No Rest for the Wicked combat screenshot showing builds and weapons

Best Builds in No Rest for the Wicked (Together Update)

After 100+ hours testing builds in the Together update, I can confirm the meta has shifted significantly. Co-op changes everything—what worked solo doesn't always work in a party, and some builds that struggled before are now absolute powerhouses. Here are the 5 best builds in No Rest for the Wicked right now, whether you're playing solo or with friends.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

  • Best Overall: Warrior (Claymore) — High damage, poise break, excellent in both solo and co-op
  • Best for Co-op Support: Cleric (Faith) — Heal Aura saves runs, plus solid stagger damage
  • Best for Safe Play: Archer (Bow) — Keep distance, deal consistent damage, punish openings
  • Best for Crowd Control: Battle Mage (Intelligence) — Ice Throw freezes entire groups
  • Most Fun: Brawler (Fists) — High-speed combat, dropkicks that shatter frozen enemies

1. Warrior Build (Strength)

Why it's #1: The Claymore greatsword deals devastating damage while breaking enemy poise in 1-2 hits. In co-op, you're the heavy hitter while teammates handle crowd control.

Stat Allocation (Level 10)

  • Strength: 16+ (main damage stat)
  • Health: 15 (120+ HP for survivability)
  • Stamina: 15 (60-70 for fluid combat)
  • Focus: 15 (150+ for rune spells)
  • Equip Load: 12 (stay in Normal weight class)

Key Gear

  • Weapon: Claymore (comes with Juggle Strike rune)
  • Runes: Juggle Strike, Balance Smash, Stamina Wellspring, Heal Aura
  • Armor: Leather pieces (avoid Heavy roll)
  • Ring: Feather Ring (equip load) or Agility Ring (movement speed)

Tip: The Juggle Strike rune costs 100 focus but can one-shot break most enemy stances. Time it after their attack whiffs.

2. Cleric Build (Faith)

Why it's great: Faith builds excel at interrupting enemy attacks with mace stagger, and Heal Aura makes you invaluable in co-op. The Cleric's Mace carries you through early-mid game easily.

Stat Allocation (Level 20)

  • Faith: 30 (maximizes rune spell damage)
  • Health: 20
  • Stamina: 20
  • Focus: 18
  • Equip Load: 18

Key Gear

  • Weapon: Cleric's Mace (early), upgrade to Crucible hammers later
  • Runes: Thrust, Heal Aura, Surge Slash
  • Shield: Any medium shield for blocking between attacks

Pro move: Add throw runes to one-handed maces for ranged options. The Climber's Pick with Ice Throw is devastating.

3. Archer Build (Dexterity)

Why it's here: Bow builds got significantly better in the Together update. The Bloodlust Bow Build focuses on aggression and sustain—dealing damage while healing yourself through combat.

Stat Allocation

  • Dexterity: Primary stat for bow damage scaling
  • Health: 15-20 (you're ranged, but mistakes happen)
  • Stamina: 20 (dodging is your defense)
  • Focus: 15

Key Gear

  • Weapon: Short Bow (offhand), pair with a fast melee weapon
  • Enchantment: Lightning infusion for chain damage on mobs
  • Secondary: Pig Sticker (dagger) with lightning for focus generation

Note: Bows aren't main-hand weapons, so pair with a dex-scaling melee option for close encounters.

4. Battle Mage Build (Intelligence)

Why it's here: Intelligence builds shine with crowd control. Ice Throw freezes enemy groups, and the Stone and Cinder weapon gives you 4 runes to work with.

Key Gear

  • Weapon: Stone and Cinder (4 runes), or Icebreaker great hammer
  • Runes: Ice Throw (CC), fire damage runes for DPS
  • Strategy: Freeze enemies, then combo them while helpless

In co-op: You're the CC specialist. Freeze groups so your Warrior friend can Juggle Strike everyone into oblivion.

5. Brawler Build (Dexterity)

Why it's here: Hand-to-hand combat is incredibly satisfying in No Rest for the Wicked. Ice-infused fists let you freeze enemies and shatter them with dropkicks. It's not the strongest, but it's the most fun.

Key Gear

  • Weapon: Gauntlets with Ice enchantment
  • Playstyle: Fast combos, freeze enemies, finish with a dropkick
  • Stats: Focus Dexterity, with enough Stamina for extended combos

The secret: Frozen enemies can be shattered instantly with certain attacks. A well-timed dropkick on a frozen elite is chef's kiss.

Pro Tips

  • Don't dump all points into one stat. Spread early points into Health, Stamina, and Focus for survivability
  • Stay in Normal weight class. Heavy roll has fewer i-frames and will get you killed
  • Stamina Wellspring rune is essential early. Extract it from the Paddle weapon
  • Heal Aura from Eleanor is a game-changer. Buy it as soon as you can
  • In co-op, coordinate builds. One tank, one support, two DPS works great
  • Look for enchantments that boost focus gain and stamina recovery
  • Avoid curses like decreased equip load or increased stamina cost

FAQ

Q: What's the best beginner build in No Rest for the Wicked?
A: Start with the Warrior build (Claymore). High damage, easy to understand, and the Juggle Strike rune carries hard. Spread your early points into Health and Stamina before going all-in on Strength.

Q: Can I respec my character in No Rest for the Wicked?
A: Yes, respeccing is available. Check out our guide on how to respec to change your build mid-game.

Q: Are bow builds viable in the Together update?
A: Yes! Bow builds are significantly better now. The Bloodlust Bow Build focusing on aggression and sustain is particularly strong in co-op where you have teammates drawing aggro.

Q: What's the best co-op team composition?
A: One Warrior (damage/poise break), one Cleric (heals/support), one Archer or Mage (ranged DPS/CC), and a flex pick. The Cleric's Heal Aura alone makes group play much more forgiving.

Q: Should I use heavy armor?
A: Only if you're comfortable with Heavy roll. Most players prefer staying in Normal weight class for the better dodge i-frames. The Feather Ring helps if you want heavier armor.

Summary

The Warrior (Claymore) build remains the best overall choice in No Rest for the Wicked's Together update, combining high damage with excellent poise break. For co-op, the Cleric build is invaluable for group survivability. Whichever build you choose, remember to balance your stats early, stay in Normal weight class, and grab Stamina Wellspring and Heal Aura runes as soon as possible. Now get out there and cleanse Sacra of its corruption—solo or with friends.

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