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Gloomhaven offers 6 starting classes for players to choose from, with an additional 11 classes that are unlocked over the course of the campaign. The best starting class in Gloomhaven for players who want to take a support role is the Tinkerer, which offers healing, crowd control, and utility. As the digital version of Gloomhaven is a straight adaptation of its tabletop counterpart, this guide will be applicable to players of both.
Best Starting Tinkerer Cards in Gloomhaven
The Tinkerer in Gloomhaven is an extremely support-focused class, and as such isn’t recommended for groups of less than three players. Therefore, the best build for the Tinkerer is one that helps the rest of the team by healing, disabling enemies, and controlling the battlefield. That being said, Tinkerers in groups of three players will also want to mix in some good damage cards. Here are some of the most important Level 1 and Level X cards for this build:
Ink Bomb (1): With 12 cards in hand, the Tinkerer can afford to keep some high-damage loss cards like Ink Bomb, particularly if they have a great movement action on the bottom. Restorative Mist (1): This is the Tinkerer’s workhorse healing card, offering a solid ranged heal on top and a move with a slight heal on the bottom. Potent Potables (X): Players focusing on playing the Tinkerer as an RPG healing class will definitely want to pick up this one to boost their heals. Net Shooter (1): A big part of playing a support in Gloomhaven is damage mitigation, and preventing your enemies from moving allows allies to more easily avoid their attacks. Stun Shot (1): A lossless stun card is the gold standard of level 1 crowd-control in Gloomhaven, allowing the Tinkerer to force an enemy to skip their turn completely.
The Tinkerer can take 12 cards into each scenario, so players have some choice in what to fill the remaining 7 spaces with. Other notable Level 1 and Level X cards for a versatile support build include Enhancement Field, Toxic Bolt, Reinvigorating Elixir, and Harmless Contraption.
Leveling the Tinkerer in Gloomhaven
As players level up in Cephalofair’s board game they’ll gain new cards, as well as the ability to enhance their Tinkerer with Perks and new items. Following this build, players should especially aim to pick up Stamina Booster (Level 2), Disintegration Beam (Level 5), and Auto Turret (Level 6).
When it comes to spending Perks, players should start by removing as many negative-modifier cards as possible, then pick up “Ignore Negative Scenario Effects.” This will provide a reliable attack deck, as well as prevent any nasty surprises from scenario effects. Finally, the best RPG weapons and items are more a matter of taste for the Tinkerer, though most players will benefit from Eagle-Eye Goggles, Stamina Potions, and some kind of movement-boosting Boots.
Gloomhaven is out now for PC.
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