Dauntless | Beginner Tips & Guides For New Slayers

Read this Dauntless guide for beginner's tips for new Slayers. Including tips on the hunts, adjusting your controls and settings, loadouts, supplies, learning new skills, and more!

What Is Dauntless?

Free-To-Play Co-Op Action Hunting RPG

Dauntless is a free-to-play online co-op action RPG from Phoenix Labs where up to 4 players called Slayers, join together and hunt down larger than life creatures known as Behemoths!

Hunt Behemoths For Weapons & Armor

In Dauntless, the core gameplay mechanic is to hunt Behemoths to obtain their parts. These parts are then used to craft weapons, armor and other items to enable you to take on much stronger Behemoths!

The More You Progress, the Better Loot You Get

As you progress further into the game, you'll get access to even more hunts, which will net you more parts, more weapons, levels, making you an even stronger Slayer!

Before You Start

1. Create Epic Account & Download The Game

Before you can start your career as a Slayer, make sure to download the game on your preferred platform. The game is available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One! You can also sync your save file across platforms if you sign in with your Epic Games Account!

Releasing On Switch This Winter 2019

In a recent announcement by Nintendo, Dauntless has been confirmed to release on the Nintendo Switch this Winter 2019. Slayers can now cross-play and access their save across all platforms.

2. Create Your Slayer & Play Through The Tutorial

Dauntless features a character creator that lets you customize the way your Slayer will look, with a wide variety of options to choose from. You will be prompted to create a character when you start your game and take on the tutorial level.

Change Your Character Appearance Anytime

Once you have access to Ramsgate, you can change the appearance of your character at any time at no cost, including gender, voice, & more. This is done via the mirror near Gregario Flynt.

3. Complete The Tutorial Level

Upon completion of your character creation, you'll start with your tutorial hunt. Simply complete the tutorial to gain access to Ramsgate, the game's social hub!

4. Prep Up & Socialize At The Ramsgate Hub

Ramsgate serves as the social hub for all Dauntless Slayers, where players can hang out, relax and prepare for their hunts. Here you can interact with NPCs and obtain their quests, create weapons, armor and other equipment, and more!

Facilities & NPCs Available At Ramsgate

Complete Slayer Quests

Progress Through The Story of Dauntless

In Dauntless, quests serve as story drivers that let you learn about the world, its creatures and inhabitants. These quests also unlock schematics for consumable items and Repeater parts to aid your hunts!

Gain Quests From Ramsgate NPCs

Talk to the various NPCs in Ramsgate and check for quests they have for you and complete them to unlock schematics and other valuable rewards! These are usually denoted with a gold "?" on the compass and on the NPC itself.

Turn In Completed Quests

Once you complete a quest, turn them in to its respective NPC to receive the quest reward! A gold "!" indicates an NPC waiting for a quest to be turned in.

Arm Yourself With Slayer Weapons

Choose From Six Weapon Types

In Dauntless, you have the option of 6 types of weapons: Axe, Chain Blades, Hammer, War Pike, Sword & the ranged Repeater. You can only equip one in each hunt, so prepare accordingly, and choose a weapon that fits your play style best.

Weapon Type Summary

Craft & Upgrade Melee Weapons at the Weaponsmith

All melee weapons in the game are craftable at the Weaponsmith using Behemoth parts and a bit of Rams. Then you can further strengthen all crafted weapons using parts, orbs and Rams.

All Weapons Have The Same Power

All crafted weapons start off with the same power, regardless of the type and Behemoth type it's based off. All weapons start with the 100 Total Power, and power scales up at the same rate per upgrade level.

Upgrade Ostian Repeater Parts at Janek Zai

Unlike the melee weapons, the Ostian Repeater is instead upgraded by equipping its parts. Each part can then be crafted and upgraded using Behemoth parts.

Repeaters Aren't Available Right Away

To unlock the Repeaters, you must first complete quests for Janek. Progress his quests enough to gain access to Repeater crafting.

Each Weapon Has A Unique Effect

Make sure to look at your weapon's unique effect and perk. Take advantage of these effects as much as you can when in a hunt!

Gear Up With Slayer Armor

Equip yourself with armor crafted from the Behemoths you slay. Not only do they serve as a trophy, but gives protection, and special unique perks and elemental resistances.

Create & Upgrade Armor at the Armoursmith

Talk to Moyra Heigsketter to craft and upgrade armor. All armor pieces in the game are crafted, and can be upgraded using specific Behemoth parts.

All Armor Have The Same Power

All crafted armor start off with the same power, regardless of the type and Behemoth type it's based off. All armor pieces start with the 25 Total Power, and power scales up at the same rate per upgrade level.

Each Armor Piece Grants A Perk

Each armor piece you equip grants a perk, which is a passive ability that helps your character in combat. Make sure to consider these when crafting armor and creating your unique Slayer build!

Understand Elemental Damage & Resistance

In Dauntless, most Behemoths are weak against an opposing element. Make sure to equip armor that grants resistance and weapons that deal greater damage against the Behemoth you're fighting,

Element Guide

Prepare Your Loadout

Change Your Lantern

Lanterns are special equipment that grant you two active abilities, an Instant and a Hold ability. These can be crafted by talking to Arkan Drew using Behemoth parts, with more Lanterns becoming available as you complete quests for him.

