Conquest Stealth (Backstab)

This is an early-meta starting build. The Conquest mask is largely starting flavor: the stealth playstyle really comes together with later masks and perks, and endgame mask power now runs through Mimicry Ascension, the permanent 1.0 mask-power progression. Note too that 1.0 has three selectable modes (Survival, Tribe, Warrior), so the tribe playstyle is a formal mode in its own right. Treat this page as the start of the run, not the whole endgame.

At a glance

Mask	Conquest. A starting mask that leans toward stealth and rear attacks.
Weapon	A fast melee weapon for backstabs and executes.
Core stat	Enough Physique to survive a mistake, then offense.
Plays well with	Thinning a Barrack so your tribe takes a cleaner fight.

How it wins

Conquest rewards approaching from behind. A backstab opens a target, an execute removes it, and you reposition before the next guard turns. You are deleting the camp one health bar at a time rather than tanking the whole alarm.

Stats to prioritize

• A baseline of Physique so one bad pull is not lethal. Stealth builds still die to swarms.
• Then offense and stamina for the burst windows.

Proficiencies to train

• Your fast melee weapon for the mastery passives.
• Dodge discipline. The i-frame window is forgiving, and disengaging is part of the loop.

The stealth loop

1. Scout the camp and mark the Elite and any Scout.
2. Approach from the rear, backstab a lone guard, execute, and break line of sight.
3. Repeat on the edges before committing to the center.
4. Deter recruitable targets at low health instead of killing them, to grow your tribe.

Recruiting note

Beat a target below 20 percent, then press E to deter and knock them out. Keep them alive with bandages or broth and carry them home. You cannot deter Plunderers, named silver-bordered Elites, tribe Leaders, or Scouts, so plan to kill those.

Do this in order

1. Pick Conquest. Take a fast melee weapon to your current tier.
2. Keep a small Physique buffer, then build offense.
3. Practice backstab into execute on lone outcasts before raiding a full Barrack.
4. Use the rear-attack advantage to clear Elites that would wreck a head-on build.
5. Bring a follower or two for the moment stealth breaks.

Watch out for

• Over-committing in the center of a camp. This build punishes patience, not aggression.
• Trying to deter the un-deterrable. Elites, Leaders, Plunderers, and Scouts do not recruit.
• Neglecting mask energy and nodes; Conquest still needs Sunstones and Crystal repairs.

Related: the deep combat guide for backstab and execute, and the tribesmen guide for recruiting from the camps you thin.