The Complete Fighter Dreadnought DPS Build – Neverwinter Mod 30 As Above, So Below

Welcome to our Fighter Dreadnought Guide, updated for Mod 30: As Above, So Below

In Neverwinter, the Fighter is a class that can be played as either a Tank or a Damage Dealer. In this guide, we will focus on helping you become a master of the DPS role.

The purpose of our class guides is not just to show you a build that you can copy and use on your character, but to show you a base build and teach you the mechanics and stats of the game, so you can understand and play your class to its fullest capabilities.

Try different gear, feats, and powers, and learn to tailor your own build for your playstyle. See our guide to making your own build for more info.

Basic Fighter Dreadnought Info

Below is all the basic information for the Dreadnought, from race choices to stats.

Other Fighter Builds

• Fighter Vanguard Tank Build
• All Neverwinter Class Builds

Race

What race you play doesn’t play a huge role, but will give you a small boost. Generally, I would advise you to play a race that you enjoy.

• Human – 1% Bonus to all stats – +3 To any Ability Score
• Metallic Ancestry Dragonborn – Recieve 3% more healing and 3% more Max Hit Points – +2 to Any two Ability Score – 3% Critical Strike – 3% Power
• Dragonborn – Recieve 5% more healing – +2 to Any Ability Score – 3% Critical Strike – 3% Power
• Gith – 5% Combat Advantage – +2 Dex and +2 Str or Int – 5% Stamina Regen
• Wood Elf – 5% Critical Strike – +2 Dex and +2 Int or Wis – 20% Resistance to Slow
• Tiefling – 5% + Damage to targets below 50% health – +2 Cha and +2 Con or Int – 10% to reduce damage of target for 5 sec by 2.5%
• Half-Orc – 5% Crit Severity – +2 Dex and +2 Con or Str – 10% Movement Speed for 3 sec when entering combat

Ability Score Priority

Put all your available Ability Scores into Strength and Charisma.

Stat / Rating Priority

Your cap for each stat is based on your item level. To cap a stat, the numbers of the stat need to be equal to or higher than your item level.

If your stat number is higher than your item level, you are wasting stats and should try to allocate stats differently.

For every 1000 points, a stat is lower than your item level you lose 1% in that stat.

Paragon Path Feats, Powers & Rotation

This part is all about optimizing the Dreadnought with the best feats, powers, and boons.

Combat Powers

At-Will Powers

• Heavy Slash (Single-target)
• Reave (Aoe)
• Shield Bash (on Block)
• Guarded Strike (on Block)

Encounter Powers

• Commander’s Strike (Single Target) – Onslaught (AoE)
• Bull Charge (Single Target) – Shield Slam (AoE)
• Anvil of Doom – Tremor (AoE)

Daily Powers

• Mow Down (Single-target)
• Earthshaker (AoE) or Second Wind

Class Features

• Enduring Vengeance or Alway Spiteful (AoE)
• Momentum (Single Target) – Plow the Road (AoE)

Feats

• Weight of Vengeance
• Prepared Slam
• Crushing Blows
• Land Waster (Single-target) or Striker’s Mark (AoE)
• Roiling Hatred (Single-target or Bloody Reprise (AoE)

Rotation

Single-Target Rotation

Heavy Slash > Artifact > Commander’s Strike > Bull Charge > Anvil of Doom > Mount > Mow Down > Heavy Slash

AoE Rotation

Shield Slam > Tremor > Onslaught > Reave > Earthshaker

Boons

You should always choose boons based on what stats you currently need. Therefore a selection of several viable boons is available to you for each tier.

Tier 1 Boons

• Recruit’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
• Critical Strike – 0.2% Critical Strike Per Rank
• Lingering Medicine – 1% Increase effectiveness of healing potions.
• Critical Avoidance – 0.2% Critical Avoidance Per Rank
• Cultist Bulwark – 0.2% HP Per Rank
• Cultist Power – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. Cultists.

Tier 2 Boons

• Squire’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
• Armor Penetration – 0.2% Critical Severity Per Rank
• Lingering Fortification – 1% Increase effectiveness of healing potions.
• Defense – 0.2% Defense Per Rank
• Demonic Bulwark – 0.2% HP Per Rank
• Demonic Mastery – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. demons.