Know Your Perks

Perks are a set of passive bonuses you receive from all your gear pieces, weapon, and cells slotted in all your equipment pieces.

Stack Perks To Upgrade Its Effect

As you stack more perks of the same kind, the better the effect of that perk becomes!

Slot in Cells In Each Equipment Piece

Each equipment piece has a slot where you can add Cells, which grants you more perks. Make sure to pick a cell that benefits your build and playstyle!

Obtain Cells From Cores

Cells are obtain from Cores. These are rewarded through quests, hunts, and the Hunt Pass. Once you obtain a Core, break it open at the Core Breaker at Ramsgate, and this will reward you with Random Cells and reagents.

Bring Consumable Items On Hunts

Aside from your Slayer Flask, you can also equip 3 other consumable items such as Tonics and Grenades in your quick slots.

Tonics Are Special Potions

You can craft tonics using reagents you gather from plants you find in the field. These tonics grant special bonuses such as increased damage or defense and more. Talk to Markus Boehr to craft these tonics.

Equip Grenades To Deal Area Damage

Grenades deal area damage that deals an initial barrage of damage, and splinters into smaller fragments that deal further damage. These are crafted by Janek Zai using reagents.

Recommended Loadouts for Beginners

The Non-Elemental Ragehunter Gnasher Set

The Gnasher set is pretty decent for early game, and can even stand on its own until late game. It has no elemental resistance, making it versatile against all Behemoths, while granting bonus health and damage against enraged Behemoths. Equip cells that stack on your gear's perks for maximum damage!

Equip The Shike's Zeal and Add Conduit Cell

You can use the Shrike's Zeal Lantern which grants an increased Attack Speed & Move Speed and damage. Adding a Conduit Cell adds another increase in Attack Speed when using hold ability.

The Agile Embermane Set

Like the Gnasher set, the Embermane set is viable both early and late game thanks to its focus on evasion. The Embermane weapons work really well with this set as it grants bonus attack speed by evading. However, you won't have protection against Blaze Behemoths.

Boost Your Attack Speed Further With Shrike's Zeal

The same lantern combo of Shrike's Zeal and Conduit Cell will work really well with this build!

Staggering Shrike Set & Skarn Hammer

This loadout focuses on staggering Behemoths with a hammer weapon. The Shrikedown set boosts evasion, while boosting Stagger damage. The Skarn weapon on the other hand has an innate boost to stagger damage as well!

Equip The Skarn Lantern With Stunning Vigour Cell

This Lantern grants you a 250 hit point shield with its instant ability, allowing you to focus on dealing high damage towards the Behemoth. The cell then restores your health when you stagger the Behemoth!

Customize Loadout By Weapon Choice

Your loadout will also change depending on the weapon you choose to wield. Each weapon has a unique hunting style and certain pieces of armor go well together with them. Customize your loadout by experimenting and check which ones work best for you.

Recommended Builds & Loadouts

Sword Builds	Axe Builds	Hammer Builds
Chain Blade Builds	War Pike Builds	Repeater Builds

How To Start A Hunt

Head On To The Map Board or Menu

All quests involve taking on hunts and defeating the various types of Behemoths. Access the Patrol or Pursuit hunts via the map, or the hunt board at Ramsgate!

Playing With Other Players Via Matchmaking

By default, Dauntless is a multiplayer game that matches you with similarly skilled Slayers of the same level when you take on a Pursuit or a Patrol mission. Matchmaking will start whenever you start a hunt!

You Can Choose To Go Solo

You can also go hunting solo if you prefer the extra challenge of taking on Behemoths alone by selecting Private Hunt!

Play With A Hunting Party

If you have friends who also play Dauntless, you can invite them into your session and play as a Hunting party. Simply invite them to your party and they'll fill up your party slots. In a Private Hunt, all unfilled party slots will remain empty.

Add Friends & Take On Hunts Together!

Regardless of platform you play, you can add friends from whichever platform they are in via the built-in friends management system. Simply type in the Epic account username add them as your friend!

Basic Play Routines When Hunting

Find Behemoth & Use Flare To Signal

Whenever you start your hunt, your primary objective is to track down the Behemoth. The Behemoth's location is randomized, so you'll have to comb through the map. When playing with others, it's best to split up so you can cover more ground.

Use Flare When Playing With Others

When playing with other players, it's a must to signal the Behemoth's location the flare, which is accessed via the emote radial wheel. This will notify others of the Behemoth's location with a flare icon at the compass.

Dodge Through Behemoth Attacks

Unlike traditional RPGs, Dauntless does not have an active standard defensive equipment like a shield to guard against Behemoth attacks. You'll have to dodge through Behemoth attacks in order to avoid damage. Each weapon type changes the behavior of the dodge move so adapt accordingly.

Interrupting / Booping Enemy Attacks

Behemoths have moves that can be interrupted with a well timed weapon strike. Learn each Behemoth's behavior, and strike at the right opportunity! Some weapons like the Hammer, Axe and War Pike's missile also work best for interrupting attacks!

