Gloomhaven Brute Guide Tank / Shield / Retaliate [beginner tips and character guide]

[@MandatoryQuest]

Become a Patron for early access to videos - www.patreon.com/mandatoryquest Grab some sweet merch - www.mandatoryquest.com

[@maxmustermann-zx9yq]

MandatoryQuest be like: sure that's a nice car... But does it scale into the late game?

[@markusjagering7449]

This Guide really needs a remake for the long Guide treatment like most other characters. The Brute deserves it. It's an underrated, but beginner friendly and fun class.

[@thehussiteking]

Putting on Wound for Trample helps immensely with taking down shielded enemies, since the wound will decrease their health

[@Asian_Movie_Enthusiast]

I actually really enjoyed playing with the Brute, which was fortunate because I had difficulty with my personal quest and played him at Level 9 for a while. I went for a mobile damage-dealer build that coincidentally had fantastic synergy with the bottom of Immovable Phalanx. By Level 6, I was bringing in four Move 4 cards that could double as Attack 4 bottoms. It was crazy good, especially with his pull cards (that Level 9 card did a lot of work for me). Brute's damage output is under-appreciated because trap damage does not show up on the cards. And trap damage is his specialty with his push/pull effects. Relying on a bunch of Attack 2's can be limited by certain enemies, but it works better than most people think. Even at Scenario Level 5, there are usually some enemies on the board with little to no shielding.

[@DimitrRaev]

Horned Helmet(107) is the the defacto Brute helm: "After moving 4 or more hexes on your turn, add +1 Attack to your next melee attack this turn." One damage may not sound like much but It is not that hard to make 2-3 big moves per rotations, and with boots and 1-2 cheep enchants it gets even easier. It is especially usefull when you have to assasinate the back line archer/shaman...

[@MandatoryQuest]

It has anti synergy with Immovable Phalanx later though which can turn all your moves into attacks instead. Then its all about just attacking little and often. Its a good item if you go grab it from Inox Encampment early though for sure. Really that item is best IMO on characters who just have a ton of big moves so you can use the jump from Winged Shoes to reach the back line.

[@GentlemanOrc]

I think there's something to be said for saving up 150g for disarm on the spare dagger. It's a great way to room opener to immediately hand someone a glass of shut up juice. That and the brute is desperate for more damage mitigation to weather the storm.

[@MandatoryQuest]

Yep definitely a great option! Letting disarm actually be an enhancement was a mistake IMO and you can tell with the Frosthaven changes they realised it too. It kind of goes without saying if you can slap disarm on something it will be very very good.

[@andreasd1132]

I like it. Good luck with the channel!

[@MandatoryQuest]

Thank you for watching and the nice comment

[@Ultragravy]

Whilst the Warhammer is excellent, I've had a lot of success as a tanky brute using the Battle Axe and a Shield, as the Axe is one handed. Being able to turn any single target attack into a double attack makes it super easy to apply the disarm from Provoking Roar on two targets, or just taking out two smaller things quickly with a higher damage attack. Couple this with the shield which can be refreshed, and the tanking potential is great. Being able to get two shields on demand via Shield+Chainmail has also saved my hide when I've been down to low health and popped Juggernaut, then used the armor/shield to stop low damage hits from proccing the 3 damage ignores. I've had at least 3 games where my tanky brute has been smushed down to 2-3 health, then popped Juggernaut and been able to survive multiple rounds of constant attacks, which I could not have done without the combo of Shield+Chainmail.

[@TheSilent333]

10/10 Introduction. Hahahahaha.

[@tuckerbird7514]

First and foremost, awesome guide! I really appreciate getting a good overview of the class. A slight suggestion in terms of editing, put the self-promos in the middle rather than the front. That way it’s easier to get into the meat of the video, but you’ll be able to still promote yourself without worrying that people will just skip to the next video. Just take a short break in the middle between two sections to say something like “hey, before we look at the perks and items for this build, I just wanted to let you know etc etc etc.” Other than that, excellent video and I hope to see more!