Tier 3 Boons

• Knight’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
• Combat Advantage – 0.2% Combat Advantage Per Rank
• Lingering Power – 1% Increase effectiveness of healing potions.
• Awareness – 0.2% Awareness Per Rank
• Dino Bulwark – 0.2 HP Per Rank
• Dino Power – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. dinos.

Tier 4 Boons

• Captain’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
• Accuracy – 0.2% Accuracy Per Rank
• Deflect – 0.2% Deflect Per Rank
• Necrotic Bulwark – 0.2% HP Per Rank
• Necrotic Mastery – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. undead.

Advanced Boons

• Masterclass – 1% Forte per rank
• Quick Turnaround – 1% Recharge Speed
• Call of Power – 1% Action Point Gain

Master Boons

• Deathly Rage 3/3
• Blood Lust 3/3
• Life Lessons 3/3
• Blessed Advantage 3/3

Guild Boons

• Offense – Power/Accuracy/Critical depending on what stat you need.
• Defense – Defence
• Utility – Mount Speed or Movement Speed

Weapons & Gear

If you are new to Neverwinter and need to know how to get better gear and increase your item level, check out our Gearing Up Guide.

Note that the best-in-slot for your build might vary depending on what stats you have.

The best way to gear up in Neverwinter is by making a lot of Astral Diamonds, check out our Astral Diamond Guide to learn all the secrets of AD farming.

Head

• Best-in-Slot Enchanted Depthforged Helmet (Master Lair of the Mad Dragon)
• Prismatic Fractal Barbut
• Exalted Dark Maiden Resolution Barbute (Temple of the Spider / Menzoberranzan Campaign Store)
• Abyss Conqueror’s Healing Guard / Spellweaver’s Hood (Demonweb Pits)
• Serene Hood of the Dragon Hunter (Dragon Hunts)

Armor

• Best-in-Slot Enchanted Depthforged Cuirass (Master Lair of the Mad Dragon)
• Abyss Conqueror’s Spellweaver Robe (Demonweb Pits)
• Enchanted Bregan D’aerthe Mauler’s Plate (Menzoberranzan Campaign)
• Tactful Leathers / Mighty Cuirass of the Dragon Hunter (Dragon Hunts)

Arms

• Best-in-Slot Enchanted Depthforged Gauntlets (Master Lair of the Mad Dragon) AOE or Ultraviolet Elven Bracers (The Imperial Citadel) Single-Target
• Prismatic Crystalflex Bracers
• Vinewoven Bracers
• Abyss Conqueror’s Healing Mitts (Demonweb Pits)
• Mighty Vambraces / Tactful Gloves of the Dragon Hunter (Dragon Hunts)

Feet

• Best-in-Slot Enchanted Depthforged Sabatons (Master Lair of the Mad Dragon) Only in Fire Themed-Maps or Sharp Longboots of the Dragon Hunter (Dragon Hunts)
• Radiant or Ultraviolet Elven Boots (The Imperial Citadel)
• Abyss Conqueror’s Mauler Greaves (Demonweb Pits)
• The Dark Maiden Resolution Greaves (Temple of the Spider)
• Rusted Iron Leggings (Vallenhas)

Weapons

• Living Magma Set / Encased Magma (Master of Flame Campaign Store)
• Demonweb Empowerment / Perfect Set (Northdark Campaign)
• Dark Matter / Solarium & Starcore Set (Adventures in Wildspace Campaign Store)
• Scalebreaker’s Wrath / Duergar Set (Dragonbone Vale Campaign)

Main Hand Modification

• Heavy Slash

Offhand Modifications

• Whatever stat you need

Rings

• Red Dwarf Ring of Xaryxis (The Imperial Citadel Master)
• Platinum Abyssal Loop (The Demonweb Pits)
• Dreadbreaker / Dreadwalker Loop
• Moondancer’s Binding of Precision (Wildspace)
• Sapphire Abyssal Loop (The Demonweb Pits)
• Emerald Abyssal Loop (The Demonweb Pits)
• Eilistraee’s Harmony + Elistraee’s Beauty (AOE) (Northdark Reaches)
• Soothsayer’s Ring of Absolution (Dragonbone Vale)
• Waywatchers Ring of Precision (Dragonbone Vale)
• Waywatchers Ring of Punishment (Dragonbone Vale)
• Mightbreaker’s Ring of Elegance (Dragonbone Vale)

