This page is for your first character on Immortal Realm. The full builds in the Builds Hub are calibrated for serious play; the templates here are training-wheels versions that get you to a working state with less commitment.
If you've already finished Your First Day and Your First Week, you've touched enough to pick.
Quick Answer: Three Starter Paths
| Starter | Difficulty | Time to Working | Grows Into |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Warrior | Easy | 15-25 hours | Warrior or PvP Warrior |
| Starter Mage | Medium | 25-40 hours | Mage or PvP Mage |
| Starter Crafter | Medium | 30-50 hours | Crafter |
Starter Warrior
The most forgiving starter. Hit things; drink potions; retreat when needed.
Warrior skill template
| Skill | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Swordsmanship | 80 | Primary weapon |
| Tactics | 80 | Damage |
| Anatomy | 60 | Damage + healing |
| Healing | 80 | Bandage survival |
| Resist Spells | 60 | Survive casters |
| Magery | 40 | Recall, basic utility |
| Mining or Lumberjacking | 40 | Side income |
Total: 440 (you have ~260 unspent for later choices). This is the half-build version of the full warrior; you'll grow each skill toward 100 over time.
What a starter warrior does at this level
- Solo low-tier mobs and starter dungeons.
- Run convoys when broadcasts fire (good income, low skill requirement).
- Pick up bounty hunting lower-tier writs.
- Avoid Felucca until skill total is 600+.
Warrior stats
| Stat | Target |
|---|---|
| STR | 90 |
| DEX | 60 |
| INT | 30 |
Warrior gear
| Slot | Item |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Longsword or Katana (any quality) |
| Body | Studded leather (cheap, decent AR) |
| Pack | Bandages × 100, Heal potions × 5 |
| Bank | 1000+ gold reserve |
Where the warrior grows next
Once you reach 80+ in your combat core skills, transition to the full Warrior Build by pushing remaining skills to 100.
Starter Mage
More flexible than the warrior; demands reagent management.
Mage skill template
| Skill | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Magery | 80 | Primary spellcasting |
| Evaluating Intelligence | 60 | Damage scaling |
| Meditation | 60 | Mana regen |
| Resist Spells | 60 | Survive casters |
| Wrestling | 60 | Defense |
| Inscription | 40 | Scroll basics |
| Magery utility skill | 40 | Tactics or Anatomy for backup |
Total: 400. Grow each toward 100 over time.
What a starter mage does at this level
- Cast at training dummies in New Haven.
- Hunt low-tier mobs with offensive spells.
- Use Recall (50 Magery) for fast travel.
- Avoid extended close-range combat (low Wrestling means disrupts).
Mage stats
| Stat | Target |
|---|---|
| INT | 90 |
| STR | 60 |
| DEX | 30 |
Mage gear
| Slot | Item |
|---|---|
| Body | Robe + leather underneath |
| Reagents | 100+ each, always carry |
| Spellbook | Standard book (magery shop) |
| Pack | Heal scrolls, Cure scrolls × 10 each |
Where the mage grows next
Once you reach Magery 80+ and feel comfortable casting in real combat, push toward the full Mage Build by adding Wrestling 100 and the higher-tier utility skills.
Starter Crafter
Slowest to feel rewarding; pays off mid-term as you become a player-economy participant.
Crafter skill template
| Skill | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blacksmithy | 60 | Primary trade (or Tailoring) |
| Mining | 60 | Material independence (or Lumberjack) |
| Tinkering | 60 | Tools, jewelry |
| Magery | 40 | Recall to material runs |
| Healing | 40 | Self-survival in danger zones |
| Anatomy | 30 | Healing scaling |
| Resist Spells | 30 | Basic mage defense |
Total: 320. Push toward 700 over time.
What a starter crafter does at this level
- Mine ore in Trammel zones.
- Make daggers, kite shields for skill gain.
- Sell exceptional crafted items to NPC vendors (low margins) or to other players.
- Set up a workshop in your house once you have 500+ skill in your trades.
Crafter stats
| Stat | Target |
|---|---|
| STR | 100 |
| INT | 40 |
| DEX | 35 |
Crafters need STR for material weight.
Crafter gear
| Slot | Item |
|---|---|
| Body | Cloth or studded leather |
| Pack | Smith hammer, mining pick, basic tools |
| Bank | Bag of ore reserves |
| Other | Bandages, basic survival kit |
Where the crafter grows next
Once one trade skill is 80+, transition to the full Crafter Build by adding the secondary trade and pushing toward grandmaster.
Which Starter Should You Pick?
| Question | Starter |
|---|---|
| You like fast feedback (kill mob, see drop) | Warrior |
| You like flexibility and utility | Mage |
| You like slow building toward economic outcomes | Crafter |
| You're brand-new to UO | Warrior (most forgiving) |
| You played UO years ago | Whichever you remember enjoying |
Common Mistakes
- Trying to optimize day 1. You're not optimizing. You're playing.
- Picking a build because someone said it was meta. The shard's meta shifts; play what's fun.
- Trying to dual-build (warrior + mage hybrid). Stretches you thin. Pick one.
- Buying expensive gear at starter skill levels. You'll outgrow it; buy cheap, replace often.
- Avoiding civic Orders entirely. Even at starter skill, Civic Orders is approachable.
How to Transition to a Full Build
| Stage | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Starter | 300-440 skill total, 1-3 weeks of play |
| Decision | Pick the matching full build |
| Transition | Push remaining skills to target levels |
| Full | 700 skill total, 1-3 months from character creation |
| Endgame | 700 skill total with key skills past 100 (105 / 110 / 115 / 120 powerscroll tiers from Felucca champion spawns). Powerscrolls raise individual skill caps; the 700-point total stays at 700. |
Where to Read Next
- For the builds hub, Immortal Realm Builds.
- For the new-player path, New Player Guide.
- For week-by-week pacing, Your First Week.
- For specific full builds:
- The download page is the on-ramp when you're ready.