[@MandatoryQuest]

Thanks for the comment and feedback, glad you liked the video.

[@brenopontes3041]

Thank you for making those, buddy!

[@MandatoryQuest]

No problem Breno I hope it is useful

[@missingseven2585]

Very useful video and great content! Thanks and good luck for your channel! You deserve more subs : )

[@MandatoryQuest]

Thank you, you are too kind!

[@arkadiuszmosio9793]

Thanks. I will try it on my Brute before retirement :)

[@MandatoryQuest]

Good luck! thanks for watching

[@michaelfisk1057]

Hook and Chain is a fantastic Brute card. In digital, your straight line includes forward and backward. Next to an elite? Move back one, forward one, back one, forward one- wheeee four damage! And you haven't used the attack portion of your other card yet. Plus keep that useful pull and pierce top for when you're facing shielded enemies. One of the best early cards. Its not that hard to push it to 6 damage!

[@MandatoryQuest]

Yeah it's bugged in digital. It should only count movement in one continuous direction.

[@SteveLEKORodrigue]

Your guide will help me build my new Brute. It's my 3rd build, so I want to take a different route. Your build provides it.

[@MandatoryQuest]

Nice, I hope you have some success with it!

[@gucci4president433]

just got the game on steam and this stuff is new as f for me im so bad lol ur vids help alot lol

[@MandatoryQuest]

Glad they help man!

[@fernandopena9827]

buenas podrías crear variantes de las builds que ya has creado¡? un angryface con la extrategia de los doom o un brute full daño?

[@MandatoryQuest]

Sorry I only speak English, I do have an angryface video though

[@timblighton6216]

Mandatory quest: the op was requesting variations on builds you’ve already posted a video, such as a full damage brute instead of tank brute.

[@MandatoryQuest]

@@timblighton6216 Ahhh I see thank you! I'm actually going to start going back and doing longer guides for my first few as in the later ones I talk about most of the builds available in a single video. I did actually do a all in brute damage build on yesterdays Twitch stream. www.twitch.tv/videos/1261412469

[@timblighton6216]

Thanks for the reply! Like many, just started playing GH. Your videos have been food for thought. I’ll check out your Twitch runs for sure. Cheers!

[@RageBadgerGaming]

I'm not sure I like the idea of a shield/retaliate build although it can be effective, mitigating damage with positioning and crowd control in Gloomhaven ends up being infinitely more effective than making shield builds. Although certain cards like Immovable Phalanx that provide shield are effective as the shield on the top is a nice touch. The Brute's strengths are definitely more in mobility, initiative control and burst.

[@MandatoryQuest]

I think this build strikes a nice balance between the damage and tanking builds, and this was a style of build I’ve been specifically asked for. Lots of players like the idea of being a traditional tank in GH, and it would be boring if we all played the same way after all. What cards would you of taken instead?

[@RageBadgerGaming]

@@MandatoryQuest Getting rid of Grab and Go and Spare Dagger early and not taking Fatal Advance, Move 4s end up paying off more with Balanced Measure which is the main source of the Brute's viability. Crippling Offensive ends up reducing much more damage by the combination of push and immobilize rending an entire melee attacker useless every rest phase and the top isn't particularly awful when you need to burn for experience at the end. Just a different philosophical approach, I think!

[@MandatoryQuest]

Rage Badger Gaming well I’d argue the immobilize target two on defensive is better than the immobilise push 1 on crippling, but it’s so marginal. We use the bottom of grab and go for the move 4 for balanced too exclusively. I think my main complaint about the brute as the cards themselves are very samey, like I say in the video honestly you could take the other card pretty much every time and still end up with a viable character. I guess that’s what makes the brute so new player friendly.

[@RageBadgerGaming]

@@MandatoryQuest Comparing tops to bottoms is a dangerous game, defensive tactic's top is fine but Brute already has 5 acceptable tops by that level. Although I do agree you could go with defensive tactics for the top and still feel like it pays off for the same reasons you just said. Brute absolutely is new player friendly which is pretty nice! The cards do get samey sadly, he ends up getting left in the dust by quite a few classes but still good in the context of digital.