Neck & Waist

• Masterwork of Menzoberranzan Set: Shroomwood Amulet & Shroomwood Sash (Mastercrafted / From the Auction House)
• Demogorgon’s Wrath Set: Heart’s Twine & Sinous Chord (From the Auction House)
• Trickster’s Gift Set: Starshard Choker & Twinkle of the Stars (From the Auction House)

Shirt

• Ember Stiched Shirt (Lair of the Mad Dragon) Only in Fire-Themed Maps
• Ember Infused Shirt (Lair of the Mad Dragon)
• Brilliant Starwoven Shirt (Wildspace Heroic Encounters)
• Shimmering Flarefiber Shirt
• Lolth’s Embrace (Narbondellyn Heroic Encounters)

Pants

• Ember Stiched Pants (Lair of the Mad Dragon)
• Cerebral Predator Ink / Ocean’s Predator Ink
• Luminous Flarefiber Pants
• Lolth’s Embrace (Narbondellyn Heroic Encounters)
• War-Worn Pants (From the Auction House)

Artifacts

Primary Artifact

• Bloodbrass Pistol
• Demogorgon’s Reach
• Mythallar Fragment
• Halaster’s Blast Scepter
• Wyvern-Venom Coated Knives
• Crystal of Soul’s Flight

Secondary Artifacts

Choose secondary artifacts based on the stats you are lacking.

• Bloodbrass Pistol
• Jewel of Caldera
• Searing Conduit of Magma
• Astral Seed Tendril
• Portable Spelljammer Detector
• Macro’s Mystic Marker
• Xeleth’s Blast Scepter
• Scintillating Symbol of Water
• Rod of Pain
• Wand of Domination
• Marilith Mask
• Mystic Bolt
• Eye of Odran
• Assassin’s Dice

Enchantments

When getting enchantments, always get the ones with the stats you are lacking in with your gear, boons, etc in mind.

Offense Enchantments

• Ruby Enchantment
• Garnet Enchantment
• Cobalt Enchantment
• Citrine Enchantment
• Amethyst Enchantment
• Jade Enchantment

Defense Enchantments

• Garnet Enchantment

Utility Enchantments

• Garnet Enchantment

Bonus Enchantments

• Recharge Speed Bonus

Combat Enchantments

• Lightning Flash

Overload Enchantments

• Rage of Flames or Devil’s Precision
• Various Marks from Stronghold Vendor
• Corrupt Black Ice / Lethal / Piercing
• Black / Red Dragon Glyph

Armor Reinforcement Kits

• Accuracy, Power, or Critical Strike Kit +1, Depending on what stat you need.

Jewelry Reinforcement Kits

• Combat Advantage Jewel

Consumables & Buffs

Consider getting VIP for the Power of VIP HP buff if you aren’t already. Also always stand in campfires to get the +1 ability campfire buff.

Pick one from each of the categories below depending on the stats you are lacking.

• Invocation Blessing: Grace of Battle / Gift of Awareness / Righteous Boon / Gamber’s Fortune
• Stronghold Food: Ratatouille
• Event Food: Squash Soup
• Elixir: Sunlord’s Gift Elixir
• Potion: Superior Flask of Potency +1
• Belt: Stone of Health / Dragonfire / Forger’s Box

Companions

Summoned Companion

For your summoned companion you have the choice between using Augmented companions which will make it easier to cap stats or an active combat companion which will do damage. At the moment Active/Striker companions are usually better than augment companions.

Active Companion Choices

• Black Death Scorpion
• Etrien
• Tutor
• Blaspheme Assassin
• Wiggins the Undead Intern
• Mage Slayer
• Xuna
• Paranoid Delusion
• Tomb Spider
• Greenscale Bowman
• Regis (AoE)
• Wulfgar (AoE)
• Xaryxian Defector (AoE)
• Minotaur Mercenary(AoE)
• Rimefire Golem (AoE)

Enchantment Power

• Acute Senses
• Potency
• Perfect Vision
• Potent Precision
• Precision

Companion Powers

Below is a selection of viable companion powers.

