Stoneshard is a challenging turn-based open-world RPG with a brutal pain, injury, and permadeath system. You control a lone mercenary navigating a medieval world, taking contracts, clearing dungeons, and managing a complex health system where injuries affect gameplay — broken arms reduce accuracy, leg wounds slow movement, and untreated infections can kill. The caravan management system lets you build a trading empire between adventures. Stoneshard is still in early access but already offers 50+ hours of punishing RPG content for players who want consequences.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness — factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swordsman | A | Switch between offensive and defensive stances based on enemy strength, use shield for tough fights. | Longsword, Kite Shield, Medium Armor, Healing Salve, Splints |
| Archer | S | Kite enemies at range, use aimed shots for critical damage, switch to melee backup in tight spaces. | Warbow, Quiver, Light Armor, Arrows (various types), Healing Salve |
| Mage | A | Cast AoE spells from range, use Geomancy barriers for protection, manage mana carefully. | Staff of Flames, Mage Robes, Mana Potions, Healing Salve, Magic-boosting rings |
| Dual Wielder | B | Evade attacks with positioning, apply poison for DoT, strike rapidly during enemy recovery frames. | Twin Daggers, Light Armor, Poison Vials, Dodge skill |
| Two-Handed | A | Stagger enemies with heavy hits, cleave groups, use armor to tank damage during slow attack animations. | Greathammer, Heavy Armor, Healing Potions, Stamina management |
A-Tier: Swordsman
Swords offer balanced offense and defense with good accuracy and moderate damage. The Sword skill tree includes Stances (switching between offensive and defensive postures) and Counter abilities. Paired with a shield, the Swordsman is the most forgiving melee build for beginners.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Longsword | The balanced melee weapon with moderate damage, good accuracy, and versatile skill tree. |
| Core Gear | Longsword, Kite Shield, Medium Armor, Healing Salve, Splints | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Strength, Agility, Vitality | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | pain and injury system | Beyond HP, Stoneshard tracks individual body part injuries: head trauma causes dizziness, arm fractures reduce attack accuracy, leg injuries slow movement, and torso wounds increase pain. |
How to Play Swordsman
Switch between offensive and defensive stances based on enemy strength, use shield for tough fights.
Swords offer balanced offense and defense with good accuracy and moderate damage. The Sword skill tree includes Stances (switching between offensive and defensive postures) and Counter abilities. Paired with a shield, the Swordsman is the most forgiving melee build for beginners.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Longsword and pain and injury system creates a gameplay loop that outperforms other options. Core gear like Longsword, Kite Shield, Medium Armor, Healing Salve, Splints amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Clear stat priority (Strength, Agility, Vitality) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
S-Tier: Archer
The safest combat build — Bows let you kill enemies before they reach melee range. The Archery tree includes skills for rapid fire, aimed shots, and retreating shots. Ammunition is craftable from wood and feathers. Archers struggle only in tight corridors where kiting space is limited.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Warbow | The strongest bow type with highest range and damage per shot. |
| Core Gear | Warbow, Quiver, Light Armor, Arrows (various types), Healing Salve | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Agility, Perception, Vitality | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | caravan management | You manage a caravan that travels between towns, trading goods and hiring mercenaries. |
How to Play Archer
Kite enemies at range, use aimed shots for critical damage, switch to melee backup in tight spaces.
The safest combat build — Bows let you kill enemies before they reach melee range. The Archery tree includes skills for rapid fire, aimed shots, and retreating shots. Ammunition is craftable from wood and feathers. Archers struggle only in tight corridors where kiting space is limited.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Warbow and caravan management creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Warbow, Quiver, Light Armor, Arrows (various types), Healing Salve amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (Agility, Perception, Vitality) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Mage
Mages use elemental magic (Pyromancy, Geomancy, Electromancy) for ranged AoE damage. Spells cost mana and have cooldowns. Pyromancy burns enemies with DoT, Geomancy creates stone barriers, and Electromancy chains lightning between targets. Mages are powerful but fragile — one melee hit can end a run.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Staff of Flames | A magical staff enabling Pyromancy spells — Fireball (ranged AoE), Flame Wall (area denial), and Ignite (DoT). |
| Core Gear | Staff of Flames, Mage Robes, Mana Potions, Healing Salve, Magic-boosting rings | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Willpower, Perception, Vitality | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | open world exploration | The world map connects towns, dungeons, camps, and wilderness areas. |
How to Play Mage
Cast AoE spells from range, use Geomancy barriers for protection, manage mana carefully.