[@MandatoryQuest]

Rage Badger Gaming yeah we can only play with what we have in digital currently, but once all the unlockable classes are out then it’ll get painfully obvious he doesn’t measure up to others. Still a good introduction to this type of character in GH though.

[@samuraisqrrl]

did they change the boots and trample interaction since this video? I just started playing the digital version this week and I can't get trample to increase range with my brown boots. Or is there a weird order thing for getting it to work?

[@MandatoryQuest]

I've never had an issue with it, just make sure you use the boots during the movement bit first. and you move through the enemies.

[@hawleywood420]

Great info! Cheers bud

[@MandatoryQuest]

No problem glad it’s useful 😉

[@boathousedave2383]

It would help for someone not familiar with the game yet that when you are talking about a specific card that you stop moving the mouse pointer all over the place and scrolling and instead keep it still so we can read the card to see what you are talking about.

[@derrickfuller2591]

Great video! I often watch guides to hear a different perspective and not necessarily copy. I love playing the brute and I think is pretty underrated. I think the brute is best at controlling the room not with CC but with high movement/damage (eliminating the biggest threat) combos and push/pull. This is a build that I find to be very competitive with other classes. Immovable Phalanx is tremendous, usually a turn 1-3 burn for me. Normally I play on Hard or Brutal in Starting Hand Balanced Measure Eye for an Eye Grab and Go Leaping Cleave Overwhelming Assault Provoking Roar Shield Bash Spare Dagger Trample Warding Strength Lvl 2 Fatal Advance- dropping shield bash Although I agree the top is meh. Move 4 is great with Immovable Phalanx Lvl 3 Hook and chain- dropping warding strength for now The top is great for pulling into traps and pulling and enemy adjacent for a lower attack. Bottom can be a good pairing with Balanced Measure for a open door kill Lvl 4 Unstoppable charge- dropping Trample Although this is close with hammer Trample is better, but the consistency of Unstoppable charges Attack 5 IMO has more value Lvl 5 Whirlwind (becomes top tier Immovable Phalanx)-dropping Overwhelming Assaults The bottom is too good and the top paired with Balanced measure can be ridiculous Lvl 6 Immovable Phalanx- dropping leaping cleave Bottom is all we need Lvl 7 Skirmishing maneuver (lvl 5)-dropping Spare dagger I just don't thing either lvl 7 cards add any value to the build. Where as Skirmishing Maneuver has some good synergy (three more chances at drawing good modifiers) Lvl 8 Frenzied Onslaught- Drop Grab and Go The top of this card is you bread and butter. Paired with balance measure and you can kill almost any non shielded enemy in 1 turn. Lvl 9 Face you end- Drop Hook and Chain Just better top and bottom Notes: -Enhancing your move 4's with +1 move on this build is tremendous. Giving plus 1 move or attack depending on what use it for. Especially for your level 1 cards, really cheap. -Obviously things change with team comp or number of players, but this build generally works really well for me -Again just a different way to play. The best way to play the game is how anyone wants to

[@MandatoryQuest]

I like your build. There's definitely some serious shenanigans with immovable phalanx that verge on broken. I like the tank build for a beginner, but once you get more experienced you can definitely go in this sort of direction with him. Thanks for the comment.

[@itirnitii]

level 8 frenzied onslaught top is so amazing with immovable phalanx im surprised you skipped it. you can do four attacks for two on an adjacent enemy or split it into four attacks of 2 on multiple enemies if you're surrounded. great for baiting curses since you're doing four attacks. if your deck is stacked with blesses as well its amazing to just do tons of attacks and get the blesses in (even though 2 damage isnt the best to bless) but the damage stacks up so fast. you can even move two (on a card top) and then attack three times for six! or attack for four, move 2, then attack for 2 again. amazingly versatile. the bottom is very useful as well. this card is so much better than the loot card option on selfish retribution which is basically meh. I admit the bottom is fairly decent against shielded enemies - but you have to take damage to even get that rolling. yikes. and it doesnt do anything against ranged attacks.