Offense Powers

• Wulfgar (Wulfgar’s Wrecking) – 4.7% Combat Advantage & Accuracy
• Drizzt (Drizzt’s Devestation) – 4.7% Critical Change & Severity
• Neverwinter Knight (Neverwinter Knight’s Discipline) – 7.5% Outgoing Damage
• Wild Hunt Rider (Wild Hunt Discipline) – 2/3/5% chance to increase damage by 10% for 5 seconds.
• Siege Master (Siege Master’s Discipline) – Combined Rating – Increases the power of your At-Will powers by 11% (Doubled on Stronghold Map)
• Black Dragon Ioun Stone (Black Dragon’s Insight) – 7.5% Critical Chance
• Staldorf (Staldorf’s Presence) – 7.5% Combat Advantage
• Razorwood (Twigblight’s Insight) – 3.8% Critical Severity & Accuracy
• Hawk (Hawk’s Insight’s) – 3.8% Critical Severity & Critical Chance
• Armored Orc Wolf (Orc Wolf’s Instincts) – 3.8% Critical Chance & Accuracy
• Batiri (Batiri’s Wisdom) – 11% Damage Versus Bosses
• Dancing Blade (Dancing Blade’s Insight) – 3.8% Critical Severity & Combat Advantage
• Flame Sprite (Flamesprite’s Insight) – 3.8% Critical Chance & Accuracy
• Golden Cat (Golden Cat’s Insight’s) – 7,5% Combat Advantage

Defense Powers

• Minsc (The Bigger They Are) – Increased damage vs strong enemies.
• Phasespider (Phasespider’s Presence) – 3.8% Critical Chance & Combat Advantage
• Fire Archon (Fire Archon’s Insight) – 10% on At-Will use to increase Combat Advantage for 10 seconds
• Golden Cat (Golden Cat’s Insight’s) – 7,5% Combat Advantage

Utility Powers

• Dark Dealer (Dark Dealings) – 3.8% Accuracy & 3.8% Combat Advantage
• Alchemist Experimenter (Alchemist’s Discipline) – 3.8% Critical Chance & Combat Advantage
• Golden Cat (Golden Cat’s Insight) – 7.5% Combat Advantage
• Book Imp (Bookimp’s Presence) – 3.8% Accuracy & 3.8% Combat Advantage

Mounts

Mount Insignia Bonuses

All classes and specs should consider using Wanderer’s Fortune and or Traveler’s Treasures before you have refined all your gear and enchantments, for extra refinement every day.

Insignia bonuses are mostly down to preference. Some boost damage a bit, and some boost survivability, while others add utility.

Insignia Type

• Insignia of Dominance
• Insignia of Brutality
• Insignia of Aggression
• Insignia of Skill

Mount Collars

• Sturdy Barbed Collar
• Wayfaring Barbed Collar
• Unified Crescent Collar
• Supportive Crescent Collar

Mount Powers

Mount Equip Power

• Dominant Force (Power)
• Ferocity (Extra Damage)
• Opportunistic ( Combat Advantage)
• Ferocious Predator (Power & Critical Severity)
• Armor Breaker (Critical Severity)
• Rapid Accuracy (Accuracy)
• Precision (Critical Strike & Severity)
• Ruthless Efficiency (Critical Strike

Mount Combat Power

• Bigby’s Hand
• Giant Toad
• Golden Warhorse
• Tunnel Vision (Several)
• Space Guppy School (For AoE)
• Pegasus (For AoE)

If you have any questions or suggestions about our Neverwinter Fighter Dreadnought guide, please leave a comment below!

Updates

• 29.08.2024: The build has been updated for module 29: Mountain of Flame. Basic info including stat priority, skills, mounts, enchantments, artifacts, and gear has been updated. Unrelevant info and fluff have also been removed to make the guide easier to read.
• 11.02-2025: Updated with Mod 30 gear.