore the "Dreamscourge"—the mysterious soul-plague you’re sent to investigate. There’s a high probability that the Heart of Valor Avowed is linked to a fallen hero who succumbed to the plague while trying to defend a settlement. That’s the kind of environmental storytelling Obsidian excels at. You find the item, but you also find the tragedy that created it.
Why People Get This Item Wrong
Most players see "Valor" and think it’s just for tanks. That is a mistake. In a game with first-person spellcasting, a glass-cannon mage can use the Heart of Valor Avowed as a safety net. If an enemy breaks through your frontline and gets in your face, the defensive procs from the artifact can give you the three seconds you need to blink away or cast a point-blank shockwave.
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It's about survival, not just "being a hero."
Also, people often forget that items in Eora are sentient, sort of. Not "talking sword" sentient (usually), but they have "soul memories." Using the Heart of Valor Avowed might unlock specific dialogue options with certain NPCs who recognize the relic. Imagine walking into a camp of mercenaries wearing the badge of their dead commander. It changes the vibe of the room immediately.
Nuance in Soul-Binding Mechanics
We need to discuss Soul-Binding. If the Heart of Valor Avowed functions like the soulbound items from Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, it’s going to require you to complete specific "tasks" to unlock its full potential.
- Kill 50 enemies of a certain type.
- Take a specific amount of damage without dying.
- Make a difficult moral choice while the item is equipped.
This adds a layer of "Expertise" to the item. You aren't just a user; you're a master. It forces you to play the game in a way that reflects the "Valor" the item represents. It’s a brilliant way to sync narrative and mechanics. It’s also kinda annoying if you just want the stats, but hey, that’s an RPG for you.
Common Misconceptions About Avowed's Loot System
There’s a lot of chatter online about Avowed being "Skyrim with a coat of paint." That’s just not accurate when you look at the gear. In Skyrim, an iron sword is an iron sword until you enchant it. In Avowed, an item like the Heart of Valor Avowed is unique. It has a specific place in the world. You can’t just craft ten of them at a forge.
The scarcity matters.
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If you lose it, or sell it because you're short on copper, you might be locking yourself out of specific power spikes later in the game. The Living Lands are unforgiving, and the economy reflects that. Resources are scarce, and powerful artifacts are even scarcer.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
When you finally get your hands on the Heart of Valor Avowed, don't just slap it on and forget it.
First, check the item description for "History" tags. These often hint at which companions will react to it. If it’s an Aedyr-origin item, bringing a companion from the Empire might trigger a unique questline or a buff to your reputation.
Second, test it against different enemy types. The "Valor" effect might trigger differently against "Wilder" (beast-men) than it does against "Vessels" (undead). Knowing your procs is the difference between winning a boss fight on the first try and spending two hours reloading saves.
Third, look at your "Grimoire" or talent tree. If you’re going for a hybrid build, ensure your passive skills don't overlap or negate the benefits of the artifact. Some "Second Wind" style abilities might override the Heart’s healing, making one of them redundant.
Finally, keep an eye on the Adra veins in the environment. Some artifacts in Avowed can be "recharged" or empowered by standing near large outcroppings of luminous Adra. If the Heart of Valor Avowed starts glowing or humming, you’re near a power source that can likely upgrade it.
The Living Lands won't give you anything for free. You have to take it. The Heart of Valor Avowed is your best tool for doing exactly that. Equip it, learn its history, and stop treated your inventory like a junk drawer. In a world where your soul is literally your power, the things you carry define who you are. Focus on the soul-binding tasks early to maximize your mid-game power spike, and always prioritize items that offer percentage-based survival buffs over flat stat increases. That is how you survive Eora.