[@nightwyrm4354]

Are you going to update this Brute guide to a full, longform guide like the Mindthief and Spellweaver as well?

[@MandatoryQuest]

Possibly, I need to make time for it but it is one i wouldn't mind revisiting

[@nightwyrm4354]

@@MandatoryQuest Awesome. Looking forward to it.

[@C00lp1r4t3]

Opinions on Crag and Brute as a build?

[@MandatoryQuest]

That would be a very newbie friendly group I would say. Both have good health and hand size making it less likely you die very quickly when learning about initiative and enemy actions. You might find later on though you struggle against certain enemy types, but that's going to be the case with most 2 character parties tbh.

[@CountElectric]

It still baffles me as to why any of the level 9 cards grant XP. Nice guide and tips, none the less.

[@MandatoryQuest]

Its for the battle goals that require you earn XP during a scenario. Its just so lvl 9 cards can still help you earn your check marks for extra perks.

[@kenhanke3084]

Some battle goals require you gain xp. I believe that is the reason

[@danhayes2456]

When do we get the hour-and-a-half video?

[@MandatoryQuest]

Wrapped up with Jaws of the Lion at the moment, but I would like to return to it.

[@MalkavDraconic]

If the Brute has the bottom of Immovable Phalanx available (Treat Move X actions as equivelent Attack X actions) Mindthief Screams: “RUN MEAT PUPPET RUN!” (Possession: one ally within range 3 has move 4)...... Does this result in the Brute being told to run and then stabbing that bandit in the face.... with his possessed boot? Potential combo maybe?

[@MandatoryQuest]

As amazing as this sounds I believe he only treats his own move actions as attacks, as you are using the MT action I don’t think it works....but in a parallel universe 🤔

[@MalkavDraconic]

“You may treat all move abilities as” is the bit that made my munchkin streak raise an eyebrow. It does feel very not in spirit of the game.

[@brianflansburg8934]

How much does it cost to respec mercenaries?

[@MandatoryQuest]

Currently it’s “free” but you lose your enhancements if you spent money. Not sure if this will always be the case though.

[@brianflansburg8934]

@@MandatoryQuest that's a rather expensive "free". It does seem like the classes are flexible though even if you take a few off meta cards they can still be situationally better. In the board game I mostly went back to replay classes I liked and our group only avoided spellweaver, saw, and circles but not all classes were played with their powerful high level cards. Towards the end we were mostly playing three spears, two minis, and eclipse.

[@MandatoryQuest]

@@brianflansburg8934 you can sell them back for half the value before resetting though so as long as you dont go crazy and change your mind you should be ok.

[@suikodin2501]

For anyone reading this nowadays, the 'respec' has been changed to full refund of all enhancements. (I was liberal with the respec before the change, without realizing I was losing enhancements. :( It's safe now)

[@brianflansburg8934]

@@suikodin2501 thanks for the update hope life slows down and I can try out the new stuff

[@RobertWF42]

Thank you for the tips. I've been struggling with the Brute class in my game group. His attacks aren't terribly powerful except for Overwhelming Assault, which gets burned after use. I was hoping the Brute would be like the unstoppable barbarian in the Gauntlet game but alas it's far more fragile. My Brute fizzled in the last game, I burned 8 cards in my hand and exhausted my character before completing the dungeon. Thankfully we had a Scoundrel & Cragheart who held out & could deal far more damage.

[@MandatoryQuest]

He is more a movement/tank focussed character than a unstoppable damage machine, although with skirmish manoeuvre he can certainly put up numbers. Keep an eye out for the unlockable lightning bolt character that might be what you are looking for ;)

[@Tengenator]

Discord link is invalid now?

[@MandatoryQuest]

Try this one discord.gg/NY84EeT

[@KingDupue]

why do max cards even have exp? Seems stupid

[@MandatoryQuest]

Its for certain battle goals that require you to earn (or not earn) an amount of XP each scenario. Its so you don't lock yourself out of getting all your perks.