Resurrecting Teammates

Behemoths can knock slayers out when their attack reduces a player's health to zero. A downed Slayer can be revived by another player, or perform a self-revive. However, you can only self revive up to 3 times, so reserve your self-revives for later on when the hunt gets more frantic.

Use Aether Vents To Heal Up

Aether Vents are bright blue rift on the ground that allows a player to heal up, regaining HP, clearing a negative status effect, and charges up the Lantern by a small amount. However, the Aether Vent can only be used by a limited amount of time, so use it sparingly.

Some Aether Vents Are Used For Traversal

There are also Aether Vents that can help you traverse through the map and can cover great distances quickly. Use this to spot Behemoth's fast.

Understand The Danger Meter

As you progress through the hunt, the Danger Meter at the top right will rise. Basically, your objective is to slay the Behemoth while keeping this below 100%. This number rises when you fight a Behemoth, when a Slayer goes down, and when a Slayer is not revived.

Reducing The Danger Meter

The Danger Meter can be reduced when you force a Behemoth to flee. However, this only reduces it by a small amount. The key simply is to keep the whole party alive at all times to slow down the rate of the Danger Meter.

At 100% Danger, No Revives & Behemoths Hit Harder

When the Danger Level reaches 100%, party revives will be disabled and Behemoths will hit much harder, making the hunt so much more difficult. Keep Danger Level to as low as possible. However you can still self-revive.

Understand The Damage Types

To kill a Behemoth, you must understand the types of damage you can deal on it, especially if you're hunting for specific Behemoth parts.

Basic Damage

As the name implies, Basic Damage is the damage directly dealt to the Behemoth's health. This is represented by white numbers, and reducing this will be the primary way of killing a Behemoth.

Part Damage

Part Damage is the damage you deal towards a specific Behemoth part. This does not directly count towards the Behemoth's health pool. Once the threshold for the part is achieved through part damage, the part will be broken off and looted.

Stagger Damage

Stagger Damage is damage dealt on a Behemoth's head or legs that allow you to stagger or knock them down. This is represented by blue damage numbers.

Wound Damage

Wound damage creates wounded areas on the Behemoth that enables you to deal more part damage. This is represented by red damage numbers. Wounded Behemoths will have aether vents over their wounded points.

Break Off Parts For More Crafting Materials

Certain crafting materials only drop when you break off specific Behemoth parts. Make sure to work as a team to take out parts for more rewards!

Defeat The Behemoth To Complete The Hunt

Upon defeating the Behemoth, you'll receive a report on all the parts you've been able to obtain from the hunt. This also shows your progression as a slayer.

Slayer Mastery Progression System Explained

Gain Rewards The More You Play!

The Mastery System in Dauntless is a challenge-filled progression system that provides Slayers with rewards and access to better weapons & armor, weapon modifications as well as cores!

Unlock Max Upgrades & Battle Perks

When you increase your Mastery levels in Dauntless, be it Slayer level, Behemoth Mastery, or Weapon Mastery, you'll unlock different perks such as the maximum upgrades for both weapons & armor, even perks such as dealing more part damage & getting more Behemoth loot.

Max Slayer Level / Rank Cap Is Currently 50

As of the official launch, the max Slayer Level cap that players can reach is Slayer Level 50. When you reach this level, you'll receive the title "Master Slayer". Max levels for weapons and armor is currently at +15.

The Hunt Pass

Gain Exclusive Rewards With The Hunt Pass

The Hunt Pass is a separate progression system that grants various other rewards, primarily cosmetic rewards, as well as cores and reagents. There are two tracks: Basic and Elite, with the Elite Track granting more rewards, and bonus loot for every hunt!

Season 5 Hunt Pass Currently Out

Dauntless is currently in its 5th Season and the Hunt Pass has awesome cosmetic rewards & hunting supplies that'll make your every slay in the game fun & fulfilling.

Other Useful Tips & Information

Understanding The HUD

Make sure to familiarize yourself with the HUD (Heads Up Display) elements on screen. This gives valuable information

Enable Voice Chat To Communicate With Others

You can enable the Voice Chat feature in the options menu in order to more effectively communicate with your team! With Voice Chat, you can coordinate your attack and strategies with the team on-the-fly!

Block Players Who Are Being Toxic

Dauntless also gives you the option to block players who are being too toxic and affect your enjoyment of the game. You can do this from the Social Menu when in Ramsgate.

Dauntless Featured Articles

Recommended Build / Best Loadouts Per Weapon

Sword Builds	Axe Builds	Hammer Builds
Chain Blade Builds	War Pike Builds	Repeater Builds

vs Behemoth Battle Guide

Boreus	Charrogg	Drask	Embermane
Gnasher	Hellion	Kharabak	Koshai
Nayzaga	Pangar	Quillshot	Rezakiri
Riftstalker	Shrike	Shrowd	Skarn
Skraev	Stormclaw	Valomyr	-

Beginner Tips

Weapon / Armor Database

Useful Information