Mages use elemental magic (Pyromancy, Geomancy, Electromancy) for ranged AoE damage. Spells cost mana and have cooldowns. Pyromancy burns enemies with DoT, Geomancy creates stone barriers, and Electromancy chains lightning between targets. Mages are powerful but fragile — one melee hit can end a run.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Staff of Flames and open world exploration creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Staff of Flames, Mage Robes, Mana Potions, Healing Salve, Magic-boosting rings amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (Willpower, Perception, Vitality) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
B-Tier: Dual Wielder
Dual-wielding daggers or swords provides the highest attack speed but lowest defense. The Dagger tree includes poison application, backstab bonuses, and evasion skills. High risk/reward — hits fast and hard but dies quickly if hit. Requires excellent positioning and dodge usage.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Twin Daggers | The fastest weapon combination with attacks that apply bonus effects (poison, bleed) on each hit. |
| Core Gear | Twin Daggers, Light Armor, Poison Vials, Dodge skill | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Agility, Perception, Strength | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | skill trees | Ten skill trees cover weapon types (Swords, Maces, Axes, Daggers, Bows, Staves) and magic schools (Pyromancy, Geomancy, Electromancy). |
How to Play Dual Wielder
Evade attacks with positioning, apply poison for DoT, strike rapidly during enemy recovery frames.
Dual-wielding daggers or swords provides the highest attack speed but lowest defense. The Dagger tree includes poison application, backstab bonuses, and evasion skills. High risk/reward — hits fast and hard but dies quickly if hit. Requires excellent positioning and dodge usage.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Twin Daggers and skill trees creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Twin Daggers, Light Armor, Poison Vials, Dodge skill amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Clear stat priority (Agility, Perception, Strength) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Two-Handed
Two-handed weapons (Greathammers, Greataxes, Greatswords) deal massive single-hit damage with stagger effects. The Two-Handed tree includes Cleave (hit multiple enemies) and Stun (prevent enemy actions). Slower than other builds but each hit is devastating. Pair with heavy armor to survive the slow wind-ups.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Greathammer | The highest stagger weapon — enemies hit by a Greathammer are stunned for 1-2 turns, preventing their action. |
| Core Gear | Greathammer, Heavy Armor, Healing Potions, Stamina management | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Strength, Vitality, Agility | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | permadeath | Death is permanent — your character dies, you lose all equipment and progress on that character. |
How to Play Two-Handed
Stagger enemies with heavy hits, cleave groups, use armor to tank damage during slow attack animations.
Two-handed weapons (Greathammers, Greataxes, Greatswords) deal massive single-hit damage with stagger effects. The Two-Handed tree includes Cleave (hit multiple enemies) and Stun (prevent enemy actions). Slower than other builds but each hit is devastating. Pair with heavy armor to survive the slow wind-ups.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Greathammer and permadeath creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Greathammer, Heavy Armor, Healing Potions, Stamina management amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Strength, Vitality, Agility) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Archer — the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Swordsman once you understand core mechanics and have access to Longsword
- Keep a Mage setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Two-Handed for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first — it gives the biggest power spike
- Save at inn beds and campfires — death is permanent and losing a 10-hour character to an avoidable fight is devastating. Save before every dungeon and risky encounter.
- Pain affects all actions — at high pain levels, your accuracy, damage, and dodge chance all drop. Carry painkillers (herbs, potions) and use them when pain exceeds 30-40% to maintain combat effectiveness.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
See our tier list for current meta rankings, or the beginner's guide if you're just getting started.
