Combat as malefactor

[aWolfSurviving]

Please, how should I fight as this class? I genuinly love how they play but combat is just not something that has gone well for me. I've thrown spears and that seems to have worked but that's about it.

[LadyWYT]

I would say avoid combat if you can, and for the situations that you can't, try to fight at range. They're probably one of the weakest for melee, as they have penalties to both melee damage and total health, so it will take more hits to kill a target while not being able to survive as many hits yourself. For ranged damage, you might try out the malefactor's sling--it may not be as fancy as a bow, but it uses rocks as ammunition, so you should never be running out of ammo.

Overall, I'd say that Malefactor is a class that is very strong in the early game, but weakens by a fair margin in the late game, largely in part to the combat penalties.

[Kuppancs]

Malefactor in my eye is the best for looting ruins. A good set of light or medium armor with a bow as main weapon is a nice combo I think. Shield/Spear (I think spear has a bit more knockback effect) could work too if in a pinch, but if you play alone might not be your best bet to face creatures head-on!
Pick your fights, be unfair.

If you're playing with a group I would suggest a support role from the back. Or just go looting while the others take care of the danger, maybe be a light source for them

Edited April 29, 2025 by Kuppancs

[LoveWyrm]

Malefactor is a gatherer, scout and a light hunter. Your sling is not affected by the ranged distance decrease (I think so anyway) so throw some spears at racoons and/or foxes (or anything that gives fat and small hides) and craft some.

Then pick up a bunch of stones and start a slingin'..

 

The animal AI update that happened has made hunting them with the sling a bit worse tho, since they now run around aimlessly, but it's still possible, just takes a bit longer.

That said, don't be afraid to also craft a falx and chop up some surface drifters every now and then. You have increased gear loot chance.

 

Mostly tho...you're an excellent scout (despite not having fleet footed) and resource collector.

The animal stealth aura is two sided though, it's part why you're great at scouting, but also, IF you aggrow a predator, then it will also be closer to you than usual since the aggro range is reduced for you.

 

if you don't have any weapons and only stones, you can throw those too, they do pitiful damage, but they are enough to kill a bunny or a racoon or something else weak in a pinch.

later on your can switch to bows, but eh... I stick to falxes, slings and spears.